1
|
Serra M, Simola N, Pollack AE, Costa G. Brain dysfunctions and neurotoxicity induced by psychostimulants in experimental models and humans: an overview of recent findings. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1908-1918. [PMID: 38227515 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that psychostimulants, in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit brain dysfunctions and/or neurotoxic effects. Central toxicity induced by psychostimulants may pose serious health risks since the recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young people and adults. The present review provides an overview of recent research, conducted between 2018 and 2023, focusing on brain dysfunctions and neurotoxic effects elicited in experimental models and humans by amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methylphenidate, caffeine, and nicotine. Detailed elucidation of factors and mechanisms that underlie psychostimulant-induced brain dysfunction and neurotoxicity is crucial for understanding the acute and enduring noxious brain effects that may occur in individuals who use psychostimulants for recreational and/or therapeutic purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alexia E Pollack
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts-Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giulia Costa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gao L, Sun W, Zhang L, Liang C, Zhang D. Caffeine upregulates SIRT3 expression to ameliorate astrocytes-mediated HIV-1 Tat neurotoxicity via suppression of EGR1 signaling pathway. J Neurovirol 2024:10.1007/s13365-024-01222-x. [PMID: 38926255 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-024-01222-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Caffeine is one of the most popular consumed psychostimulants that mitigates several neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, the roles and molecular mechanisms of caffeine in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain largely unclear. Transactivator of transcription (Tat) is a major contributor to the neuropathogenesis of HAND in the central nervous system. In the present study, we determined that caffeine (100 µM) treatment significantly ameliorated Tat-induced decreased astrocytic viability, oxidative stress, inflammatory response and excessive glutamate and ATP release, thereby protecting neurons from apoptosis. Subsequently, SIRT3 was demonstrated to display neuroprotective effects against Tat during caffeine treatment. In addition, Tat downregulated SIRT3 expression via activation of EGR1 signaling, which was reversed by caffeine treatment in astrocytes. Overexpression of EGR1 entirely abolished the neuroprotective effects of caffeine against Tat. Furthermore, counteracting Tat or caffeine-induced differential expression of SIRT3 abrogated the neuroprotection of caffeine against Tat-triggered astrocytic dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis. Taken together, our study establishes that caffeine ameliorates astrocytes-mediated Tat neurotoxicity by targeting EGR1/SIRT3 signaling pathway. Our findings highlight the beneficial effects of caffeine on Tat-induced astrocytic dysfunction and neuronal death and propose that caffeine might be a novel therapeutic drug for relief of HAND.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Gao
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, No. 666, Shengli Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Discipline (Laboratory) Cultivation Unit, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
- Nantong Municipal Medical Key Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
- Nantong Municipal Key Laboratory of Metabolic Immunology and Disease Microenvironment, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weixi Sun
- Disease Prevention and Control Center of Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226000, People's Republic of China
- Health Commission of Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Nantong Health College of Jiangsu Province, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Caixia Liang
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, No. 666, Shengli Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Discipline (Laboratory) Cultivation Unit, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
- Nantong Municipal Medical Key Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
- Nantong Municipal Key Laboratory of Metabolic Immunology and Disease Microenvironment, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, No. 666, Shengli Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Discipline (Laboratory) Cultivation Unit, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
- Nantong Municipal Medical Key Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
- Nantong Municipal Key Laboratory of Metabolic Immunology and Disease Microenvironment, Medical Research Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bykowski EA, Petersson JN, Dukelow S, Ho C, Debert CT, Montina T, Metz GA. Urinary biomarkers indicative of recovery from spinal cord injury: A pilot study. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2021; 10:178-185. [PMID: 33842921 PMCID: PMC8020035 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Current assessments of recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) focus on clinical outcome measures. These assessments bear an inherent risk of bias, emphasizing the need for more reliable prognostic biomarkers to measure SCI severity. This study evaluated fluid biomarkers as an objective tool to aid with prognosticating outcomes following SCI. Using a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based quantitative metabolomics approach of urine samples, the objectives were to determine (a) if alterations in metabolic profiles reflect the extent of recovery of individual SCI patients, (b) whether changes in urine metabolites correlate to patient outcomes, and (c) whether biological pathway analysis reflects mechanisms of neural damage and repair. An inception cohort exploratory pilot study collected morning urine samples from male SCI patients (n=6) following injury and again at 6-months post-injury. A 700 MHz Bruker Avance III HD NMR spectrometer was used to acquire the metabolic signatures of urine samples, which were used to derive metabolic pathways. Multivariate statistical analyses were used to identify changes in metabolic signatures, which were correlated to clinical outcomes in the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM). Among SCI-induced metabolic changes, biomarkers which significantly correlated to patient SCIM scores included caffeine (R = -0.76, p < 0.01), 3-hydroxymandelic acid (R= -0.85, p < 0.001), L-valine (R = 0.90, p < 0.001; R = -0.64, p < 0.05), and N-methylhydantoin (R = -0.90, p < 0.001). The most affected pathway was purine metabolism. These findings indicate that urinary metabolites reflect SCI lesion severity and recovery and provide potentially prognostic biomarkers of SCI outcome in precision medicine approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elani A. Bykowski
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jamie N. Petersson
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sean Dukelow
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chester Ho
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chantel T. Debert
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tony Montina
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gerlinde A.S. Metz
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ding XD, Cao YY, Li L, Zhao GY. Dexmedetomidine Reduces the Lidocaine-Induced Neurotoxicity by Inhibiting Inflammasome Activation and Reducing Pyroptosis in Rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2021; 44:902-909. [PMID: 34193687 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b20-00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Local anesthetic toxicity is closely related to neuronal death and activation of the inflammatory response. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is an adrenergic α2 receptor agonist that can reduce the neurotoxicity induced by lidocaine. It also has anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of Dex against lidocaine-induced toxicity remains to be defined. We hypothesized that Dex exerts its neural protective effect through inhibiting inflammasome activation and through anti-pyroptosis effects against local anesthetic-induced nerve injury. In a rat model of lidocaine-induced spinal cord injury, we studied the protective effect of Dex on lidocaine-induced changes in spinal cord function, inflammasome formation and pyroptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and protein kinase C (PKC)-δ phosphorylation. Dex reduced lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity and inhibited PKC-δ phosphorylation in the spinal cord of rats. Furthermore, Dex inhibited pyroptosis and inflammasome formation (caspase-1, NLRP3, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC)). Finally, Dex attenuated interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 expression, as well as microglia response. In conclusion, Dex can reduce the severity of lidocaine-induced spinal cord injury in rats by inhibiting priming and inflammasome activation and reducing pyroptosis via PKC-δ phosphorylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Dong Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University
| | - Yan-Yan Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University
| | - Guang-Yi Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xiao Z, Yao Y, Wang Z, Tian Q, Wang J, Gu L, Li B, Zheng Q, Wu Y. Local Delivery of Taxol From FGL-Functionalized Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofiber Scaffold Promotes Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:820. [PMID: 32974351 PMCID: PMC7471253 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Taxol has been clinically approved as an antitumor drug, and it exerts its antitumor effect through the excessive stabilization of microtubules in cancer cells. Recently, moderate microtubule stabilization by Taxol has been shown to efficiently promote neurite regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the potential for the clinical translation of Taxol in treating SCI is limited by its side effects and low ability to cross the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB). Self-assembled peptide hydrogels have shown potential as drug carriers for the local delivery of therapeutic agents. We therefore hypothesized that the localized delivery of Taxol by a self-assembled peptide scaffold would promote axonal regeneration by stabilizing microtubules during the treatment of SCI. In the present study, the mechanistic functions of the Taxol-releasing system were clarified in vitro and in vivo using immunofluorescence labeling, histology and neurobehavioral analyses. Based on the findings from the in vitro study, Taxol released from a biological functionalized SAP nanofiber scaffold (FGLmx/Taxol) remained active and promoted neurite extension. In this study, we used a weight-drop contusion model to induce SCI at T9. The local delivery of Taxol from FGLmx/Taxol significantly decreased glial scarring and increased the number of nerve fibers compared with the use of FGLmx and 5% glucose. Furthermore, animals administered FGLmx/Taxol exhibited neurite preservation, smaller cavity dimensions, and decreased inflammation and demyelination. Thus, the local delivery of Taxol from FGLmx/Taxol was effective at promoting recovery after SCI and has potential as a new therapeutic strategy for SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Xiao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingtao Yao
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyu Wang
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Tian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiedong Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Gu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qixin Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongchao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang J, Zhang M, Guo Y, Hu H, Chen K. Quantification of surviving neurons after contusion, dislocation, and distraction spinal cord injuries using automated methods. J Exp Neurosci 2019; 13:1179069519869617. [PMID: 31456647 PMCID: PMC6702772 DOI: 10.1177/1179069519869617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This study proposes and validates an automated method for counting neurons in spinal cord injury (SCI) and then uses it to examine and compare the surviving cells in common types of SCI mechanisms. Moderate contusion, dislocation, and distraction SCIs were surgically induced in Sprague Dawley male rats (n = 6 for each type of injury). Their spinal cords were harvested 8 weeks post injury with 5 normal weight-matched rats. The spinal cords were cut, stained with anti-NeuN antibody and fluorescent Nissl, and imaged in the dorsal and ventral horns at various distances to the epicenter. Neurons in the images were automatically counted using an algorithm that was designed to filter non-soma-like objects based on morphological characteristics (size, solidity, circular pattern) and check the remaining objects for the double-stained nucleus/cell body features (brightness variation, brightness distribution, color). To validate the automated method, some of the images were randomly selected for manual counting. The number of surviving cells that were automatically measured by the algorithm was found to be correlated with the values that were manually measured by 2 observers (P < .001) with similar differences (P > .05). Neurons in the dorsal and ventral horns were reduced after the SCIs (P < .05). Dislocation and distraction, respectively, caused the most severe damage to the ventral horn neurons especially near the epicenter and the most extensive and uniform damage to the dorsal horn neurons (P < .05). Our method was proved to be reliable, which is suitable for studying different types of SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingchao Wang
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA)-Yifu Science Hall, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA), Beijing, China
| | - Meiyan Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA)-Yifu Science Hall, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA), Beijing, China
| | - Yue Guo
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA)-Yifu Science Hall, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA), Beijing, China
| | - Hai Hu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA)-Yifu Science Hall, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA), Beijing, China
| | - Kinon Chen
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA)-Yifu Science Hall, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA), Beijing, China.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ferré S, Díaz-Ríos M, Salamone JD, Prediger RD. New Developments on the Adenosine Mechanisms of the Central Effects of Caffeine and Their Implications for Neuropsychiatric Disorders. J Caffeine Adenosine Res 2018; 8:121-131. [PMID: 30596206 PMCID: PMC6306650 DOI: 10.1089/caff.2018.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies on interactions between striatal adenosine and dopamine and one of its main targets, the adenosine A2A receptor–dopamine D2 receptor (A2AR–D2R) heteromer, have provided a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the psychostimulant effects of caffeine and have brought forward new data on the mechanisms of operation of classical orthosteric ligands within G protein-coupled receptor heteromers. The striatal A2AR–D2R heteromer has a tetrameric structure and forms part of a signaling complex that includes a Gs and a Gi protein and the effector adenyl cyclase (subtype AC5). Another target of caffeine, the adenosine A1 receptor–dopamine D1 receptor (A1R–D1R) heteromer, seems to have a very similar structure. Initially suggested to be localized in the striatum, the A1R–D1R heteromer has now been identified in the spinal motoneuron and shown to mediate the spinally generated caffeine-induced locomotion. In this study, we review the recently discovered properties of A2AR–D2R and A1R–D1R heteromers. Our studies demonstrate that these complexes are a necessary condition to sustain the canonical antagonistic interaction between a Gs-coupled receptor (A2AR or D1R) and a Gi-coupled receptor (D2R or A1R) at the adenylyl cyclase level, which constitutes a new concept in the field of G protein-coupled receptor physiology and pharmacology. A2AR antagonists targeting the striatal A2AR–D2R heteromer are already being considered as therapeutic agents in Parkinson's disease. In this study, we review the preclinical evidence that indicates that caffeine and A2AR antagonists could be used to treat the motivational symptoms of depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, while A1R antagonists selectively targeting the spinal A1R–D1R heteromer could be used in the recovery of spinal cord injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Manuel Díaz-Ríos
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - John D Salamone
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Rui Daniel Prediger
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|