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Maddock RJ, Vlasova RM, Chen S, Iosif AM, Bennett J, Tanase C, Ryan AM, Murai T, Hogrefe CE, Schumann CD, Geschwind DH, Van de Water J, Amaral DG, Lesh TA, Styner MA, Kimberley McAllister A, Carter CS, Bauman MD. Altered brain metabolites in male nonhuman primate offspring exposed to maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2024:S0889-1591(24)00480-X. [PMID: 39032543 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.07.011] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Converging data show that exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) in utero alters brain development in animals and increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. A recently developed non-human primate MIA model affords opportunities for studies with uniquely strong translational relevance to human neurodevelopment. The current longitudinal study used 1H-MRS to investigate the developmental trajectory of prefrontal cortex metabolites in male rhesus monkey offspring of dams (n = 14) exposed to a modified form of the inflammatory viral mimic, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly IC), in the late first trimester. Brain metabolites in these animals were compared to offspring of dams that received saline (n = 10) or no injection (n = 4). N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate, creatine, choline, myo-inositol, taurine, and glutathione were estimated from PRESS and MEGA-PRESS acquisitions obtained at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 45 months of age. Prior investigations of this cohort reported reduced frontal cortical gray and white matter and subtle cognitive impairments in MIA offspring. We hypothesized that the MIA-induced neurodevelopmental changes would extend to abnormal brain metabolite levels, which would be associated with the observed cognitive impairments. Prefrontal NAA was significantly higher in the MIA offspring across all ages (p < 0.001) and was associated with better performance on the two cognitive measures most sensitive to impairment in the MIA animals (p < 0.05). Myo-inositol was significantly lower across all ages in MIA offspring but was not associated with cognitive performance. Taurine was elevated in MIA offspring at 36 and 45 months. Glutathione did not differ between groups. MIA exposure in male non-human primates is associated with altered prefrontal cortex metabolites during childhood and adolescence. A positive association between elevated NAA and cognitive performance suggests the hypothesis that elevated NAA throughout these developmental stages reflects a protective or resilience-related process in MIA-exposed offspring. The potential relevance of these findings to human neurodevelopmental disorders is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Maddock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Roza M Vlasova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shuai Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Costin Tanase
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Amy M Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Takeshi Murai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia D Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA; MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - David G Amaral
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA; MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA; Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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2
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Kim E, Huh JR, Choi GB. Prenatal and postnatal neuroimmune interactions in neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:598-606. [PMID: 38565970 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01797-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The intricate relationship between immune dysregulation and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) has been observed across the stages of both prenatal and postnatal development. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of various maternal immune conditions, ranging from infections to chronic inflammatory conditions, that impact the neurodevelopment of the fetus during pregnancy. Furthermore, we examine the presence of immunological phenotypes, such as immune-related markers and coexisting immunological disorders, in individuals with NDDs. By delving into these findings, we shed light on the potential underlying mechanisms responsible for the high occurrence of immune dysregulation alongside NDDs. We also discuss current mouse models of NDDs and their contributions to our understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying these diseases. Additionally, we discuss how neuroimmune interactions contribute to shaping the manifestation of neurological phenotypes in individuals with NDDs while also exploring potential avenues for mitigating these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunha Kim
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Neuroscience, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jun R Huh
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gloria B Choi
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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3
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Lu X, Shi Z, Jiang L, Zhang S. Maternal gut microbiota in the health of mothers and offspring: from the perspective of immunology. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1362784. [PMID: 38545107 PMCID: PMC10965710 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1362784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the physiological alteration during pregnancy, maternal gut microbiota changes following the metabolic processes. Recent studies have revealed that maternal gut microbiota is closely associated with the immune microenvironment in utero during pregnancy and plays a vital role in specific pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth and recurrent miscarriages. Some other evidence has also shown that aberrant maternal gut microbiota increases the risk of various diseases in the offspring, such as allergic and neurodevelopmental disorders, through the immune alignment between mother and fetus and the possible intrauterine microbiota. Probiotics and the high-fiber diet are effective inventions to prevent mothers and fetuses from diseases. In this review, we summarize the role of maternal gut microbiota in the development of pregnancy complications and the health condition of future generations from the perspective of immunology, which may provide new therapeutic strategies for the health management of mothers and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Lu
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhan Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Lingling Jiang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Songying Zhang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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Zhang HL, Hu S, Qu ST, Lv MD, Wang JJ, Liu XT, Yao JH, Ding YY, Xu GY. Inhibition of NKCC1 Ameliorates Anxiety and Autistic Behaviors Induced by Maternal Immune Activation in Mice. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:1851-1864. [PMID: 38534737 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is thought to result from susceptibility genotypes and environmental risk factors. The offspring of women who experience pregnancy infection have an increased risk for autism. Maternal immune activation (MIA) in pregnant animals produces offspring with autistic behaviors, making MIA a useful model for autism. However, how MIA causes autistic behaviors in offspring is not fully understood. Here, we show that NKCC1 is critical for mediating autistic behaviors in MIA offspring. We confirmed that MIA induced by poly(I:C) infection during pregnancy leads to autistic behaviors in offspring. We further demonstrated that MIA offspring showed significant microglia activation, excessive dendritic spines, and narrow postsynaptic density (PSD) in their prefrontal cortex (PFC). Then, we discovered that these abnormalities may be caused by overexpression of NKCC1 in MIA offspring's PFCs. Finally, we ameliorated the autistic behaviors using PFC microinjection of NKCC1 inhibitor bumetanide (BTN) in MIA offspring. Our findings may shed new light on the pathological mechanisms for autism caused by pregnancy infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Long Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shufen Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shu-Ting Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Meng-Dan Lv
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jun-Jun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xin-Ting Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jia-He Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yi-Yan Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guang-Yin Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Zhu Y, Xiong Y, Xu X, Zhang J, Tong H, Yang H, Niu X, Shi X, Tang J, Li J. A reliable and cost-effective protocol for creating bilirubin cerebral palsy model in rhesus macaque. J Med Primatol 2024; 53:e12691. [PMID: 38345330 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12691] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral palsy is a severe motor disability in childhood that poses challenges for children, families, and society. Rhesus macaques are the preferred animals for cerebral palsy model, but surgical excision of motor cortex has low success rate and high cost. In this work, we created cerebral palsy rhesus macaque models by intrathecal injection of bilirubin. METHODS The puncture point for injection was identified as the intervertebral disc space two, located below the intersection of the iliac crest line and the posterior median line. RESULTS The models showed abnormal posture and increased muscle tension. Diffuse deposits of bilirubin were found in the basal ganglia from the magnetic resonance imaging. Pathological slides also revealed the presence of brain lesions, such as vacuole formation, contraction of neuronal nuclei, and deep staining of nuclei in the histopathological sections of the hippocampus and basal ganglia. CONCLUSION The model's symptoms closely resemble those observed in humans with spastic cerebral palsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhu
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Yanan Xiong
- Pediatric Neurological Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- Pediatric Neurological Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Haiyang Tong
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Hongyi Yang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Xia Niu
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaming Shi
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Jiulai Tang
- Pediatric Neurological Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinhua Li
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
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6
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Gan Y, Chen Y, Zhong H, Liu Z, Geng J, Wang H, Wang W. Gut microbes in central nervous system development and related disorders. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1288256. [PMID: 38343438 PMCID: PMC10854220 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1288256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The association between gut microbiota and central nervous system (CNS) development has garnered significant research attention in recent years. Evidence suggests bidirectional communication between the CNS and gut microbiota through the brain-gut axis. As a long and complex process, CNS development is highly susceptible to both endogenous and exogenous factors. The gut microbiota impacts the CNS by regulating neurogenesis, myelination, glial cell function, synaptic pruning, and blood-brain barrier permeability, with implication in various CNS disorders. This review outlines the relationship between gut microbiota and stages of CNS development (prenatal and postnatal), emphasizing the integral role of gut microbes. Furthermore, the review explores the implications of gut microbiota in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, Rett syndrome, and Angelman syndrome, offering insights into early detection, prompt intervention, and innovative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Gan
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huijie Zhong
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiawei Geng
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huishan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wenxue Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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7
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Stankovic I, Notaras M, Wolujewicz P, Lu T, Lis R, Ross ME, Colak D. Schizophrenia endothelial cells exhibit higher permeability and altered angiogenesis patterns in patient-derived organoids. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:53. [PMID: 38263175 PMCID: PMC10806043 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02740-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms in early adulthood. While many research avenues into the origins of SCZ during brain development have been explored, the contribution of endothelial/vascular dysfunction to the disease remains largely elusive. To model the neuropathology of SCZ during early critical periods of brain development, we utilized patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate 3D cerebral organoids and define cell-specific signatures of disease. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that while SCZ organoids were similar in their macromolecular diversity to organoids generated from healthy controls (CTRL), SCZ organoids exhibited a higher percentage of endothelial cells when normalized to total cell numbers. Additionally, when compared to CTRL, differential gene expression analysis revealed a significant enrichment in genes that function in vessel formation, vascular regulation, and inflammatory response in SCZ endothelial cells. In line with these findings, data from 23 donors demonstrated that PECAM1+ microvascular vessel-like structures were increased in length and number in SCZ organoids in comparison to CTRL organoids. Furthermore, we report that patient-derived endothelial cells displayed higher paracellular permeability, implicating elevated vascular activity. Collectively, our data identified altered gene expression patterns, vessel-like structural changes, and enhanced permeability of endothelial cells in patient-derived models of SCZ. Hence, brain microvascular cells could play a role in the etiology of SCZ by modulating the permeability of the developing blood brain barrier (BBB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidora Stankovic
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Notaras
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Wolujewicz
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tyler Lu
- Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raphael Lis
- Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Ross
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dilek Colak
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Parise LF, Joseph Burnett C, Russo SJ. Early life stress and altered social behaviors: A perspective across species. Neurosci Res 2023:S0168-0102(23)00200-6. [PMID: 37992997 PMCID: PMC11102940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Childhood and adolescent affiliations guide how individuals engage in social relationships throughout their lifetime and adverse experiences can promote biological alterations that facilitate behavioral maladaptation. Indeed, childhood victims of abuse are more likely to be diagnosed with conduct or mood disorders which are both characterized by altered social engagement. A key domain particularly deserving of attention is aggressive behavior, a hallmark of many disorders characterized by deficits in reward processing. Animal models have been integral in identifying both the short- and long-term consequences of stress exposure and suggest that whether it is disruption to parental care or social isolation, chronic exposure to early life stress increases corticosterone, changes the expression of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, and facilitates structural alterations to the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, influencing how these brain regions communicate with other reward-related substrates. Herein, we describe how adverse early life experiences influence social behavioral outcomes across a wide range of species and highlight the long-term biological mechanisms that are most relevant to maladaptive aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyonna F Parise
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - C Joseph Burnett
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Santana-Coelho D, Lugo JN. Hippocampal Upregulation of Complement Component C3 in Response to Lipopolysaccharide Stimuli in a Model of Fragile-X Syndrome. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:9306-9315. [PMID: 37998759 PMCID: PMC10669955 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45110582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The complement system is part of the innate immune system and has been shown to be altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fragile-X syndrome (FXS) is the main genetic cause of ASD and studies suggest a dysregulation in the immune system in patients with the disorder. To assess if an animal model of FXS presents with altered complement signaling, we treated male Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and collected the hippocampus 24 h later. Assessment of the expression of the complement genes C1q, C3, and C4 identified the upregulation of C3 in both wild-type (WT) and knockout mice. Levels of C3 also increased in both genotypes. Analysis of the correlation between the expression of C3 and the cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α identified a different relationship between the expression of the genes in Fmr1 KO when compared to WT mice. Our findings did not support our initial hypotheses that the lack of the FMR1 gene would alter complement system signaling, and that the induction of the complement system in response to LPS in Fmr1 KO mice differed from wild-type conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joaquin N. Lugo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA;
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
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10
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Chen R, Routh BN, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK. Circadian Regulation of the Neuroimmune Environment Across the Lifespan: From Brain Development to Aging. J Biol Rhythms 2023; 38:419-446. [PMID: 37357738 PMCID: PMC10475217 DOI: 10.1177/07487304231178950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Circadian clocks confer 24-h periodicity to biological systems, to ultimately maximize energy efficiency and promote survival in a world with regular environmental light cycles. In mammals, circadian rhythms regulate myriad physiological functions, including the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems. Within the central nervous system, specialized glial cells such as astrocytes and microglia survey and maintain the neuroimmune environment. The contributions of these neuroimmune cells to both homeostatic and pathogenic demands vary greatly across the day. Moreover, the function of these cells changes across the lifespan. In this review, we discuss circadian regulation of the neuroimmune environment across the lifespan, with a focus on microglia and astrocytes. Circadian rhythms emerge in early life concurrent with neuroimmune sculpting of brain circuits and wane late in life alongside increasing immunosenescence and neurodegeneration. Importantly, circadian dysregulation can alter immune function, which may contribute to susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we highlight circadian neuroimmune interactions across the lifespan and share evidence that circadian dysregulation within the neuroimmune system may be a critical component in human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhuo Chen
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Brandy N. Routh
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Andrew D. Gaudet
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Laura K. Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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11
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Lesh TA, Iosif AM, Tanase C, Vlasova RM, Ryan AM, Bennett J, Hogrefe CE, Maddock RJ, Geschwind DH, Van de Water J, McAllister AK, Styner MA, Bauman MD, Carter CS. Extracellular free water elevations are associated with brain volume and maternal cytokine response in a longitudinal nonhuman primate maternal immune activation model. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4185-4194. [PMID: 37582858 PMCID: PMC10867284 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02213-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Maternal infection has emerged as an important environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Animal model systems of maternal immune activation (MIA) suggest that the maternal immune response plays a significant role in the offspring's neurodevelopment and behavioral outcomes. Extracellular free water is a measure of freely diffusing water in the brain that may be associated with neuroinflammation and impacted by MIA. The present study evaluates the brain diffusion characteristics of male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) born to MIA-exposed dams (n = 14) treated with a modified form of the viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid at the end of the first trimester. Control dams received saline injections at the end of the first trimester (n = 10) or were untreated (n = 4). Offspring underwent diffusion MRI scans at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 45 months. Offspring born to MIA-exposed dams showed significantly increased extracellular free water in cingulate cortex gray matter starting as early as 6 months of age and persisting through 45 months. In addition, offspring gray matter free water in this region was significantly correlated with the magnitude of the maternal IL-6 response in the MIA-exposed dams. Significant correlations between brain volume and extracellular free water in the MIA-exposed offspring also indicate converging, multimodal evidence of the impact of MIA on brain development. These findings provide strong evidence for the construct validity of the nonhuman primate MIA model as a system of relevance for investigating the pathophysiology of human neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. Elevated free water in individuals exposed to immune activation in utero could represent an early marker of a perturbed or vulnerable neurodevelopmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Costin Tanase
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Roza M Vlasova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Amy M Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Richard J Maddock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A Kimberley McAllister
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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12
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Seker A, Qirko-Gurakuqi A, Tabaku M, Javate KRP, Rathwell I. Maternal atopic conditions and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023:10.1007/s00787-023-02285-7. [PMID: 37661216 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02285-7] [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: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disabling neurodevelopmental condition with complex etiology. Emerging evidence has pointed to maternal atopy as a possible risk factor. It is hypothesized that maternal atopic disease during pregnancy can lead to increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in fetal circulation via placental transfer or increased production. These cytokines can then pass through the immature blood-brain barrier, causing aberrant neurodevelopment via mechanisms including premature microglial activation. The objective of this study is to systematically review observational studies that investigate whether a maternal history of atopic disease (asthma, allergy, or eczema/atopic dermatitis) is associated with a diagnosis of ASD in offspring. A search was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase databases for relevant articles up to November 2021; this was later updated in January 2022. Observational studies published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Data were synthesized and qualitatively analyzed according to the specific atopic condition. Quality assessment was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Nine articles were identified, with all including asthma as an exposure, alongside four each for allergy and eczema. Findings were inconsistent regarding the association between a maternal diagnosis of either asthma, allergy, or eczema, and ASD in offspring, with variations in methodology contributing to the inconclusiveness. More consistent associations were demonstrated regarding maternal asthma that was treated or diagnosed during pregnancy. Evidence suggests that symptomatic maternal asthma during pregnancy could be associated with ASD in offspring, underscoring the importance of effective management of atopic conditions during pregnancy. Further research is needed, particularly longitudinal studies that use gold-standard assessment tools and correlate clinical outcomes with laboratory and treatment data.PROSPERO Registration Number and Date: CRD42018116656, 26.11.2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asilay Seker
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Anxhela Qirko-Gurakuqi
- Department of Biomedical and Experimental Subjects, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania
| | - Mirela Tabaku
- Paediatric Department, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania
| | - Kenneth Ross P Javate
- Department of Psychiatry, The Medical City Hospital, Manila, Philippines
- School of Medicine and Public Health, Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines
| | - Iris Rathwell
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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13
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Smucny J, Vlasova RM, Lesh TA, Rowland DJ, Wang G, Chaudhari AJ, Chen S, Iosif AM, Hogrefe CE, Bennett JL, Shumann CM, Van de Water JA, Maddock RJ, Styner MA, Geschwind DH, McAllister AK, Bauman MD, Carter CS. Increased Striatal Presynaptic Dopamine in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Maternal Immune Activation: A Longitudinal Neurodevelopmental Positron Emission Tomography Study With Implications for Schizophrenia. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:505-513. [PMID: 36805246 PMCID: PMC10164700 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies suggest that maternal immune activation (MIA) is a significant risk factor for future neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia (SZ), in offspring. Consistent with findings in SZ research and work in rodent systems, preliminary cross-sectional findings in nonhuman primates suggest that MIA is associated with dopaminergic hyperfunction in young adult offspring. METHODS In this unique prospective longitudinal study, we used [18F]fluoro-l-m-tyrosine positron emission tomography to examine the developmental time course of striatal presynaptic dopamine synthesis in male rhesus monkeys born to dams (n = 13) injected with a modified form of the inflammatory viral mimic, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], in the late first trimester. Striatal (caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens) dopamine from these animals was compared with that of control offspring born to dams that received saline (n = 10) or no injection (n = 4). Dopamine was measured at 15, 26, 38, and 48 months of age. Prior work with this cohort found decreased prefrontal gray matter volume in MIA offspring versus controls between 6 and 45 months of age. Based on theories of the etiology and development of SZ-related pathology, we hypothesized that there would be a delayed (relative to the gray matter decrease) increase in striatal fluoro-l-m-tyrosine signal in the MIA group versus controls. RESULTS [18F]fluoro-l-m-tyrosine signal showed developmental increases in both groups in the caudate and putamen. Group comparisons revealed significantly greater caudate dopaminergic signal in the MIA group at 26 months. CONCLUSIONS These findings are highly relevant to the known pathophysiology of SZ and highlight the translational relevance of the MIA model in understanding mechanisms by which MIA during pregnancy increases risk for later illness in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Smucny
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California.
| | - Roza M Vlasova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California; Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Douglas J Rowland
- Center for Genomic and Molecular Imaging, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Guobao Wang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Abhijit J Chaudhari
- Center for Genomic and Molecular Imaging, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Shuai Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Jeffrey L Bennett
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Cynthia M Shumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Judy A Van de Water
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Richard J Maddock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California; Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California.
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Veenstra-VanderWeele J, O'Reilly KC, Dennis MY, Uribe-Salazar JM, Amaral DG. Translational Neuroscience Approaches to Understanding Autism. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:265-276. [PMID: 37002692 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230153] [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] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
While autism spectrum disorder affects nearly 2% of children in the United States, little is known with certainty concerning the etiologies and brain systems involved. This is due, in part, to the substantial heterogeneity in the presentation of the core symptoms of autism as well as the great number of co-occurring conditions that are common in autistic individuals. Understanding the neurobiology of autism is further hampered by the limited availability of postmortem brain tissue to determine the cellular and molecular alterations that take place in the autistic brain. Animal models therefore provide great translational value in helping to define the neural systems that constitute the social brain and mediate repetitive behaviors or interests. If they are based on genetic or environmental factors that contribute to autism, organisms from flies to nonhuman primates may serve as models of the neural structure or function of the autistic brain. Ultimately, successful models can also be employed to test the safety and effectiveness of potential therapeutics. This is an overview of the major animal species that are currently used as models of autism, including an appraisal of the advantages and limitations of each.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - Kally C O'Reilly
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - Megan Y Dennis
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - José M Uribe-Salazar
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - David G Amaral
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
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15
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Cowardin CA, Syed S, Iqbal N, Jamil Z, Sadiq K, Iqbal J, Ali SA, Moore SR. Environmental enteric dysfunction: gut and microbiota adaptation in pregnancy and infancy. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:223-237. [PMID: 36526906 PMCID: PMC10065936 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00714-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical syndrome of intestinal inflammation, malabsorption and barrier disruption that is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries in which poverty, food insecurity and frequent exposure to enteric pathogens impair growth, immunity and neurodevelopment in children. In this Review, we discuss advances in our understanding of EED, intestinal adaptation and the gut microbiome over the 'first 1,000 days' of life, spanning pregnancy and early childhood. Data on maternal EED are emerging, and they mirror earlier findings of increased risks for preterm birth and fetal growth restriction in mothers with either active inflammatory bowel disease or coeliac disease. The intense metabolic demands of pregnancy and lactation drive gut adaptation, including dramatic changes in the composition, function and mother-to-child transmission of the gut microbiota. We urgently need to elucidate the mechanisms by which EED undermines these critical processes so that we can improve global strategies to prevent and reverse intergenerational cycles of undernutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie A Cowardin
- Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, Child Health Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Sana Syed
- Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, Child Health Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Najeeha Iqbal
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zehra Jamil
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Kamran Sadiq
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Junaid Iqbal
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Syed Asad Ali
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sean R Moore
- Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, Child Health Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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16
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Gervasi MT, Romero R, Cainelli E, Veronese P, Tran MR, Jung E, Suksai M, Bosco M, Gotsch F. Intra-amniotic inflammation in the mid-trimester of pregnancy is a risk factor for neuropsychological disorders in childhood. J Perinat Med 2023; 51:363-378. [PMID: 36173676 PMCID: PMC10010737 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Intra-amniotic inflammation is a subclinical condition frequently caused by either microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity or sterile inflammatory stimuli, e.g., alarmins. An accumulating body of evidence supports a role for maternal immune activation in the genesis of fetal neuroinflammation and the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, and autism. The objective of this study was to determine whether fetal exposure to mid-trimester intra-amniotic inflammation is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in children eight to 12 years of age. METHODS This is a retrospective case-control study comprising 20 children with evidence of prenatal exposure to intra-amniotic inflammation in the mid-trimester and 20 controls matched for gestational age at amniocentesis and at delivery. Amniotic fluid samples were tested for concentrations of interleukin-6 and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10, for bacteria by culture and molecular microbiologic methods as well as by polymerase chain reaction for eight viruses. Neuropsychological testing of children, performed by two experienced psychologists, assessed cognitive and behavioral domains. Neuropsychological dysfunction was defined as the presence of an abnormal score (<2 standard deviations) on at least two cognitive tasks. RESULTS Neuropsychological dysfunction was present in 45% (9/20) of children exposed to intra-amniotic inflammation but in only 10% (2/20) of those in the control group (p=0.03). The relative risk (RR) of neuropsychological dysfunction conferred by amniotic fluid inflammation remained significant after adjusting for gestational age at delivery [aRR=4.5 (1.07-16.7)]. Of the 11 children diagnosed with neuropsychological dysfunction, nine were delivered at term and eight of them had mothers with intra-amniotic inflammation. Children exposed to intra-amniotic inflammation were found to have abnormalities in neuropsychological tasks evaluating complex skills, e.g., auditory attention, executive functions, and social skills, whereas the domains of reasoning, language, and memory were not affected in the cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS Asymptomatic sterile intra-amniotic inflammation in the mid-trimester of pregnancy, followed by a term birth, can still confer to the offspring a substantial risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. Early recognition and treatment of maternal immune activation in pregnancy may be a strategy for the prevention of subsequent neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Gervasi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Elisa Cainelli
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Veronese
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, AOPD, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Tran
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Manaphat Suksai
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mariachiara Bosco
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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17
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Ibrahim A, Warton FL, Fry S, Cotton MF, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Molteno CD, Little F, van der Kouwe AJW, Laughton B, Meintjes EM, Holmes MJ. Maternal ART throughout gestation prevents caudate volume reductions in neonates who are HIV exposed but uninfected. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1085589. [PMID: 36968507 PMCID: PMC10035579 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1085589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionSuccessful programmes for prevention of vertical HIV transmission have reduced the risk of infant HIV infection in South Africa from 8% in 2008 to below 1% in 2018/2019, resulting in an increasing population of children exposed to HIV perinatally but who are uninfected (HEU). However, the long-term effects of HIV and antiretroviral treatment (ART) exposure on the developing brain are not well understood. Whereas children who are HEU perform better than their HIV-infected counterparts, they demonstrate greater neurodevelopmental delay than children who are HIV unexposed and uninfected (HUU), especially in resource-poor settings. Here we investigate subcortical volumetric differences related to HIV and ART exposure in neonates.MethodsWe included 120 infants (59 girls; 79 HEU) born to healthy women with and without HIV infection in Cape Town, South Africa, where HIV sero-prevalence approaches 30%. Of the 79 HEU infants, 40 were exposed to ART throughout gestation (i.e., mothers initiated ART pre conception; HEU-pre), and 39 were exposed to ART for part of gestation (i.e., mothers initiated ART post conception; HEU-post). Post-conception mothers had a mean (± SD) gestational age (GA) of 15.4 (± 5.7) weeks at ART initiation. Mothers with HIV received standard care fixed drug combination ART (Tenofovir/Efavirenz/Emtricitabine). Infants were imaged unsedated on a 3T Skyra (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) at mean GA equivalent of 41.5 (± 1.0) weeks. Selected regions (caudate, putamen, pallidum, thalamus, cerebellar hemispheres and vermis, and corpus callosum) were manually traced on T1-weighted images using Freeview.ResultsHEU neonates had smaller left putamen volumes than HUU [β (SE) = −90.3 (45.3), p = 0.05] and caudate volume reductions that depended on ART exposure duration in utero. While the HEU-pre group demonstrated no caudate volume reductions compared to HUU, the HEU-post group had smaller caudate volumes bilaterally [β (SE) = −145.5 (45.1), p = 0.002, and −135.7 (49.7), p = 0.008 for left and right caudate, respectively].DiscussionThese findings from the first postnatal month suggest that maternal ART throughout gestation is protective to the caudate nuclei. In contrast, left putamens were smaller across all HEU newborns, despite maternal ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulmumin Ibrahim
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Fleur L. Warton
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Fleur L. Warton,
| | - Samantha Fry
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Mark F. Cotton
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Sandra W. Jacobson
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Joseph L. Jacobson
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Christopher D. Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Francesca Little
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andre J. W. van der Kouwe
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Barbara Laughton
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M. Meintjes
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Universities Body Imaging Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Ernesta M. Meintjes,
| | - Martha J. Holmes
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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18
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Hanson KL, Weir RK, Iosif AM, Van de Water J, Carter CS, McAllister AK, Bauman MD, Schumann CM. Altered dendritic morphology in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of nonhuman primates prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 109:92-101. [PMID: 36610487 PMCID: PMC10023379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Women who contract a viral or bacterial infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child with a neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorder. The effects of maternal infection are likely mediated by the maternal immune response, as preclinical animal models have confirmed that maternal immune activation (MIA) leads to long lasting changes in offspring brain and behavior development. The present study sought to determine the impact of MIA-exposure during the first or second trimester on neuronal morphology in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and hippocampus from brain tissue obtained from MIA-exposed and control male rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) during late adolescence. MIA-exposed offspring display increased neuronal dendritic branching in pyramidal cells in DLPFC infra- and supragranular layers relative to controls, with no significant differences observed between offspring exposed to maternal infection in the first and second trimester. In addition, the diameter of apical dendrites in DLPFC infragranular layer is significantly decreased in MIA-exposed offspring relative to controls, irrespective of trimester exposure. In contrast, alterations in hippocampal neuronal morphology of MIA-exposed offspring were not evident. These findings demonstrate that a maternal immune challenge during pregnancy has long-term consequences for primate offspring dendritic structure, selectively in a brain region vital for socioemotional and cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Hanson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, United States; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Ruth K Weir
- Innovation & Enterprise Department, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Judy Van de Water
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States; Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, United States; Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, United States
| | | | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, United States; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States.
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, United States; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States.
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19
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Raymann S, Schalbetter SM, Schaer R, Bernhardt AC, Mueller FS, Meyer U, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Late prenatal immune activation in mice induces transgenerational effects via the maternal and paternal lineages. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2273-2286. [PMID: 36857721 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac207] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infectious or noninfectious immune activation is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Recent research using animal models suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) during early to middle stages of pregnancy can induce transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, likely via inducing stable epigenetic modifications across generations. Using a mouse model of viral-like MIA, which is based on gestational treatment with poly(I:C), the present study explored whether transgenerational effects can also emerge when MIA occurs in late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate that the direct descendants born to poly(I:C)-treated mothers display deficits in temporal order memory, which are similarly present in second- and third-generation offspring. These transgenerational effects were mediated via both the maternal and paternal lineages and were accompanied by transient changes in maternal care. In addition to the cognitive effects, late prenatal immune activation induced generation-spanning effects on the prefrontal expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic genes, including parvalbumin and distinct alpha-subunits of the GABAA receptor. Together, our results suggest that MIA in late pregnancy has the potential to affect cognitive functions and prefrontal gene expression patterns in multiple generations, highlighting its role in shaping disease risk across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Raymann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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20
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Using Nonhuman Primate Models to Reverse-Engineer Prefrontal Circuit Failure Underlying Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 63:315-362. [PMID: 36607528 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, I review studies in nonhuman primates that emulate the circuit failure in prefrontal cortex responsible for working memory and cognitive control deficits in schizophrenia. These studies have characterized how synaptic malfunction, typically induced by blockade of NMDAR, disrupts neural function and computation in prefrontal networks to explain errors in cognitive tasks that are seen in schizophrenia. This work is finding causal relationships between pathogenic events of relevance to schizophrenia at vastly different levels of scale, from synapses, to neurons, local, circuits, distributed networks, computation, and behavior. Pharmacological manipulation, the dominant approach in primate models, has limited construct validity for schizophrenia pathogenesis, as the disease results from a complex interplay between environmental, developmental, and genetic factors. Genetic manipulation replicating schizophrenia risk is more advanced in rodent models. Nonetheless, gene manipulation in nonhuman primates is rapidly advancing, and primate developmental models have been established. Integration of large scale neural recording, genetic manipulation, and computational modeling in nonhuman primates holds considerable potential to provide a crucial schizophrenia model moving forward. Data generated by this approach is likely to fill several crucial gaps in our understanding of the causal sequence leading to schizophrenia in humans. This causal chain presents a vexing problem largely because it requires understanding how events at very different levels of scale relate to one another, from genes to circuits to cognition to social interactions. Nonhuman primate models excel here. They optimally enable discovery of causal relationships across levels of scale in the brain that are relevant to cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The mechanistic understanding of prefrontal circuit failure they promise to provide may point the way to more effective therapeutic interventions to restore function to prefrontal networks in the disease.
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21
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Neurodevelopmental disorders-high-resolution rethinking of disease modeling. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:34-43. [PMID: 36434058 PMCID: PMC9812768 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01876-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders arise due to various risk factors that can perturb different stages of brain development, and a combinatorial impact of these risk factors programs the phenotype in adulthood. While modeling the complete phenotype of a neurodevelopmental disorder is challenging, individual developmental perturbations can be successfully modeled in vivo in animals and in vitro in human cellular models. Nevertheless, our limited knowledge of human brain development restricts modeling strategies and has raised questions of how well a model corresponds to human in vivo brain development. Recent progress in high-resolution analysis of human tissue with single-cell and spatial omics techniques has enhanced our understanding of the complex events that govern the development of the human brain in health and disease. This new knowledge can be utilized to improve modeling of neurodevelopmental disorders and pave the way to more accurately portraying the relevant developmental perturbations in disease models.
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22
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Lipkin WI, Bresnahan M, Susser E. Cohort-guided insights into gene-environment interactions in autism spectrum disorders. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:118-125. [PMID: 36646930 PMCID: PMC9841497 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Prospective birth cohorts offer unprecedented opportunities to investigate the pathogenesis of complex disorders such as autism, in which gene-environment interactions must be appreciated in a temporal context. This Perspective article considers the history of autism research, including missteps that reflected an incomplete understanding of the epidemiology of autistic spectrum disorders, the effects of advocacy and philanthropy on the trajectory of scientific inquiry, and the current and future roles of prospective birth cohort research in illuminating the pathology of these and other complex disorders wherein exposures during gestation might not manifest until later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Ian Lipkin
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Michaeline Bresnahan
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Ezra Susser
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
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23
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Boktor JC, Adame MD, Rose DR, Schumann CM, Murray KD, Bauman MD, Careaga M, Mazmanian SK, Ashwood P, Needham BD. Global metabolic profiles in a non-human primate model of maternal immune activation: implications for neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4959-4973. [PMID: 36028571 PMCID: PMC9772216 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01752-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence implicates severe maternal infections as risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ASD and schizophrenia. Accordingly, animal models mimicking infection during pregnancy, including the maternal immune activation (MIA) model, result in offspring with neurobiological, behavioral, and metabolic phenotypes relevant to human neurodevelopmental disorders. Most of these studies have been performed in rodents. We sought to better understand the molecular signatures characterizing the MIA model in an organism more closely related to humans, rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), by evaluating changes in global metabolic profiles in MIA-exposed offspring. Herein, we present the global metabolome in six peripheral tissues (plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, three regions of intestinal mucosa scrapings, and feces) from 13 MIA and 10 control offspring that were confirmed to display atypical neurodevelopment, elevated immune profiles, and neuropathology. Differences in lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism discriminated these MIA and control samples, with correlations of specific metabolites to behavior scores as well as to cytokine levels in plasma, intestinal, and brain tissues. We also observed modest changes in fecal and intestinal microbial profiles, and identify differential metabolomic profiles within males and females. These findings support a connection between maternal immune activation and the metabolism, microbiota, and behavioral traits of offspring, and may further the translational applications of the MIA model and the advancement of biomarkers for neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD or schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph C Boktor
- Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Mark D Adame
- Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Destanie R Rose
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Karl D Murray
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Milo Careaga
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Sarkis K Mazmanian
- Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Brittany D Needham
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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24
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Madany AM, Hughes HK, Ashwood P. Prenatal Maternal Antibiotics Treatment Alters the Gut Microbiota and Immune Function of Post-Weaned Prepubescent Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12879. [PMID: 36361666 PMCID: PMC9655507 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the immediate and continual perturbation to the gut microbiota of offspring in the weeks post-weaning and how these may be modulated by treating pregnant C57BL/6J dams with antibiotics (ABX). We used a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail consisting of ampicillin 1 mg/mL, neomycin 1 mg/mL, and vancomycin 0.5 mg/mL, or vancomycin 0.5 mg/mL alone, administered ad-lib orally to dams via drinking water during gestation and stopped after delivery. We analyzed the gut microbiota of offspring, cytokine profiles in circulation, and the brain to determine if there was evidence of a gut-immune-brain connection. Computationally predicted metabolic pathways were calculated from 16s rRNA sequencing data. ABX treatment can negatively affect the gut microbiota, including reduced diversity, altered metabolic activity, and immune function. We show that the maternal ABX-treatment continues to alter the offspring's gut microbiota diversity, composition, and metabolic pathways after weaning, with the most significant differences evident in 5-week-olds as opposed to 4-week-olds. Lower levels of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-2, are also seen in the periphery and brains of offspring, respectively. In conclusion, this study shows maternal antibiotic administration alters gut microbiome profiles in offspring, which undergoes a continuous transformation, from week to week, at an early age after weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah M. Madany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California at Davis, 2230 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Heather K. Hughes
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, 3146 One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, 3146 One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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25
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Wang D, Wang Y, Chen Y, Yu L, Wu Z, Liu R, Ren J, Fang X, Zhang C. Differences in inflammatory marker profiles and cognitive functioning between deficit and nondeficit schizophrenia. Front Immunol 2022; 13:958972. [PMID: 36341400 PMCID: PMC9627304 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.958972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficit schizophrenia (DS) patient is a homogenous subtype of schizophrenia that includes primary and enduring negative symptoms. This study aimed to compare the differences in cognitive functioning and plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory cytokines among DS patients, nondeficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients, and healthy controls (HCs). A total of 141 schizophrenia patients and 67 HCs were included in this study. The schizophrenia patients were divided into DS (N= 51) and NDS (N=90) groups based on the Proxy for the Deficit Syndrome Scale (PDS). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms and cognitive performances, respectively. The plasma level of CRP, IL-1β, Il-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Our results showed that DS patients had the worst cognitive performance, especially in the immediate memory, attention, and language dimensions, compared to the NDS and HC groups. Compared to the HCs group, DS patients had higher levels of CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, and total proinflammatory cytokines, and NDS patients had higher levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ, and proinflammatory cytokines. We also found that CRP levels were significantly increased in DS patients compared to NDS patients. Moreover, stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that CRP is an independent risk factor for DS. Sex stratification analysis showed significant differences in almost all cytokines in female samples but not in male samples. The significant differences in cognitive performance and inflammatory components among groups suggest that deficit syndrome is an independent endophenotype of schizophrenia patients with unique immune-inflammatory features, but may have sex characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wang
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yewei Wang
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingfang Yu
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zenan Wu
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruimei Liu
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Juanjuan Ren
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Fang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xinyu Fang, ; Chen Zhang,
| | - Chen Zhang
- Schizophrenia Program, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xinyu Fang, ; Chen Zhang,
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Mitchell AJ, Khambadkone SG, Dunn G, Bagley J, Tamashiro KLK, Fair D, Gustafsson H, Sullivan EL. Maternal Western-style diet reduces social engagement and increases idiosyncratic behavior in Japanese macaque offspring. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 105:109-121. [PMID: 35809877 PMCID: PMC9987715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence in humans and animals indicates an association between maternal obesity and offspring behavioral outcomes. In humans, increased maternal body mass index has been linked to an increased risk of children receiving a diagnosis of early-emerging neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, a limited number of preclinical studies have examined associations between maternal Western-Style Diet (mWSD) exposure and offspring social behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate relationships between mWSD exposure and social behavior in non-human primates. Since aberrant social behavior is a diagnostic criterion for several neurodevelopmental disorders, the current study focuses on examining the influence of maternal nutrition and metabolic state on offspring social behavior in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). We found that mWSD offspring initiated less affiliative social behaviors as well as proximity to a peer. Using path analysis, we found that the association between mWSD consumption and reduced offspring social engagement was statistically mediated by increased maternal interleukin (IL)-12 during the third trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, mWSD offspring displayed increased idiosyncratic behavior, which was related to alterations in maternal adiposity and leptin in the third trimester. Together, these results suggest that NHP offspring exposed to mWSD exhibit behavioral phenotypes similar to what is described in some early-emerging neurodevelopmental disorders. These results provide evidence that mWSD exposure during gestation may be linked to increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and provides targets for prevention and intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Mitchell
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Seva G Khambadkone
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Geoffrey Dunn
- University of Oregon, Department of Human Physiology, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Jennifer Bagley
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Kellie L K Tamashiro
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Damien Fair
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Masonic Institute of Child Development, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Hanna Gustafsson
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA; University of Oregon, Department of Human Physiology, Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, OR, USA.
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27
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Hanson KL, Grant SE, Funk LH, Schumann CM, Bauman MD. Impact of Maternal Immune Activation on Nonhuman Primate Prefrontal Cortex Development: Insights for Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:460-469. [PMID: 35773097 PMCID: PMC9888668 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Late adolescence is a period of dynamic change in the brain as humans learn to navigate increasingly complex environments. In particular, prefrontal cortical (PFC) regions undergo extensive remodeling as the brain is fine-tuned to orchestrate cognitive control over attention, reasoning, and emotions. Late adolescence also presents a uniquely vulnerable period as neurodevelopmental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, become evident and worsen into young adulthood. Challenges in early development, including prenatal exposure to infection, may set the stage for a cascade of maladaptive events that ultimately result in aberrant PFC connectivity and function before symptoms emerge. A growing body of research suggests that activation of the mother's immune system during pregnancy may act as a disease primer, in combination with other environmental and genetic factors, contributing to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia. Animal models provide an invaluable opportunity to examine the course of brain and behavioral changes in offspring exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA). Although the vast majority of MIA research has been carried out in rodents, here we highlight the translational utility of the nonhuman primate (NHP) as a model species more closely related to humans in PFC structure and function. In this review, we consider the protracted period of brain and behavioral maturation in the NHP, describe emerging findings from MIA NHP offspring in the context of rodent preclinical models, and lastly explore the translational relevance of the NHP MIA model to expand understanding of the etiology and developmental course of PFC pathology in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Hanson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Simone E Grant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Lucy H Funk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
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28
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Pallier PN, Ferrara M, Romagnolo F, Ferretti MT, Soreq H, Cerase A. Chromosomal and environmental contributions to sex differences in the vulnerability to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders: Implications for therapeutic interventions. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 219:102353. [PMID: 36100191 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders affect men and women differently. Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorders, depression, meningiomas and late-onset schizophrenia affect women more frequently than men. By contrast, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum condition, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette's syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and early-onset schizophrenia are more prevalent in men. Women have been historically under-recruited or excluded from clinical trials, and most basic research uses male rodent cells or animals as disease models, rarely studying both sexes and factoring sex as a potential source of variation, resulting in a poor understanding of the underlying biological reasons for sex and gender differences in the development of such diseases. Putative pathophysiological contributors include hormones and epigenetics regulators but additional biological and non-biological influences may be at play. We review here the evidence for the underpinning role of the sex chromosome complement, X chromosome inactivation, and environmental and epigenetic regulators in sex differences in the vulnerability to brain disease. We conclude that there is a pressing need for a better understanding of the genetic, epigenetic and environmental mechanisms sustaining sex differences in such diseases, which is critical for developing a precision medicine approach based on sex-tailored prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Pallier
- Blizard Institute, Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK.
| | - Maria Ferrara
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Women's Brain Project (WBP), Switzerland
| | - Francesca Romagnolo
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Hermona Soreq
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Andrea Cerase
- EMBL-Rome, Via Ramarini 32, 00015 Monterotondo, RM, Italy; Blizard Institute, Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; Department of Biology, University of Pisa, SS12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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Saunders JM, Muguruza C, Sierra S, Moreno JL, Callado LF, Meana JJ, Beardsley PM, González-Maeso J. Glucocorticoid receptor dysregulation underlies 5-HT 2AR-dependent synaptic and behavioral deficits in a mouse neurodevelopmental disorder model. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102481. [PMID: 36100039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102481] [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: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal environmental insults increase the risk of neurodevelopmental psychiatric conditions in the offspring. Structural modifications of dendritic spines are central to brain development and plasticity. Using maternal immune activation (MIA) as a rodent model of prenatal environmental insult, previous results have reported dendritic structural deficits in the frontal cortex. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying MIA-induced synaptic structural alterations in the offspring. Using prenatal (E12.5) injection with poly-(I:C) as a mouse MIA model, we show here that upregulation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) is at least in part responsible for some of the effects of prenatal insults on frontal cortex dendritic spine structure and sensorimotor gating processes. Mechanistically, we report that this upregulation of frontal cortex 5-HT2AR expression is associated with MIA-induced reduction of nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and, consequently, a decrease in the enrichment of GR at the 5-HT2AR promoter. The translational significance of these preclinical findings is supported by data in postmortem human brain samples suggesting dysregulation of GR translocation in frontal cortex of schizophrenia subjects. We also found that repeated corticosterone administration augmented frontal cortex 5-HT2AR expression and reduced GR binding to the 5-HT2AR promoter. However, virally (AAV)-mediated augmentation of GR function reduced frontal cortex 5-HT2AR expression and improved sensorimotor gating processes via 5-HT2AR. Together, these data support a negative regulatory relationship between GR signaling and 5-HT2AR expression in the mouse frontal cortex that may carry implications for the pathophysiology underlying 5-HT2AR dysregulation in neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Saunders
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Carolina Muguruza
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Salvador Sierra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - José L Moreno
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Luis F Callado
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - J Javier Meana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Center for Biomarker Research and Precision Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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30
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Maternal immune activation in rats induces dysfunction of placental leucine transport and alters fetal brain growth. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:1117-1137. [PMID: 35852150 PMCID: PMC9366863 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the offspring risk of developing a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including schizophrenia. While the mechanisms remain unclear, dysregulation of placental function is implicated. We hypothesised that maternal infection, leading to maternal immune activation and stimulated cytokine production, alters placental and yolk sac amino acid transport, affecting fetal brain development and thus NDD risk. Using a rat model of maternal immune activation induced by the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), we investigated placental and yolk sac expression of system L amino acid transporter subtypes which transport several essential amino acids including branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), maternal and fetal BCAA concentration, placental 14C-leucine transport activity and associated impacts on fetal growth and development. Poly(I:C) treatment increased acutely maternal IL-6 and TNFα concentration, contrasting with IL-1β. Transcriptional responses for these pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in placenta and yolk sac following poly(I:C) treatment. Placental and yolk sac weights were reduced by poly(I:C) treatment, yet fetal body weight was unaffected, while fetal brain weight was increased. Maternal plasma BCAA concentration was reduced 24 h post-poly(I:C) treatment, yet placental, but not yolk sac, BCAA concentration was increased. Placental and yolk sac gene expression of Slc7a5, Slc7a8 and Slc43a2 encoding LAT1, LAT2 and LAT4 transporter subtypes respectively, was altered by poly(I:C) treatment. Placental 14C-leucine transport was significantly reduced 24 h post-treatment, contrasting with a significant increase six days following poly(I:C) treatment. Maternal immune activation induces dysregulated placental transport of amino acids affecting fetal brain development, and NDD risk potential in offspring.
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31
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Jiang CC, Lin LS, Long S, Ke XY, Fukunaga K, Lu YM, Han F. Signalling pathways in autism spectrum disorder: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:229. [PMID: 35817793 PMCID: PMC9273593 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01081-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent and complex neurodevelopmental disorder which has strong genetic basis. Despite the rapidly rising incidence of autism, little is known about its aetiology, risk factors, and disease progression. There are currently neither validated biomarkers for diagnostic screening nor specific medication for autism. Over the last two decades, there have been remarkable advances in genetics, with hundreds of genes identified and validated as being associated with a high risk for autism. The convergence of neuroscience methods is becoming more widely recognized for its significance in elucidating the pathological mechanisms of autism. Efforts have been devoted to exploring the behavioural functions, key pathological mechanisms and potential treatments of autism. Here, as we highlight in this review, emerging evidence shows that signal transduction molecular events are involved in pathological processes such as transcription, translation, synaptic transmission, epigenetics and immunoinflammatory responses. This involvement has important implications for the discovery of precise molecular targets for autism. Moreover, we review recent insights into the mechanisms and clinical implications of signal transduction in autism from molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and neurobehavioural aspects. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are discussed with regard to novel strategies predicated on the biological features of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Li-Shan Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Sen Long
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Mental Health Center Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. .,Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
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32
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Sallet J. On the evolutionary roots of human social cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 137:104632. [PMID: 35358568 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104632] [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: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this commentary is to highlight the complementarity of the approaches used to investigate the neuronal basis of social cognition. From neuroanatomy, to neurophysiology, to neuroimaging and behavioral studies, the research presented by Braunsdorf, Noritake, Terenzi and colleagues are revealing a complex architecture supporting social cognition as well as the diversity of factors driving our social decisions (Braunsdorf et al., 2021; Noritake et al., 2021; Terenzi et al., 2021). From an evolutionary perspective, results presented indicate strong phylogenic origins to human social cognition, but also point out some issues about the evolution of the social brain that remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Sallet
- Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208 Bron, France.
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Maternal Prenatal Inflammation Increases Brain Damage Susceptibility of Lipopolysaccharide in Adult Rat Offspring via COX-2/PGD-2/DPs Pathway Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116142. [PMID: 35682823 PMCID: PMC9181626 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of research suggests that inflammatory insult contributes to the etiology of central nervous system diseases, such as depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and so forth. However, the effect of prenatal systemic inflammation exposure on offspring brain development and cerebral susceptibility to inflammatory insult remains unknown. In this study, we utilized the prenatal inflammatory insult model in vivo and the neuronal damage model in vitro. The results obtained show that prenatal maternal inflammation exacerbates LPS-induced memory impairment, neuronal necrosis, brain inflammatory response, and significantly increases protein expressions of COX-2, DP2, APP, and Aβ, while obviously decreasing that of DP1 and the exploratory behaviors of offspring rats. Meloxicam significantly inhibited memory impairment, neuronal necrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response, and down-regulated the expressions of APP, Aβ, COX-2, and DP2, whereas significantly increased exploring behaviors and the expression of DP1 in vivo. Collectively, these findings suggested that maternal inflammation could cause offspring suffering from inflammatory and behavioral disorders and increase the susceptibility of offspring to cerebral pathological factors, accompanied by COX-2/PGD-2/DPs pathway activation, which could be ameliorated significantly by COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam treatment.
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Ben-Ari Y, Caly H, Rabiei H, Lemonnier É. [Early prognostic of ASD: A challenge]. Med Sci (Paris) 2022; 38:431-437. [PMID: 35608465 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2022054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are born in the womb generated by intrauterine genetic or environmental insult. ASD diagnostic is made at the age of 3-5 years in Europe and in the US. Relying on this, we have tested the hypothesis of identifying already at birth babies who might be diagnosed later with ASD, thereby facilitating an early use of psychoeducative techniques to attenuate the severity of the symptoms. Here, we discuss the various approaches that have been used to enable an early diagnosis. We have ourselves used an approach based on a "without a priori" machine learning analysis of all maternity biological and ultrasound data available in French maternities (around 116) in utero and after birth. This program made it possible to identify at birth almost all (96%) of babies who will be later neurotypical and around half of those who will be diagnosed with ASD. Some of the parameters allowing this identification were largely unexpected with no known links with ASD. This approach will enable an early identification of babies at risk, but also might be used to diagnose ASD later on, and perhaps could help to get a better understanding of the heterogeneity of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehezkel Ben-Ari
- B&A Biomedical, bâtiment Beret-Delaage, parc scientifique et technologique de Luminy, zone Luminy biotech entreprises, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13273 Marseille, France - Neurochlore, bâtiment Beret-Delaage, parc scientifique et technologique de Luminy, zone Luminy biotech entreprises, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13273 Marseille, France
| | - Hugues Caly
- CHU Limoges, 23 avenue Dominique Larrey, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Hamed Rabiei
- B&A Biomedical, bâtiment Beret-Delaage, parc scientifique et technologique de Luminy, zone Luminy biotech entreprises, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13273 Marseille, France
| | - Éric Lemonnier
- Centre ressources autisme, CHU Limoges, 23 avenue Dominique Larrey, 87042 Limoges, France
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35
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Structural and Functional Deviations of the Hippocampus in Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105482. [PMID: 35628292 PMCID: PMC9143100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a grave neuropsychiatric disease which frequently onsets between the end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood. It is characterized by a variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities which are categorized into positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Most therapeutical strategies address the positive symptoms by antagonizing D2-dopamine-receptors (DR). However, negative and cognitive symptoms persist and highly impair the life quality of patients due to their disabling effects. Interestingly, hippocampal deviations are a hallmark of schizophrenia and can be observed in early as well as advanced phases of the disease progression. These alterations are commonly accompanied by a rise in neuronal activity. Therefore, hippocampal formation plays an important role in the manifestation of schizophrenia. Furthermore, studies with animal models revealed a link between environmental risk factors and morphological as well as electrophysiological abnormalities in the hippocampus. Here, we review recent findings on structural and functional hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenic patients and in schizophrenia animal models, and we give an overview on current experimental approaches that especially target the hippocampus. A better understanding of hippocampal aberrations in schizophrenia might clarify their impact on the manifestation and on the outcome of this severe disease.
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36
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Ryan AM, Bauman MD. Primate Models as a Translational Tool for Understanding Prenatal Origins of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Associated With Maternal Infection. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:510-523. [PMID: 35276404 PMCID: PMC8902899 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant women represent a uniquely vulnerable population during an infectious disease outbreak, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we are at the early stages of understanding the specific impact of SARS-CoV-2 exposure during pregnancy, mounting epidemiological evidence strongly supports a link between exposure to a variety of maternal infections and an increased risk for offspring neurodevelopmental disorders. Inflammatory biomarkers identified from archived or prospectively collected maternal biospecimens suggest that the maternal immune response is the critical link between infection during pregnancy and altered offspring neurodevelopment. This maternal immune activation (MIA) hypothesis has been tested in animal models by artificially activating the immune system during pregnancy and evaluating the neurodevelopmental consequences in MIA-exposed offspring. Although the vast majority of MIA model research is carried out in rodents, the nonhuman primate model has emerged in recent years as an important translational tool. In this review, we briefly summarize human epidemiological studies that have prompted the development of translationally relevant MIA models. We then highlight notable similarities between humans and nonhuman primates, including placental structure, pregnancy physiology, gestational timelines, and offspring neurodevelopmental stages, that provide an opportunity to explore the MIA hypothesis in species more closely related to humans. Finally, we provide a comprehensive review of neurodevelopmental alterations reported in current nonhuman primate models of maternal infection and discuss future directions for this promising area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California.
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37
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Antibiotic Treatment during Pregnancy Alters Offspring Gut Microbiota in a Sex-Dependent Manner. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051042. [PMID: 35625778 PMCID: PMC9138679 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051042] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of antibiotics administered to pregnant dams on offspring gut microbiome composition and metabolic capabilities, and how these changes in the microbiota may influence their immune responses in both the periphery and the brain. We orally administered a broad-spectrum antibiotic (ABX) cocktail consisting of vancomycin 0.5 mg/mL, ampicillin 1 mg/mL, and neomycin 1 mg/mL to pregnant dams during late gestation through birth. Bacterial DNA was extracted from offspring fecal samples, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene was sequenced by Illumina, followed by analysis of gut microbiota composition and PICRUSt prediction. Serum and brain tissue cytokine levels were analyzed by Luminex. Our results indicate that the ABX-cocktail led to significant diversity and taxonomic changes to the offspring's gut microbiome. In addition, the predicted KEGG and MetaCyc pathways were significantly altered in the offspring. Finally, there were decreased innate inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and interleukin (IL)-17 seen in the brains of ABX-cocktail offspring in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) immune challenge. Our results suggest that maternal ABX can produce long-lasting effects on the gut microbiome and neuroimmune responses of offspring. These findings support the role of the early microbiome in the development of offspring gastrointestinal and immune systems.
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38
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Shook LL, Sullivan EL, Lo JO, Perlis RH, Edlow AG. COVID-19 in pregnancy: implications for fetal brain development. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:319-330. [PMID: 35277325 PMCID: PMC8841149 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy on the developing fetal brain is poorly understood. Other antenatal infections such as influenza have been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Although vertical transmission has been rarely observed in SARS-CoV-2 to date, given the potential for profound maternal immune activation (MIA), impact on the developing fetal brain is likely. Here we review evidence that SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections during pregnancy can result in maternal, placental, and fetal immune activation, and ultimately in offspring neurodevelopmental morbidity. Finally, we highlight the need for cellular models of fetal brain development to better understand potential short- and long-term impacts of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L Shook
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Jamie O Lo
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Center for Quantitative Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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39
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Immune Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Do We Know about It? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063033. [PMID: 35328471 PMCID: PMC8955336 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by a wide and variable set of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including deficits in social communication, narrow and restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. The immune hypothesis is considered to be a major factor contributing to autism pathogenesis, as well as a way to explain the differences of the clinical phenotypes and comorbidities influencing disease course and severity. Evidence highlights a link between immune dysfunction and behavioral traits in autism from several types of evidence found in both cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood and their utility to identify autistic subgroups with specific immunophenotypes; underlying behavioral symptoms are also shown. This review summarizes current insights into immune dysfunction in ASD, with particular reference to the impact of immunological factors related to the maternal influence of autism development; comorbidities influencing autism disease course and severity; and others factors with particular relevance, including obesity. Finally, we described main elements of similarities between immunopathology overlapping neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, taking as examples autism and Parkinson Disease, respectively.
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40
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Tian J, Gao X, Yang L. Repetitive Restricted Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Mechanism to Development of Therapeutics. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:780407. [PMID: 35310097 PMCID: PMC8924045 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.780407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, social interaction, and repetitive restricted behaviors (RRBs). It is usually detected in early childhood. RRBs are behavioral patterns characterized by repetition, inflexibility, invariance, inappropriateness, and frequent lack of obvious function or specific purpose. To date, the classification of RRBs is contentious. Understanding the potential mechanisms of RRBs in children with ASD, such as neural connectivity disorders and abnormal immune functions, will contribute to finding new therapeutic targets. Although behavioral intervention remains the most effective and safe strategy for RRBs treatment, some promising drugs and new treatment options (e.g., supplementary and cell therapy) have shown positive effects on RRBs in recent studies. In this review, we summarize the latest advances of RRBs from mechanistic to therapeutic approaches and propose potential future directions in research on RRBs.
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41
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Schizophrenia is defined by cell-specific neuropathology and multiple neurodevelopmental mechanisms in patient-derived cerebral organoids. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1416-1434. [PMID: 34789849 PMCID: PMC9095467 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01316-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Due to an inability to ethically access developing human brain tissue as well as identify prospective cases, early-arising neurodevelopmental and cell-specific signatures of Schizophrenia (Scz) have remained unknown and thus undefined. To overcome these challenges, we utilized patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate 3D cerebral organoids to model neuropathology of Scz during this critical period. We discovered that Scz organoids exhibited ventricular neuropathology resulting in altered progenitor survival and disrupted neurogenesis. This ultimately yielded fewer neurons within developing cortical fields of Scz organoids. Single-cell sequencing revealed that Scz progenitors were specifically depleted of neuronal programming factors leading to a remodeling of cell-lineages, altered differentiation trajectories, and distorted cortical cell-type diversity. While Scz organoids were similar in their macromolecular diversity to organoids generated from healthy controls (Ctrls), four GWAS factors (PTN, COMT, PLCL1, and PODXL) and peptide fragments belonging to the POU-domain transcription factor family (e.g., POU3F2/BRN2) were altered. This revealed that Scz organoids principally differed not in their proteomic diversity, but specifically in their total quantity of disease and neurodevelopmental factors at the molecular level. Single-cell sequencing subsequently identified cell-type specific alterations in neuronal programming factors as well as a developmental switch in neurotrophic growth factor expression, indicating that Scz neuropathology can be encoded on a cell-type-by-cell-type basis. Furthermore, single-cell sequencing also specifically replicated the depletion of BRN2 (POU3F2) and PTN in both Scz progenitors and neurons. Subsequently, in two mechanistic rescue experiments we identified that the transcription factor BRN2 and growth factor PTN operate as mechanistic substrates of neurogenesis and cellular survival, respectively, in Scz organoids. Collectively, our work suggests that multiple mechanisms of Scz exist in patient-derived organoids, and that these disparate mechanisms converge upon primordial brain developmental pathways such as neuronal differentiation, survival, and growth factor support, which may amalgamate to elevate intrinsic risk of Scz.
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Carter M, Casey S, O'Keeffe GW, Gibson L, Gallagher L, Murray DM. Maternal Immune Activation and Interleukin 17A in the Pathogenesis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Why It Matters in the COVID-19 Era. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:823096. [PMID: 35250672 PMCID: PMC8891512 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.823096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the commonest neurodevelopmental disability. It is a highly complex disorder with an increasing prevalence and an unclear etiology. Consensus indicates that ASD arises as a genetically modulated, and environmentally influenced condition. Although pathogenic rare genetic variants are detected in around 20% of cases of ASD, no single factor is responsible for the vast majority of ASD cases or that explains their characteristic clinical heterogeneity. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that ASD susceptibility involves an interplay between genetic factors and environmental exposures. One such environmental exposure which has received significant attention in this regard is maternal immune activation (MIA) resulting from bacterial or viral infection during pregnancy. Reproducible rodent models of ASD are well-established whereby induction of MIA in pregnant dams, leads to offspring displaying neuroanatomical, functional, and behavioral changes analogous to those seen in ASD. Blockade of specific inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-17A during gestation remediates many of these observed behavioral effects, suggesting a causative or contributory role. Here, we review the growing body of animal and human-based evidence indicating that interleukin-17A may mediate the observed effects of MIA on neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring. This is particularly important given the current corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy is a potent stimulator of the maternal immune response, however the long-term effects of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on neurodevelopmental outcomes is unclear. This underscores the importance of monitoring neurodevelopmental outcomes in children exposed to SARS-CoV-2-induced MIA during gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Carter
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,National Children's Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sophie Casey
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard W O'Keeffe
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Louise Gibson
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Deirdre M Murray
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Maternal immune activation with high molecular weight poly(I:C) in Wistar rats leads to elevated immune cell chemoattractants. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 364:577813. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Cardiorespiratory alterations in a newborn ovine model of systemic viral inflammation. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:1288-1298. [PMID: 35110682 PMCID: PMC8809061 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-01958-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Respiratory viruses can be responsible for severe apneas and bradycardias in newborn infants. The link between systemic inflammation with viral sepsis and cardiorespiratory alterations remains poorly understood. We aimed to characterize these alterations by setting up a full-term newborn lamb model of systemic inflammation using polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C). METHODS Two 6-h polysomnographic recordings were carried out in eight lambs on two consecutive days, first after an IV saline injection, then after an IV injection of 300 μg/kg Poly I:C. RESULTS Poly I:C injection decreased locomotor activity and increased NREM sleep. It also led to a biphasic increase in rectal temperature and heart rate. The latter was associated with an overall decrease in heart-rate variability, with no change in respiratory-rate variability. Lastly, brainstem inflammation was found in the areas of the cardiorespiratory control centers 6 h after Poly I:C injection. CONCLUSIONS The alterations in heart-rate variability induced by Poly I:C injection may be, at least partly, of central origin. Meanwhile, the absence of alterations in respiratory-rate variability is intriguing and noteworthy. Although further studies are obviously needed, this might be a way to differentiate bacterial from viral sepsis in the neonatal period. IMPACT Provides unique observations on the cardiorespiratory consequences of injecting Poly I:C in a full-term newborn lamb to mimic a systemic inflammation secondary to a viral sepsis. Poly I:C injection led to a biphasic increase in rectal temperature and heart rate associated with an overall decrease in heart-rate variability, with no change in respiratory-rate variability. Brainstem inflammation was found in the areas of the cardiorespiratory control centers.
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Vlasova RM, Iosif AM, Ryan AM, Funk LH, Murai T, Chen S, Lesh TA, Rowland DJ, Bennett J, Hogrefe CE, Maddock RJ, Gandal MJ, Geschwind DH, Schumann CM, Van de Water J, McAllister AK, Carter CS, Styner MA, Amaral DG, Bauman MD. Maternal Immune Activation during Pregnancy Alters Postnatal Brain Growth and Cognitive Development in Nonhuman Primate Offspring. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9971-9987. [PMID: 34607967 PMCID: PMC8638691 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0378-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epidemiological studies implicate exposure to infection during gestation in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA) have identified the maternal immune response as the critical link between maternal infection and aberrant offspring brain and behavior development. Here we evaluate neurodevelopment of male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) born to MIA-treated dams (n = 14) injected with a modified form of the viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid at the end of the first trimester. Control dams received saline injections at the same gestational time points (n = 10) or were untreated (n = 4). MIA-treated dams exhibited a strong immune response as indexed by transient increases in sickness behavior, temperature, and inflammatory cytokines. Although offspring born to control or MIA-treated dams did not differ on measures of physical growth and early developmental milestones, the MIA-treated animals exhibited subtle changes in cognitive development and deviated from species-typical brain growth trajectories. Longitudinal MRI revealed significant gray matter volume reductions in the prefrontal and frontal cortices of MIA-treated offspring at 6 months that persisted through the final time point at 45 months along with smaller frontal white matter volumes in MIA-treated animals at 36 and 45 months. These findings provide the first evidence of early postnatal changes in brain development in MIA-exposed nonhuman primates and establish a translationally relevant model system to explore the neurodevelopmental trajectory of risk associated with prenatal immune challenge from birth through late adolescence.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Women exposed to infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will later be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Preclinical maternal immune activation (MIA) models have demonstrated that the effects of maternal infection on fetal brain development are mediated by maternal immune response. Since the majority of MIA models are conducted in rodents, the nonhuman primate provides a unique system to evaluate the MIA hypothesis in a species closely related to humans. Here we report the first longitudinal study conducted in a nonhuman primate MIA model. MIA-exposed offspring demonstrate subtle changes in cognitive development paired with marked reductions in frontal gray and white matter, further supporting the association between prenatal immune challenge and alterations in offspring neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roza M Vlasova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Amy M Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Lucy H Funk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Takeshi Murai
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Shuai Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Douglas J Rowland
- Center for Genomic and Molecular Imaging, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Jeffrey Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Richard J Maddock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Judy Van de Water
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - A Kimberley McAllister
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California, 95618
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
| | - David G Amaral
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
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Carter M, Casey S, O’Keeffe GW, Gibson L, Murray DM. Mid-gestation cytokine profiles in mothers of children affected by autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22315. [PMID: 34785716 PMCID: PMC8595633 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01662-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum disorder is one of the commonest and most important neurodevelopmental conditions affecting children today. With an increasing prevalence and an unclear aetiology, it is imperative we find early markers of autism, which may facilitate early identification and intervention. Alterations of gestational cytokine profiles have been reported in mothers of autistic children. Increasing evidence suggests that the intrauterine environment is an important determinant of autism risk. This study aims to examine the mid-gestational serum cytokine profiles of the mothers of autistic children from a well-characterised birth cohort. A nested sub-cohort within a large mother-child birth cohort were identified based on a confirmed multi-disciplinary diagnosis of autism before the age 10 years and neuro-typical matched controls in a 2:1 ratio. IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, GMCSF and TNFα were measured in archived maternal 20-week serum using MesoScale Diagnostics multiplex technology and validation of our IL-17A measurements was performed using an ultrasensitive assay. From a cohort of 2137 children, 25 had confirmed autism before 10 years and stored maternal serum from mid-gestation. We examined the sera of these 25 cases and 50 matched controls. The sex ratio was 4:1 males to females in each group, and the mean age at diagnosis was 5.09 years (SD 2.13). We found that concentrations of IL-4 were significantly altered between groups. The other analytes did not differ significantly using either multiplex or ultra-sensitive assays. In our well-characterised prospective cohort of autistic children, we confirmed mid-gestational alterations in maternal IL-4 concentrations in autism affected pregnancies versus matched controls. These findings add to promising evidence from animal models and retrospective screening programmes and adds to the knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Carter
- The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. .,National Children's Research Centre, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland. .,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork (UCC), Cork, Ireland.
| | - Sophie Casey
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork (UCC), Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard W. O’Keeffe
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork (UCC), Cork, Ireland
| | - Louise Gibson
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork (UCC), Cork, Ireland
| | - Deirdre M. Murray
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork (UCC), Cork, Ireland
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Mirabella F, Desiato G, Mancinelli S, Fossati G, Rasile M, Morini R, Markicevic M, Grimm C, Amegandjin C, Termanini A, Peano C, Kunderfranco P, di Cristo G, Zerbi V, Menna E, Lodato S, Matteoli M, Pozzi D. Prenatal interleukin 6 elevation increases glutamatergic synapse density and disrupts hippocampal connectivity in offspring. Immunity 2021; 54:2611-2631.e8. [PMID: 34758338 PMCID: PMC8585508 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Early prenatal inflammatory conditions are thought to be a risk factor for different neurodevelopmental disorders. Maternal interleukin-6 (IL-6) elevation during pregnancy causes abnormal behavior in offspring, but whether these defects result from altered synaptic developmental trajectories remains unclear. Here we showed that transient IL-6 elevation via injection into pregnant mice or developing embryos enhanced glutamatergic synapses and led to overall brain hyperconnectivity in offspring into adulthood. IL-6 activated synaptogenesis gene programs in glutamatergic neurons and required the transcription factor STAT3 and expression of the RGS4 gene. The STAT3-RGS4 pathway was also activated in neonatal brains during poly(I:C)-induced maternal immune activation, which mimics viral infection during pregnancy. These findings indicate that IL-6 elevation at early developmental stages is sufficient to exert a long-lasting effect on glutamatergic synaptogenesis and brain connectivity, providing a mechanistic framework for the association between prenatal inflammatory events and brain neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Mirabella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Genni Desiato
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mancinelli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fossati
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Rasile
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Morini
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marija Markicevic
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Christina Grimm
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Clara Amegandjin
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Alberto Termanini
- Bioinformatic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Genomic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Kunderfranco
- Bioinformatic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Graziella di Cristo
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Valerio Zerbi
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland; Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Elisabetta Menna
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Lodato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Matteoli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, 20139 Milan, Italy.
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
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48
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Griffin A, Spencer SK, Bowles T, Solis L, Robinson R, Ramarao S, Wallace K. Male HELLP pups experience sensorimotor delays and reduced body weight. Physiol Behav 2021; 241:113567. [PMID: 34474060 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113567] [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: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Offspring of Preeclampsia (PreE) and HELLP Syndrome are at an increased risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. In the current study we sought to determine if offspring from experimental models of PreE and HELLP had evidence of early onset neurodevelopmental delay. Offspring from PreE, HELLP and normal pregnant dams were assessed in a battery of sensorimotor tests beginning on postnatal day (PND) 3. Male HELLP offspring showed altered behavior in the surface righting reflex on PND 3 and cliff avoidance task from PND 3-6 relative to other groups. Results suggest that there are sex differences in offspring born to dams with PreE and HELLP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Griffin
- Program in Neuroscience, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Shauna-Kay Spencer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Teylor Bowles
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Lucia Solis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Reanna Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Sumana Ramarao
- Department of Pediatrics, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Kedra Wallace
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, 2500 North State Street, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States.
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49
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Scott JT, Bourne JA. Modelling behaviors relevant to brain disorders in the nonhuman primate: Are we there yet? Prog Neurobiol 2021; 208:102183. [PMID: 34728308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen a profound resurgence of activity with nonhuman primates (NHPs) to model human brain disorders. From marmosets to macaques, the study of NHP species offers a unique window into the function of primate-specific neural circuits that are impossible to examine in other models. Examining how these circuits manifest into the complex behaviors of primates, such as advanced cognitive and social functions, has provided enormous insights to date into the mechanisms underlying symptoms of numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric illnesses. With the recent optimization of modern techniques to manipulate and measure neural activity in vivo, such as optogenetics and calcium imaging, NHP research is more well-equipped than ever to probe the neural mechanisms underlying pathological behavior. However, methods for behavioral experimentation and analysis in NHPs have noticeably failed to keep pace with these advances. As behavior ultimately lies at the junction between preclinical findings and its translation to clinical outcomes for brain disorders, approaches to improve the integrity, reproducibility, and translatability of behavioral experiments in NHPs requires critical evaluation. In this review, we provide a unifying account of existing brain disorder models using NHPs, and provide insights into the present and emerging contributions of behavioral studies to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack T Scott
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - James A Bourne
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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50
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The urgent need for more basic research on SARS-Cov2 infection and vaccines in assessing potential psychoneurological effects using maternal immune activation (MIA) and other preclinical modeling. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 97:1-3. [PMID: 34217811 PMCID: PMC8247198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development and application of different SARS-Cov2 vaccines world-wide has resulted in impressive efficacy and protection from this deadly pandemic. However, the existence of different and continuously developing vaccine candidates coupled with the likelihood of continued application due to both waning immune responses and emergence of viral mutants, means that more basic research regarding their efficacy and continued application are needed. This is particularly true with use of preclinical models involving effects when given during pregnancy. The substantial body of data on the impact of maternal immune activation (MIA) on neurologic development and behavior in the progeny necessitates the need to have all vaccine candidates, particularly when inducing strong toll receptor (TLR) responses, involving these models. Use of other preclinical models involving autoimmunity and allergy coupled with incorporation of human modifying variables of aging and obesity should also be applied to better reflect the heterogeneity of the general population and potential off-target effects that may arise. Additionally, the use of human ACE2 receptor transgenic mouse models can shed insights given the differential tissues expression at different stages in development. However, to foster these types of basic research studies involving different vaccine products, initiatives must first be implemented and supported at the governmental level even while clinical data still accumulates.
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