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Wani SN, Grewal AK, Khan H, Singh TG. Elucidating the molecular symphony: unweaving the transcriptional & epigenetic pathways underlying neuroplasticity in opioid dependence and withdrawal. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1955-1981. [PMID: 39254835 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06684-9] [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: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
The persistent use of opioids leads to profound changes in neuroplasticity of the brain, contributing to the emergence and persistence of addiction. However, chronic opioid use disrupts the delicate balance of the reward system in the brain, leading to neuroadaptations that underlie addiction. Chronic cocaine usage leads to synchronized alterations in gene expression, causing modifications in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), a vital part of the reward system of the brain. These modifications assist in the development of maladaptive behaviors that resemble addiction. Neuroplasticity in the context of addiction involves changes in synaptic connectivity, neuronal morphology, and molecular signaling pathways. Drug-evoked neuroplasticity in opioid addiction and withdrawal represents a complicated interaction between environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. Identifying specific transcriptional and epigenetic targets that can be modulated to restore normal neuroplasticity without disrupting essential physiological processes is a critical consideration. The discussion in this article focuses on the transcriptional aspects of drug-evoked neuroplasticity, emphasizing the role of key transcription factors, including cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), ΔFosB, NF-kB, Myocyte-enhancing factor 2 (MEF2), Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), E2F3a, and FOXO3a. These factors regulate gene expression and lead to the neuroadaptive changes observed in addiction and withdrawal. Epigenetic regulation, which involves modifying gene accessibility by controlling these structures, has been identified as a critical component of addiction development. By unraveling these complex molecular processes, this study provides valuable insights that may pave the way for future therapeutic interventions targeting the mechanisms underlying addiction and withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Nazir Wani
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India
- Aman Pharmacy College, Dholakhera, Udaipurwati, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, 333307, India
| | - Amarjot Kaur Grewal
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India.
| | - Heena Khan
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India
| | - Thakur Gurjeet Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India
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Liu SX, Harris AC, Gewirtz JC. How life events may confer vulnerability to addiction: the role of epigenetics. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1462769. [PMID: 39359689 PMCID: PMC11446245 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1462769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) represents a large and growing global health problem. Despite the strong addictive potency of drugs of abuse, only a minority of those exposed develop SUDs. While certain life experiences (e.g., childhood trauma) may increase subsequent vulnerability to SUDs, mechanisms underlying these effects are not yet well understood. Given the chronic and relapsing nature of SUDs, and the length of time that can elapse between prior life events and subsequent drug exposure, changes in SUD vulnerability almost certainly involve long-term epigenetic dysregulation. To validate this idea, functional effects of specific epigenetic modifications in brain regions mediating reinforcement learning (e.g., nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex) have been investigated in a variety of animal models of SUDs. In addition, the effects of epigenetic modifications produced by prior life experiences on subsequent SUD vulnerability have been studied, but mostly in a correlational manner. Here, we review how epigenetic mechanisms impact SUD-related behavior in animal models and summarize our understanding of the relationships among life experiences, epigenetic regulation, and future vulnerability to SUDs. Despite variations in study design, epigenetic modifications that most consistently affect SUD-related behavior are those that produce predominantly unidirectional effects on gene regulation, such as DNA methylation and histone phosphorylation. Evidence explicitly linking environmentally induced epigenetic modifications to subsequent SUD-related behavior is surprisingly sparse. We conclude by offering several directions for future research to begin to address this critical research gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirelle X. Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Andrew C. Harris
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jonathan C. Gewirtz
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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Mitra S, Werner CT, Shwani T, Lopez AG, Federico D, Higdon K, Li X, Gobira PH, Thomas SA, Martin JA, An C, Chandra R, Maze I, Neve R, Lobo MK, Gancarz AM, Dietz DM. A Novel Role for the Histone Demethylase JMJD3 in Mediating Heroin-Induced Relapse-Like Behaviors. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01452-5. [PMID: 39019389 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.028] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic changes that lead to long-term neuroadaptations following opioid exposure are not well understood. We examined how histone demethylase JMJD3 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influences heroin seeking after abstinence from self-administration. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats were trained to self-administer heroin. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to quantify JMJD3 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway expression in the NAc (n = 7-11/group). Pharmacological inhibitors or viral expression vectors were microinfused into the NAc to manipulate JMJD3 or the BMP pathway member SMAD1 (n = 9-11/group). The RiboTag capture method (n = 3-5/group) and viral vectors (n = 7-8/group) were used in male transgenic rats to identify the contributions of D1- and D2-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAc. Drug seeking was tested by cue-induced response previously paired with drug infusion. RESULTS Levels of JMJD3 and phosphorylated SMAD1/5 in the NAc were increased after 14 days of abstinence from heroin self-administration. Pharmacological and virus-mediated inhibition of JMJD3 or the BMP pathway attenuated cue-induced seeking. Pharmacological inhibition of BMP signaling reduced JMJD3 expression and H3K27me3 levels. JMJD3 bidirectionally affected seeking: expression of the wild-type increased cue-induced seeking whereas expression of a catalytic dead mutant decreased it. JMJD3 expression was increased in D2+ but not D1+ medium spiny neurons. Expression of the mutant JMJD3 in D2+ neurons was sufficient to decrease cue-induced heroin seeking. CONCLUSIONS JMJD3 mediates persistent cellular and behavioral adaptations that underlie heroin relapse, and this activity is regulated by the BMP pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Treefa Shwani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ana Garcia Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Dale Federico
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kate Higdon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Pedro H Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Shruthi A Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jennifer A Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Chunna An
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Rachel Neve
- Gene Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, California
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
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Gancarz AM, Parmar R, Shwani T, Cobb MM, Crawford MN, Watson JR, Evans L, Kausch MA, Werner CT, Dietz DM. Adolescent exposure to sucrose increases cocaine-mediated behaviours in adulthood via Smad3. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13346. [PMID: 38017636 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13346] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence, a critical period of developmental period, is marked by neurobiological changes influenced by environmental factors. Here, we show how exposure to sucrose, which is ubiquitously available in modern diets, results in changes in behavioural response to cocaine as an adult. Rats were given daily access to either 10% sucrose or water during the adolescent period (PND28-42). Following this period, rats are left undisturbed until they reach adulthood. In adulthood, rats were tested for (i) acquisition of a low dose of cocaine, (ii) progressive ratio (PR) test, and (iii) resistance to punished cocaine taking. Sucrose exposure resulted in significant alterations in all behavioural measures. To determine the neurobiological mechanisms leading to such behavioural adaptations, we find that adolescent sucrose exposure results in an upregulation of the transcription factor Smad3 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) when compared with water-exposed controls. Transiently blocking the active form of this transcription factor (HSV-dnSmad3) during adolescence mitigated the enhanced cocaine vulnerability-like behaviours observed in adulthood. These findings suggest that prior exposure to sucrose during adolescence can heighten the reinforcing effects of cocaine. Furthermore, they identify the TGF-beta pathway and Smad3 as playing a key role in mediating enduring and long-lasting adaptations that contribute to sucrose-induced susceptibility to cocaine. Taken together, these results have important implications for development and suggest that adolescent sucrose exposure may persistently enhance the susceptibility to substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Raveena Parmar
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Treefa Shwani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Moriah M Cobb
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Michelle N Crawford
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Jacob R Watson
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Lisa Evans
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Michael A Kausch
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Wang Y, Singh A, Li G, Yue S, Hertel K, Wang ZJ. Opioid induces increased DNA damage in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 224:173535. [PMID: 36907467 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive opioid taking and seeking, affecting millions of people worldwide. The high relapse rate is one of the biggest challenges in treating opioid addiction. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying relapse to opioid seeking are still unclear. Recent studies have shown that DNA damage and repair processes are implicated in a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases as well as in substance use disorders. In the present study, we hypothesized that DNA damage is related to relapse to heroin seeking. To test our hypothesis, we aim to examine the overall DNA damage level in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) after heroin exposure, as well as whether manipulating DNA damage levels can alter heroin seeking. First, we observed increased DNA damage in postmortem PFC and NAc tissues from OUD individuals compared to healthy controls. Next, we found significantly increased levels of DNA damage in the dorsomedial PFC (dmPFC) and NAc from mice that underwent heroin self-administration. Moreover, increased accumulation of DNA damage persisted after prolonged abstinence in mouse dmPFC, but not in NAc. This persistent DNA damage was ameliorated by the treatment of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine, along with attenuated heroin-seeking behavior. Furthermore, intra-PFC infusions of topotecan and etoposide during abstinence, which trigger DNA single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks respectively, potentiated heroin-seeking behavior. These findings provide direct evidence that OUD is associated with the accumulation of DNA damage in the brain (especially in the PFC), which may lead to opioid relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwanbin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Archana Singh
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Guohui Li
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuwen Yue
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Kegan Hertel
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
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Mews P, Cunningham AM, Scarpa J, Ramakrishnan A, Hicks EM, Bolnick S, Garamszegi S, Shen L, Mash DC, Nestler EJ. Convergent abnormalities in striatal gene networks in human cocaine use disorder and mouse cocaine administration models. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd8946. [PMID: 36763659 PMCID: PMC9916993 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is an intractable syndrome, and rising overdose death rates represent a substantial public health crisis that exacts tremendous personal and financial costs on patients and society. Sharp increases in cocaine use drive the urgent need for better mechanistic insight into this chronic relapsing brain disorder that currently lacks effective treatment options. To investigate the transcriptomic changes involved, we conducted RNA sequencing on two striatal brain regions that are heavily implicated in CUD, the nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus, from men suffering from CUD and matched controls. Weighted gene coexpression analyses identified CUD-specific gene networks enriched in ionotropic receptors and linked to lowered neuroinflammation, contrasting the proinflammatory responses found in opioid use disorder. Integration of comprehensive transcriptomic datasets from mouse cocaine self-administration models revealed evolutionarily conserved gene networks in CUD that implicate especially D1 medium spiny neurons as drivers of cocaine-induced plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Mews
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashley M. Cunningham
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Scarpa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aarthi Ramakrishnan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily M. Hicks
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Bolnick
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susanna Garamszegi
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah C. Mash
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Chen H, Chen L, Yuan Z, Yuan J, Li Y, Xu Y, Wu J, Zhang L, Wang G, Li J. Glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1 in D1- and D2-dopamine receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons differentially regulates cocaine acquisition, reinstatement, and associated spine plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:979078. [PMID: 36406750 PMCID: PMC9669444 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.979078] [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: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is involved in the expression of cocaine addictive phenotypes, including acquisition, extinction, and reinstatement. In the NAc, D1-medium spiny neurons (MSNs) encode cocaine reward, whereas D2-MSNs encode aversive responses in drug addiction. Glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) is known to be associated with cocaine addiction, but the role of GRIP1 in D1-MSNs and D2-MSNs of the NAc in cocaine acquisition and reinstatement remains unknown. METHODS A conditioned place preference apparatus was used to establish cocaine acquisition, extinction, and reinstatement in mouse models. GRIP1 expression was evaluated using Western blotting. Furthermore, GRIP1-siRNA and GRIP1 overexpression lentivirus were used to interfere with GRIP1 in the NAc. After the behavioral test, green fluorescent protein immunostaining of brain slices was used to detect spine density. RESULTS GRIP1 expression decreased during cocaine acquisition and reinstatement. GRIP1-siRNA enhanced cocaine-induced CPP behavior in acquisition and reinstatement and regulated associated spine plasticity. Importantly, the decreased GRIP1 expression that mediated cocaine acquisition and reinstatement was mainly driven by the interference of the GRIP1-GluA2 interaction in D1-MSNs and could be blocked by the interference of the GRIP1-GluA2 interaction in D2-MSNs. Interference with the GRIP1-GluA2 interaction in D1- and D2-MSNs decreased spine density in D1- and D2-MSNs, respectively. CONCLUSION GRIP1 in D1- and D2-MSNs of the NAc differentially modulates cocaine acquisition and reinstatement. GRIP1 downregulation in D1-MSNs has a positive effect on cocaine acquisition and reinstatement, while GRIP1 downregulation in D2-MSNs has a negative effect. Additionally, GRIP1 downregulation in D1-MSNs plays a leading role in cocaine acquisition and reinstatement.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Limei Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhirong Yuan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajie Yuan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yitong Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuesi Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieyi Wu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guohua Wang
- School of Food and Biotechnology, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Enhancing Endocannabinoid Signaling via β-Catenin in the Nucleus Accumbens Attenuates PTSD- and Depression-like Behavior of Male Rats. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081789. [PMID: 35892688 PMCID: PMC9394396 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which increases anandamide levels, has been suggested as a potential treatment for stress-related conditions. We examined whether the stress-preventing effects of the FAAH inhibitor URB597 on behavior are mediated via β-catenin in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Male rats were exposed to the shock and reminders model of PTSD and then treated with URB597 (0.4 mg/kg; i.p.). They were tested for anxiety- (freezing, startle response), depression-like behaviors (despair, social preference, anhedonia), and memory function (T-maze, social recognition). We also tested the involvement of the CB1 receptor (CB1r), β-catenin, and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) proteins. URB597 prevented the shock- and reminders-induced increase in anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, as well as the impaired memory via the CB1r-dependent mechanism. In the NAc, viral-mediated β-catenin overexpression restored the behavior of rats exposed to stress and normalized the alterations in protein levels in the NAc and the prefrontal cortex. Importantly, when NAc β-catenin levels were downregulated by viral-mediated gene transfer, the therapeutic-like effects of URB597 were blocked. We suggest a potentially novel mechanism for the therapeutic-like effects of FAAH inhibition that is dependent on β-catenin activation in the NAc in a PTSD rat model.
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SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler complex within the reward pathway is required for behavioral adaptations to stress. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1807. [PMID: 35379786 PMCID: PMC8980038 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29380-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Enduring behavioral changes upon stress exposure involve changes in gene expression sustained by epigenetic modifications in brain circuits, including the mesocorticolimbic pathway. Brahma (BRM) and Brahma Related Gene 1 (BRG1) are ATPase subunits of the SWI/SNF complexes involved in chromatin remodeling, a process essential to enduring plastic changes in gene expression. Here, we show that in mice, social defeat induces changes in BRG1 nuclear distribution. The inactivation of the Brg1/Smarca4 gene within dopamine-innervated regions or the constitutive inactivation of the Brm/Smarca2 gene leads to resilience to repeated social defeat and decreases the behavioral responses to cocaine without impacting midbrain dopamine neurons activity. Within striatal medium spiny neurons, Brg1 gene inactivation reduces the expression of stress- and cocaine-induced immediate early genes, increases levels of heterochromatin and at a global scale decreases chromatin accessibility. Altogether these data demonstrate the pivotal function of SWI/SNF complexes in behavioral and transcriptional adaptations to salient environmental challenges. Repeated exposure to social stressors in rodents results in behavioural changes. Here the authors show that behavioural adaptations to stress are associated with nuclear organization changes through SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler in specific neuronal populations of the mesolimbic system.
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10
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Singh A, Xie Y, Davis A, Wang ZJ. Early social isolation stress increases addiction vulnerability to heroin and alters c-Fos expression in the mesocorticolimbic system. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:1081-1095. [PMID: 34997861 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06024-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Adverse psychosocial factors during early childhood or adolescence compromise neural structure and brain function, inducing susceptibility for many psychiatric disorders such as substance use disorder. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying early life stress-induced addiction vulnerability is still unclear, especially for opioids. OBJECTIVES To address this, we used a mouse heroin self-administration model to examine how chronic early social isolation (ESI) stress (5 weeks, beginning at weaning) affects the behavioral and neural responses to heroin during adulthood. RESULTS We found that ESI stress did not alter the acquisition for sucrose or heroin self-administration, nor change the motivation for sucrose on a progressive ratio schedule. However, ESI stress induced an upward shift of heroin dose-response curve in female mice and increased motivation and seeking for heroin in both sexes. Furthermore, we examined the neuronal activity (measured by c-Fos expression) within the key brain regions of the mesocorticolimbic system, including the prelimbic cortex (PrL), infralimbic cortex (IL), nucleus accumbens (NAc) core and shell, caudate putamen, and ventral tegmental area (VTA). We found that ESI stress dampened c-Fos expression in the PrL, IL, and VTA after 14-day forced abstinence, while augmented the neuronal responses to heroin-predictive context and cue in the IL and NAc core. Moreover, ESI stress disrupted the association between c-Fos expression and attempted infusions during heroin-seeking test in the PrL. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that ESI stress leads to increased seeking and motivation for heroin, and this may be associated with distinct changes in neuronal activities in different subregions of the mesocorticolimbic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Singh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Yang Xie
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Ashton Davis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
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11
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Mitra S, Gobira PH, Werner CT, Martin JA, Iida M, Thomas SA, Erias K, Miracle S, Lafargue C, An C, Dietz DM. A role for the endocannabinoid enzymes monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol lipases in cue-induced cocaine craving following prolonged abstinence. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e13007. [PMID: 33496035 PMCID: PMC11000690 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Following exposure to drugs of abuse, long-term neuroadaptations underlie persistent risk to relapse. Endocannabinoid signaling has been associated with drug-induced neuroadaptations, but the role of lipases that mediate endocannabinoid biosynthesis and metabolism in regulating relapse behaviors following prolonged periods of drug abstinence has not been examined. Here, we investigated how pharmacological manipulation of lipases involved in regulating the expression of the endocannabinoid 2-AG in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influence cocaine relapse via discrete neuroadaptations. At prolonged abstinence (30 days) from cocaine self-administration, there is an increase in the NAc levels of diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the endocannabinoid 2-AG, along with decreased levels of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), which hydrolyzes 2-AG. Since endocannabinoid-mediated behavioral plasticity involves phosphatase dysregulation, we examined the phosphatase calcineurin after 30 days of abstinence and found decreased expression in the NAc, which we demonstrate is regulated through the transcription factor EGR1. Intra-NAc pharmacological manipulation of DAGL and MAGL with inhibitors DO-34 and URB-602, respectively, bidirectionally regulated cue-induced cocaine seeking and altered the phosphostatus of translational initiation factor, eIF2α. Finally, we found that cocaine seeking 30 days after abstinence leads to decreased phosphorylation of eIF2α and reduced expression of its downstream target NPAS4, a protein involved in experience-dependent neuronal plasticity. Together, our findings demonstrate that lipases that regulate 2-AG expression influence transcriptional and translational changes in the NAc related to drug relapse vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Pedro H. Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Craig T. Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Madoka Iida
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Shruthi A. Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kyra Erias
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Miracle
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Charles Lafargue
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Chunna An
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - David M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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12
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López AJ, Johnson AR, Kunnath AJ, Morris AD, Zachry JE, Thibeault KC, Kutlu MG, Siciliano CA, Calipari ES. An optimized procedure for robust volitional cocaine intake in mice. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2021; 29:319-333. [PMID: 32658535 PMCID: PMC7890946 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by volitional drug consumption. Mouse models of SUD allow for the use of molecular, genetic, and circuit-level tools, providing enormous potential for defining the underlying mechanisms of this disorder. However, the relevance of results depends on the validity of the mouse models used. Self-administration models have long been the preferred preclinical model for SUD as they allow for volitional drug consumption, thus providing strong face validity. While previous work has defined the parameters that influence intravenous cocaine self-administration in other species-such as rats and primates-many of these parameters have not been explicitly assessed in mice. In a series of experiments, we showed that commonly used mouse models of self-administration, where behavior is maintained on a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement, show similar levels of responding in the presence and absence of drug delivery-demonstrating that it is impossible to determine when drug consumption is and is not volitional. To address these issues, we have developed a novel mouse self-administration procedure where animals do not need to be pretrained on sucrose and behavior is maintained on a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement. This procedure increases rates of reinforcement behavior, increases levels of drug intake, and results in clearer delineation between drug-reinforced and saline conditions. Together, these data highlight a major issue with fixed-ratio models in mice that complicates subsequent analysis and provide a simple approach to minimize these confounds with variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J López
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Amy R Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Ansley J Kunnath
- Vanderbilt University Medical Scientists Training Program, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Allison D Morris
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Jennifer E Zachry
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Kimberly C Thibeault
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Munir G Kutlu
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Cody A Siciliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
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13
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Sharma T, Robinson DCL, Witwicka H, Dilworth FJ, Imbalzano AN. The Bromodomains of the mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) ATPases Brahma (BRM) and Brahma Related Gene 1 (BRG1) promote chromatin interaction and are critical for skeletal muscle differentiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8060-8077. [PMID: 34289068 PMCID: PMC8373147 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration is mediated by myoblasts that undergo epigenomic changes to establish the gene expression program of differentiated myofibers. mSWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes coordinate with lineage-determining transcription factors to establish the epigenome of differentiated myofibers. Bromodomains bind to acetylated lysines on histone N-terminal tails and other proteins. The mutually exclusive ATPases of mSWI/SNF complexes, BRG1 and BRM, contain bromodomains with undefined functional importance in skeletal muscle differentiation. Pharmacological inhibition of mSWI/SNF bromodomain function using the small molecule PFI-3 reduced differentiation in cell culture and in vivo through decreased myogenic gene expression, while increasing cell cycle-related gene expression and the number of cells remaining in the cell cycle. Comparative gene expression analysis with data from myoblasts depleted of BRG1 or BRM showed that bromodomain function was required for a subset of BRG1- and BRM-dependent gene expression. Reduced binding of BRG1 and BRM after PFI-3 treatment showed that the bromodomain is required for stable chromatin binding at target gene promoters to alter gene expression. Our findings demonstrate that mSWI/SNF ATPase bromodomains permit stable binding of the mSWI/SNF ATPases to promoters required for cell cycle exit and establishment of muscle-specific gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Daniel C L Robinson
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hanna Witwicka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - F Jeffrey Dilworth
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony N Imbalzano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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14
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Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic brain diseases characterized by transitions from recreational to compulsive drug use and aberrant drug craving that persists for months to years after abstinence is achieved. The transition to compulsive drug use implies that plasticity is occurring, altering the physiology of the brain to precipitate addicted states. Epigenetic phenomena represent a varied orchestra of transcriptional tuning mechanisms that, in response to environmental stimuli, create and maintain gene expression-mediated physiological outcomes. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms represent a convergent regulatory framework through which the plasticity required to achieve an addicted state can arise and then persist long after drug use has ended. In the first section, we will introduce basic concepts in epigenetics, such as chromatin architecture, histones and their posttranslational modifications, DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, and transcription factors, along with methods for their investigation. We will then examine the implications of these mechanisms in SUDs, with a particular focus on cocaine-mediated neuroepigenetic plasticity across multiple behavioral models of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Stewart
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Sasha L Fulton
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Ian Maze
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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15
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Abstract
A growing body of evidence from the past 15 years implicates epigenetic mechanisms in the behavioral effects of addictive drugs. The main focus of these studies has been epigenetic mechanisms of psychomotor sensitization and drug reinforcement, as assessed by the conditioned place preference and drug self-administration procedures. Some of these studies have documented long-lasting changes in the expression of epigenetic enzymes and molecules that persist for weeks after the last drug exposure. These observations have inspired more recent investigations on the epigenetic mechanisms of relapse to drug seeking after prolonged abstinence. Here, we review studies that have examined epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., histone modifications, chromatin remodeler-associated modifications, and DNA methylation) that contribute to relapse to cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine, heroin, nicotine, or alcohol seeking, as assessed in rodent models. We first provide a brief overview of studies that have examined persistent epigenetic changes in the brain after prolonged abstinence from noncontingent drug exposure or drug self-administration. Next, we review studies on the effect of either systemic or brain site-specific epigenetic manipulations on the reinstatement of drug-conditioned place preference after extinction of the learned preference, the reinstatement of drug seeking after operant drug self-administration and extinction of the drug-reinforced responding, and the incubation of drug craving (the time-dependent increase in drug seeking after cessation of drug self-administration). We conclude by discussing the implications of these studies for understanding mechanisms contributing to persistent relapse vulnerability after prolonged abstinence. We also discuss the implications of these results for translational research on the potential use of systemically administered epigenetic enzyme inhibitors for relapse prevention in human drug users.
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16
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Neuroadaptations in the dorsal hippocampus underlie cocaine seeking during prolonged abstinence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:26460-26469. [PMID: 33020308 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2006133117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapse vulnerability in substance use disorder is attributed to persistent cue-induced drug seeking that intensifies (or "incubates") during drug abstinence. Incubated cocaine seeking has been observed in both humans with cocaine use disorder and in preclinical relapse models. This persistent relapse vulnerability is mediated by neuroadaptations in brain regions involved in reward and motivation. The dorsal hippocampus (DH) is involved in context-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking but the role of the DH in cocaine seeking during prolonged abstinence has not been investigated. Here we found that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily member activin A is increased in the DH on abstinence day (AD) 30 but not AD1 following extended-access cocaine self-administration compared to saline controls. Moreover, activin A does not affect cocaine seeking on AD1 but regulates cocaine seeking on AD30 in a bidirectional manner. Next, we found that activin A regulates phosphorylation of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluN2B and that GluN2B-containing NMDARs also regulate expression of cocaine seeking on AD30. Activin A and GluN2B-containing NMDARs have both previously been implicated in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Therefore, we examined synaptic strength in the DH during prolonged abstinence and observed an increase in moderate long-term potentiation (LTP) in cocaine-treated rats compared to saline controls. Lastly, we examined the role of DH projections to the lateral septum (LS), a brain region implicated in cocaine seeking and found that DH projections to the LS govern cocaine seeking on AD30. Taken together, this study demonstrates a role for the DH in relapse behavior following prolonged abstinence from cocaine self-administration.
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17
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Amelioration of autism-like social deficits by targeting histone methyltransferases EHMT1/2 in Shank3-deficient mice. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2517-2533. [PMID: 30659288 PMCID: PMC6639159 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0351-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Many of the genes disrupted in autism are identified as histone-modifying enzymes and chromatin remodelers, most prominently those that mediate histone methylation/demethylation. However, the role of histone methylation enzymes in the pathophysiology and treatment of autism remains unknown. To address this, we used mouse models of haploinsufficiency of the Shank3 gene (a highly penetrant monogenic autism risk factor), which exhibits prominent autism-like social deficits. We found that histone methyltransferases EHMT1 and EHMT2, as well as histone lysine 9 dimethylation (specifically catalyzed by EHMT1/2), were selectively increased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of Shank3-deficient mice and autistic human postmortem brains. Treatment with the EHMT1/2 inhibitor UNC0642 or knockdown of EHMT1/2 in PFC induced a robust rescue of autism-like social deficits in Shank3-deficient mice, and restored NMDAR-mediated synaptic function. Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) was identified as one of the causal factors underlying the rescuing effects of UNC0642 on NMDAR function and social behaviors in Shank3-deficient mice. UNC0642 treatment also restored a large set of genes involved in neural signaling in PFC of Shank3-deficient mice. These results suggest that targeting histone methylation enzymes to adjust gene expression and ameliorate synaptic defects could be a potential therapeutic strategy for autism.
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18
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López AJ, Hecking JK, White AO. The Emerging Role of ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling in Memory and Substance Use Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6816. [PMID: 32957495 PMCID: PMC7555352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term memory formation requires coordinated regulation of gene expression and persistent changes in cell function. For decades, research has implicated histone modifications in regulating chromatin compaction necessary for experience-dependent changes to gene expression and cell function during memory formation. Recent evidence suggests that another epigenetic mechanism, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, works in concert with the histone-modifying enzymes to produce large-scale changes to chromatin structure. This review examines how histone-modifying enzymes and chromatin remodelers restructure chromatin to facilitate memory formation. We highlight the emerging evidence implicating ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling as an essential mechanism that mediates activity-dependent gene expression, plasticity, and cell function in developing and adult brains. Finally, we discuss how studies that target chromatin remodelers have expanded our understanding of the role that these complexes play in substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J. López
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Julia K. Hecking
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA;
| | - André O. White
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA;
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19
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Abstract
Drugs of abuse can modify gene expression in brain reward and motivation centers,
which contribute to the structural and functional remodeling of these circuits that
impacts the emergence of a state of addiction. Our understanding of how addictive drugs
induce transcriptomic plasticity in addiction-relevant brain regions, particularly in
the striatum, has increased dramatically in recent years. Intracellular signaling
machineries, transcription factors, chromatin modifications, and regulatory noncoding
RNAs have all been implicated in the mechanisms through which addictive drugs act in the
brain. Here, we briefly summarize some of the molecular mechanisms through which drugs
of abuse can exert their transcriptional effects in the brain region, with an emphasis
on the role for microRNAs in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purva Bali
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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20
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Espeso-Gil S, Halene T, Bendl J, Kassim B, Ben Hutta G, Iskhakova M, Shokrian N, Auluck P, Javidfar B, Rajarajan P, Chandrasekaran S, Peter CJ, Cote A, Birnbaum R, Liao W, Borrman T, Wiseman J, Bell A, Bannon MJ, Roussos P, Crary JF, Weng Z, Marenco S, Lipska B, Tsankova NM, Huckins L, Jiang Y, Akbarian S. A chromosomal connectome for psychiatric and metabolic risk variants in adult dopaminergic neurons. Genome Med 2020; 12:19. [PMID: 32075678 PMCID: PMC7031924 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-020-0715-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Midbrain dopaminergic neurons (MDN) represent 0.0005% of the brain's neuronal population and mediate cognition, food intake, and metabolism. MDN are also posited to underlay the neurobiological dysfunction of schizophrenia (SCZ), a severe neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by psychosis as well as multifactorial medical co-morbidities, including metabolic disease, contributing to markedly increased morbidity and mortality. Paradoxically, however, the genetic risk sequences of psychosis and traits associated with metabolic disease, such as body mass, show very limited overlap. METHODS We investigated the genomic interaction of SCZ with medical conditions and traits, including body mass index (BMI), by exploring the MDN's "spatial genome," including chromosomal contact landscapes as a critical layer of cell type-specific epigenomic regulation. Low-input Hi-C protocols were applied to 5-10 × 103 dopaminergic and other cell-specific nuclei collected by fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting from the adult human midbrain. RESULTS The Hi-C-reconstructed MDN spatial genome revealed 11 "Euclidean hot spots" of clustered chromatin domains harboring risk sequences for SCZ and elevated BMI. Inter- and intra-chromosomal contacts interconnecting SCZ and BMI risk sequences showed massive enrichment for brain-specific expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), with gene ontologies, regulatory motifs and proteomic interactions related to adipogenesis and lipid regulation, dopaminergic neurogenesis and neuronal connectivity, and reward- and addiction-related pathways. CONCLUSIONS We uncovered shared nuclear topographies of cognitive and metabolic risk variants. More broadly, our PsychENCODE sponsored Hi-C study offers a novel genomic approach for the study of psychiatric and medical co-morbidities constrained by limited overlap of their respective genetic risk architectures on the linear genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Espeso-Gil
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tobias Halene
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- J.J. Peters Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jaroslav Bendl
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bibi Kassim
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriella Ben Hutta
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marina Iskhakova
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neda Shokrian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pavan Auluck
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Behnam Javidfar
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Prashanth Rajarajan
- MDPhD Program in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandhya Chandrasekaran
- MDPhD Program in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cyril J Peter
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alanna Cote
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Birnbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Will Liao
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Tyler Borrman
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jennifer Wiseman
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Bannon
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Panagiotis Roussos
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- J.J. Peters Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Stefano Marenco
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Barbara Lipska
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nadejda M Tsankova
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Huckins
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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21
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Hong Q, Liu J, Lin Z, Zhuang D, Xu W, Xu Z, Lai M, Zhu H, Zhou W, Liu H. Histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation of BRG1 in the medial prefrontal cortex is associated with heroin self‑administration in rats. Mol Med Rep 2019; 21:405-412. [PMID: 31939625 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Heroin addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disorder with negative social consequences. Histone acetylation serves a role in drug‑induced behavior and neuroplasticity impairment. Brahma/SWI2‑related gene‑1 (BRG1) participates in cerebellar development, embryogenesis and transcriptional regulation of neuronal genes concurrent with histone modifications. However, little is known about the relationship between histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and BRG1 in response to heroin. The present study aimed to assess the contribution of histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation of BRG1 to heroin self‑administration. The present study established a Sprague‑Dawley rat model of heroin self‑administration under a fixed‑ratio‑1 paradigm. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR) was used to detect the accumulation of H3K9ac on BRG1 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) following heroin self‑administration. The relative expression levels of BRG1 were analyzed by RT‑qPCR. H3K9ac at the promoter region of BRG1 was significantly elevated (P=0.002), and the expression of BRG1 in the mPFC increased 1.47‑fold in the heroin self‑administration group compared with the control group. No significant difference in H3K9ac at the BRG1 locus was observed in the NAc (P=0.323), with the expression of BRG1 decreasing 1.38‑fold in the heroin self‑administering rats compared with the control group. H3K9ac is associated with transcriptional activation, and the increased BRG1 expression suggested an essential and novel role for BRG1 and its H3K9ac‑mediated regulation in the mPFC after heroin self‑administration; and this may function through epigenetically modulating the activation of neuroplasticity‑associated genes. This association may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of heroin addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiao Hong
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Zi Lin
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Dingding Zhuang
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Wenjin Xu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Zemin Xu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Miaojun Lai
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Huaqiang Zhu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Wenhua Zhou
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Huifen Liu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
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22
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Rein B, Yan Z, Wang Z. Diminished social interaction incentive contributes to social deficits in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12610. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo New York
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo New York
| | - Zi‐Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo New York
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23
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Werner CT, Mitra S, Martin JA, Stewart AF, Lepack AE, Ramakrishnan A, Gobira PH, Wang ZJ, Neve RL, Gancarz AM, Shen L, Maze I, Dietz DM. Ubiquitin-proteasomal regulation of chromatin remodeler INO80 in the nucleus accumbens mediates persistent cocaine craving. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaay0351. [PMID: 31633032 PMCID: PMC6785264 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay0351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuroadaptations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) underlie cue-induced cocaine craving that intensifies ("incubates") during abstinence and is believed to contribute to persistent relapse vulnerability. Changes in gene expression often govern perpetual behavioral abnormalities, but epigenetic plasticity during prolonged abstinence from drug exposure is poorly understood. We examined how E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM3 dysregulates chromatin remodeler INO80 to mediate cocaine craving during prolonged abstinence. We found that INO80 expression increased in the NAc on abstinence day 30 (AD30) but not on AD1 following cocaine self-administration. Furthermore, TRIM3, which mediates degradation of INO80, was reduced on AD30, along with TRIM3-INO80 interaction. Viral-mediated gene transfer of INO80 or TRIM3 governed cocaine craving during prolonged abstinence. Lastly, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by massively parallel DNA sequencing identified INO80-mediated transcriptional regulation of predicted pathways associated with cocaine plasticity. Together, these results demonstrate a novel ubiquitin-proteasomal-epigenetic mechanism by which TRIM3-INO80 mediates cocaine craving during prolonged abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. T. Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - S. Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - J. A. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - A. F. Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - A. E. Lepack
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - A. Ramakrishnan
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - P. H. Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Z.-J. Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - R. L. Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - A. M. Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - L. Shen
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - I. Maze
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - D. M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Corresponding author.
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24
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Martin JA, Werner CT, Mitra S, Zhong P, Wang ZJ, Gobira PH, Stewart AF, Zhang J, Erias K, Siemian JN, Hagarty D, Mueller LE, Neve RL, Li JX, Chandra R, Dietz KC, Lobo MK, Gancarz AM, Yan Z, Dietz DM. A novel role for the actin-binding protein drebrin in regulating opiate addiction. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4140. [PMID: 31515501 PMCID: PMC6742638 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12122-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent transcriptional and morphological events in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and other brain reward regions contribute to the long-lasting behavioral adaptations that characterize drug addiction. Opiate exposure reduces the density of dendritic spines on medium spiny neurons of the NAc; however, the underlying transcriptional and cellular events mediating this remain unknown. We show that heroin self-administration negatively regulates the actin-binding protein drebrin in the NAc. Using virus-mediated gene transfer, we show that drebrin overexpression in the NAc is sufficient to decrease drug seeking and increase dendritic spine density, whereas drebrin knockdown potentiates these effects. We demonstrate that drebrin is transcriptionally repressed by the histone modifier HDAC2, which is relieved by pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylases. Importantly, we demonstrate that heroin-induced adaptations occur only in the D1+ subset of medium spiny neurons. These findings establish an essential role for drebrin, and upstream transcriptional regulator HDAC2, in opiate-induced plasticity in the NAc. The underlying transcriptional and cellular events mediating the reduction of dendritic spines on medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) remains unknown. Here, authors demonstrate that heroin self-administration negatively regulates the actin-binding protein drebrin in the NAc, which is shown to be transcriptionally repressed by the histone modifier HDAC2, and that overexpression of drebrin is sufficient to decrease drug seeking and increase dendritic spine density
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Pedro H Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.,Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrew F Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Jay Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Kyra Erias
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Justin N Siemian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Devin Hagarty
- Department of Psychology, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Lauren E Mueller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Karen C Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA. .,Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
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25
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Werner CT, Viswanathan R, Martin JA, Gobira PH, Mitra S, Thomas SA, Wang ZJ, Liu JF, Stewart AF, Neve RL, Li JX, Gancarz AM, Dietz DM. E3 Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase SMURF1 in the Nucleus Accumbens Mediates Cocaine Seeking. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:881-892. [PMID: 30158054 PMCID: PMC6260585 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance use disorder is a neurobiological disease characterized by episodes of relapse despite periods of withdrawal. It is thought that neuroadaptations in discrete brain areas of the reward pathway, including the nucleus accumbens, underlie these aberrant behaviors. The ubiquitin-proteasome system degrades proteins and has been shown to be involved in cocaine-induced plasticity, but the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases, which conjugate ubiquitin to substrates, is unknown. Here, we examined E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase SMURF1 (SMURF1) in neuroadaptations and relapse behavior during withdrawal following cocaine self-administration. METHODS SMURF1 and downstream targets ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA), SMAD1/5, and Runt-related transcript factor 2 were examined using Western blotting (n = 9-11/group), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 6-9/group), co-immunoprecipitation (n = 9-11/group), tandem ubiquitin binding entities affinity purification (n = 5-6/group), and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (n = 3-6/group) (2 rats/sample). Viral-mediated gene transfer (n = 7-12/group) and intra-accumbal microinjections (n = 9-10/group) were used to examine causal roles of SMURF1 and substrate RhoA, respectively, in cue-induced cocaine seeking. RESULTS SMURF1 protein expression was decreased, while SMURF1 substrates RhoA and SMAD1/5 were increased, in the nucleus accumbens on withdrawal day 7, but not on withdrawal day 1, following cocaine self-administration. Viral-mediated gene transfer of Smurf1 or constitutive activation of RhoA attenuated cue-induced cocaine seeking, while catalytically inactive Smurf1 enhanced cocaine seeking. Furthermore, SMURF1-regulated, SMAD1/5-associated transcription factor Runt-related transcript factor 2 displayed increased binding at promoter regions of genes previously associated with cocaine-induced plasticity. CONCLUSIONS SMURF1 is a key mediator of neuroadaptations in the nucleus accumbens following cocaine exposure and mediates cue-induced cocaine seeking during withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Rathipriya Viswanathan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jennifer A Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Pedro H Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Shruthi A Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jian-Feng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Andrew F Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, California
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
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26
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Liu JF, Seaman R, Siemian JN, Bhimani R, Johnson B, Zhang Y, Zhu Q, Hoener MC, Park J, Dietz DM, Li JX. Role of trace amine-associated receptor 1 in nicotine's behavioral and neurochemical effects. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2435-2444. [PMID: 29472642 PMCID: PMC6180004 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0017-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine addiction and abuse remains a global health issue. To date, the fundamental neurobiological mechanism of nicotine addiction remains incompletely understood. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is thought to directly modulate dopaminergic system and are thought to be a neural substrate underlying addictive-like behaviors. We aimed to investigate the role of TAAR1 in nicotine addictive-like behaviors. TAAR1 expression after nicotine treatment was evaluated by western blotting. c-Fos immunofluorescence and in vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry were used to examine the activation of brain regions and dopamine release, respectively. We then thoroughly and systematically examined the role of TAAR1 in mediating nicotine-induced sensitization, nicotine discrimination, nicotine self-administration, nicotine demand curve, and the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking. Local pharmacological manipulation was conducted to determine the role of TAAR1 in the nucleus accumbens (NAcs) in the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking. We found that the expression of TAAR1 protein was selectively downregulated in the NAc, with no change in either dorsal striatum or prefrontal cortex. TAAR1 activation was sufficient to block nicotine-induced c-Fos expression in the NAc, while also reducing nicotine-induced dopamine release in the NAc. Systemic administration of TAAR1 agonists attenuated the expression and development of nicotine-induced sensitization, nicotine self-administration, the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking, and increased the elasticity of nicotine demand curve, while intra-NAc infusions of a TAAR1 agonist was sufficient to attenuate nicotine reinstatement. Moreover, TAAR1-knockout rats showed augmented cue-induced and drug-induced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking. These results indicated that modulation of TAAR1 activity regulates nicotine addictive-like behaviors and TAAR1 represents a novel target towards the treatment of nicotine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Feng Liu
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA ,0000 0000 9530 8833grid.260483.bSchool of Pharmacy, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Robert Seaman
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA
| | - Justin N. Siemian
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA
| | - Rohan Bhimani
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA
| | - Bernard Johnson
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA
| | - Yanan Zhang
- 0000000100301493grid.62562.35Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
| | - Qing Zhu
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA ,0000 0000 9530 8833grid.260483.bSchool of Pharmacy, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Marius C. Hoener
- 0000 0004 0374 1269grid.417570.0Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Disease DTA, pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jinwoo Park
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA
| | - David M. Dietz
- 0000 0004 1936 9887grid.273335.3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Program in Neuroscience, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
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27
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Abstract
Chromatin-related phenomena regulate gene expression by altering the compaction and accessibility of DNA to relevant transcription factors, thus allowing every cell in the body to attain distinct identities and to function properly within a given cellular context. These processes occur not only in the developing central nervous system, but continue throughout the lifetime of a neuron to constantly adapt to changes in the environment. Such changes can be positive or negative, thereby altering the chromatin landscape to influence cellular and synaptic plasticity within relevant neural circuits, and ultimately behavior. Given the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in guiding physiological adaptations, perturbations in these processes in brain have been linked to several neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. In this review, we cover some of the recent advances linking chromatin dynamics to complex brain disorders and discuss new methodologies that may overcome current limitations in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M Bastle
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Ian Maze
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029.,Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
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28
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Li X, Carreria MB, Witonsky KR, Zeric T, Lofaro OM, Bossert JM, Zhang J, Surjono F, Richie CT, Harvey BK, Son H, Cowan CW, Nestler EJ, Shaham Y. Role of Dorsal Striatum Histone Deacetylase 5 in Incubation of Methamphetamine Craving. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:213-222. [PMID: 29397902 PMCID: PMC6026084 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methamphetamine (meth) seeking progressively increases after withdrawal (incubation of meth craving). We previously demonstrated an association between histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) gene expression in the rat dorsal striatum and incubation of meth craving. Here we used viral constructs to study the causal role of dorsal striatum HDAC5 in this incubation. METHODS In experiment 1 (overexpression), we injected an adeno-associated virus bilaterally into dorsal striatum to express either green fluorescent protein (control) or a mutant form of HDAC5, which strongly localized to the nucleus. After training rats to self-administer meth (10 days, 9 hours/day), we tested the rats for relapse to meth seeking on withdrawal days 2 and 30. In experiment 2 (knockdown), we injected an adeno-associated virus bilaterally into the dorsal striatum to express a short hairpin RNA either against luciferase (control) or against HDAC5. After training rats to self-administer meth, we tested the rats for relapse on withdrawal days 2 and 30. We also measured gene expression of other HDACs and potential HDAC5 downstream targets. RESULTS We found that HDAC5 overexpression in dorsal striatum increased meth seeking on withdrawal day 30 but not day 2. In contrast, HDAC5 knockdown in the dorsal striatum decreased meth seeking on withdrawal day 30 but not on day 2; this manipulation also altered other HDACs (Hdac1 and Hdac4) and potential HDAC5 targets (Gnb4 and Suv39h1). CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrate a novel role of dorsal striatum HDAC5 in incubation of meth craving. These findings also set up future work to identify HDAC5 targets that mediate this incubation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Maria B Carreria
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kailyn R Witonsky
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tamara Zeric
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Olivia M Lofaro
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jennifer M Bossert
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Felicia Surjono
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Christopher T Richie
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brandon K Harvey
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hyeon Son
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Christopher W Cowan
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Yavin Shaham
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland
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29
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A Novel Role for Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs) and Sox10 in Mediating Cellular and Behavioral Responses to Heroin. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1385-1394. [PMID: 29260792 PMCID: PMC5916371 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Opiate abuse and addiction have become a worldwide epidemic with great societal and financial burdens, highlighting a critical need to understand the neurobiology of opiate addiction. Although several studies have focused on drug-dependent changes in neurons, the role of glia in opiate addiction remains largely unstudied. RNA sequencing pathway analysis from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of male rats revealed changes in several genes associated with oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation following heroin self-administration. Among these genes changed was Sox10, which is regulated, in part, by the chromatin remodeler BRG1/SMARCA4. To directly test the functional role of Sox10 in mediating heroin-induced behavioral plasticity, we selectively overexpressed Sox10 and BRG1 in the PFC. Overexpression of either Sox10 or BRG1 decreased the motivation to obtain heroin infusions in a progressive ratio test without altering the acquisition or maintenance of heroin self-administration. These data demonstrate a critical, and perhaps compensatory, role of Sox10 and BRG1 in oligodendrocytes in regulating the motivation for heroin.
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30
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Wang ZJ, Martin JA, Gancarz AM, Adank DN, Sim FJ, Dietz DM. Activin A is increased in the nucleus accumbens following a cocaine binge. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43658. [PMID: 28272550 PMCID: PMC5341561 DOI: 10.1038/srep43658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is a long-lasting disease characterized by compulsive drug intake mediated in part by neuronal and biological adaptations in key brain areas, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc). While we previously demonstrated involvement of the activin 2a receptor in drug taking, the role of its ligand, activin A, in cocaine relapse is unknown. Activin A levels in the NAc were assessed via ELISA and immunohistochemistry (in neurons, astrocytes, and microglia) following a cocaine binge paradigm. Cocaine exposure significantly increased the levels of activin A in the NAc of animals that had self-administered cocaine prior to the 14-day withdrawal compared with levels in saline controls. This was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of IBA1+ microglia in the NAc that were immunopositive for activin A. In contrast, the proportions of NeuN+ neurons and GFAP+ astrocytes that were immunopositive for activin A remained unaltered. In conclusion, these data suggest that increased secretion of activin A, particularly from microglia, in the NAc represents a novel potential target for the treatment of cocaine relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Amy M. Gancarz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Danielle N. Adank
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fraser J. Sim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - David M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Liu JF, Siemian JN, Seaman R, Zhang Y, Li JX. Role of TAAR1 within the Subregions of the Mesocorticolimbic Dopaminergic System in Cocaine-Seeking Behavior. J Neurosci 2017; 37:882-892. [PMID: 28123023 PMCID: PMC5296782 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2006-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel G-protein coupled receptor, trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), has been shown to be a promising target to prevent stimulant relapse. Our recent studies showed that systemic administration of TAAR1 agonists decreased abuse-related behaviors of cocaine. However, the role of TAAR1 in specific subregions of the reward system in drug addiction is unknown. Here, using a local pharmacological activation method, we assessed the role of TAAR1 within the subregions of the mesocorticolimbic system: that is, the VTA, the prelimbic cortex (PrL), and infralimbic cortex of medial prefrontal cortex, the core and shell of NAc, BLA, and CeA, on cue- and drug-induced cocaine-seeking in the rat cocaine reinstatement model. We first showed that TAAR1 mRNA was expressed throughout these brain regions. Rats underwent cocaine self-administration, followed by extinction training. RO5166017 (1.5 or 5.0 μg/side) or vehicle was microinjected into each brain region immediately before cue- and drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking. The results showed that microinjection of RO5166017 into the VTA and PrL decreased both cue- and drug priming-induced cocaine-seeking. Microinjection of RO5166017 into the NAc core and shell inhibited cue- and drug-induced cocaine-seeking, respectively. Locomotor activity or food reinforced operant responding was unaffected by microinjection of RO5166017 into these brain regions. Cocaine-seeking behaviors were not affected by RO5166017 when microinjected into the substantia nigra, infralimbic cortex, BLA, and CeA. Together, these results indicate that TAAR1 in different subregions of the mesocorticolimbic system distinctly contributes to cue- and drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT TAAR1 has been indicated as a modulator of the dopaminergic system. Previous research showed that systemic administration of TAAR1 agonists could attenuate cocaine-related behaviors, suggesting that TAAR1 may be a promising drug target for the treatment of cocaine addiction. However, the specific role of TAAR1 in subregions of the mesocorticolimbic system in drug addiction is unknown. Here, we first showed that TAAR1 mRNA is expressed throughout the subregions of the mesocorticolimbic system. Then, by using a local pharmacological activation method, we demonstrated that TAAR1 in different subregions of the mesocorticolimbic system distinctly contributes to cue- and drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Feng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, and
| | - Justin N Siemian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, and
| | - Robert Seaman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, and
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, and
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Smith AC. Chromatin Remodeling in Addiction: BRG1-SMAD3 Interaction Contributes to Cued Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 80:e77-e78. [PMID: 27697157 PMCID: PMC5453666 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C.W. Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai, New York, New York
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