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Brain cell type-specific cholesterol metabolism and implications for learning and memory. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:401-414. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Westra M, Gutierrez Y, MacGillavry HD. Contribution of Membrane Lipids to Postsynaptic Protein Organization. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:790773. [PMID: 34887741 PMCID: PMC8649999 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.790773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise subsynaptic organization of proteins at the postsynaptic membrane controls synaptic transmission. In particular, postsynaptic receptor complexes are concentrated in distinct membrane nanodomains to optimize synaptic signaling. However, despite the clear functional relevance of subsynaptic receptor organization to synaptic transmission and plasticity, the mechanisms that underlie the nanoscale organization of the postsynaptic membrane remain elusive. Over the last decades, the field has predominantly focused on the role of protein-protein interactions in receptor trafficking and positioning in the synaptic membrane. In contrast, the contribution of lipids, the principal constituents of the membrane, to receptor positioning at the synapse remains poorly understood. Nevertheless, there is compelling evidence that the synaptic membrane is enriched in specific lipid species and that deregulation of lipid homeostasis in neurons severely affects synaptic functioning. In this review we focus on how lipids are organized at the synaptic membrane, with special emphasis on how current models of membrane organization could contribute to protein distribution at the synapse and synaptic transmission. Finally, we will present an outlook on how novel technical developments could be applied to study the dynamic interplay between lipids and proteins at the postsynaptic membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Westra
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Yolanda Gutierrez
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Harold D MacGillavry
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Simvastatin Blocks Reinstatement of Cocaine-induced Conditioned Place Preference in Male Mice with Brain Lipidome Remodeling. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1683-1702. [PMID: 34491535 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00771-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-associated reward memories are conducive to intense craving and often trigger relapse. Simvastatin has been shown to regulate lipids that are involved in memory formation but its influence on other cognitive processes is elusive. Here, we used a mass spectrometry-based lipidomic method to evaluate the impact of simvastatin on the mouse brain in a cocaine-induced reinstatement paradigm. We found that simvastatin blocked the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) without affecting CPP acquisition. Specifically, only simvastatin administered during extinction prevented cocaine-primed reinstatement. Global lipidome analysis showed that the nucleus accumbens was the region with the greatest degree of change caused by simvastatin. The metabolism of fatty-acids, phospholipids, and triacylglycerol was profoundly affected. Simvastatin reversed most of the effects on phospholipids induced by cocaine. The correlation matrix showed that cocaine and simvastatin significantly reshaped the lipid metabolic pathways in specific brain regions. Furthermore, simvastatin almost reversed all changes in the fatty acyl profile and unsaturation caused by cocaine. In summary, pre-extinction treatment with simvastatin facilitates cocaine extinction and prevents cocaine relapse with brain lipidome remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine E Stephenson
- School of Psychological Science, Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, La Trobe University,
| | - Simon F Crowe
- School of Psychological Science, Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, La Trobe University,
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High dose simvastatin and rosuvastatin impair cognitive abilities of healthy rats via decreasing hippocampal neurotrophins and irisin. Brain Res Bull 2020; 165:81-89. [PMID: 33010350 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs that decrease the risk of cardiovascular events, but they are related with a few unfavorable symptoms in skeletal muscle including myopathy, and mild to moderate fatigue. Additionally, there has been discrepancies about the impacts of statins on brain and cognition. This study aimed to examine the impacts of two different statins, lipophilic simvastatin and hydrophilic rosuvastatin on cognitive functions in normal healthy rats. Simultaneously, we investigated the alterations of neurotropins and irisin levels in hippocampus and myokine levels in skeletal muscle. METHODS The rats were dosed with 88 mg kg body weight-1 day-1 simvastatin (n = 8), 150 mg kg body weight-1 day-1 rosuvastatin (n = 8) or vehicle (n = 8) for 18 days via oral gavage. After that behavioral assessment was performed and hippocampus and skeletal muscle samples were taken for the analysis of neurotrophins and irisin levels. RESULTS Locomotion and learning and memory functions were lower, but anxiety levels were higher in the simvastatin and rosuvastatin groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). Hippocampal neurotrophins and irisin levels were lower, but skeletal muscle brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and irisin levels were higher in the simvastatin and rosuvastatin groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that high dose simvastatin and rosuvastatin impair cognitive functions via decreasing BDNF, NGF and irisin levels in the hippocampus.
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Korinek M, Gonzalez-Gonzalez IM, Smejkalova T, Hajdukovic D, Skrenkova K, Krusek J, Horak M, Vyklicky L. Cholesterol modulates presynaptic and postsynaptic properties of excitatory synaptic transmission. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12651. [PMID: 32724221 PMCID: PMC7387334 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is a structural component of cellular membranes particularly enriched in synapses but its role in synaptic transmission remains poorly understood. We used rat hippocampal cultures and their acute cholesterol depletion by methyl-β-cyclodextrin as a tool to describe the physiological role of cholesterol in glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Cholesterol proved to be a key molecule for the function of synapses as its depletion resulted in a significant reduction of both NMDA receptor (NMDAR) and AMPA/kainate receptor-mediated evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), by 94% and 72%, respectively. We identified two presynaptic and two postsynaptic steps of synaptic transmission which are modulated by cholesterol and explain together the above-mentioned reduction of eEPSCs. In the postsynapse, we show that physiological levels of cholesterol are important for maintaining the normal probability of opening of NMDARs and for keeping NMDARs localized in synapses. In the presynapse, our results favour the hypothesis of a role of cholesterol in the propagation of axonal action potentials. Finally, cholesterol is a negative modulator of spontaneous presynaptic glutamate release. Our study identifies cholesterol as an important endogenous regulator of synaptic transmission and provides insight into molecular mechanisms underlying the neurological manifestation of diseases associated with impaired cholesterol synthesis or decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloslav Korinek
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | | | - Tereza Smejkalova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dragana Hajdukovic
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kristyna Skrenkova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Krusek
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horak
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Vyklicky
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
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Li C, Wang J, Zhao J, Wang Y, Liu Z, Guo FL, Wang XF, Vreugdenhil M, Lu CB. Atorvastatin enhances kainate-induced gamma oscillations in rat hippocampal slices. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 44:2236-46. [PMID: 27336700 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Atorvastatin has been shown to affect cognitive functions in rodents and humans. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Because hippocampal gamma oscillations (γ, 20-80 Hz) are associated with cognitive functions, we studied the effect of atorvastatin on persistent kainate-induced γ oscillation in the CA3 area of rat hippocampal slices. The involvement of NMDA receptors and multiple kinases was tested before and after administration of atorvastatin. Whole-cell current-clamp and voltage-clamp recordings were made from CA3 pyramidal neurons and interneurons before and after atorvastatin application. Atorvastatin increased γ power by ~ 50% in a concentration-dependent manner, without affecting dominant frequency. Whereas atorvastatin did not affect intrinsic properties of both pyramidal neurons and interneurons, it increased the firing frequency of interneurons but not that of pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, whereas atorvastatin did not affect synaptic current amplitude, it increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents, but did not affect the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents. The atorvastatin-induced enhancement of γ oscillations was prevented by pretreatment with the PKA inhibitor H89, the ERK inhibitor U0126, or the PI3K inhibitor wortmanin, but not by the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5. Taken together, these results demonstrate that atorvastatin enhanced the kainate-induced γ oscillation by increasing interneuron excitability, with an involvement of multiple intracellular kinase pathways. Our study suggests that the classical cholesterol-lowering agent atorvastatin may improve cognitive functions compromised in disease, via the enhancement of hippocampal γ oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengzhang Li
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
| | - Jiangang Wang
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Zhao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
| | - Fang Li Guo
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Fang Wang
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
| | - Martin Vreugdenhil
- Department of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,School of Health and Education, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Cheng Biao Lu
- Key Lab of Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, P.R. China
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Wang D, Zheng W. Dietary cholesterol concentration affects synaptic plasticity and dendrite spine morphology of rabbit hippocampal neurons. Brain Res 2015; 1622:350-60. [PMID: 26188241 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown dietary cholesterol can enhance learning but retard memory which may be partly due to increased cholesterol levels in hippocampus and reduced afterhyperpolarization (AHP) amplitude of hippocampal CA1 neurons. This study explored the dose-dependent effect of dietary cholesterol on synaptic plasticity of rabbit hippocampal CA1 neurons and spine morphology, the postsynaptic structures responsible for synaptic plasticity. Field potential recordings revealed a low concentration of dietary cholesterol increased long-term potentiation (LTP) expression while high concentrations produced a pronounced reduction in LTP expression. Dietary cholesterol facilitated basal synaptic transmission but did not influence presynaptic function. DiI staining showed dietary cholesterol induced alterations in dendrite spine morphology characterized by increased mushroom spine density and decreased thin spine density, two kinds of dendritic spines that may be linked to memory consolidation and learning acquisition. Dietary cholesterol also modulated the geometric measures of mushroom spines. Therefore, dietary cholesterol dose-dependently modulated both synaptic plasticity and dendrite spine morphologies of hippocampal CA1 neurons that could mediate learning and memory changes previously seen to result from feeding a cholesterol diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desheng Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States of America; Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America.
| | - Wen Zheng
- Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
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Mendoza-Oliva A, Ferrera P, Fragoso-Medina J, Arias C. Lovastatin Differentially Affects Neuronal Cholesterol and Amyloid-β Production in vivo and in vitro. CNS Neurosci Ther 2015; 21:631-41. [PMID: 26096465 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that high cholesterol may increase susceptibility to age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, it has been suggested that statins, which are inhibitors of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), may be a useful therapeutic tool to diminish the risk of AD. However, several studies that analyzed the therapeutic benefits of statins have yielded conflicting results. Herein, we investigated the role of lovastatin on neuronal cholesterol homeostasis and its effects on amyloid β protein production in vivo and in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS Lovastatin effects were analyzed in vitro using differentiated human neuroblastoma cells and in vivo in a lovastatin-fed rat model. We demonstrated that lovastatin can differentially affect the expression of APP and Aβ production in vivo and in vitro. Lovastatin-induced HMGCR inhibition was detrimental to neuronal survival in vitro via a mechanism unrelated to the reduction of cholesterol. We found that in vivo, dietary cholesterol was associated with increased Aβ production in the cerebral cortex, and lovastatin was not able to reduce cholesterol levels. However, lovastatin induced a remarkable increase in the mature form of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) as well as its target gene HMGCR, in both neuronal cells and in the brain. CONCLUSIONS Lovastatin modifies the mevalonate pathway without affecting cholesterol levels in vivo and is able to reduce Aβ levels only in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aydé Mendoza-Oliva
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F, México
| | - Patricia Ferrera
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F, México
| | - Jorge Fragoso-Medina
- Departmento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F, México
| | - Clorinda Arias
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F, México
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Rivers-Auty JR, Smith PF, Ashton JC. The cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist GW405833 does not ameliorate brain damage induced by hypoxia-ischemia in rats. Neurosci Lett 2014; 569:104-9. [PMID: 24721671 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.03.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Revised: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The cannabinoid CB2 receptor has been under investigation as a potential target for neuroprotection with the suppression of neuroinflammation as the proposed mechanism of action. Several studies have now reported that CB2 agonists are neuroprotective in models of cerebral ischemia. However, these studies have tended to measure brain infarctions in rodents 1-3 days after drug administration and have not assessed behavioral outcomes. As it has been shown that apparent protection soon after injury is not necessarily correlated with improved outcome after several weeks, we tested the CB2 selective agonist GW405833 in a model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia, and assessed histological and behavioral outcomes 15 days after injury. Many putatively neuroprotective drugs have failed to translate from promising preclinical results to clinical success. We designed our experiments to not only stringently test CB2 mediated neuroprotection, but also to test several drug administration regimens to maximize the chance of detecting any therapeutic effect. However, GW405833 failed to provide neuroprotection in any of our experiments. These results challenge how far the results of earlier studies into CB2 mediated neuroprotection as measured at early time points may be extrapolated to later time points or to other models.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Rivers-Auty
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - P F Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - J C Ashton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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