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Abarca-Merlin DM, Martínez-Durán JA, Medina-Pérez JD, Rodríguez-Santos G, Alvarez-Arellano L. From Immunity to Neurogenesis: Toll-like Receptors as Versatile Regulators in the Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5711. [PMID: 38891900 PMCID: PMC11171594 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are among the main components of the innate immune system. They can detect conserved structures in microorganisms and molecules associated with stress and cellular damage. TLRs are expressed in resident immune cells and both neurons and glial cells of the nervous system. Increasing evidence is emerging on the participation of TLRs not only in the immune response but also in processes of the nervous system, such as neurogenesis and cognition. Below, we present a review of the literature that evaluates the expression and role of TLRs in processes such as neurodevelopment, behavior, cognition, infection, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Melissa Abarca-Merlin
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Neurociencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Av. Dr. Márquez 162. Colonia Doctores, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (D.M.A.-M.)
| | - J. Abigail Martínez-Durán
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Neurociencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Av. Dr. Márquez 162. Colonia Doctores, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (D.M.A.-M.)
| | - J. David Medina-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Neurociencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Av. Dr. Márquez 162. Colonia Doctores, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (D.M.A.-M.)
| | - Guadalupe Rodríguez-Santos
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Neurociencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Av. Dr. Márquez 162. Colonia Doctores, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (D.M.A.-M.)
| | - Lourdes Alvarez-Arellano
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Neurociencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Av. Dr. Márquez 162. Colonia Doctores, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (D.M.A.-M.)
- CONAHCYT-Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
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Zhang X, Gao R, Zhang C, Teng Y, Chen H, Li Q, Liu C, Wu J, Wei L, Deng L, Wu L, Ye-Lehmann S, Mao X, Liu J, Zhu T, Chen C. Extracellular RNAs-TLR3 signaling contributes to cognitive impairment after chronic neuropathic pain in mice. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:292. [PMID: 37544956 PMCID: PMC10404588 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01543-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is often associated with cognitive decline, which could influence the quality of the patient's life. Recent studies have suggested that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is crucial for memory and learning. Nonetheless, the contribution of TLR3 to the pathogenesis of cognitive decline after chronic pain remains unclear. The level of TLR3 in hippocampal neurons increased in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) group than in the sham group in this study. Importantly, compared to the wild-type (WT) mice, TLR3 knockout (KO) mice and TLR3-specific neuronal knockdown mice both displayed improved cognitive function, reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines and neuronal apoptosis and attenuated injury to hippocampal neuroplasticity. Notably, extracellular RNAs (exRNAs), specifically double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), were increased in the sciatic nerve, serum, and hippocampus after CCI. The co-localization of dsRNA with TLR3 was also increased in hippocampal neurons. And the administration of poly (I:C), a dsRNA analog, elevated the levels of dsRNAs and TLR3 in the hippocampus, exacerbating hippocampus-dependent memory. In additon, the dsRNA/TLR3 inhibitor improved cognitive function after CCI. Together, our findings suggested that exRNAs, particularly dsRNAs, that were present in the condition of chronic neuropathic pain, activated TLR3, initiated downstream inflammatory and apoptotic signaling, caused damage to synaptic plasticity, and contributed to the etiology of cognitive impairment after chronic neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rui Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changteng Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Teng
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hai Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changliang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiahui Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liuxing Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liyun Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lining Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shixin Ye-Lehmann
- Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System, University of Paris-Scalay Bicêtre Hosptial, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Cell Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Chan Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- The Research Units of West China (2018RU012)-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Taskiran SY, Taskiran M, Unal G, Golgeli A. Group I mGluRs positive allosteric modulators improved schizophrenia-related behavioral and molecular deficits in the Poly I:C rat model. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023:173593. [PMID: 37390974 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Maternal polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) exposure leads to an increase in various proinflammatory cytokines and causes schizophrenia-like symptoms in offspring. In recent years, group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) have emerged as a potential target in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to investigate the behavioral and molecular changes by using the mGlu1 receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) agent RO 67-7476, and the negative allosteric modulator (NAM) agent JNJ 16259685 and the mGlu5 receptor PAM agent VU-29, and NAM agent fenobam in the Poly I:C-induced schizophrenia model in rats. METHODS Female Wistar albino rats were treated with Poly I:C on day 14 of gestation after mating. On the postnatal day (PND) 35, 56 and 84, behavioral tests were performed in the male offspring. On the PND84, brain tissue was collected and the level of proinflammatory cytokines was determined by ELISA method. RESULTS Poly I:C caused impairments in all behavioral tests and increased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. While PAM agents caused significant improvements in prepulse inhibition (PPI), novel object recognition (NOR), spontaneous alternation and reference memory tests, they brought the levels of proinflammatory cytokines closer to the control group. NAM agents were ineffective on behavioral tests. It was observed that PAM agents significantly improved Poly I:C-induced disruption in behavioral and molecular analyses. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that PAM agents, particularly the mGlu5 receptor VU-29, are also promising and could be a potential target in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mehmet Taskiran
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Gokhan Unal
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Asuman Golgeli
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
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Points of divergence on a bumpy road: early development of brain and immune threat processing systems following postnatal adversity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:269-283. [PMID: 35705633 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Lifelong indices of maladaptive behavior or illness often stem from early physiological aberrations during periods of dynamic development. This is especially true when dysfunction is attributable to early life adversity (ELA), when the environment itself is unsuitable to support development of healthy behavior. Exposure to ELA is strongly associated with atypical sensitivity and responsivity to potential threats-a characteristic that could be adaptive in situations where early adversity prepares individuals for lifelong danger, but which often manifests in difficulties with emotion regulation and social relationships. By synthesizing findings from animal research, this review will consider threat sensitivity through the lenses of associated corticolimbic brain circuitry and immune mechanisms, both of which are immature early in life to maximize adaptation for protection against environmental challenges to an individual's well-being. The forces that drive differential development of corticolimbic circuits include caretaking stimuli, physiological and psychological stressors, and sex, which influences developmental trajectories. These same forces direct developmental processes of the immune system, which bidirectionally communicates with sensory systems and emotion regulation circuits within the brain. Inflammatory signals offer a further force influencing the timing and nature of corticolimbic plasticity, while also regulating sensitivity to future threats from the environment (i.e., injury or pathogens). The early development of these systems programs threat sensitivity through juvenility and adolescence, carving paths for probable function throughout adulthood. To strategize prevention or management of maladaptive threat sensitivity in ELA-exposed populations, it is necessary to fully understand these early points of divergence.
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Schiavo A, Martins LA, Wearick-Silva LE, Orso R, Xavier LL, Mestriner RG. Can anxiety-like behavior and spatial memory predict the extremes of skilled walking performance in mice? An exploratory, preliminary study. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1059029. [PMID: 36926582 PMCID: PMC10011164 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1059029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Skilled walking is influenced by memory, stress, and anxiety. While this is evident in cases of neurological disorders, memory, and anxiety traits may predict skilled walking performance even in normal functioning. Here, we address whether spatial memory and anxiety-like behavior can predict skilled walking performance in mice. Methods A cohort of 60 adult mice underwent a behavioral assessment including general exploration (open field), anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze), working and spatial memory (Y-maze and Barnes maze), and skilled walking performance (ladder walking test). Three groups were established based on their skilled walking performance: superior (SP, percentiles ≥75), regular (RP, percentiles 74-26), and inferior (IP, percentiles ≤25) performers. Results Animals from the SP and IP groups spent more time in the elevated plus maze closed arms compared to the RP group. With every second spent in the elevated plus maze closed arms, the probability of the animal exhibiting extreme percentiles in the ladder walking test increased by 1.4%. Moreover, animals that spent 219 s (73% of the total time of the test) or more in those arms were 4.67 times more likely to exhibit either higher or lower percentiles of skilled walking performance. Discussion We discuss and conclude anxiety traits may influence skilled walking performance in facility-reared mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniuska Schiavo
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation Research Group (NEUROPLAR), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas Athaydes Martins
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation Research Group (NEUROPLAR), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luís Eduardo Wearick-Silva
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Orso
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Léder Leal Xavier
- Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation Research Group (NEUROPLAR), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Régis Gemerasca Mestriner
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation Research Group (NEUROPLAR), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Early life adversity drives sex-specific anhedonia and meningeal immune gene expression through mast cell activation. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 103:73-84. [PMID: 35339629 PMCID: PMC9149134 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to early life adversity (ELA) in the form of physical and/or psychological abuse or neglect increases the risk of developing psychiatric and inflammatory disorders later in life. It has been hypothesized that exposure to ELA results in persistent, low grade inflammation that leads to increased disease susceptibility by amplifying the crosstalk between stress-processing brain networks and the immune system, but the mechanisms remain largely unexplored. The meninges, a layer of three overlapping membranes that surround the central nervous system (CNS)- dura mater, arachnoid, and piamater - possess unique features that allow them to play a key role in coordinating immune trafficking between the brain and the peripheral immune system. These include a network of lymphatic vessels that carry cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to the deep cervical lymph nodes, fenestrated blood vessels that allow the passage of molecules from blood to the CNS, and a rich population of resident mast cells, master regulators of the immune system. Using a mouse model of ELA consisting of neonatal maternal separation plus early weaning (NMSEW), we sought to explore the effects of ELA on sucrose preference behavior, dura mater expression of inflammatory markers and mast cell histology in adult male and female C57Bl/6 mice. We found that NMSEW alone does not affect sucrose preference behavior in males or females, but it increases the dura mater expression of the genes coding for mast cell protease CMA1 (cma1) and the inflammatory cytokine TNF alpha (tnf alpha) in females. When NMSEW is combined with an adult mild stress (that does not affect behavior or gene expression in NH animals) females show reduced sucrose preference and even greater increases in meningeal cma1 levels. Interestingly, systemic administration of the mast cell stabilizer Ketotifen before exposure to adult stress prevents both, reduction in sucrose preference an increases in cma1 expression in NMSEW females, but facilitates stress-induced sucrose anhedonia in NMSEW males and NH females. Finally, histological analyses showed that, compared to males, females have increased baseline activation levels of mast cells located in the transverse sinus of the dura mater, where the meningeal lymphatics run along, and that, in males and females exposed to adult stress, NMSEW increases the number of mast cells in the interparietal region of the dura mater and the levels of mast cell activation in the sagittal sinus regions of the dura mater. Together, our results indicate that ELA induces long-term meningeal immune gene changes and heightened sensitivity to adult stress-induced behavioral and meningeal immune responses and that these effects could mediated via mast cells.
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Effects of early life stress on brain cytokines: A systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 139:104746. [PMID: 35716876 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early life stress (ELS) may lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Alterations in the immune system and neuroinflammatory state induced by ELS exposure are considered risk factors for developing psychiatric disorders. Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent studies investigating the short and long-term effects of ELS exposure on anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines in brain tissues. Our analysis shows that animals exposed to ELS present an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. On the other hand, no alteration was observed in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Meta-regression revealed that alterations were more prominent in the hippocampus of adult animals that were exposed to more extended periods of ELS. These inflammatory effects were not permanent since few alterations were identified in aged animals. Our findings suggest that ELS exposure alters pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and may act as a primer for a secondary challenge that may induce lifelong immune alterations. Moreover, the actual evidence is insufficient to comprehend the relationship between anti-inflammatory cytokines and ELS fully.
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Weil ZM, White B, Whitehead B, Karelina K. The role of the stress system in recovery after traumatic brain injury: A tribute to Bruce S. McEwen. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 19:100467. [PMID: 35720260 PMCID: PMC9201063 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major public health concern. Although the majority of individuals that suffer mild-moderate TBI recover relatively quickly, a substantial subset of individuals experiences prolonged and debilitating symptoms. An exacerbated response to physiological and psychological stressors after TBI may mediate poor functional recovery. Individuals with TBI can suffer from poor stress tolerance, impairments in the ability to evaluate stressors, and poor initiation (and cessation) of neuroendocrine stress responses, all of which can exacerbate TBI-mediated dysfunction. Here, we pay tribute to the pioneering neuroendocrinologist Dr. Bruce McEwen by discussing the ways in which his work on stress physiology and allostatic loading impacts the TBI patient population both before and after their injuries. Specifically, we will discuss the modulatory role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses immediately after TBI and later in recovery. We will also consider the impact of stressors and stress responses in promoting post-concussive syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorders, two common sequelae of TBI. Finally, we will explore the role of early life stressors, prior to brain injuries, as modulators of injury outcomes.
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Effects of early life adversities upon memory processes and cognition in rodent models. Neuroscience 2022; 497:282-307. [PMID: 35525496 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to stressors in early postnatal life induces long-lasting modifications in brainfunction.Thisplasticity,an essential characteristic of the brain that enables adaptation to the environment, may also induce impairments in some psychophysiological functions, including learning and memory. Early life stress (ELS) has long-term effects on thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axisresponse to stressors, and has been reported to lead toneuroinflammation,altered levelsof neurotrophic factors, modifications inneurogenesis andsynaptic plasticity,with changes in neurotransmitter systems and network functioning. In this review, we focus on early postnatal stress in animal models and their effects on learning and memory.Many studies have reported ELS-induced impairments in different types of memories, including spatial memory, fear memory, recognition (both for objects and social) memory, working memory and reversal learning. Studies are not always in agreement, however, no effects, or sometimes facilitation, being reported, depending on the nature and intensity of the early intervention, as well as the age when the outcome was evaluated and the sex of the animals. When considering processes occurring after consolidation, related with memory maintenance or modification, there are a very reduced number of reports. Future studies addressing the mechanisms underlying memory changes for ELS should shed some light on the understanding of the different effects induced by stressors of different types and intensities on cognitive functions.
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Early environmental enrichment rescues memory impairments provoked by mild neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in adolescent mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 407:113237. [PMID: 33798820 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a consequence of a lack of oxygen and glucose support to the developing brain, which causes several neurodevelopmental impairments. Environmental enrichment (EE) is considered an option to recover the alterations observed in rodents exposed to HI. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early EE on memory, hippocampal volume and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bbnf) and glucocorticoid receptor (Nr3c1) gene expression of mice exposed to HI. At P10, pups underwent right carotid artery permanent occlusion followed by 35 min of 8% O2 hypoxic environment. Starting at P11, animals were reared in EE or in standard cage (HI-SC or SHAM-SC) conditions until behavioral testing (P45). SHAM pups did not undergo carotid ligation and hypoxic exposure. Memory performance was assessed in the Y-maze, Novel object recognition, and Barnes maze. Animals were then sacrificed for analysis of hippocampal volume and Bdnf and Nr3c1 gene expression. We observed that animals exposed to HI performed worse in all three tests compared to SHAM animals. Furthermore, HI animals exposed to EE did not differ from SHAM animals in all tasks. Moreover, HI decreased hippocampal volume, while animals reared in early EE were not different compared to SHAM animals. Animals exposed to HI also showed upregulated hippocampal Bdnf expression compared to SHAM animals. We conclude that early EE from P11 to P45 proved to be effective in recovering memory impairments and hippocampal volume loss elicited by HI. Nevertheless, Bdnf expression was not associated with the improvements in memory performance observed in animals exposed to EE after a hypoxic-ischemic event.
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11
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Sable HJ, MacDonnchadh JJ, Lee HW, Butawan M, Simpson RN, Krueger KM, Bloomer RJ. Working memory and hippocampal expression of BDNF, ARC, and P-STAT3 in rats: effects of diet and exercise. Nutr Neurosci 2021; 25:1609-1622. [PMID: 33593241 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2021.1885230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mounting evidence suggests diet and exercise influence learning and memory (LM). We compared a high-fat, high-sucrose Western diet (WD) to a plant-based, amylose/amylopectin blend, lower-fat diet known as the Daniel Fast (DF) in rats with and without regular aerobic exercise on a task of spatial working memory (WM). METHODS Rats were randomly assigned to the WD or DF at 6 weeks of age. Exercised rats (WD-E, DF-E) ran on a treadmill 3 times/week for 30 min while the sedentary rats did not (WD-S, DF-S). Rats adhered to these assignments for 12 weeks, inclusive of ab libitum food intake, after which mild food restriction was implemented to encourage responding during WM testing. For nine months, WM performance was assessed once daily, six days per week, after which hippocampal sections were collected for subsequent analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activity-regulated cytoskeletal protein (ARC), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (P-STAT3, Tyr705). RESULTS DF-E rats exhibited the best DSA performance. Surprisingly, the WD-S group outperformed the WD-E group, but had significantly lower BDNF and ARC relative to the DF-S group, with a similar trend from the WD-E group. P-STAT3 expression was also significantly elevated in the WD-S group compared to both the DF-S and WD-E groups. DISCUSSION These results support previous research demonstrating negative effects of the WD on spatial LM, demonstrate the plant-based DF regimen combined with chronic aerobic exercise produces measurable WM and neuroprotective benefits, and suggest the need to carefully design exercise prescriptions to avoid over-stressing individuals making concurrent dietary changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J Sable
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Harold W Lee
- College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Matthew Butawan
- College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Raven N Simpson
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Katie M Krueger
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
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Banqueri M, Gutiérrez-Menéndez A, Méndez M, Conejo NM, Arias JL. Early life stress due to repeated maternal separation alters the working memory acquisition brain functional network. Stress 2021; 24:87-95. [PMID: 32510270 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1777974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Unfortunately, adverse environments in early life are frequently found in most human populations. Early life stress leads to diverse cognitive impairments, some of them related to learning and memory and executive functions such as working memory (WM). We employ an animal model of early stress using repeated maternal separation (MS) for 4 h a day on 21 consecutive days, pre-weaning. In adulthood, we tested their spatial WM using the Morris water maze. MS subjects showed a marked delay in the acquisition of the task. In addition, we explored brain energy oxidative metabolism and found an increase in cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in the cingulate cortex, anterior thalamus, and supramammillary areas, indicating an intense effort to successfully solve the WM task. However, decreased CCO activity was found in the medial-medial mammillary nucleus in MS animals, which would partially explain the delayed acquisition of the WM task. Further studies are needed to explore the long-term alterations produced by early stress. LAY SUMMARY A stressful environment caused by the separation of baby rats from the mother for several hours a day in the first stages of postnatal life can be devastating to brain cells, making them look for alternative sources of energy, among other changes. These alterations in brain functional networks would lead to cognitive impairments such as the delayed acquisition of new learning and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Banqueri
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alba Gutiérrez-Menéndez
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Marta Méndez
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Nélida M Conejo
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jorge L Arias
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
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13
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Ji MH, Lei L, Gao DP, Tong JH, Wang Y, Yang JJ. Neural network disturbance in the medial prefrontal cortex might contribute to cognitive impairments induced by neuroinflammation. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 89:133-144. [PMID: 32505714 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the progression of many neurodegenerative diseases, yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. Using an animal model of neuroinflammation induced by repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections, we found selectively reduced expression of parvalbumin (PV) but not somatostatin (SST) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The reduced PV expression resulted in decreased intensities of vesicular GABA transporter and PV buttons, suggesting disinhibition in the mPFC. These further induced abnormal mPFC neural activities and consequently contributed to cognitive impairments. In addition, gamma oscillations supported by PV interneuron function were positively associated with time spent with the novel object in the novel object recognition test. Notably, down-regulation of neuroinflammation by microglia inhibitor minocycline or boosting gamma oscillations by dopamine 4 receptor agonist RO-10-5824 improved cognitive performance. In conclusion, our study proposes neural network disturbance as a likely mechanistic linker between neuroinflammation and cognitive impairments in neurodegeneration and possibly other psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu-Huo Ji
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Da-Peng Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian-Hua Tong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian-Jun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
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14
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Dutcher EG, Pama EC, Lynall ME, Khan S, Clatworthy MR, Robbins TW, Bullmore ET, Dalley JW. Early-life stress and inflammation: A systematic review of a key experimental approach in rodents. Brain Neurosci Adv 2020; 4:2398212820978049. [PMID: 33447663 PMCID: PMC7780197 DOI: 10.1177/2398212820978049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeated maternal separation is the most widely used pre-clinical approach to investigate the relationship between early-life chronic stress and its neuropsychiatric and physical consequences. In this systematic review, we identified 46 studies that conducted repeated maternal separation or single-episode maternal separation and reported measurements of interleukin-1b, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, or microglia activation and density. We report that in the short-term and in the context of later-life stress, repeated maternal separation has pro-inflammatory immune consequences in diverse tissues. Repeated maternal separation animals exhibit greater microglial activation and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine signalling in key brain regions implicated in human psychiatric disorders. Notably, repeated maternal separation generally has no long-term effect on cytokine expression in any tissue in the absence of later-life stress. These observations suggest that the elevated inflammatory signalling that has been reported in humans with a history of early-life stress may be the joint consequence of ongoing stressor exposure together with potentiated neural and/or immune responsiveness to stressors. Finally, our findings provide detailed guidance for future studies interrogating the causal roles of early-life stress and inflammation in disorders such as major depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan G. Dutcher
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Mary-Ellen Lynall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Molecular Immunity Unit, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shahid Khan
- GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development, Stevenage, UK
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey W. Dalley
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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15
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Sun X, Zhang Y, Li X, Liu X, Qin C. Early-Life Neglect Alters Emotional and Cognitive Behavior in a Sex-Dependent Manner and Reduces Glutamatergic Neuronal Excitability in the Prefrontal Cortex. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:572224. [PMID: 33574771 PMCID: PMC7870800 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.572224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life neglect in critical developmental periods has been associated with emotional and cognitive consequences. Maternal separation (MS) has been commonly used as a rodent model to identify the developmental effects of child neglect. However, reports have shown considerable variability in behavioral results from MS studies in both mice and rats. Difficulties in developing reliable child neglect models have impeded advances in identifying the effects of early-life stress. Accumulating evidence shows that neuronal intrinsic excitability plays an important role in information processing and storage in the brain. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) integrates information from many cortical and subcortical structures. No studies to date have examined the impact of early-life stress on glutamatergic neuronal excitability in the PFC. This study aimed to develop a reliable child neglect rat model and observe glutamatergic neuronal excitability in the PFC. An MS with early weaning (MSEW) rat model was developed. Rats were separated from the dam for 4 h per day on postnatal days (PNDs) 2-5 and for 8 h per day on PNDs 6-16 and then weaned on PND 17. A battery of behavioral tests was used to assess anxiety-like behavior, coping behavior, working memory, spatial reference memory, and fear memory. The action potentials (APs) of glutamatergic neuronal membranes were recorded. MSEW resulted in anxiety-like behavior, a passive coping strategy and increased fear memory in male rats and decreased locomotor activity in both sexes. MSEW slightly impaired working memory during non-stressful situations in female rats but did not change spatial reference memory or associative learning under stressful circumstances in either sex. MSEW reduced the number of glutamatergic neuron APs in male rats. Our findings showed that MS with early weaning induced anxiety-like behavior in male rats. The reduced glutamatergic neuronal excitability may be associated with the emotional alteration induced by MSEW in male rats. In addition, MSEW induced adaptive modification, which depended on a non-stressful context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuping Sun
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xianglei Li
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xinmin Liu
- Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan Qin
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China
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