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Pierson SR, Kolling LJ, James TD, Pushpavathi SG, Marcinkiewcz CA. Serotonergic dysfunction may mediate the relationship between alcohol consumption and Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacol Res 2024; 203:107171. [PMID: 38599469 PMCID: PMC11088857 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its related dementias is rapidly expanding, and its mitigation remains an urgent social and technical challenge. To date there are no effective treatments or interventions for AD, but recent studies suggest that alcohol consumption is correlated with the risk of developing dementia. In this review, we synthesize data from preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological models to evaluate the combined role of alcohol consumption and serotonergic dysfunction in AD, underscoring the need for further research on this topic. We first discuss the limitations inherent to current data-collection methods, and how neuropsychiatric symptoms common among AD, alcohol use disorder, and serotonergic dysfunction may mask their co-occurrence. We additionally describe how excess alcohol consumption may accelerate the development of AD via direct effects on serotonergic function, and we explore the roles of neuroinflammation and proteostasis in mediating the relationship between serotonin, alcohol consumption, and AD. Lastly, we argue for a shift in current research to disentangle the pathogenic effects of alcohol on early-affected brainstem structures in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R Pierson
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, United States
| | - Louis J Kolling
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, United States
| | - Thomas D James
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, United States
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Kashem MA, Ahmed S, Sultana N, Ahmed EU, Pickford R, Rae C, Šerý O, McGregor IS, Balcar VJ. Metabolomics of Neurotransmitters and Related Metabolites in Post-Mortem Tissue from the Dorsal and Ventral Striatum of Alcoholic Human Brain. Neurochem Res 2016; 41:385-97. [PMID: 26801172 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-1830-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We report on changes in neurotransmitter metabolome and protein expression in the striatum of humans exposed to heavy long-term consumption of alcohol. Extracts from post mortem striatal tissue (dorsal striatum; DS comprising caudate nucleus; CN and putamen; P and ventral striatum; VS constituted by nucleus accumbens; NAc) were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Proteomics was studied in CN by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass-spectrometry. Proteomics identified 25 unique molecules expressed differently by the alcohol-affected tissue. Two were dopamine-related proteins and one a GABA-synthesizing enzyme GAD65. Two proteins that are related to apoptosis and/or neuronal loss (BiD and amyloid-β A4 precursor protein-binding family B member 3) were increased. There were no differences in the levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydrophenylacetic acid (DOPAC), serotonin (5HT), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA), histamine, L-glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Tryp) between the DS (CN and P) and VS (NAc) in control brains. Choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (Ach) were higher and norepinephrine (NE) lower, in the VS. Alcoholic striata had lower levels of neurotransmitters except for Glu (30 % higher in the alcoholic ventral striatum). Ratios of DOPAC/DA and HIAA/5HT were higher in alcoholic striatum indicating an increase in the DA and 5HT turnover. Glutathione was significantly reduced in all three regions of alcohol-affected striatum. We conclude that neurotransmitter systems in both the DS (CN and P) and the VS (NAc) were significantly influenced by long-term heavy alcohol intake associated with alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Abul Kashem
- Lab of Neurochemistry, Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute for Biomedical Research and School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, Anderson Stuart Bldg F13, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Selina Ahmed
- Lab of Psychopharmacology, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Nilufa Sultana
- Lab of Neurochemistry, Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute for Biomedical Research and School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, Anderson Stuart Bldg F13, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Eakhlas U Ahmed
- Lab of Psychopharmacology, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Russell Pickford
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, NeuRA, NSW University, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Caroline Rae
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Omar Šerý
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Iain S McGregor
- Lab of Psychopharmacology, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Vladimir J Balcar
- Lab of Neurochemistry, Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute for Biomedical Research and School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, Anderson Stuart Bldg F13, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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Marcinkiewcz CA. Serotonergic Systems in the Pathophysiology of Ethanol Dependence: Relevance to Clinical Alcoholism. ACS Chem Neurosci 2015; 6:1026-39. [PMID: 25654315 DOI: 10.1021/cn5003573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcoholism is a progressive brain disorder that is marked by increased sensitivity to the positive and negative reinforcing properties of ethanol, compulsive and habitual use despite negative consequences, and chronic relapse to alcohol drinking despite repeated attempts to reduce intake or abstain from alcohol. Emerging evidence from preclinical and clinical studies implicates serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) systems in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence, suggesting that drugs targeting 5-HT systems may have utility in the treatment of alcohol use disorders. In this Review, we discuss the role of 5-HT systems in alcohol dependence with a focus on 5-HT interactions with neural circuits that govern all three stages of the addiction cycle. We attempt to clarify how 5-HT influences circuit function at these different stages with the goal of identifying neural targets for pharmacological treatment of this debilitating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Marcinkiewcz
- Bowles Center for
Alcohol
Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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Li P, Wu P, Xin X, Fan YL, Wang GB, Wang F, Ma MY, Xue MM, Luo YX, Yang FD, Bao YP, Shi J, Sun HQ, Lu L. Incubation of alcohol craving during abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence. Addict Biol 2015; 20:513-22. [PMID: 24698092 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Time-dependent increases in cue-induced nicotine and methamphetamine craving during abstinence were recently reported in human drug-dependent individuals. In the present study, we sought to determine whether this 'incubation of craving' phenomenon also occurs in alcoholics. Four groups of 80 inpatient adult male alcoholics were assessed in a single session (between-group design) for cue-induced alcohol craving at 7, 14, 30 and 60 days of abstinence. Another group that included 19 patients was repeatedly tested for cue-induced alcohol craving at the same abstinence days as above. Other psychological and physiological measures were assessed at the four abstinence timepoints. Cue-induced alcohol craving measured with visual analogue scales was the highest at 60 days of abstinence both between and within groups. However, heart rate, blood pressure and skin conductance responses did not differ between abstinent groups. These results provide evidence of the incubation of alcohol craving in humans, extending previous reports with smokers and methamphetamine addicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital; Key Laboratory of Mental Health; Ministry of Health; China
- National Institute on Drug Dependence; Peking University; China
| | - Ping Wu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence; Peking University; China
| | - Xue Xin
- Department of Physiology; Basic Medical College; Inner Mongolia Medical University; China
| | - Yun-Li Fan
- Department of Alcohol and Drug Dependence; Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital; Peking University; China
| | - Gui-Bin Wang
- Institute of Material Medical; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; China
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Alcohol and Drug Dependence; Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital; Peking University; China
| | - Meng-Ying Ma
- Department of Alcohol and Drug Dependence; Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital; Peking University; China
| | - Ming-Ming Xue
- Department of Physiology; Basic Medical College; Inner Mongolia Medical University; China
| | - Yi-Xiao Luo
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital; Key Laboratory of Mental Health; Ministry of Health; China
- National Institute on Drug Dependence; Peking University; China
| | - Fu-De Yang
- Department of Alcohol and Drug Dependence; Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital; Peking University; China
| | - Yan-Ping Bao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence; Peking University; China
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence; Peking University; China
| | - Hong-Qiang Sun
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital; Key Laboratory of Mental Health; Ministry of Health; China
| | - Lin Lu
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital; Key Laboratory of Mental Health; Ministry of Health; China
- National Institute on Drug Dependence; Peking University; China
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