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Gillespie B, Dunn A, Sundram S, Hill R. Investigating 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone to combat maternal immune activation effects on offspring gene expression and behaviour. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024:111078. [PMID: 38950841 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Infection during pregnancy is a substantial risk factor for the unborn child to develop autism or schizophrenia later in life, and is thought to be driven by maternal immune activation (MIA). MIA can be modelled by exposing pregnant mice to Polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (Poly-I:C), a viral mimetic that induces an immune response and recapitulates in the offspring many neurochemical features of ASD and schizophrenia, including altered BDNF-TrkB signalling and disruptions to excitatory/inhibitory balance. Therefore, we hypothesised that a BDNF mimetic, 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), administered prophylactically to the dam may prevent the neurobehavioural sequelae of disruptions induced by MIA. Dams were treated with 7,8-DHF in the drinking water (0.08 mg/Ml) from gestational day (GD) 9-20 and were exposed to Poly-I:C at GD17 (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Foetal brains were collected 6 h post Poly-I:C exposure for RT-qPCR analysis of BDNF, cytokine, GABAergic and glutamatergic gene targets. A second adult cohort were tested in a battery of behavioural tests relevant to schizophrenia and the prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus dissected for RT-qPCR analysis. Foetal brains exposed to Poly-I:C showed increased IL-6, but reduced expression of Ntrk2 and multiple GABAergic and glutamatergic markers. Anxiety-like behaviour was observed in adult offspring prenatally exposed to poly-I:C, which was accompanied by altered expression of Gria2 in the prefrontal cortex and Gria4 in the ventral hippocampus. While 7-8 DHF normalised the expression of some glutamatergic (Grm5) and GABAergic (Gabra1) genes in Poly-I:C exposed offspring, it also led to substantial alterations in offspring not exposed to Poly-I:C. Furthermore, mice exposed to 7,8-DHF prenatally showed increased pre-pulse inhibition and reduced working memory in adulthood. These data advance understanding of how 7,8-DHF and MIA prenatal exposure impacts genes critical to excitatory/inhibitory pathways and related behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Ariel Dunn
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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Martín-Guerrero SM, Martín-Estebané M, Lara Ordóñez AJ, Cánovas M, Martín-Oliva D, González-Maeso J, Cutillas PR, López-Giménez JF. Maternal Immune Activation imprints translational dysregulation and differential MAP2 phosphorylation in descendant neural stem cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.07.597886. [PMID: 38895311 PMCID: PMC11185659 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.07.597886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Alterations induced by maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation impact the subsequent neurodevelopment of progeny, a process that in humans, has been linked to the development of several neuropsychiatric conditions. To undertake a comprehensive examination of the molecular mechanisms governing MIA, we have devised an in vitro model based on neural stem cells (NSCs) sourced from fetuses carried by animals subjected to Poly I:C treatment. These neural progenitors demonstrate proliferative capacity and can be effectively differentiated into both neurons and glial cells. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and phosphoproteomic analyses conducted on these cellular models, in conjunction with counterparts from control treatments, revealed discernible shifts in the expression levels of a specific subset of proteins implicated in neuronal function. Noteworthy, we found an absence of congruence between these alterations at the transcriptomic level, suggesting that differences in protein translation contribute to the observed dysregulation. Furthermore, the phosphoproteomic data highlighted a discernible discrepancy in the basal phosphorylation of proteins between differentiated cells from both experimental groups, particularly within proteins associated with cytoskeletal architecture and synaptic functionality, notably those belonging to the MAP family. Observed alterations in MAP phosphorylation were found to potentially have functional consequences as they correlate with changes in neuronal plasticity and the establishment of neuronal synapses. Our data agrees with previous published observations and further underscore the importance of MAP2 phosphorylation state on its function and the impact that this protein has in neuronal structure and function.
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Wu R, Chou S, Li M. Continuous oral olanzapine or clozapine treatment initiated in adolescence has differential short- and long-term impacts on antipsychotic sensitivity than those initiated in adulthood. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 972:176567. [PMID: 38582275 PMCID: PMC11128075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
One of the major discoveries in recent research on antipsychotic drugs is that antipsychotic treatment in adolescence could induce robust long-term alterations in antipsychotic sensitivity that persist into adulthood. These long-term impacts are likely influenced by various factors, including the "diseased" state of animals, sex, type of drugs, mode of drug administration, and age of treatment onset. In this study we compared the short- and long-term behavioral effects of 21-day continuous oral olanzapine (7.5 mg/kg/day) or clozapine (30.0 mg/kg/day) administration in heathy or maternal immune activated adolescent (33-53 days old) or adult (80-100 days old) rats of both sexes. We used a conditioned avoidance response model to assess the drug-induced alterations in antipsychotic sensitivity. Here, we report that while under the chronic drug treatment period, olanzapine progressively increased its suppression of avoidance responding over time, especially when treatment was initiated in adulthood. Clozapine's suppression depended on the age of drug exposure, with treatment initiated in adulthood showing a suppression while that initiated in adolescent did not. After a 17-day drug-free interval, in a drug challenge test, olanzapine treatment initiated in adolescence caused a decrease in drug sensitivity, as reflected by less avoidance suppression (a tolerance effect); whereas that initiated in adulthood appeared to cause an increase (more avoidance suppression, a sensitization effect). Clozapine treatments initiated in both adolescence and adulthood caused a similar tolerance effect. Our findings indicate that the same chronic antipsychotic treatment regimen initiated in adolescence or adulthood can have differential short- and long-term impacts on drug sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyong Wu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shinnyi Chou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Psychology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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Fan L, Zeng X, Jiang Y, Zheng D, Wang H, Qin Q, Li M, Wang H, Liu H, Liang S, Pang X, Shi S, Wu L, Liang S. Yigansan ameliorates maternal immune activation-induced autism-like behaviours by regulating the IL-17A/TRAF6/MMP9 pathway: Network analysis and experimental validation. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155386. [PMID: 38522317 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a significant factor inducing to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. The fundamental principle underlying MIA is that inflammation during pregnancy impedes fetal brain development and triggers behavioural alterations in offspring. The intricate pathogenesis of ASD renders drug treatment effects unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicine has strong potential due to its multiple therapeutic targets. Yigansan, composed of seven herbs, is one of the few that has been proven to be effective in treating neuro-psychiatric disorders among numerous traditional Chinese medicine compounds, but its therapeutic effect on ASD remains unknown. HYPOTHESIS Yigansan improves MIA-induced ASD-like behaviours in offspring by regulating the IL-17 signalling pathway. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with poly(I:C) to construct MIA models and offspring ASD models. Network analysis identified that the IL-17A/TRAF6/MMP9 pathway is a crucial pathway, and molecular docking confirmed the binding affinity between the monomer of Yigansan and target proteins. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors and pathway proteins, immunofluorescence was used to detect the distribution of IL-17A, and behavioural tests were used to evaluate the ASD-like behaviours of offspring. RESULTS We demonstrated that Yigansan can effectively alleviate MIA-induced neuroinflammation of adult offspring by regulating the IL-17A/TRAF6/MMP9 pathway, and the expression of IL-17A was reduced in the prefrontal cortex. Importantly, ASD-like behaviours have been significantly improved. Moreover, we identified that quercetin is the effective monomer for Yigansan to exert therapeutic effects. CONCLUSION Overall, this study was firstly to corroborate the positive therapeutic effect of Yigansan in the treatment of ASD. We elucidated the relevant molecular mechanism and regulatory pathway involved, determined the optimal therapeutic dose and effective monomer, providing new solutions for the challenges of drug therapy for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Fan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xin Zeng
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yutong Jiang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Danyang Zheng
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Qian Qin
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Mengyue Li
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Shengjun Liang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xiuming Pang
- Outpatient Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Shanyi Shi
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Shuang Liang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
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Maroon M, Haddad F, Doornaert E, Allman B, Schmid S. Investigating gene-environment interaction on attention in a double-hit model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299380. [PMID: 38748694 PMCID: PMC11095761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental behavioral disorder characterized by social, communicative, and motor deficits. There is no single etiological cause for ASD, rather, there are various genetic and environmental factors that increase the risk for ASD. It is thought that some of these factors influence the same underlying neural mechanisms, and that an interplay of both genetic and environmental factors would better explain the pathogenesis of ASD. To better appreciate the influence of genetic-environment interaction on ASD-related behaviours, rats lacking a functional copy of the ASD-linked gene Cntnap2 were exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy and assessed in adolescence and adulthood. We hypothesized that Cntnap2 deficiency interacts with poly I:C MIA to aggravate ASD-like symptoms in the offspring. In this double-hit model, we assessed attention, a core deficit in ASD due to prefrontal cortical dysfunction. We employed a well-established attentional paradigm known as the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). Cntnap2-/- rats exhibited greater perseverative responses which is indicative of repetitive behaviors. Additionally, rats exposed to poly I:C MIA exhibited premature responses, a marker of impulsivity. The rats exposed to both the genetic and environmental challenge displayed an increase in impulsive activity; however, this response was only elicited in the presence of an auditory distractor. This implies that exacerbated symptomatology in the double-hit model may situation-dependent and not generally expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin Maroon
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Faraj Haddad
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ella Doornaert
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Allman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Zheng W, Wang M, Cui Y, Xu Q, Chen Y, Xian P, Yang Q, Wu S, Wang Y. Establishment of a two-hit mouse model of environmental factor induced autism spectrum disorder. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30617. [PMID: 38774072 PMCID: PMC11107098 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental diseases characterized by social dysfunction and repetitive stereotype behaviors. Besides genetic mutations, environmental factors play important roles in the development of ASD. Valproic acid (VPA) is widely used for modeling environmental factor induced ASD in rodents. However, traditional VPA modeling is low-in-efficiency and the phenotypes often vary among different batches of experiments. To optimize this ASD-modeling method, we tested "two-hit" hypothesis by single or double exposure of VPA and poly:IC at the critical time points of embryonic and postnatal stage. The autistic-like behaviors of mice treated with two-hit schemes (embryonic VPA plus postnatal poly:IC, embryonic poly:IC plus postnatal VPA, embryonic VPA plus poly: IC, or postnatal VPA plus poly:IC) were compared with mice treated with traditional VPA protocol. The results showed that all single-hit and two-hit schemes produced core ASD phenotypes as VPA single treatment did. Only one group, namely, mice double-hit by VPA and poly:IC simultaneously at E12.5 showed severe impairment of social preference, social interaction and ultrasonic communication, as well as significant increase of grooming activity and anxiety-like behaviors, in comparation with mice treated with the traditional VPA protocol. These data demonstrated that embryonic two-hit of VPA and poly:IC is more efficient in producing ASD phenotypes in mice than the single-hit of VPA, indicating this two-hit scheme could be utilized for modeling environmental factors induced ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei'an Zheng
- School of Life Science, Research Center for Resource Peptide Drugs, Shaanxi Engineering and Technological Research Center for Conversation and Utilization of Regional Biological Resources, Yanan University, Yanan, 716000, PR China
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Mengmeng Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Yi Cui
- Dalian Rehabilitation Recuperation Center of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, No.30, Binhaixiroad, Xigang District, Dalian, 116013, PR China
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Yujiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, PR China
| | - Panpan Xian
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Qinghu Yang
- School of Life Science, Research Center for Resource Peptide Drugs, Shaanxi Engineering and Technological Research Center for Conversation and Utilization of Regional Biological Resources, Yanan University, Yanan, 716000, PR China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
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You P, Sui J, Jin Z, Huang L, Wei H, Xu Q. Interaction between maternal immune activation and postpartum immune stress in neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115049. [PMID: 38754789 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115049] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence has shown that maternal infection is a notable risk factor for developmental psychiatric disorders. Animal models have corroborated this link and demonstrated that maternal immune activation (MIA) induces long-term behavioural deficits and neuroimmunological responses to subsequent immune stress in offspring. However, it is unclear whether MIA offspring are more sensitive or more tolerant to immunological challenges from postnatal infections. Pregnant mice were weighed and injected with a single dose of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) or saline at gestational day 9.5, and their male offspring were exposed to poly I:C or saline again during adolescence, adulthood, and middle life. After a two-week recovery from the last exposure to poly I:C, the mice underwent behavioural and neuroendophenotypic evaluations. Finally, the mice were sacrificed, and the expression levels of inflammatory factors and the activation levels of glial cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were evaluated. We found MIA mice have lifelong behavioural deficits and glial activation abnormalities. Postpartum infection exposure at different ages has different consequences. Adolescent and middle life exposure prevents sensorimotor gating deficiency, but adult exposure leads to increased sensitivity to MK-801. Moreover, MIA imposed a lasting impact on the neuroimmune profile, resulting in an enhanced cytokine-associated response and diminished microglial reactivity to postnatal infection. Our results reveal an intricate interplay between prenatal and postpartum infection in neuropsychiatric phenotypes, which identify potential windows where preventive or mitigating measures could be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Jiaping Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Zhongman Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Lian Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Hui Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China.
| | - Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
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Chen T, Meng H, Fang N, Shi P, Chen M, Liu Q, Lv L, Li W. Age-related changes in behavior profile in male offspring of rats treated with poly I:C-induced maternal immune activation in early gestation. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38741390 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism and schizophrenia are environmental risk factors associated with prenatal viral infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear whether behavior phenotypes change at different developmental stages in offspring following the activation of the maternal immune system. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received a single caudal vein injection of 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 9 and the offspring were comprehensively tested for behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. RESULTS Maternal serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in poly I:C-treated dams. The offspring of maternal poly I:C-induced rats showed increased anxiety, impaired social approach, and progressive impaired cognitive and sensorimotor gating function. CONCLUSION Maternal immune activation led to developmental specificity behavioral impairment in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huadan Meng
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ni Fang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Peiling Shi
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mengxue Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorder, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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Osman HC, Moreno R, Rose D, Rowland ME, Ciernia AV, Ashwood P. Impact of maternal immune activation and sex on placental and fetal brain cytokine and gene expression profiles in a preclinical model of neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:118. [PMID: 38715090 PMCID: PMC11077729 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03106-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal inflammation during gestation is associated with a later diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the specific impact of maternal immune activation (MIA) on placental and fetal brain development remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MIA by analyzing placental and brain tissues obtained from the offspring of pregnant C57BL/6 dams exposed to polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I: C) on embryonic day 12.5. Cytokine and mRNA content in the placenta and brain tissues were assessed using multiplex cytokine assays and bulk-RNA sequencing on embryonic day 17.5. In the placenta, male MIA offspring exhibited higher levels of GM-CSF, IL-6, TNFα, and LT-α, but there were no differences in female MIA offspring. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the placental tissues of MIA offspring were found to be enriched in processes related to synaptic vesicles and neuronal development. Placental mRNA from male and female MIA offspring were both enriched in synaptic and neuronal development terms, whereas females were also enriched for terms related to excitatory and inhibitory signaling. In the fetal brain of MIA offspring, increased levels of IL-28B and IL-25 were observed with male MIA offspring and increased levels of LT-α were observed in the female offspring. Notably, we identified few stable MIA fetal brain DEG, with no male specific difference whereas females had DEG related to immune cytokine signaling. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that MIA contributes to the sex- specific abnormalities observed in ASD, possibly through altered neuron developed from exposure to inflammatory cytokines. Future research should aim to investigate how interactions between the placenta and fetal brain contribute to altered neuronal development in the context of MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadley C Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Moreno
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Destanie Rose
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Megan E Rowland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Annie Vogel Ciernia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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Liu Y, Hang X, Zhang Y, Fang Y, Yuan S, Zhang Y, Wu B, Kong Y, Kuang Z, Sun W. Maternal immune activation induces sex-dependent behavioral differences in a rat model of schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1375999. [PMID: 38659461 PMCID: PMC11040086 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1375999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a mature means to construct a schizophrenia model. However, some preclinical studies have reported that a MIA-induced schizophrenia model seemed to have gender heterogeneity in behavioral phenotype. On the other hand, the MIA's paradigms were diverse in different studies, and many details could affect the effect of MIA. To some extent, it is not credible and scientific to directly compare the gender differences of different MIA programs. Therefore, it is necessary to study whether the sex of the exposed offspring leads to behavioral differences on the premise of maintaining a consistent MIA mode. Methods An animal model of schizophrenia was established by the administration of 10 mg/kg Poly (I: C) when dams were on day 9 of gestation. Then, a number of female and male offspring completed a series of behavioral tests during postnatal days 61-75. Results Compared with the female control group (n = 14), female MIA offspring (n = 12) showed a longer movement distance (d = 1.07, p < 0.05) and higher average speed (d = 1.08, p < 0.05) in the open field test (OFT). In the Y maze test, the percentage of entering the novel arm of female MIA offspring was lower (d = 0.92, p < 0.05). Compared with the male control group (n = 14), male MIA offspring (n = 13) displayed less movement distance (d = 0.93, p < 0.05) and a lower average speed (d = 0.94, p < 0.05) in the OFT. In the Y maze test, the proportion of exploration time in the novel arm of male MIA offspring was lower (d = 0.96, p < 0.05). In the EPM, male MIA offspring showed less time (d = 0.85, p < 0.05) and a lower percentage of time spent in the open arms (d = 0.85, p < 0.05). Male MIA offspring also had a lower PPI index (76 dB + 120 dB, d = 0.81, p < 0.05; 80 dB + 120 dB, d = 1.45, p < 0.01). Conclusions Our results showed that the behavioral phenotypes induced by prenatal immune activation were highly dependent on the sex of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxia Liu
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyi Hang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yijie Zhang
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yilin Fang
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shanfang Yuan
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Encephalopathy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Wu
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Kong
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zihe Kuang
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjun Sun
- Department of Encephalopathy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing, China
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11
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Sharma AR, Batra G, Dhir N, Jain A, Modi T, Saini L, Thakur N, Mishra A, Singh RS, Singh A, Singla R, Prakash A, Goyal M, Bhatia A, Medhi B, Modi M. "Comparative evaluation of different chemical agents induced Autism Spectrum Disorder in experimental Wistar rats". Behav Brain Res 2024; 458:114728. [PMID: 37923221 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with uncertain etiology and pathophysiology. Several studies revealed that the commonly used animal models like Valproic Acid (VPA) and Propionic Acid (PPA) do not precisely represent the disease as the human patient does. The current study was conducted on different chemically (VPA, PPA, Poly I:C, Dioxin (2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)) & Chlorpyrifos (CPF)) induced ASD-like animal models and validated the best suitable experimental animal model, which would closely resemble with clinical features of the ASD. This validated model might help to explore the pathophysiology of ASD. This study included rat pups prenatally exposed to VPA, PPA, Poly I:C, Dioxin & CPF within GD9 to GD15 doses. The model groups were validated through developmental and behavioral parameters, Gene Expressions, Oxidative Stress, and Pro-inflammatory and Anti-inflammatory cytokines levels. Developmental and neurobehavioral parameters showed significant changes in model groups compared to the control. In oxidative stress parameters and neuro-inflammatory cytokines levels, model groups exhibited high oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation compared to control groups. Gene expression profile of ASD-related genes showed significant downregulation in model groups compared to the control group. Moreover, the Poly I:C group showed more significant results than other model groups. The comparison of available ASD-like experimental animal models showed that the Poly I:C induced model represented the exact pathophysiology of ASD as the human patient does. Poly I:C was reported in the maternal immune system activation via the inflammatory cytokines pathway, altering embryonic development and causing ASD in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Raj Sharma
- Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Gitika Batra
- Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Neha Dhir
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ashish Jain
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Tanish Modi
- Clinical Trainee, Department of Neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Lokesh Saini
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Paediatric Neurology, Jodhpur, India
| | - Neetika Thakur
- Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Abhishek Mishra
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Department of Biomedical Sciences, USA
| | - Rahul Solomon Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rubal Singla
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Department of Biomedical Sciences, USA
| | - Ajay Prakash
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Manoj Goyal
- Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Alka Bhatia
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Bikash Medhi
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Manish Modi
- Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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12
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Chaves C, Dursun SM, Tusconi M, Hallak JEC. Neuroinflammation and schizophrenia - is there a link? Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1356975. [PMID: 38389990 PMCID: PMC10881867 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1356975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Chaves
- NeuroMood Lab, School of Medicine and Kingston Health Sciences Center (KHSC), Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), CNPq, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Serdar M Dursun
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), CNPq, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Massimo Tusconi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Jaime E C Hallak
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), CNPq, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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13
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Drydale E, Rath P, Holden K, Holt G, Havins L, Johnson T, Bancroft J, Handunnetthi L. Stem-cell derived neurosphere assay highlights the effects of viral infection on human cortical development. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:718-726. [PMID: 37995835 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.017] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant cortical development is a key feature of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Both genetic and environmental risk factors are thought to contribute to defects in cortical development; however, model systems that can capture the dynamic process of human cortical development are not well established. To address this challenge, we combined recent progress in induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation with advanced live cell imaging techniques to establish a novel three-dimensional neurosphere assay, amenable to genetic and environmental modifications, to investigate key aspects of human cortical development in real-time. For the first time, we demonstrate the ability to visualise and quantify radial glial extension and neural migration through live cell imaging. To show proof-of-concept, we used our neurosphere assay to study the effect of a simulated viral infection, a well-established environmental risk factor in neurodevelopmental disorders, on cortical development. This was achieved by exposing neurospheres to the viral mimic, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid. The results showed significant reductions in radial glia growth and neural migration in three independent differentiations. Further, fixed imaging highlighted reductions in the HOPX-expressing outer radial glia scaffolding and a consequent decrease in the migration of CTIP2-expressing cortical cells. Overall, our results provide new insight into how infections may exert deleterious effects on the developing human cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Drydale
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Phalguni Rath
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Holden
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory Holt
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Laurissa Havins
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Johnson
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - James Bancroft
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Lahiru Handunnetthi
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
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14
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Fujiwara Y, Oroku K, Zhou Y, Takahashi M, Katayama T, Wada K, Tsutsumi N, Sato T, Kabuta T. Expression of RNautophagy/DNautophagy-related genes is regulated under control of an innate immune receptor. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-9. [PMID: 38200692 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2291610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a molecular pattern uniquely produced in cells infected with various viruses as a product or byproduct of replication. Cells detect such molecules, which indicate non-self invasion, and induce diverse immune responses to eliminate them. The degradation of virus-derived molecules can also play a role in the removal of pathogens and suppression of their replication. RNautophagy and DNautophagy are cellular degradative pathways in which RNA and DNA are directly imported into a hydrolytic organelle, the lysosome. Two lysosomal membrane proteins, SIDT2 and LAMP2C, mediate nucleic acid uptake via this pathway. Here, we showed that the expression of both SIDT2 and LAMP2C is selectively upregulated during the intracellular detection of poly(I:C), a synthetic analog of dsRNA that mimics viral infection. The upregulation of these two gene products upon poly(I:C) introduction was transient and synchronized. We also observed that the induction of SIDT2 and LAMP2C expression by poly(I:C) was dependent on MDA5, a cytoplasmic innate immune receptor that directly recognizes poly(I:C) and induces various antiviral responses. Finally, we showed that lysosomes can target viral RNA for degradation via RNautophagy and may suppress viral replication. Our results revealed a novel degradative pathway in cells as a downstream component of the innate immune response and provided evidence suggesting that the degradation of viral nucleic acids via RNautophagy/DNautophagy contributes to the suppression of viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuuki Fujiwara
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Oroku
- Research Department, Nippon Institute for Biological Science, Ome, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yinping Zhou
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayuki Takahashi
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taiichi Katayama
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiji Wada
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Tsutsumi
- Research Department, Nippon Institute for Biological Science, Ome, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Sato
- Research Department, Nippon Institute for Biological Science, Ome, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kabuta
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Santos-Silva T, dos Santos Fabris D, de Oliveira CL, Guimarães FS, Gomes FV. Prefrontal and Hippocampal Parvalbumin Interneurons in Animal Models for Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Schizophr Bull 2024; 50:210-223. [PMID: 37584417 PMCID: PMC10754178 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad123] [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] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consistent with postmortem findings in patients, most animal models for schizophrenia (SCZ) present abnormal levels of parvalbumin (PV), a marker of fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP). However, there are discrepancies in the literature. PV reductions lead to a functional loss of PV interneurons, which is proposed to underly SCZ symptoms. Given its complex etiology, different categories of animal models have been developed to study SCZ, which may distinctly impact PV levels in rodent brain areas. STUDY DESIGN We performed a quantitative meta-analysis on PV-positive cell number/density and expression levels in the PFC and HIP of animal models for SCZ based on pharmacological, neurodevelopmental, and genetic manipulations. RESULTS Our results confirmed that PV levels are significantly reduced in the PFC and HIP regardless of the animal model. By categorizing into subgroups, we found that all pharmacological models based on NMDA receptor antagonism decreased PV-positive cell number/density or PV expression levels in both brain areas examined. In neurodevelopmental models, abnormal PV levels were confirmed in both brain areas in maternal immune activation models and HIP of the methylazoxymethanol acetate model. In genetic models, negative effects were found in neuregulin 1 and ERBB4 mutant mice in both brain regions and the PFC of dysbindin mutant mice. Regarding sex differences, male rodents exhibited PV reductions in both brain regions only in pharmacological models, while few studies have been conducted in females. CONCLUSION Overall, our findings support deficits in prefrontal and hippocampal PV interneurons in animal models for SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamyris Santos-Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Débora dos Santos Fabris
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Cilene Lino de Oliveira
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis,Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Felipe V Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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16
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Gillespie B, Panthi S, Sundram S, Hill RA. The impact of maternal immune activation on GABAergic interneuron development: A systematic review of rodent studies and their translational implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 156:105488. [PMID: 38042358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Mothers exposed to infections during pregnancy disproportionally birth children who develop autism and schizophrenia, disorders associated with altered GABAergic function. The maternal immune activation (MIA) model recapitulates this risk factor, with many studies also reporting disruptions to GABAergic interneuron expression, protein, cellular density and function. However, it is unclear if there are species, sex, age, region, or GABAergic subtype specific vulnerabilities to MIA. Furthermore, to fully comprehend the impact of MIA on the GABAergic system a synthesised account of molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioural findings was required. To this end we conducted a systematic review of GABAergic interneuron changes in the MIA model, focusing on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We reviewed 102 articles that revealed robust changes in a number of GABAergic markers that present as gestationally-specific, region-specific and sometimes sex-specific. Disruptions to GABAergic markers coincided with distinct behavioural phenotypes, including memory, sensorimotor gating, anxiety, and sociability. Findings suggest the MIA model is a valid tool for testing novel therapeutics designed to recover GABAergic function and associated behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Sandesh Panthi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel A Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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17
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Shao Y, Cai Y, Chen T, Hao K, Luo B, Wang X, Guo W, Su X, Lv L, Yang Y, Li W. Impaired erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular B receptors signaling in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus following maternal immune activation in male rats. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12863. [PMID: 37575018 PMCID: PMC10733575 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
An environmental risk factor for schizophrenia (SZ) is maternal infection, which exerts longstanding effects on the neurodevelopment of offspring. Accumulating evidence suggests that synaptic disturbances may contribute to the pathology of the disease, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular B (EphB) receptor signaling plays an important role in synaptic plasticity by regulating the formation and maturation of dendritic spines and regulating excitatory neurotransmission. We examined whether EphB receptors and downstream associated proteins are susceptible to environmental risk factors implicated in the etiology of synaptic disturbances in SZ. Using an established rodent model, which closely imitates the characteristics of SZ, we observed the behavioral performance and synaptic structure of male offspring in adolescence and early adulthood. We then analyzed the expression of EphB receptors and associated proteins in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Maternal immune activation offspring showed significantly progressive cognitive impairment and pre-pulse inhibition deficits together with an increase in the expression of EphB2 receptors and NMDA receptor subunits. We also found changes in EphB receptor downstream signaling, in particular, a decrease in phospho-cofilin levels which may explain the reduced dendritic spine density. Besides, we found that the AMPA glutamate, another glutamate ionic receptor associated with cofilin, decreased significantly in maternal immune activation offspring. Thus, alterations in EphB signaling induced by immune activation during pregnancy may underlie disruptions in synaptic plasticity and function in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus associated with behavioral and cognitive impairment. These findings may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqian Shao
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Yaqi Cai
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Keke Hao
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Binbin Luo
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Xiujuan Wang
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Weiyun Guo
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Stem Cell and Biological Treatment Engineering Research Center of Henan, College of Life Science and TechnologyXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Xi Su
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental DisorderXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental DisorderXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental DisorderXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental HospitalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of HenanXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental DisorderXinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiangChina
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18
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Santana-Coelho D, Lugo JN. Hippocampal Upregulation of Complement Component C3 in Response to Lipopolysaccharide Stimuli in a Model of Fragile-X Syndrome. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:9306-9315. [PMID: 37998759 PMCID: PMC10669955 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45110582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The complement system is part of the innate immune system and has been shown to be altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fragile-X syndrome (FXS) is the main genetic cause of ASD and studies suggest a dysregulation in the immune system in patients with the disorder. To assess if an animal model of FXS presents with altered complement signaling, we treated male Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and collected the hippocampus 24 h later. Assessment of the expression of the complement genes C1q, C3, and C4 identified the upregulation of C3 in both wild-type (WT) and knockout mice. Levels of C3 also increased in both genotypes. Analysis of the correlation between the expression of C3 and the cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α identified a different relationship between the expression of the genes in Fmr1 KO when compared to WT mice. Our findings did not support our initial hypotheses that the lack of the FMR1 gene would alter complement system signaling, and that the induction of the complement system in response to LPS in Fmr1 KO mice differed from wild-type conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joaquin N. Lugo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA;
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
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19
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Burke FF, Hinks M, Salia S, Sparkes KM, Swift-Gallant A. Using Animal Models to Study the Interplay Between the Biodevelopmental Pathways Underlying Human Sexual Orientation. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:2979-2984. [PMID: 36477673 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02499-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francine F Burke
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Ave., St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Meagan Hinks
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Ave., St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Stephanie Salia
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Ave., St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Kerri M Sparkes
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Ave., St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Ashlyn Swift-Gallant
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Ave., St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
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Hashimoto K. Arketamine for cognitive impairment in psychiatric disorders. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1513-1525. [PMID: 36786865 PMCID: PMC9925943 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01570-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment has been observed in patients with various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD). Although modern therapeutic drugs can improve certain symptoms (i.e., psychosis, depression) in these patients, these drugs have not been found to improve cognitive impairment. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (R,S)-ketamine has attracted attention as a rapidly acting antidepressant. In addition to its robust antidepressant effects, (R,S)-ketamine has been suggested to improve cognitive impairment in patients with MDD and BD, despite causing cognitive impairment in healthy control subjects. (R,S)-ketamine is a racemic mixture of equal amounts of (R)-ketamine (or arketamine) and (S)-ketamine (or esketamine). Arketamine has been found to have more potent antidepressant-like actions than esketamine in rodents. Interestingly, arketamine, but not esketamine, has been suggested to improve phencyclidine-induced cognitive deficits in mice. Furthermore, arketamine has been suggested to ameliorate cognitive deficits in rodent offspring after maternal immune activation. In the current article, it is proposed that arketamine has therapeutic potential for treating cognitive impairment in patients with psychiatric disorders. Additionally, the potential role of the gut-microbiome-brain axis in cognitive impairment in psychiatric disorders is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
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21
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Abraham M, Peterburs J, Mundorf A. Oligodendrocytes matter: a review of animal studies on early adversity. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:1177-1185. [PMID: 37138023 PMCID: PMC10460720 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02643-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to adversities in early life appears to affect the development of white matter, especially oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, altered myelination is present in regions subjected to maturation during the developmental time when early adversities are experienced. In this review, studies applying two well-established animal models of early life adversity, namely maternal separation and maternal immune activation, focusing on oligodendrocyte alterations and resulting implications for psychiatric disorders are discussed. Studies revealed that myelination is reduced as a result of altered oligodendrocyte expression. Furthermore, early adversity is associated with increased cell death, a simpler morphology, and inhibited oligodendrocyte maturation. However, these effects seem to be region- specific as some brain regions show increased expression while others show decreased expression of oligodendroglia-related genes, and they occur especially in regions of ongoing development. Some studies furthermore suggest that early adversity leads to premature differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Importantly, especially early exposure results in stronger oligodendrocyte-related impairments. However, resulting alterations are not restricted to exposure during the early pre- and postnatal days as social isolation after weaning leads to fewer internodes and branches and shorter processes of oligodendrocytes in adulthood. Eventually, the found alterations may lead to dysfunction and long-lasting alterations in structural brain development associated with psychiatric disorders. To date, only few preclinical studies have focused on the effects of early adversity on oligodendrocytes. More studies including several developmental stages are needed to further disentangle the role of oligodendrocytes in the development of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mate Abraham
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jutta Peterburs
- Institute for Systems Medicine and Department of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annakarina Mundorf
- Institute for Systems Medicine and Department of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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22
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Murlanova K, Pletnikov MV. Modeling psychotic disorders: Environment x environment interaction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105310. [PMID: 37437753 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a major psychotic disorder with multifactorial etiology that includes interactions between genetic vulnerability and environmental risk factors. In addition, interplay of multiple environmental adversities affects neurodevelopment and may increase the individual risk of developing schizophrenia. Consistent with the two-hit hypothesis of schizophrenia, we review rodent models that combine maternal immune activation as the first hit with other adverse environmental exposures as the second hit. We discuss the strengths and pitfalls of the current animal models of environment x environment interplay and propose some future directions to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Murlanova
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Mikhail V Pletnikov
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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23
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Gundacker A, Cuenca Rico L, Stoehrmann P, Tillmann KE, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Pollak DD. Interaction of the pre- and postnatal environment in the maternal immune activation model. DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 3:15. [PMID: 37622027 PMCID: PMC10444676 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-023-00042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Adverse influences during pregnancy are associated with a range of unfavorable outcomes for the developing offspring. Maternal psychosocial stress, exposure to infections and nutritional imbalances are known risk factors for neurodevelopmental derangements and according psychiatric and neurological manifestations later in offspring life. In this context, the maternal immune activation (MIA) model has been extensively used in preclinical research to study how stimulation of the maternal immune system during gestation derails the tightly coordinated sequence of fetal neurodevelopment. The ensuing consequence of MIA for offspring brain structure and function are majorly manifested in behavioral and cognitive abnormalities, phenotypically presenting during the periods of adolescence and adulthood. These observations have been interpreted within the framework of the "double-hit-hypothesis" suggesting that an elevated risk for neurodevelopmental disorders results from an individual being subjected to two adverse environmental influences at distinct periods of life, jointly leading to the emergence of pathology. The early postnatal period, during which the caregiving parent is the major determinant of the newborn´s environment, constitutes a window of vulnerability to external stimuli. Considering that MIA not only affects the developing fetus, but also impinges on the mother´s brain, which is in a state of heightened malleability during pregnancy, the impact of MIA on maternal brain function and behavior postpartum may importantly contribute to the detrimental consequences for her progeny. Here we review current information on the interaction between the prenatal and postnatal maternal environments in the modulation of offspring development and their relevance for the pathophysiology of the MIA model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gundacker
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Cuenca Rico
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Stoehrmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina E. Tillmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniela D. Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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24
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Lyall K, Rando J, Wang S, Hamra GB, Chavarro J, Weisskopf MG, Croen LA, Fallin MD, Hertz-Picciotto I, Volk HE, Schmidt RJ, Newschaffer CJ. Examining Prenatal Dietary Factors in Association with Child Autism-Related Traits Using a Bayesian Mixture Approach: Results from 2 United States Cohorts. Curr Dev Nutr 2023; 7:101978. [PMID: 37600935 PMCID: PMC10432916 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Prior work has suggested relationships between prenatal intake of certain nutrients and autism. Objectives We examined a broad set of prenatal nutrients and foods using a Bayesian modeling approach. Methods Participants were drawn from the Early Autism Risks Longitudinal Investigation (n = 127), a cohort following women with a child with autism through a subsequent pregnancy. Participants were also drawn from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII, n = 713), a cohort of United States female nurses, for comparison analyses. In both studies, information on prospectively reported prenatal diet was drawn from food frequency questionnaires, and child autism-related traits were measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Bayesian kernel machine regression was used to examine the combined effects of several nutrients with neurodevelopmental relevance, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), iron, zinc, vitamin D, folate, and other methyl donors, and separately, key food sources of these, in association with child SRS scores in crude and adjusted models. Results In adjusted analyses, the overall mixture effects of nutrients in Early Autism Risks Longitudinal Investigation and foods in both cohorts on SRS scores were not observed, though there was some suggestion of decreasing SRS scores with increasing overall nutrient mixture in NHSII. No associations were observed with folate within the context of this mixture, but holding other nutrients fixed, n-6 PUFAs were associated with lower SRS scores in NHSII. In both cohorts, lower SRS scores were observed with higher intake of some groupings of vegetables, though for differing types of vegetables across cohorts, and some vegetable groups were associated with higher SRS scores in NHSII. Conclusions Our work extends prior research and suggests the need to further consider prenatal dietary factors from a combined effects perspective. In addition, findings here point to potential differences in nutrient associations based on a family history of autism, which suggests the need to consider gene interactions in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Lyall
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Juliette Rando
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Siwen Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ghassan B. Hamra
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jorge Chavarro
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marc G. Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lisa A. Croen
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Heather E. Volk
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca J. Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Craig J. Newschaffer
- College of Health and Human Development, Penn State University, State College, PA, United States
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25
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McColl ER, Henderson JT, Piquette-Miller M. Dysregulation of Amino Acid Transporters in a Rat Model of TLR7-Mediated Maternal Immune Activation. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1857. [PMID: 37514044 PMCID: PMC10385561 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. Similarly, the TLR7 agonist imiquimod alters neurodevelopment in rodents. While the mechanisms underlying MIA-mediated neurodevelopmental changes are unknown, they could involve dysregulation of amino acid transporters essential for neurodevelopment. Therefore, we sought to determine the nature of such transporter changes in both imiquimod-treated rats and human placentas during infection. Pregnant rats received imiquimod on gestational day (GD)14. Transporter expression was measured in placentas and fetal brains via qPCR (GD14.5) and immunoblotting (GD16). To monitor function, fetal brain amino acid levels were measured by HPLC on GD16. Gene expression in the cortex of female fetal brains was further examined by RNAseq on GD19. In human placentas, suspected active infection was associated with decreased ASCT1 and SNAT2 protein expression. Similarly, in imiquimod-treated rats, ASCT1 and SNAT2 protein was also decreased in male placentas, while EAAT2 was decreased in female placentas. CAT3 was increased in female fetal brains. Consistent with this, imiquimod altered amino acid levels in fetal brains, while RNAseq demonstrated changes in expression of several genes implicated in autism. Thus, imiquimod alters amino acid transporter levels in pregnant rats, and similar changes occur in human placentas during active infection. This suggests that changes in expression of amino acid transporters may contribute to effects mediated by MIA toward altered neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza R McColl
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Jeffrey T Henderson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Micheline Piquette-Miller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
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26
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Li Q, Li S, Yao Y, Ma Z, Huang C. MIA mice exhibit enteric nerve defects and are more susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Brain Behav Immun 2023:S0889-1591(23)00158-7. [PMID: 37315701 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy impairs the development of the central nervous system as well as the peripheral nervous system. Emerging evidence indicates that individuals with MIA suffer more from gastrointestinal disorders. The present study aims to test the hypothesis that MIA-induced susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease is due to defects in the innervation of mucosal sensory nerves. Acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis was induced in MIA and control adult mice. Body weight loss, disease activity index and colonic histological changes were measured during colitis. The study found that MIA mice were hypersusceptible to DSS-induced colitis and that macrophage infiltration and cytokine production were elevated in the colon of MIA mice. In vitro experiments also demonstrated that colonic macrophages from MIA mice presented hyperinflammatory responses to LPS stimulation. Sensory nerve-secreted calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is an important neuropeptide in modulating enteric inflammation. Intriguingly, we found that CGRP-positive nerves were sparsely distributed in the colon of MIA mice regardless of DSS treatment. And the protein level of CGRP was significantly reduced in colon of MIA mice. However, there was no decrease in the number of CGRP-positive cell bodies in either the DRG or vagal ganglion, suggesting that innervation defects of CGRP mucosal sensory nerves exist in the colon of MIA mice. Critically, administration of recombinant CGRP to MIA mice during DSS colitis significantly reversed their hyperinflammatory pathology. Additionally, the hyperinflammatory phenotype of colonic macrophages of MIA mice could also be reversed by CGRP treatment in vitro. Collectively, these findings suggested that the sensor nerve innervation defect-induced CGRP deficiency in MIA mice participates in their increased susceptibility to colitis. Thus, sensor nerve-secreted CGRP may be a new therapeutic target for autism combined with inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwei Yao
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongxiang Ma
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chutian Huang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
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27
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Boccazzi M, Raffaele S, Zanettin T, Abbracchio MP, Fumagalli M. Altered Purinergic Signaling in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Focus on P2 Receptors. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050856. [PMID: 37238724 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
With the umbrella term 'neurodevelopmental disorders' (NDDs) we refer to a plethora of congenital pathological conditions generally connected with cognitive, social behavior, and sensory/motor alterations. Among the possible causes, gestational and perinatal insults have been demonstrated to interfere with the physiological processes necessary for the proper development of fetal brain cytoarchitecture and functionality. In recent years, several genetic disorders caused by mutations in key enzymes involved in purine metabolism have been associated with autism-like behavioral outcomes. Further analysis revealed dysregulated purine and pyrimidine levels in the biofluids of subjects with other NDDs. Moreover, the pharmacological blockade of specific purinergic pathways reversed the cognitive and behavioral defects caused by maternal immune activation, a validated and now extensively used rodent model for NDDs. Furthermore, Fragile X and Rett syndrome transgenic animal models as well as models of premature birth, have been successfully utilized to investigate purinergic signaling as a potential pharmacological target for these diseases. In this review, we examine results on the role of the P2 receptor signaling in the etiopathogenesis of NDDs. On this basis, we discuss how this evidence could be exploited to develop more receptor-specific ligands for future therapeutic interventions and novel prognostic markers for the early detection of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Boccazzi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Raffaele
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas Zanettin
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria P Abbracchio
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Fumagalli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
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28
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Delorme TC, Ozell-Landry W, Cermakian N, Srivastava LK. Behavioral and cellular responses to circadian disruption and prenatal immune activation in mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7791. [PMID: 37179433 PMCID: PMC10182998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34363-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Most individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, experience disruptions in sleep and circadian rhythms. Epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to prenatal infection increases the risk of developing NDDs. We studied how environmental circadian disruption contributes to NDDs using maternal immune activation (MIA) in mice, which models prenatal infection. Pregnant dams were injected with viral mimetic poly IC (or saline) at E9.5. Adult poly IC- and saline-exposed offspring were subjected to 4 weeks of each of the following: standard lighting (LD1), constant light (LL) and standard lighting again (LD2). Behavioral tests were conducted in the last 12 days of each condition. Poly IC exposure led to significant behavioral differences, including reduced sociability (males only) and deficits in prepulse inhibition. Interestingly, poly IC exposure led to reduced sociability specifically when males were tested after LL exposure. Mice were exposed again to either LD or LL for 4 weeks and microglia were characterized. Notably, poly IC exposure led to increased microglial morphology index and density in dentate gyrus, an effect attenuated by LL exposure. Our findings highlight interactions between circadian disruption and prenatal infection, which has implications in informing the development of circadian-based therapies for individuals with NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara C Delorme
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - William Ozell-Landry
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada.
| | - Lalit K Srivastava
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada.
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29
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Lan XY, Gu YY, Li MJ, Song TJ, Zhai FJ, Zhang Y, Zhan JS, Böckers TM, Yue XN, Wang JN, Yuan S, Jin MY, Xie YF, Dang WW, Hong HH, Guo ZR, Wang XW, Zhang R. Poly(I:C)-induced maternal immune activation causes elevated self-grooming in male rat offspring: Involvement of abnormal postpartum static nursing in dam. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1054381. [PMID: 37009477 PMCID: PMC10062710 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1054381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Maternal immune activation (MIA) is closely related to the onset of autism-like behaviors in offspring, but the mechanism remains unclear. Maternal behaviors can influence offspring’s development and behaviors, as indicated in both human and animal studies. We hypothesized that abnormal maternal behaviors in MIA dams might be other factors leading to delayed development and abnormal behaviors in offspring.Methods: To verify our hypothesis, we analyzed poly(I:C)-induced MIA dam’s postpartum maternal behavior and serum levels of several hormones related to maternal behavior. Pup’s developmental milestones and early social communication were recorded and evaluated in infancy. Other behavioral tests, including three-chamber test, self-grooming test, open field test, novel object recognition test, rotarod test and maximum grip test, were performed in adolescence of pups.Results: Our results showed that MIA dams exhibit abnormal static nursing behavior but normal basic care and dynamic nursing behavior. The serum levels of testosterone and arginine vasopressin in MIA dams were significantly reduced compared with control dams. The developmental milestones, including pinna detachment, incisor eruption and eye opening, were significantly delayed in MIA offspring compared with control offspring, while the weight and early social communication showed no significant differences between the two groups. Behavioral tests performed in adolescence showed that only male MIA offspring display elevated self-grooming behaviors and reduced maximum grip.Discussion: In conclusion, MIA dams display abnormal postpartum static nursing behavior concomitantly with reduced serum levels of testosterone and arginine vasopressin, possibly involving in the pathogenesis of delayed development and elevated self-grooming in male offspring. These findings hint that improving dam’s postpartum maternal behavior might be a potential regime to counteract delayed development and elevated self-grooming in male MIA offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Lan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - You-Yu Gu
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Juan Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Jia Song
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fu-Jun Zhai
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang-Shan Zhan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tobias M. Böckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Xiao-Nan Yue
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Health Bureau of Kenli District, Dongying, China
| | - Jia-Nan Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Yuan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Ying Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Fei Xie
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wan-Wen Dang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Heng Hong
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Rui Guo
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Autism Research Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Zhang,
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Haddad FL, De Oliveira C, Schmid S. Investigating behavioral phenotypes related to autism spectrum disorder in a gene-environment interaction model of Cntnap2 deficiency and Poly I:C maternal immune activation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1160243. [PMID: 36998729 PMCID: PMC10043204 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1160243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been associated with a wide variety of genetic and environmental risk factors in both human and preclinical studies. Together, findings support a gene-environment interaction hypothesis whereby different risk factors independently and synergistically impair neurodevelopment and lead to the core symptoms of ASD. To date, this hypothesis has not been commonly investigated in preclinical ASD models. Mutations in the Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) gene and exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy have both been linked to ASD in humans, and preclinical rodent models have shown that both MIA and Cntnap2 deficiency lead to similar behavioral deficits.MethodsIn this study, we tested the interaction between these two risk factors by exposing Wildtype, Cntnap2+/–, and Cntnap2–/– rats to Polyinosinic: Polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) MIA at gestation day 9.5.ResultsOur findings showed that Cntnap2 deficiency and Poly I:C MIA independently and synergistically altered ASD-related behaviors like open field exploration, social behavior, and sensory processing as measured through reactivity, sensitization, and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response. In support of the double-hit hypothesis, Poly I:C MIA acted synergistically with the Cntnap2–/– genotype to decrease PPI in adolescent offspring. In addition, Poly I:C MIA also interacted with the Cntnap2+/– genotype to produce subtle changes in locomotor hyperactivity and social behavior. On the other hand, Cntnap2 knockout and Poly I:C MIA showed independent effects on acoustic startle reactivity and sensitization.DiscussionTogether, our findings support the gene-environment interaction hypothesis of ASD by showing that different genetic and environmental risk factors could act synergistically to exacerbate behavioral changes. In addition, by showing the independent effects of each risk factor, our findings suggest that ASD phenotypes could be caused by different underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L. Haddad
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Cleusa De Oliveira
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Susanne Schmid,
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Interaction between maternal immune activation and peripubertal stress in rats: impact on cocaine addiction-like behaviour, morphofunctional brain parameters and striatal transcriptome. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:84. [PMID: 36890154 PMCID: PMC9995324 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02378-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorders are more prevalent in schizophrenia, but the causal links between both conditions remain unclear. Maternal immune activation (MIA) is associated with schizophrenia which may be triggered by stressful experiences during adolescence. Therefore, we used a double-hit rat model, combining MIA and peripubertal stress (PUS), to study cocaine addiction and the underlying neurobehavioural alterations. We injected lipopolysaccharide or saline on gestational days 15 and 16 to Sprague-Dawley dams. Their male offspring underwent five episodes of unpredictable stress every other day from postnatal day 28 to 38. When animals reached adulthood, we studied cocaine addiction-like behaviour, impulsivity, Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, and several aspects of brain structure and function by MRI, PET and RNAseq. MIA facilitated the acquisition of cocaine self-administration and increased the motivation for the drug; however, PUS reduced cocaine intake, an effect that was reversed in MIA + PUS rats. We found concomitant brain alterations: MIA + PUS altered the structure and function of the dorsal striatum, increasing its volume and interfering with glutamatergic dynamics (PUS decreased the levels of NAA + NAAG but only in LPS animals) and modulated specific genes that could account for the restoration of cocaine intake such as the pentraxin family. On its own, PUS reduced hippocampal volume and hyperactivated the dorsal subiculum, also having a profound effect on the dorsal striatal transcriptome. However, these effects were obliterated when PUS occurred in animals with MIA experience. Our results describe an unprecedented interplay between MIA and stress on neurodevelopment and the susceptibility to cocaine addiction.
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Wawrzczak-Bargieła A, Bilecki W, Maćkowiak M. Epigenetic Targets in Schizophrenia Development and Therapy. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030426. [PMID: 36979236 PMCID: PMC10046502 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is regarded as a neurodevelopmental disorder with its course progressing throughout life. However, the aetiology and development of schizophrenia are still under investigation. Several data suggest that the dysfunction of epigenetic mechanisms is known to be involved in the pathomechanism of this mental disorder. The present article revised the epigenetic background of schizophrenia based on the data available in online databases (PubMed, Scopus). This paper focused on the role of epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and interference of non-coding RNAs, in schizophrenia development. The article also reviewed the available data related to epigenetic regulation that may modify the severity of the disease as a possible target for schizophrenia pharmacotherapy. Moreover, the effects of antipsychotics on epigenetic malfunction in schizophrenia are discussed based on preclinical and clinical results. The obtainable data suggest alterations of epigenetic regulation in schizophrenia. Moreover, they also showed the important role of epigenetic modifications in antipsychotic action. There is a need for more data to establish the role of epigenetic mechanisms in schizophrenia therapy. It would be of special interest to find and develop new targets for schizophrenia therapy because patients with schizophrenia could show little or no response to current pharmacotherapy and have treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
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Takashima K, Okano H, Ojiro R, Tang Q, Takahashi Y, Ozawa S, Zou X, Koyanagi M, Maronpot RR, Yoshida T, Shibutani M. Continuous exposure to alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin from mid-gestation ameliorates polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis in rats. J Chem Neuroanat 2023; 128:102219. [PMID: 36572259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102219] [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: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC) provides a model of developmental neuropathy by inducing maternal immune activation. We investigated the effects of an antioxidant, alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin (AGIQ), on PIC-induced developmental neuropathy in rats, focusing on postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. On gestational day 15, PIC at 4 mg/kg body weight was administered to dams intravenously. AGIQ either at 0.25% or 0.5% was administered through the diet to dams from gestational day 10 until weaning on day 21 post-delivery and, thereafter, to offspring until postnatal day 77 (adult stage). At weaning, the numbers of TBR2+ cells and PCNA+ cells in the subgranular zone and reelin+ cells in the dentate gyrus hilus in offspring of dams treated with PIC only were decreased compared with untreated controls. In contrast, 0.5% AGIQ ameliorated these changes and increased the transcript levels of genes related to signaling of reelin (Reln and Vldlr), growth factors (Bdnf, Cntf, Igf1, and Igf1r), and Wnt/β-catenin (Wnt5a, Lrp6, Fzd1, and Fzd3). In adults, AGIQ increased the number of FOS+ granule cells at 0.25% and the transcript levels of NMDA-type glutamate receptor genes, Grin2a and Grin2b, at 0.25% and 0.5%, respectively. These results suggest that mid-gestation PIC treatment decreased the abundance of type-2b neural progenitor cells (NPCs) by reducing NPC proliferation in relation with suppression of reelin signaling at weaning. We suggest that AGIQ ameliorated the PIC-induced suppressed neurogenesis by enhancing reelin, growth factor, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling at weaning to rescue NPC proliferation and increased synaptic plasticity by enhancing glutamatergic signaling via NMDA-type receptors after maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumi Takashima
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Hiromu Okano
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Ryota Ojiro
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Qian Tang
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Yasunori Takahashi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Shunsuke Ozawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Xinyu Zou
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Mihoko Koyanagi
- Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, San-Ei Gen F.F.I., Inc., 1-1-11 Sanwa-cho, Toyonaka-shi, Osaka 561-8588, Japan.
| | - Robert R Maronpot
- Maronpot Consulting, LLC, 1612 Medfield Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
| | - Toshinori Yoshida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Makoto Shibutani
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
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Möhrle D, Yuen M, Zheng A, Haddad FL, Allman BL, Schmid S. Characterizing maternal isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in a gene-environment interaction rat model for autism. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023:e12841. [PMID: 36751016 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in social communication and language development belong to the earliest diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorders. Of the many risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, the contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene, CNTNAP2, is thought to be important for language development. The present study used a rat model to investigate the potential compounding effects of autism spectrum disorder risk gene mutation and environmental challenges, including breeding conditions or maternal immune activation during pregnancy, on early vocal communication in the offspring. Maternal isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations from Cntnap2 wildtype and knockout rats at selected postnatal days were analyzed for their acoustic, temporal and syntax characteristics. Cntnap2 knockout pups from heterozygous breeding showed normal numbers and largely similar temporal structures of ultrasonic vocalizations to wildtype controls, whereas both parameters were affected in homozygously bred knockouts. Homozygous breeding further exacerbated altered pitch and transitioning between call types found in Cntnap2 knockout pups from heterozygous breeding. In contrast, the effect of maternal immune activation on the offspring's vocal communication was confined to call type syntax, but left ultrasonic vocalization acoustic and temporal organization intact. Our results support the "double-hit hypothesis" of autism spectrum disorder risk gene-environment interactions and emphasize that complex features of vocal communication are a useful tool for identifying early autistic-like features in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Möhrle
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Megan Yuen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alice Zheng
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faraj L Haddad
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian L Allman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Gzieło K, Piotrowska D, Litwa E, Popik P, Nikiforuk A. Maternal immune activation affects socio-communicative behavior in adult rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1918. [PMID: 36732579 PMCID: PMC9894913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide body of evidence suggests a relationship between maternal immune activation (MIA) and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since social and communicative deficits are included in the first diagnostic criterion of ASD, we aimed to characterize socio-communicative behaviors in the MIA model based on prenatal exposure to poly(I:C). Our previous studies demonstrated impaired socio-communicative functioning in poly(I:C)-exposed adolescent rats. Therefore, the current study sought to clarify whether these changes would persist beyond adolescence. For this purpose, we analyzed behavior during the social interaction test and recorded ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) accompanying interactions between adult poly(I:C) rats. The results demonstrated that the altered pattern of social behavior in poly(I:C) males was accompanied by the changes in acoustic parameters of emitted USVs. Poly(I:C) males also demonstrated an impaired olfactory preference for social stimuli. While poly(I:C) females did not differ from controls in socio-positive behaviors, they displayed aggression during the social encounter and were more reactive to somatosensory stimulation. Furthermore, the locomotor pattern of poly(I:C) animals were characterized by repetitive behaviors. Finally, poly(I:C) reduced parvalbumin and GAD67 expression in the cerebellum. The results showed that prenatal poly(I:C) exposure altered the pattern of socio-communicative behaviors of adult rats in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gzieło
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Diana Piotrowska
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Litwa
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Popik
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Nikiforuk
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.
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Chemokine Dysregulation and Neuroinflammation in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032215. [PMID: 36768537 PMCID: PMC9917146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are known to be immunoregulatory proteins involved not only in lymphocyte chemotaxis to the site of inflammation, but also in neuromodulation, neurogenesis, and neurotransmission. Multiple lines of evidence suggest a peripheral proinflammatory state and neuroinflammation in at least a third of patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, chemokines can be active players in these processes. In this systematic review, we analyzed the available data on chemokine dysregulation in schizophrenia and the association of chemokines with neuroinflammation. It has been shown that there is a genetic association of chemokine and chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms in schizophrenia. Besides, the most reliable data confirmed by the results of meta-analyses showed an increase in CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL11/eotaxin-1 in the blood of patients with schizophrenia. An increase in CXCL8 has been found in cerebrospinal fluid, but other chemokines have been less well studied. Increased/decreased expression of genes of chemokine and their receptors have been found in different areas of the brain and peripheral immune cells. The peripheral proinflammatory state may influence the expression of chemokines since their expression is regulated by pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Mouse models have shown an association of schizophrenia with dysregulation of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 and CXCL12-CXCR4 axes. Altogether, dysregulation in chemokine expression may contribute to neuroinflammation in schizophrenia. In conclusion, this evidence indicates the involvement of chemokines in the neurobiological processes associated with schizophrenia.
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Guma E, Cupo L, Ma W, Gallino D, Moquin L, Gratton A, Devenyi GA, Chakravarty MM. Investigating the "two-hit hypothesis": Effects of prenatal maternal immune activation and adolescent cannabis use on neurodevelopment in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 120:110642. [PMID: 36150422 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) and chronic adolescent cannabis use are both risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, exposure to a single risk factor may not result in major mental illness, indicating that multiple exposures may be required for illness onset. Here, we examine whether combined exposure to prenatal MIA and adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, lead to enduring neuroanatomical and behavioural changes in adulthood. Mice were prenatally exposed to viral mimetic, poly I:C (5 mg/kg), or vehicle at gestational day (GD) 9, and postnatally exposed to chronic THC (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or vehicle during adolescence (postnatal day [PND]28-45). Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed pre-treatment, PND 25, post-treatment, PND 50, and in adulthood, PND85, followed by behavioural tests for anxiety-like, social, and sensorimotor gating. Post-mortem assessment of cannabinoid (CB)1 and 2 receptor expressing cells was performed in altered regions identified by MRI (anterior cingulate and somatosensory cortices, striatum, and hippocampus). Subtle deviations in neurodevelopmental trajectory and subthreshold anxiety-like behaviours were observed in mice exposed to both risk factors. Sex-dependent effects were observed in patterns of shared brain-behaviour covariation, indicative of potential sex differences in response to MIA and THC. Density of CB1 and CB2 receptor positive cells was significantly decreased in all mice exposed to MIA, THC, or both. These findings suggest that there may be a cumulative effect of risk factor exposure on gross neuroanatomical development, and that the endocannabinoid system may be sensitive to both prenatal MIA, adolescent THC, or the combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Guma
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Lani Cupo
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Weiya Ma
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniel Gallino
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Luc Moquin
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alain Gratton
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Atanasova E, Arévalo AP, Graf I, Zhang R, Bockmann J, Lutz AK, Boeckers TM. Immune activation during pregnancy exacerbates ASD-related alterations in Shank3-deficient mice. Mol Autism 2023; 14:1. [PMID: 36604742 PMCID: PMC9814193 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00532-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is mainly characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication and repetitive behaviors. Known causes of ASD are mutations of certain risk genes like the postsynaptic protein SHANK3 and environmental factors including prenatal infections. METHODS To analyze the gene-environment interplay in ASD, we combined the Shank3Δ11-/- ASD mouse model with maternal immune activation (MIA) via an intraperitoneal injection of polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) on gestational day 12.5. The offspring of the injected dams was further analyzed for autistic-like behaviors and comorbidities followed by biochemical experiments with a focus on synaptic analysis. RESULTS We show that the two-hit mice exhibit excessive grooming and deficits in social behavior more prominently than the Shank3Δ11-/- mice. Interestingly, these behavioral changes were accompanied by an unexpected upregulation of postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins at excitatory synapses in striatum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. LIMITATIONS We found several PSD proteins to be increased in the two-hit mice; however, we can only speculate about possible pathways behind the worsening of the autistic phenotype in those mice. CONCLUSIONS With this study, we demonstrate that there is an interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors defining the severity of ASD symptoms. Moreover, we show that a general misbalance of PSD proteins at excitatory synapses is linked to ASD symptoms, making this two-hit model a promising tool for the investigation of the complex pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Atanasova
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea Pérez Arévalo
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ines Graf
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rong Zhang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Neuroscience Research Institute, Health Science Centre, Peking University, Peking, China
| | - Juergen Bockmann
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anne-Kathrin Lutz
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M. Boeckers
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany
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Wu J, Lin X, Wu D, Yan B, Bao M, Zheng P, Wang J, Yang C, Li Z, Jin X, Jiang K. Poly(I:C)-exposed zebrafish shows autism-like behaviors which are ameliorated by fabp2 gene knockout. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1068019. [PMID: 36683854 PMCID: PMC9849760 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1068019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders mainly representing impaired social communication. The etiology of ASD includes genetic and environmental risk factors. Rodent models containing ASD risk gene mutations or environmental risk factors, such as exposure to maternal inflammation, show abnormal behavior. Although zebrafish conserves many important brain structures of humans and has sophisticated and fine behaviors in social interaction, it is unknown whether the social behaviors of their offspring would be impaired due to exposure to maternal inflammation. Methods We exposed zebrafish to maternal immune activation (MIA) by injection with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], and screened their behaviors through social behavioral tests such as social preference and shoaling behavior tests. We compared phenotypes resulted from different ways of poly(I:C) exposure. RNA sequencing was performed to explore the differential expression genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed with the detected DEGs to find the concentrated pathways. Finally, we knocked out the fatty acid-binding protein 2 (fabp2), a key node of the concentrated PPI network, to find its rescues on the altered social behavior. Results We reported here that MIA offspring born to mothers injected with poly(I:C) exhibited impaired social approach and social cohesion that mimicked human ASD phenotypes. Both maternal exposure and direct embryo exposure to poly(I:C) resulted in activations of the innate immune system through toll-like receptors 3 and 4. RNA-sequencing results from MIA brain tissues illustrated that the numbers of overexpressed genes were significantly more than that of underexpressed genes. GO and KEGG analyses found that MIA-induced DEGs were mainly concentrated in complement and coagulation cascade pathways. PPI network analyses suggested that villin-1 (vil1) pathway might play a key role in MIA-induced ASD. Knockout of fabp2 in F0 zebrafish rescued the social behavior deficits in MIA offspring. Conclusions Overall, our work established an ASD model with assessable behavior phenotype in zebrafish and provided key insights into environmental risk factor in ASD etiology and the influence of fabp2 gene on ASD-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Department of Child Psychology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueting Lin
- Department of Child Psychology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dian Wu
- Department of Child Psychology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Binhong Yan
- Department of Biobank Center, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengyi Bao
- Department of Child Psychology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peilei Zheng
- Department of Biobank Center, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiangping Wang
- Department of Child Psychology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cuiwei Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongxia Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (Wuzhou GongRen Hospital), Wuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoming Jin
- Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States,Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Kewen Jiang
- Department of Child Psychology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China,Department of Biobank Center, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Kewen Jiang,
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Kaki S, DeRosa H, Timmerman B, Brummelte S, Hunter RG, Kentner AC. Developmental Manipulation-Induced Changes in Cognitive Functioning. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 63:241-289. [PMID: 36029460 PMCID: PMC9971379 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with as-yet no identified cause. The use of animals has been critical to teasing apart the potential individual and intersecting roles of genetic and environmental risk factors in the development of schizophrenia. One way to recreate in animals the cognitive impairments seen in people with schizophrenia is to disrupt the prenatal or neonatal environment of laboratory rodent offspring. This approach can result in congruent perturbations in brain physiology, learning, memory, attention, and sensorimotor domains. Experimental designs utilizing such animal models have led to a greatly improved understanding of the biological mechanisms that could underlie the etiology and symptomology of schizophrenia, although there is still more to be discovered. The implementation of the Research and Domain Criterion (RDoC) has been critical in taking a more comprehensive approach to determining neural mechanisms underlying abnormal behavior in people with schizophrenia through its transdiagnostic approach toward targeting mechanisms rather than focusing on symptoms. Here, we describe several neurodevelopmental animal models of schizophrenia using an RDoC perspective approach. The implementation of animal models, combined with an RDoC framework, will bolster schizophrenia research leading to more targeted and likely effective therapeutic interventions resulting in better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahith Kaki
- School of Arts and Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Holly DeRosa
- School of Arts and Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Timmerman
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Susanne Brummelte
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Amanda C Kentner
- School of Arts and Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.
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McColl ER, Croyle MA, Zamboni WC, Honer WG, Heise M, Piquette-Miller M, Goralski KB. COVID-19 Vaccines and the Virus: Impact on Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. Drug Metab Dispos 2023; 51:130-141. [PMID: 36273826 PMCID: PMC11022893 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.122.000934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This article reports on an American Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Division of Drug Metabolism and Disposition symposium held at Experimental Biology on April 2, 2022, in Philadelphia. As of July 2022, over 500 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) and over 12 billion vaccine doses have been administered. Clinically significant interactions between viral infections and hepatic drug metabolism were first recognized over 40 years ago during a cluster of pediatric theophylline toxicity cases attributed to reduced hepatic drug metabolism amid an influenza B outbreak. Today, a substantive body of research supports that the activated innate immune response generally decreases hepatic cytochrome P450 activity. The interactions extend to drug transporters and other organs and have the potential to impact drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Based on this knowledge, altered ADME is predicted with SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. The report begins with a clinical case exploring the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination increasing clozapine levels. This is followed by discussions of how SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccines alter the metabolism and disposition of complex drugs, such as nanoparticles and biologics and small molecule therapies. The review concludes with a discussion of the effects of viral infections on placental amino acid transport and their potential to impact fetal development. The session improved our understanding of the impact of emerging viral infections and vaccine technologies on drug metabolism and disposition, which will help mitigate drug toxicity and improve drug and vaccine safety and effectiveness. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Altered pharmacokinetics of small molecule and complex molecule drugs and fetal brain distribution of amino acids following SARS-CoV-2 infection or immunization are possible. The proposed mechanisms involve decreased liver cytochrome P450 metabolism of small molecules, enhanced innate immune system metabolism of complex molecules, and altered placental and fetal blood-brain barrier amino acid transport, respectively. Future research is needed to understand the effects of these interactions on adverse drug responses, drug and vaccine safety, and effectiveness and fetal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza R McColl
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Maria A Croyle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - William C Zamboni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - William G Honer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mark Heise
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Micheline Piquette-Miller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Kerry B Goralski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.R.M., M.P-M.); Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas (M.A.C.); Eshelman School of Pharmacy (W.C.Z.) and Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) (M.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.G.H.); and College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (K.B.G.); Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre (K.B.G.); and Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (K.B.G.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Kumar D, Verma S, Mysorekar IU. COVID-19 and pregnancy: clinical outcomes; mechanisms, and vaccine efficacy. Transl Res 2023; 251:84-95. [PMID: 35970470 PMCID: PMC9371980 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into its third year, emerging data indicates increased risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth, and risk of developmental defects in neonates. Here, we review clinical reports to date that address different COVID-19 pregnancy complications. We also document placental pathologies induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, entry mechanisms in placental cells, and immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface. Since new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are emerging with characteristics of higher transmissibility and more effective immune escape strategies, we also briefly highlight the genomic and proteomic features of SARS-CoV-2 investigated to date. Vector and mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines continue to be rolled out globally. However, because pregnant individuals were not included in the vaccine clinical trials, some pregnant individuals have safety concerns and are hesitant to take these vaccines. We describe the recent studies that have addressed the effectiveness and safety of the current vaccines during pregnancy. This review also sheds light on important areas that need to be carefully or more fully considered with respect to understanding SARS-CoV-2 disease mechanisms of concern during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kumar
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Sonam Verma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Indira U Mysorekar
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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McEwan F, Glazier JD, Hager R. The impact of maternal immune activation on embryonic brain development. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1146710. [PMID: 36950133 PMCID: PMC10025352 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1146710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The adult brain is a complex structure with distinct functional sub-regions, which are generated from an initial pool of neural epithelial cells within the embryo. This transition requires a number of highly coordinated processes, including neurogenesis, i.e., the generation of neurons, and neuronal migration. These take place during a critical period of development, during which the brain is particularly susceptible to environmental insults. Neurogenesis defects have been associated with the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. However, these disorders have highly complex multifactorial etiologies, and hence the underlying mechanisms leading to aberrant neurogenesis continue to be the focus of a significant research effort and have yet to be established. Evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that exposure to maternal infection in utero is a critical risk factor for NDDs. To establish the biological mechanisms linking maternal immune activation (MIA) and altered neurodevelopment, animal models have been developed that allow experimental manipulation and investigation of different developmental stages of brain development following exposure to MIA. Here, we review the changes to embryonic brain development focusing on neurogenesis, neuronal migration and cortical lamination, following MIA. Across published studies, we found evidence for an acute proliferation defect in the embryonic MIA brain, which, in most cases, is linked to an acceleration in neurogenesis, demonstrated by an increased proportion of neurogenic to proliferative divisions. This is accompanied by disrupted cortical lamination, particularly in the density of deep layer neurons, which may be a consequence of the premature neurogenic shift. Although many aspects of the underlying pathways remain unclear, an altered epigenome and mitochondrial dysfunction are likely mechanisms underpinning disrupted neurogenesis in the MIA model. Further research is necessary to delineate the causative pathways responsible for the variation in neurogenesis phenotype following MIA, which are likely due to differences in timing of MIA induction as well as sex-dependent variation. This will help to better understand the underlying pathogenesis of NDDs, and establish therapeutic targets.
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Santana‐Coelho D, Womble PD, Blandin KJ, Pilcher JB, O'Neill GM, Douglas LA, Chilukuri SV, Tran DLK, Wiley TA, Lugo JN. Assessment of the effects of sex, age, and rearing condition on ultrasonic vocalizations elicited by pups during the maternal potentiation paradigm in C57BL/6J mice. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22341. [PMID: 36426792 PMCID: PMC9828101 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are important to elicit parental retrieval. This behavior is critical for the animal's survival and can be altered in models of developmental disorders. The potentiation of vocalizations in response to reunion with the dam, also called maternal potentiation, has been extensively studied in rats. However, the assessment of this paradigm in mice is scarce. In rats, the potentiation of vocalizations is dependent on rearing conditions. Since mice are the main species used for genetic models of diseases, we aimed to investigate how different factors such as age, sex, and rearing conditions can affect the potentiation of vocalizations in the maternal potentiation paradigm in mice. We carried out experiments using biparental (dam and sire) or uniparental rearing (dam). Pups were tested on postnatal days (PD) 9 or 12. Pups showed increased potentiation in both sexes at PD9 with uniparental rearing. Both rearing conditions and ages changed the repertoire from the first to the second isolation. Spectral parameters were affected by sex, rearing condition and reunion at PD9. At PD12, only duration was altered by reunion. We conclude that the performance of the pups in the maternal potentiation paradigm is dependent on age, sex, and rearing condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paige D. Womble
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | | | - Jacob B. Pilcher
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | - Grace M. O'Neill
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | | | | | - Doan L. K. Tran
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | - Taylor A. Wiley
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | - Joaquin N. Lugo
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
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Duan L, Liu J, Yin H, Wang W, Liu L, Shen J, Wang Z. Dynamic changes in spatiotemporal transcriptome reveal maternal immune dysregulation of autism spectrum disorder. Comput Biol Med 2022; 151:106334. [PMID: 36442276 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.106334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is known to be an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unclear at which fetal brain developmental windows and regions MIA induces ASD-related neurodevelopmental transcriptional abnormalities. The non-chasm differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in MIA inducing ASD during fetal brain developmental windows were identified by performing the differential expression analysis and comparing the common DEGs among MIA at four different gestational development windows, ASD with multiple brain regions from human patients and mouse models, and human and mouse embryonic brain developmental trajectory. The gene set and functional enrichment analyses were performing to identify MIA dysregulated ASD-related the fetal neurodevelopmental windows and brain regions and function annotations. Additionally, the networks were constructed using Cytoscape for visualization. MIA at E12.5 and E14.5 increased the risk of distinct brain regions for ASD. MIA-driven transcriptional alterations of non-chasm DEGs, during the coincidence brain developmental windows between human and mice, involving ASD-relevant synaptic components, as well as immune- and metabolism-related functions and pathways. Furthermore, a great number of non-chasm brain development-, immune-, and metabolism-related DEGs were overlapped in at least two existing ASD-associated databases, suggesting that the others could be considered as the candidate targets to construct the model mice for explaining the pathological changes of ASD when environmental factors (MIA) and gene mutation effects co-occur. Overall, our search supported that transcriptome-based MIA dysregulated the brain development-, immune-, and metabolism-related non-chasm DEGs at specific embryonic brain developmental window and region, leading to abnormal embryonic neurodevelopment, to induce the increasing risk of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Duan
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China; Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jiaxin Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Huamin Yin
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Wenhang Wang
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Li Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jingling Shen
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Zhendong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Interventional Pulmonology of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
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Rodrigues-Neves AC, Ambrósio AF, Gomes CA. Microglia sequelae: brain signature of innate immunity in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:493. [PMID: 36443303 PMCID: PMC9705537 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02197-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with significant impact on individuals and society. The current pharmacologic treatment, which principally alleviates psychosis, is focused on neurotransmitters modulation, relying on drugs with severe side effects and ineffectiveness in a significant percentage of cases. Therefore, and due to difficulties inherent to diagnosis and treatment, it is vital to reassess alternative cellular and molecular drug targets. Distinct risk factors - genetic, developmental, epigenetic, and environmental - have been associated with disease onset and progression, giving rise to the proposal of different pathophysiological mechanisms and putative pharmacological targets. Immunity is involved and, particularly microglia - innate immune cells of the central nervous system, critically involved in brain development - have captured attention as cellular players. Microglia undergo marked morphologic and functional alterations in the human disease, as well as in animal models of schizophrenia, as reported in several original papers. We cluster the main findings of clinical studies by groups of patients: (1) at ultra-high risk of psychosis, (2) with a first episode of psychosis or recent-onset schizophrenia, and (3) with chronic schizophrenia; in translational studies, we highlight the time window of appearance of particular microglia alterations in the most well studied animal model in the field (maternal immune activation). The organization of clinical and translational findings based on schizophrenia-associated microglia changes in different phases of the disease course may help defining a temporal pattern of microglia changes and may drive the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Catarina Rodrigues-Neves
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António. F. Ambrósio
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina A. Gomes
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
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The role of maternal immune activation in the immunological and neurological pathogenesis of autism. JOURNAL OF NEURORESTORATOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnrt.2022.100030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Rasile M, Lauranzano E, Faggiani E, Ravanelli MM, Colombo FS, Mirabella F, Corradini I, Malosio ML, Borreca A, Focchi E, Pozzi D, Giorgino T, Barajon I, Matteoli M. Maternal immune activation leads to defective brain-blood vessels and intracerebral hemorrhages in male offspring. EMBO J 2022; 41:e111192. [PMID: 36314682 PMCID: PMC9713716 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhages are recognized risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders and represent early biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction and mental disability, but the pathways leading to their occurrence are not well defined. We report that a single intrauterine exposure of the immunostimulant Poly I:C to pregnant mice at gestational day 9, which models a prenatal viral infection and the consequent maternal immune activation, induces the defective formation of brain vessels and causes intracerebral hemorrhagic events, specifically in male offspring. We demonstrate that maternal immune activation promotes the production of the TGF-β1 active form and the consequent enhancement of pSMAD1-5 in males' brain endothelial cells. TGF-β1, in combination with IL-1β, reduces the endothelial expression of CD146 and claudin-5, alters the endothelium-pericyte interplay resulting in low pericyte coverage, and increases hemorrhagic events in the adult offspring. By showing that exposure to Poly I:C at the beginning of fetal cerebral angiogenesis results in sex-specific alterations of brain vessels, we provide a mechanistic framework for the association between intragravidic infections and anomalies of the neural vasculature, which may contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rasile
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | | | - Elisa Faggiani
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Margherita M Ravanelli
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | | | - Filippo Mirabella
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Irene Corradini
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Maria L Malosio
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Antonella Borreca
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Elisa Focchi
- Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Toni Giorgino
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Isabella Barajon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
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Mitchell AJ, Khambadkone SG, Dunn G, Bagley J, Tamashiro KLK, Fair D, Gustafsson H, Sullivan EL. Maternal Western-style diet reduces social engagement and increases idiosyncratic behavior in Japanese macaque offspring. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 105:109-121. [PMID: 35809877 PMCID: PMC9987715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence in humans and animals indicates an association between maternal obesity and offspring behavioral outcomes. In humans, increased maternal body mass index has been linked to an increased risk of children receiving a diagnosis of early-emerging neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, a limited number of preclinical studies have examined associations between maternal Western-Style Diet (mWSD) exposure and offspring social behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate relationships between mWSD exposure and social behavior in non-human primates. Since aberrant social behavior is a diagnostic criterion for several neurodevelopmental disorders, the current study focuses on examining the influence of maternal nutrition and metabolic state on offspring social behavior in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). We found that mWSD offspring initiated less affiliative social behaviors as well as proximity to a peer. Using path analysis, we found that the association between mWSD consumption and reduced offspring social engagement was statistically mediated by increased maternal interleukin (IL)-12 during the third trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, mWSD offspring displayed increased idiosyncratic behavior, which was related to alterations in maternal adiposity and leptin in the third trimester. Together, these results suggest that NHP offspring exposed to mWSD exhibit behavioral phenotypes similar to what is described in some early-emerging neurodevelopmental disorders. These results provide evidence that mWSD exposure during gestation may be linked to increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and provides targets for prevention and intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Mitchell
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Seva G Khambadkone
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Geoffrey Dunn
- University of Oregon, Department of Human Physiology, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Jennifer Bagley
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Kellie L K Tamashiro
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Damien Fair
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Masonic Institute of Child Development, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Hanna Gustafsson
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA; University of Oregon, Department of Human Physiology, Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, OR, USA.
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Otero AM, Antonson AM. At the crux of maternal immune activation: Viruses, microglia, microbes, and IL-17A. Immunol Rev 2022; 311:205-223. [PMID: 35979731 PMCID: PMC9804202 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation during prenatal development can be detrimental to neurodevelopmental processes, increasing the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. Prenatal exposure to maternal viral infection during pregnancy is a leading environmental risk factor for manifestation of these disorders. Preclinical animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA), established to investigate this link, have revealed common immune and microbial signaling pathways that link mother and fetus and set the tone for prenatal neurodevelopment. In particular, maternal intestinal T helper 17 cells, educated by endogenous microbes, appear to be key drivers of effector IL-17A signals capable of reaching the fetal brain and causing neuropathologies. Fetal microglial cells are particularly sensitive to maternally derived inflammatory and microbial signals, and they shift their functional phenotype in response to MIA. Resulting cortical malformations and miswired interneuron circuits cause aberrant offspring behaviors that recapitulate core symptoms of human neurodevelopmental disorders. Still, the popular use of "sterile" immunostimulants to initiate MIA has limited translation to the clinic, as these stimulants fail to capture biologically relevant innate and adaptive inflammatory sequelae induced by live pathogen infection. Thus, there is a need for more translatable MIA models, with a focus on relevant pathogens like seasonal influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M. Otero
- Neuroscience ProgramUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Adrienne M. Antonson
- Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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