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Jeong SP, Sharma N, An SSA. Role of Calcitriol and Vitamin D Receptor ( VDR) Gene Polymorphisms in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4806. [PMID: 38732025 PMCID: PMC11084202 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) buildup and neuronal degeneration. An association between low serum vitamin D levels and an increased risk of AD has been reported in several epidemiological studies. Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) is the active form of vitamin D, and is generated in the kidney and many other tissues/organs, including the brain. It is a steroid hormone that regulates important functions like calcium/phosphorous levels, bone mineralization, and immunomodulation, indicating its broader systemic significance. In addition, calcitriol confers neuroprotection by mitigating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, promoting the clearance of Aβ, myelin formation, neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and autophagy. The receptors to which calcitriol binds (vitamin D receptors; VDRs) to exert its effects are distributed over many organs and tissues, representing other significant roles of calcitriol beyond sustaining bone health. The biological effects of calcitriol are manifested through genomic (classical) and non-genomic actions through different pathways. The first is a slow genomic effect involving nuclear VDR directly affecting gene transcription. The association of AD with VDR gene polymorphisms relies on the changes in vitamin D consumption, which lowers VDR expression, protein stability, and binding affinity. It leads to the altered expression of genes involved in the neuroprotective effects of calcitriol. This review summarizes the neuroprotective mechanism of calcitriol and the role of VDR polymorphisms in AD, and might help develop potential therapeutic strategies and markers for AD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Niti Sharma
- Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujung-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujung-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Republic of Korea
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Hatzimanolis A, Tosato S, Ruggeri M, Cristofalo D, Mantonakis L, Xenaki LA, Dimitrakopoulos S, Selakovic M, Foteli S, Kosteletos I, Vlachos I, Soldatos RF, Nianiakas N, Ralli I, Kollias K, Ntigrintaki AA, Stefanatou P, Murray RM, Vassos E, Stefanis NC. Diminished social motivation in early psychosis is associated with polygenic liability for low vitamin D. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:36. [PMID: 38238289 PMCID: PMC10796745 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02750-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Insufficiency of vitamin D levels often occur in individuals with schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, it is unknown whether this represents a biological predisposition, or it is essentially driven by illness-related alterations in lifestyle habits. Lower vitamin D has also been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and predominant negative psychotic symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of polygenic risk score for circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (PRS-vitD) to symptom presentation among individuals with FEP enrolled in the Athens First-Episode Psychosis Research Study (AthensFEP n = 205) and the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS n = 123). The severity of psychopathology was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale at baseline and follow-up assessments (AthensFEP: 4-weeks follow-up, PICOS: 1-year follow-up). Premorbid intelligence and adjustment domains were also examined as proxy measures of neurodevelopmental deviations. An inverse association between PRS-vitD and severity of negative symptoms, in particular lack of social motivation, was detected in the AthensFEP at baseline (adjusted R2 = 0.04, p < 0.001) and follow-up (adjusted R2 = 0.03, p < 0.01). The above observation was independently validated in PICOS at follow-up (adjusted R2 = 0.06, p < 0.01). No evidence emerged for a relationship between PRS-vitD and premorbid measures of intelligence and adjustment, likely not supporting an impact of lower PRS-vitD on developmental trajectories related to psychotic illness. These findings suggest that polygenic vulnerability to reduced vitamin D impairs motivation and social interaction in individuals with FEP, thereby interventions that encourage outdoor activities and social engagement in this patient group might attenuate enduring negative symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hatzimanolis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
- Neurobiology Research Institute, Theodore-Theohari Cozzika Foundation, Athens, Greece.
| | - Sarah Tosato
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Mirella Ruggeri
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Doriana Cristofalo
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Leonidas Mantonakis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Lida-Alkisti Xenaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Stefanos Dimitrakopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Mirjana Selakovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Stefania Foteli
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kosteletos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilias Vlachos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Rigas-Filippos Soldatos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikos Nianiakas
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Irene Ralli
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kollias
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Angeliki-Aikaterini Ntigrintaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Pentagiotissa Stefanatou
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Robin M Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College, London, UK
| | - Evangelos Vassos
- National Institute for Health Research, Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College, London, UK
- Department of Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nikos C Stefanis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Neurobiology Research Institute, Theodore-Theohari Cozzika Foundation, Athens, Greece
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Pertile RAN, Brigden R, Raman V, Cui X, Du Z, Eyles D. Vitamin D: A potent regulator of dopaminergic neuron differentiation and function. J Neurochem 2023; 166:779-789. [PMID: 37084159 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin D has been identified as a key factor in dopaminergic neurogenesis and differentiation. Consequently, developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency has been linked to disorders of abnormal dopamine signalling with a neurodevelopmental basis such as schizophrenia. Here we provide further evidence of vitamin D's role as a mediator of dopaminergic development by showing that it increases neurite outgrowth, neurite branching, presynaptic protein re-distribution, dopamine production and functional release in various in vitro models of developing dopaminergic cells including SH-SY5Y cells, primary mesencephalic cultures and mesencephalic/striatal explant co-cultures. This study continues to establish vitamin D as an important differentiation agent for developing dopamine neurons, and now for the first time shows chronic exposure to the active vitamin D hormone increases the capacity of developing neurons to release dopamine. This study also has implications for understanding mechanisms behind the link between DVD deficiency and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Brigden
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vanshika Raman
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zilong Du
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
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Zhang HC, Du Y, Chen L, Yuan ZQ, Cheng Y. MicroRNA schizophrenia: Etiology, biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105064. [PMID: 36707012 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The three sets of symptoms associated with schizophrenia-positive, negative, and cognitive-are burdensome and have serious effects on public health, which affects up to 1% of the population. It is now commonly believed that in addition to the traditional dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway, the etiology of schizophrenia also includes neuronal networks, such as glutamate, GABA, serotonin, BDNF, oxidative stress, inflammation and the immune system. Small noncoding RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) have come to light as possible participants in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in recent years by having an impact on these systems. These small RNAs regulate the stability and translation of hundreds of target transcripts, which has an impact on the entire gene network. There may be improved approaches to treat and diagnose schizophrenia if it is understood how these changes in miRNAs alter the critical related signaling pathways that drive the development and progression of the illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Chang Zhang
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Du
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zeng-Qiang Yuan
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
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Cui X, Eyles DW. Vitamin D and the Central Nervous System: Causative and Preventative Mechanisms in Brain Disorders. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204353. [PMID: 36297037 PMCID: PMC9610817 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty of the last one hundred years of vitamin D research have involved investigations of the brain as a target organ for this hormone. Our group was one of the first to investigate brain outcomes resulting from primarily restricting dietary vitamin D during brain development. With the advent of new molecular and neurochemical techniques in neuroscience, there has been increasing interest in the potential neuroprotective actions of vitamin D in response to a variety of adverse exposures and how this hormone could affect brain development and function. Rather than provide an exhaustive summary of this data and a listing of neurological or psychiatric conditions that vitamin D deficiency has been associated with, here, we provide an update on the actions of this vitamin in the brain and cellular processes vitamin D may be targeting in psychiatry and neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol Q4076, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia Q4076, Australia
| | - Darryl W. Eyles
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol Q4076, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia Q4076, Australia
- Correspondence:
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