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Vandael D, Vints K, Baatsen P, Śliwińska MA, Gabarre S, De Groef L, Moons L, Rybakin V, Gounko NV. Cdk5-dependent rapid formation and stabilization of dendritic spines by corticotropin-releasing factor. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:29. [PMID: 38233378 PMCID: PMC10794228 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02749-7] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) exerts a pivotal role in modulating neuronal activity in the mammalian brain. The effects of CRF exhibit notable variations, depending on factors such as duration of exposure, concentration, and anatomical location. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus, the impact of CRF is dichotomous: chronic exposure to CRF impairs synapse formation and dendritic integrity, whereas brief exposure enhances synapse formation and plasticity. In the current study, we demonstrate long-term effects of acute CRF on the density and stability of mature mushroom spines ex vivo. We establish that both CRF receptors are present in this hippocampal region, and we pinpoint their precise subcellular localization within synapses by electron microscopy. Furthermore, both in vivo and ex vivo data collectively demonstrate that a transient surge of CRF in the CA1 activates the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5)-pathway. This activation leads to a notable augmentation in CRF-dependent spine formation. Overall, these data suggest that upon acute release of CRF in the CA1-SR synapse, both CRF-Rs can be activated and promote synaptic plasticity via activating different downstream signaling pathways, such as the Cdk5-pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Vandael
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Electron Microscopy Platform & VIB-Bioimaging Core, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katlijn Vints
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Electron Microscopy Platform & VIB-Bioimaging Core, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Baatsen
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Electron Microscopy Platform & VIB-Bioimaging Core, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Małgorzata A Śliwińska
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Electron Microscopy Platform & VIB-Bioimaging Core, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sergio Gabarre
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Electron Microscopy Platform & VIB-Bioimaging Core, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vasily Rybakin
- National University of Singapore, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yng Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Immunology Program, 5 Science Drive 2, Blk MD4, 117545, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Natalia V Gounko
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Electron Microscopy Platform & VIB-Bioimaging Core, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, O&N5 Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Frasier RM, De Oliveira Sergio T, Starski PA, Grippo AJ, Hopf FW. Heart rate variability measures indicating sex differences in autonomic regulation during anxiety-like behavior in rats. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1244389. [PMID: 38025424 PMCID: PMC10644002 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1244389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mental health conditions remain a substantial and costly challenge to society, especially in women since they have nearly twice the prevalence of anxiety disorders. However, critical mechanisms underlying sex differences remain incompletely understood. Measures of cardiac function, including heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV), reflect balance between sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) systems and are potential biomarkers for pathological states. Methods To better understand sex differences in anxiety-related autonomic mechanisms, we examined HR/HRV telemetry in food-restricted adult rats during novelty suppression of feeding (NSF), with conflict between food under bright light in the arena center. To assess HRV, we calculated the SDNN (reflective of both SNS and PNS contribution) and rMSSD (reflective of PNS contribution) and compared these metrics to behaviors within the anxiety task. Results Females had greater HR and lower SNS indicators at baseline, as in humans. Further, females (but not males) with higher basal HR carried this state into NSF, delaying first approach to center. In contrast, males with lower SNS measures approached and spent more time in the brightly-lit center. Further, females with lower SNS indicators consumed significantly more food. In males, a high-SNS subpopulation consumed no food. Among consumers, males with greater SNS ate more food. Discussion Together, these are congruent with human findings suggesting women engage PNS more, and men SNS more. Our previous behavior-only work also observed female differences from males during initial movement and food intake. Thus, high basal SNS in females reduced behavior early in NSF, while subsequent reduced SNS allowed greater food intake. In males, lower SNS increased engagement with arena center, but greater SNS predicted higher consumption. Our findings show novel and likely clinically relevant sex differences in HRV-behavior relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raizel M. Frasier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | | | - Phillip A. Starski
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Angela J. Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, United States
| | - F. Woodward Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Shade RD, Ross JA, Van Bockstaele EJ. Targeting the cannabinoid system to counteract the deleterious effects of stress in Alzheimer’s disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:949361. [PMID: 36268196 PMCID: PMC9577232 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.949361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized histologically in postmortem human brains by the presence of dense protein accumulations known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Plaques and tangles develop over decades of aberrant protein processing, post-translational modification, and misfolding throughout an individual’s lifetime. We present a foundation of evidence from the literature that suggests chronic stress is associated with increased disease severity in Alzheimer’s patient populations. Taken together with preclinical evidence that chronic stress signaling can precipitate cellular distress, we argue that chronic psychological stress renders select circuits more vulnerable to amyloid- and tau- related abnormalities. We discuss the ongoing investigation of systemic and cellular processes that maintain the integrity of protein homeostasis in health and in degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease that have revealed multiple potential therapeutic avenues. For example, the endogenous cannabinoid system traverses the central and peripheral neural systems while simultaneously exerting anti-inflammatory influence over the immune response in the brain and throughout the body. Moreover, the cannabinoid system converges on several stress-integrative neuronal circuits and critical regions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with the capacity to dampen responses to psychological and cellular stress. Targeting the cannabinoid system by influencing endogenous processes or exogenously stimulating cannabinoid receptors with natural or synthetic cannabis compounds has been identified as a promising route for Alzheimer’s Disease intervention. We build on our foundational framework focusing on the significance of chronic psychological and cellular stress on the development of Alzheimer’s neuropathology by integrating literature on cannabinoid function and dysfunction within Alzheimer’s Disease and conclude with remarks on optimal strategies for treatment potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronnie D. Shade
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jennifer A. Ross,
| | - Elisabeth J. Van Bockstaele
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Pereira G, Gillies H, Chanda S, Corbett M, Vernon SD, Milani T, Bateman L. Acute Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 2 Agonism Results in Sustained Symptom Improvement in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Front Syst Neurosci 2021; 15:698240. [PMID: 34539356 PMCID: PMC8441022 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.698240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex multi-symptom disease with widespread evidence of disrupted systems. The authors hypothesize that it is caused by the upregulation of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2 (CRFR2) in the raphé nuclei and limbic system, which impairs the ability to maintain homeostasis. The authors propose utilizing agonist-mediated receptor endocytosis to downregulate CRFR2. Materials and Methods This open-label trial tested the safety, tolerability and efficacy of an acute dose of CT38s (a short-lived, CRFR2-selective agonist, with no known off-target activity) in 14 ME/CFS patients. CT38s was subcutaneously-infused at one of four dose-levels (i.e., infusion rates of 0.01, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.20 μg/kg/h), for a maximum of 10.5 h. Effect was measured as the pre-/post-treatment change in the mean 28-day total daily symptom score (TDSS), which aggregated 13 individual patient-reported symptoms. Results ME/CFS patients were significantly more sensitive to the transient hemodynamic effects of CRFR2 stimulation than healthy subjects in a prior trial, supporting the hypothesized CRFR2 upregulation. Adverse events were generally mild, resolved without intervention, and difficult to distinguish from ME/CFS symptoms, supporting a CRFR2 role in the disease. The acute dose of CT38s was associated with an improvement in mean TDSS that was sustained (over at least 28 days post-treatment) and correlated with both total exposure and pre-treatment symptom severity. At an infusion rate of 0.03 μg/kg/h, mean TDSS improved by -7.5 ± 1.9 (or -25.7%, p = 0.009), with all monitored symptoms improving. Conclusion The trial supports the hypothesis that CRFR2 is upregulated in ME/CFS, and that acute CRFR2 agonism may be a viable treatment approach warranting further study. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03613129.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tina Milani
- Bateman Horne Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Cardenas A, Papadogiannis A, Dimitrov E. The role of medial prefrontal cortex projections to locus ceruleus in mediating the sex differences in behavior in mice with inflammatory pain. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21747. [PMID: 34151467 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100319rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that the cognitive impairment associated with inflammatory pain may result from dysregulation of the top-down control of locus ceruleus's (LC) activity by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) served as a model for inflammatory pain. The CFA injection decreased the thermal thresholds in both sexes but only the male mice showed increased anxiety-like behavior and diminished cognition, while the females were not affected. Increased calcium fluorescence, a marker for neuronal activity, was detected by photometry in the mPFC of males but not in females with CFA. Next, while chemogenetic inhibition of the projections from the mPFC to the LC improved the object recognition memory of males with pain, the inhibition of the mPFC to LC pathway in female mice produced anxiolysis and spatial memory deficits. The behavior results prompted us to compare the reciprocal innervation of mPFC and LC between the sexes. We used an anterograde transsynaptic tagging technique, which relies on postsynaptic cre transfer, to assess the innervation of LC by mPFC efferents. The males showed a higher rate of postsynaptic cre transfer into LC neurons from mPFC efferents than the females. And vice versa, a retrograde tracing experiment demonstrated that LC to mPFC projection neurons were more numerous in females when compared to males. In conclusion, we provide evidence that subtle differences in the reciprocal neuronal circuit between the LC and mPFC may contribute to sex differences associated with the adverse cognitive effects of inflammatory pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cardenas
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alexander Papadogiannis
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eugene Dimitrov
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
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Joshi N, Chandler D. Sex and the noradrenergic system. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:167-176. [PMID: 33008523 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00012-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The central noradrenergic system comprises multiple brainstem nuclei whose cells synthesize and release the catecholamine transmitter norepinephrine (NE). The largest of these nuclei is the pontine locus coeruleus (LC), which innervates the vast majority of the forebrain. NE interacts with a number of pre- and postsynaptically expressed G protein-coupled receptors to affect a wide array of functions, including sensory signal processing, waking and arousal, stress responsiveness, mood, attention, and memory. Given the myriad functions ascribed to the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic (LC-NE) system, it is unsurprising that it is implicated in many disease states, including various mood, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. The LC-NE system is also notably sexually dimorphic with regard to its morphologic and anatomical features as well as how it responds to the peptide transmitter corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), a major mediator of the central stress response. The sex-biased morphology and signaling that is observed in the LC could then be considered a potential contributor to the differential prevalence of various diseases between men and women. This chapter summarizes the primary differences between the male and female LC, based primarily on preclinical observations and how these disparities may relate to differential diagnoses of several diseases between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal Joshi
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Daniel Chandler
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States.
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Ross JA, Van Bockstaele EJ. The role of catecholamines in modulating responses to stress: Sex-specific patterns, implications, and therapeutic potential for post-traumatic stress disorder and opiate withdrawal. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:2429-2465. [PMID: 32125035 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Emotional arousal is one of several factors that determine the strength of a memory and how efficiently it may be retrieved. The systems at play are multifaceted; on one hand, the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system evaluates the rewarding or reinforcing potential of a stimulus, while on the other, the noradrenergic stress response system evaluates the risk of threat, commanding attention, and engaging emotional and physical behavioral responses. Sex-specific patterns in the anatomy and function of the arousal system suggest that sexually divergent therapeutic approaches may be advantageous for neurological disorders involving arousal, learning, and memory. From the lens of the triple network model of psychopathology, we argue that post-traumatic stress disorder and opiate substance use disorder arise from maladaptive learning responses that are perpetuated by hyperarousal of the salience network. We present evidence that catecholamine-modulated learning and stress-responsive circuitry exerts substantial influence over the salience network and its dysfunction in stress-related psychiatric disorders, and between the sexes. We discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting the endogenous cannabinoid system; a ubiquitous neuromodulator that influences learning, memory, and responsivity to stress by influencing catecholamine, excitatory, and inhibitory synaptic transmission. Relevant preclinical data in male and female rodents are integrated with clinical data in men and women in an effort to understand how ideal treatment modalities between the sexes may be different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elisabeth J Van Bockstaele
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Ross JA, Alexis R, Reyes BAS, Risbrough V, Van Bockstaele EJ. Localization of amyloid beta peptides to locus coeruleus and medial prefrontal cortex in corticotropin releasing factor overexpressing male and female mice. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:2385-2405. [PMID: 31250157 PMCID: PMC7371412 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01915-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A culmination of evidence from the literature points to the Locus Coeruleus (LC)-Norepinephrine system as an underappreciated and understudied area of research in the context of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Stress is a risk factor for developing AD, and is supported by multiple clinical and preclinical studies demonstrating that amplification of the stress system disrupts cellular and molecular processes at the synapse, promoting the production and accumulation of the amyloid beta (Aβ42) peptide. Stress-induced activation of the LC is mediated by corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and CRF receptors exhibit sex-biased stress signaling. Sex differences are evident in the neurochemical, morphological and molecular regulation of LC neurons by CRF, providing a compelling basis for the higher prevalence of stress-related disorders such as AD in females. In the present study, we examined the cellular substrates for interactions between Aβ and tyrosine hydroxylase a marker of noradrenergic somatodendritic processes in the LC, and Dopamine-β-Hydroxylase (DβH) in the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (ILmPFC) in mice conditionally overexpressing CRF in the forebrain (CRFOE) under a Doxycycline (DOX) regulated tetO promoter. CRFOE was sufficient to elicit a redistribution of Aβ peptides in the somatodendritic processes of the LC of male and female transgenic mice, without altering total Aβ42 protein expression levels. DOX treated groups exhibited lysosomal compartments with apparent lipofuscin and abnormal morphology, indicating potential dysfunction of these Aβ42-clearing compartments. In female DOX treated groups, swollen microvessels with lipid-laden vacuoles were also observed, a sign of blood-brain-barrier dysfunction. Finally, sex differences were observed in the prefrontal cortex, as females responded to DOX treatment with increased frequency of co-localization of Aβ42 and DβH in noradrenergic axon terminals compared to vehicle treated controls, while male groups showed no significant changes. We hypothesize that the observed sex differences in Aβ42 distribution in this model of CRF hypersignaling is based on increased responsivity of female rodent CRFR1 in the LC. Aβ42 production is enhanced during increased neuronal activation, therefore, the excitation of DOX treated female CRFOE LC neurons projecting to the mPFC may exhibit more frequent co-localization with Aβ due to increased neuronal activity of noradrenergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, 245 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA.
| | - Rody Alexis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, 245 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Beverly A S Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, 245 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Victoria Risbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego VA Health Services, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elisabeth J Van Bockstaele
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, 245 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
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Zhang H, Chaudhury D, Nectow AR, Friedman AK, Zhang S, Juarez B, Liu H, Pfau ML, Aleyasin H, Jiang C, Crumiller M, Calipari ES, Ku SM, Morel C, Tzavaras N, Montgomery SE, He M, Salton SR, Russo SJ, Nestler EJ, Friedman JM, Cao JL, Han MH. α 1- and β 3-Adrenergic Receptor-Mediated Mesolimbic Homeostatic Plasticity Confers Resilience to Social Stress in Susceptible Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:226-236. [PMID: 30336931 PMCID: PMC6800029 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homeostatic plasticity in mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neurons plays an essential role in mediating resilience to social stress. Recent evidence implicates an association between stress resilience and projections from the locus coeruleus (LC) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (LC→VTA) DA system. However, the precise circuitry and molecular mechanisms of the homeostatic plasticity in mesolimbic DA neurons mediated by the LC→VTA circuitry, and its role in conferring resilience to social defeat stress, have not been described. METHODS In a well-established chronic social defeat stress model of depression, using projection-specific electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic, pharmacological, and molecular profiling techniques, we investigated the functional role and molecular basis of an LC→VTA circuit in conferring resilience to social defeat stress. RESULTS We found that LC neurons projecting to the VTA exhibit enhanced firing activity in resilient, but not susceptible, mice. Optogenetically mimicking this firing adaptation in susceptible mice reverses their depression-related behaviors, and induces reversal of cellular hyperactivity and homeostatic plasticity in VTA DA neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens. Circuit-specific molecular profiling studies reveal that α1- and β3-adrenergic receptors are highly expressed in VTA→nucleus accumbens DA neurons. Pharmacologically activating these receptors induces similar proresilient effects at the ion channel and cellular and behavioral levels, whereas antagonizing these receptors blocks the proresilient effect of optogenetic activation of LC→VTA circuit neurons in susceptible mice. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal a key role of the LC→VTA circuit in mediating homeostatic plasticity in stress resilience and reveal α1- and β3-adrenergic receptors as new molecular targets for therapeutically promoting resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Dipesh Chaudhury
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alexander R Nectow
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland
| | - Allyson K Friedman
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Song Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Barbara Juarez
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - He Liu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Madeline L Pfau
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Hossein Aleyasin
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Center for Affective Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Marshall Crumiller
- Laboratory of Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Stacy M Ku
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Carole Morel
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Nikos Tzavaras
- Microscopy CORE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Sarah E Montgomery
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Michelle He
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Stephen R Salton
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Scott J Russo
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Center for Affective Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Jeffrey M Friedman
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Center for Affective Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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Tache Y, Larauche M, Yuan PQ, Million M. Brain and Gut CRF Signaling: Biological Actions and Role in the Gastrointestinal Tract. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2018; 11:51-71. [PMID: 28240194 DOI: 10.2174/1874467210666170224095741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) pathways coordinate behavioral, endocrine, autonomic and visceral responses to stress. Convergent anatomical, molecular, pharmacological and functional experimental evidence supports a key role of brain CRF receptor (CRF-R) signaling in stress-related alterations of gastrointestinal functions. These include the inhibition of gastric acid secretion and gastric-small intestinal transit, stimulation of colonic enteric nervous system and secretorymotor function, increase intestinal permeability, and visceral hypersensitivity. Brain sites of CRF actions to alter gut motility encompass the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, locus coeruleus complex and the dorsal motor nucleus while those modulating visceral pain are localized in the hippocampus and central amygdala. Brain CRF actions are mediated through the autonomic nervous system (decreased gastric vagal and increased sacral parasympathetic and sympathetic activities). The activation of brain CRF-R2 subtype inhibits gastric motor function while CRF-R1 stimulates colonic secretomotor function and induces visceral hypersensitivity. CRF signaling is also located within the gut where CRF-R1 activates colonic myenteric neurons, mucosal cells secreting serotonin, mucus, prostaglandin E2, induces mast cell degranulation, enhances mucosal permeability and propulsive motor functions and induces visceral hyperalgesia in animals and humans. CRF-R1 antagonists prevent CRF- and stressrelated gut alterations in rodents while not influencing basal state. DISCUSSION These preclinical studies contrast with the limited clinical positive outcome of CRF-R1 antagonists to alleviate stress-sensitive functional bowel diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. CONCLUSION The translational potential of CRF-R1 antagonists in gut diseases will require additional studies directed to novel anti-CRF therapies and the neurobiology of brain-gut interactions under chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Tache
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073. United States
| | - Muriel Larauche
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073. United States
| | - Pu-Qing Yuan
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073. United States
| | - Mulugeta Million
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073. United States
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11
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Deussing JM, Chen A. The Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Family: Physiology of the Stress Response. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:2225-2286. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00042.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological stress response is responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real or perceived challenges. In this function, the brain activates adaptive responses that involve numerous neural circuits and effector molecules to adapt to the current and future demands. A maladaptive stress response has been linked to the etiology of a variety of disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders, eating disorders, and the metabolic syndrome. The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its relatives, the urocortins 1–3, in concert with their receptors (CRFR1, CRFR2), have emerged as central components of the physiological stress response. This central peptidergic system impinges on a broad spectrum of physiological processes that are the basis for successful adaptation and concomitantly integrate autonomic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral stress responses. This review focuses on the physiology of CRF-related peptides and their cognate receptors with the aim of providing a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the field. We describe the major molecular features covering aspects of gene expression and regulation, structural properties, and molecular interactions, as well as mechanisms of signal transduction and their surveillance. In addition, we discuss the large body of published experimental studies focusing on state-of-the-art genetic approaches with high temporal and spatial precision, which collectively aimed to dissect the contribution of CRF-related ligands and receptors to different levels of the stress response. We discuss the controversies in the field and unravel knowledge gaps that might pave the way for future research directions and open up novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M. Deussing
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; and Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; and Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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12
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Ross JA, Gliebus G, Van Bockstaele EJ. Stress induced neural reorganization: A conceptual framework linking depression and Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 85:136-151. [PMID: 28803923 PMCID: PMC5809232 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress is a risk factor for a number of physiological disorders including cardiovascular disease, obesity and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. There are a number of underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms altered in the course of chronic stress, which may increase the vulnerability of individuals to develop psychiatric disorders such as depression, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This is evident in the influence of stress on large-scale brain networks, including the resting state Default Mode Network (DMN), the effects of stress on neuronal circuitry and architecture, and the cellular and molecular adaptations to stress, which may render individuals with stress related psychiatric disorders more vulnerable to neurodegenerative disease later in life. These alterations include decreased negative feedback inhibition of the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) axis, decreased dendritic arborization and spine density in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, and the release of proinflammatory cytokines, which may suppress neurogenesis and promote neuronal cell death. Each of these factors are thought to play a role in stress-related psychiatric disease as well as AD, and have been observed in clinical and post-mortem studies of individuals with depression and AD. The goal of the current review is to summarize clinical and preclinical evidence supporting a role for chronic stress as a putative link between neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease. Moreover, we provide a rationale for the importance of taking a medical history of stress-related psychiatric diseases into consideration during clinical trial design, as they may play an important role in the etiology of AD in stratified patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19102
| | - Gediminas Gliebus
- Department of Neurology, Drexel Neuroscience Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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13
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Persistent Stress-Induced Neuroplastic Changes in the Locus Coeruleus/Norepinephrine System. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:1892570. [PMID: 30008741 PMCID: PMC6020552 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1892570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural plasticity plays a critical role in mediating short- and long-term brain responses to environmental stimuli. A major effector of plasticity throughout many regions of the brain is stress. Activation of the locus coeruleus (LC) is a critical step in mediating the neuroendocrine and behavioral limbs of the stress response. During stressor exposure, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis promotes release of corticotropin-releasing factor in LC, where its signaling promotes a number of physiological and cellular changes. While the acute effects of stress on LC physiology have been described, its long-term effects are less clear. This review will describe how stress changes LC neuronal physiology, function, and morphology from a genetic, cellular, and neuronal circuitry/transmission perspective. Specifically, we describe morphological changes of LC neurons in response to stressful stimuli and signal transduction pathways underlying them. Also, we will review changes in excitatory glutamatergic synaptic transmission in LC neurons and possible stress-induced modifications of AMPA receptors. This review will also address stress-related behavioral adaptations and specific noradrenergic receptors responsible for them. Finally, we summarize the results of several human studies which suggest a link between stress, altered LC function, and pathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Abstract
There is an urgent need for more effective medications to treat major depressive disorder, as fewer than half of depressed patients achieve full remission and many are not responsive with currently available antidepressant medications or psychotherapy. It is known that prolonged stressful events are an important risk factor for major depressive disorder. However, there are prominent individual variations in response to stress: a relatively small proportion of people (10-20%) experiencing prolonged stress develop stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression (susceptibility to stress), whereas most stress-exposed individuals maintain normal psychological functioning (resilience to stress). There have been growing efforts to investigate the neural basis of susceptibility versus resilience to depression. An accumulating body of evidence is revealing the genetic, epigenetic, and neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie stress susceptibility, as well as the active mechanisms that underlie the resilience phenotype. In this review, we discuss, mainly based on our own work, key pathological mechanisms of susceptibility that are identified as potential therapeutic targets for depression treatment. We also review novel mechanisms that promote natural resilience as an alternative strategy to achieve treatment efficacy. These studies are opening new avenues to develop conceptually novel therapeutic strategies for depression treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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15
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Extended Amygdala to Ventral Tegmental Area Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Circuit Controls Binge Ethanol Intake. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:930-940. [PMID: 27113502 PMCID: PMC5010800 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 02/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling at the CRF1 receptor (CRF1R) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) can modulate ethanol consumption in rodents. However, the effects of binge-like ethanol drinking on this system have not been thoroughly characterized, and little is known about the role of CRF2R or the CRF neurocircuitry involved. METHODS The effects of binge-like ethanol consumption on the VTA CRF system were assessed following drinking-in-the-dark procedures. Intra-VTA infusions of selective CRF1R and/or CRF2R compounds were employed to assess the contributions of these receptors in modulating binge-like ethanol consumption (n = 89). To determine the potential role of CRF projections from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) to the VTA, CRF neurons in this circuit were chemogenetically inhibited (n = 32). Binge-induced changes in VTA CRF system protein and messenger RNA were also assessed (n = 58). RESULTS Intra-VTA antagonism of CRF1R and activation of CRF2R resulted in decreased ethanol intake, which was eliminated by simultaneous blockade of both receptors. Chemogenetic inhibition of local CRF neurons in the VTA did not alter binge-like ethanol drinking, but inhibition of VTA-projecting CRF neurons from the BNST significantly reduced intake. CONCLUSIONS We provide novel evidence that 1) blunted binge-like ethanol consumption stemming from CRF1R blockade requires intact CRF2R signaling, and CRF2R activation reduces binge-like drinking; 2) inhibiting VTA-projecting BNST CRF neurons attenuates binge-like drinking; and 3) binge-like ethanol drinking alters protein and messenger RNA associated with the VTA-CRF system. These data suggest that ethanol-induced activation of BNST-to-VTA CRF projections is critical in driving binge-like ethanol intake.
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16
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Corticotropin-releasing factor in the locus coeruleus as a modulator of ventilation in rats. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2016; 233:73-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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17
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Henckens MJAG, Deussing JM, Chen A. Region-specific roles of the corticotropin-releasing factor-urocortin system in stress. Nat Rev Neurosci 2016; 17:636-51. [PMID: 27586075 DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2016.94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-urocortin (UCN) system has been implicated in stress-related psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety. It has been proposed that CRF-CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR1) signalling promotes the stress response and anxiety-like behaviour, whereas UCNs and CRFR2 activation mediate stress recovery and the restoration of homeostasis. Recent findings, however, provide clear evidence that this view is overly simplistic. Instead, a more complex picture has emerged that suggests that there are brain region- and cell type-specific effects of CRFR signalling that are influenced by the individual's prior experience and that shape molecular, cellular and ultimately behavioural responses to stressful challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.,Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany.,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan M Deussing
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.,Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
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18
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Bell RL, Hauser S, Rodd ZA, Liang T, Sari Y, McClintick J, Rahman S, Engleman EA. A Genetic Animal Model of Alcoholism for Screening Medications to Treat Addiction. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 126:179-261. [PMID: 27055615 PMCID: PMC4851471 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to present up-to-date pharmacological, genetic, and behavioral findings from the alcohol-preferring P rat and summarize similar past work. Behaviorally, the focus will be on how the P rat meets criteria put forth for a valid animal model of alcoholism with a highlight on its use as an animal model of polysubstance abuse, including alcohol, nicotine, and psychostimulants. Pharmacologically and genetically, the focus will be on the neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems that have received the most attention: cholinergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic, corticotrophin releasing hormone, opioid, and neuropeptide Y. Herein, we sought to place the P rat's behavioral and neurochemical phenotypes, and to some extent its genotype, in the context of the clinical literature. After reviewing the findings thus far, this chapter discusses future directions for expanding the use of this genetic animal model of alcoholism to identify molecular targets for treating drug addiction in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Bell
- Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
| | - S Hauser
- Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Z A Rodd
- Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - T Liang
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Y Sari
- University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - J McClintick
- Center for Medical Genomics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - S Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United States
| | - E A Engleman
- Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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19
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Soares FRC, Silote GP, Almeida-Santos AF, Aguiar DC, Schenberg LC, Beijamini V. Galanin microinjection into the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter produces paradigm-dependent anxiolytic effects. Brain Res Bull 2016; 121:42-7. [PMID: 26751815 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Galanin is a peptide that is present in the central nervous system in mammals, including rodents and humans. The actions of galanin are mediated by three types of metabotropic receptors: GAL1, GAL2, and GAL3. GAL1 and GAL3 increase K(+) efflux, and GAL2 increases intracellular Ca(2+) levels. The distribution of galanin and its receptors suggests its involvement in fear and/or anxiety. The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is a key mediator of defensive behaviors that is both targeted by galaninergic projections and supplied with GAL1 receptors and, less markedly, GAL2 receptors. We examined the effects of galanin microinjections in the dorsal PAG (dPAG) on the performance of rats in different models of anxiety. Male Wistar rats (n=7-12) were implanted with guide cannulae in the dPAG. They received microinjections of either galanin (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 nmol) or vehicle and were tested in the Vogel conflict test (VCT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and elevated T-maze (ETM). Rats that were tested in the ETM were further evaluated for exploratory activity in the open field test (OFT). Galanin microinjections had no effects on anxiety-like behavior in the EPM or VCT or exploratory activity in the EPM or OFT. In the ETM, however, microinjections of 3 nmol galanin impaired learned anxiety (i.e., avoidance of the open arms) without changing unconditioned fear (i.e., escape from the open arms). The present data suggest that galanin transmission in the dPAG inhibits the acquisition of anxiety-like responses in the ETM.
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Affiliation(s)
- F R C Soares
- Biochemistry and Pharmacology Postgraduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - G P Silote
- Biochemistry and Pharmacology Postgraduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - A F Almeida-Santos
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - D C Aguiar
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - L C Schenberg
- Biochemistry and Pharmacology Postgraduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - V Beijamini
- Biochemistry and Pharmacology Postgraduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES 29043-900, Brazil.
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20
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Ivanova B, Spiteller M. Quinoxalines as potent selective CRFRs ligands for monitoring and brain diagnostic. Bioorg Chem 2014; 58:53-64. [PMID: 25437530 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2014.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The paper highlighted quinoxalines as potent ligands to corticotropin-releasing factor receptor types 1 and 2. The content includes design and structure-activity relationship of 50 model substances to CRFR1, CRFR2α and CRF2β, respectively. It is important to bear in mind, that our concept has based on challenging research task, designing for selective CRFRs ligands. Because,: (i) These macromolecules can bond more than one ligand, thus causing for a distinct physiological response; (ii) CRFRs also participate readily in protein-protein interactions; (iii) CRFRs have two step activation mechanism and; (iv) CRFR1 has low selectivity. In spite of, numerous research efforts, which have been devoted to the isolation of series peptidic and non-peptidic CRFRs agonists, the poor penetration across blood-brain barrier restricts, their wide application in the clinical practice. Furthermore, the biological role of CRFR2 is not yet fully understood. For that reason, the studies of the structure-activity relationship have significant impact in the field. The great advantages of quinoxalines as prospective ligands are based on their: (a) One-step synthetic road, using mild experimental conditions and, allowing to involve various functional groups in the molecular scaffold as well as good-to-excellent yields, employing Fischer and Hinsberg methods; (b) High selectivity to CRFRs sub-types and; (c) Tunable fluorescence emission within the frame of a large scale of the electromagnetic spectrum ∈ 500-700 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojidarka Ivanova
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Institut für Umweltforschung, Fakultät für Chemie, Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44227 Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
| | - Michael Spiteller
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Institut für Umweltforschung, Fakultät für Chemie, Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44227 Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
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