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Tsimpolis A, Kalafatakis K, Charalampopoulos I. Recent advances in the crosstalk between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glucocorticoids. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1362573. [PMID: 38645426 PMCID: PMC11027069 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1362573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key neurotrophin within the brain, by selectively activating the TrkB receptor, exerts multimodal effects on neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, cellular integrity and neural network dynamics. In parallel, glucocorticoids (GCs), vital steroid hormones, which are secreted by adrenal glands and rapidly diffused across the mammalian body (including the brain), activate two different groups of intracellular receptors, the mineralocorticoid and the glucocorticoid receptors, modulating a wide range of genomic, epigenomic and postgenomic events, also expressed in the neural tissue and implicated in neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, cellular homeostasis, cognitive and emotional processing. Recent research evidences indicate that these two major regulatory systems interact at various levels: they share common intracellular downstream pathways, GCs differentially regulate BDNF expression, under certain conditions BDNF antagonises the GC-induced effects on long-term potentiation, neuritic outgrowth and cellular death, while GCs regulate the intraneuronal transportation and the lysosomal degradation of BDNF. Currently, the BDNF-GC crosstalk features have been mainly studied in neurons, although initial findings show that this crosstalk could be equally important for other brain cell types, such as astrocytes. Elucidating the precise neurobiological significance of BDNF-GC interactions in a tempospatial manner, is crucial for understanding the subtleties of brain function and dysfunction, with implications for neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, mood disorders and cognitive enhancement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Tsimpolis
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kalafatakis
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Malta Campus), Queen Mary University of London, Victoria, Malta
| | - Ioannis Charalampopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
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Zhang Y, Zhang J, Wu J, Zhu Q, Chen C, Li Y. Implications of gut microbiota dysbiosis and fecal metabolite changes in psychologically stressed mice. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1124454. [PMID: 37213506 PMCID: PMC10196128 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Psychological stress can induce affective disorders. Gut microbiota plays a vital role in emotional function regulation; however, the association between gut microbiota and psychological stress is poorly understood. We investigated effects of psychological stress on the gut microbiome and fecal metabolites and assessed the relationship between affective disorder behavior and altered fecal microbiota. Methods A psychological stress model was established in C57BL/6J mice using a communication box. Sucrose preference test, forced swim test, and open field test helped assess anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was conducted using fecal samples from stressed and non-stressed mice. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were performed. Results After stress exposure for 14 days, a significant increase in anxiety- and depression-like behaviors was observed. FMT of "affective disorder microbiota" from psychologically stressed mice increased stress sensitivity relative to FMT of "normal microbiota" from non-stressed mice. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed decreased abundance of Bacteroides, Alistipes, and Lactobacillus and increased abundance of Parasutterella and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group in stressed mice; furthermore, stressed mice showed differential metabolite profiles. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that differential metabolites were chiefly involved in the downregulated pathways of α-linolenic acid metabolism, taste transduction, and galactose metabolism. Alistipes and Bacteroides were mainly positively correlated and Parasutterella was mainly negatively correlated with diverse metabolites. Discussion Our findings suggest that gut microbiome dysbiosis contributes to affective disorder development in response to psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Wu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Qinwen Zhu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Changrong Chen
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Changrong Chen,
| | - Yanning Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Yanning Li,
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Li Y, He Y, Fan H, Wang Z, Huang J, Wen G, Wang X, Xie Q, Qiu P. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor upregulates synaptic GluA1 in the amygdala to promote depression in response to psychological stress. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 192:114740. [PMID: 34419429 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Psychological stress impairs neuronal structure and function and leads to emotional disorders, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. The amygdala is closely correlated with emotional regulation. In the present study, we analyzed whether the amygdala plasticity is regulated by psychological stress and explored their regulatory mechanism. We established a mouse psychological stress model using an improved communication box, wherein mice were exposed to chronic fear and avoided physical stress interference. After the 14-day psychological stress paradigm, mice exhibited significantly increased depressive behaviors (decreased sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test and longer immobility time in the forced swimming test). HPLC, ELISA, and molecular and morphological evidences showed that psychological stress increased the content of glutamate and the expression of glutamatergic neurons, upregulated the content of the stress hormone corticosterone, and activated the CREB/BDNF pathway in the amygdala. Furthermore, psychological stress induced an increased density of dendritic spines and LTD impairment in the amygdala. Importantly, virus-mediated silencing of BDNF in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) nuclei reversed the depression-like behaviors and the increase of synaptic GluA1 and its phosphorylation at Ser831 and Ser845 sites in psychologically stressed mice. This process was likely achieved through mTOR signaling activation. Finally, we treated primary amygdala neurons with corticosterone to mimic psychological stress; corticosterone-induced upregulation of GluA1 was prevented by BDNF and mTOR antagonists. Thus, activation of the CREB/BDNF pathway in the amygdala following psychological stress upregulates synaptic GluA1 via mTOR signaling, which dysregulates synaptic plasticity of the amygdala, eventually promoting depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanning Li
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China; Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, PR China
| | - Yitong He
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Haoliang Fan
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China; School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jian Huang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Gehua Wen
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Xiaohan Wang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Qiqian Xie
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Pingming Qiu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
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Jung HY, Kim W, Kwon HJ, Yoo DY, Nam SM, Hahn KR, Yi SS, Choi JH, Kim DW, Yoon YS, Hwang IK. Physical Stress Induced Reduction of Proliferating Cells and Differentiated Neuroblasts Is Ameliorated by Fermented Laminaria japonica Extract Treatment. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:E587. [PMID: 33255381 PMCID: PMC7760277 DOI: 10.3390/md18120587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Laminaria japonica is widely cultivated in East Asia, including South Korea. Fucoidan, a main component of L. japonica, protects neurons from neurological disorders such as ischemia and traumatic brain injury. In the present study, we examined the effects of extract from fermented L. japonica on the reduction of proliferating cells and neuroblasts in mice that were physically (with electric food shock) or psychologically (with visual, auditory and olfactory sensation) stressed with the help of a communication box. Vehicle (distilled water) or fermented L. japonica extract (50 mg/kg) were orally administered to the mice once a day for 21 days. On the 19th day of the treatment, physical and psychological stress was induced by foot shock using a communication box and thereafter for three days. Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly increased after exposure to physical stress and decreased Ki67 positive proliferating cells and doublecortin immunoreactive neuroblasts. In addition, western blot analysis demonstrated that physical stress as well as psychological stress decreased the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the number of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) positive nuclei in the dentate gyrus. Fermentation of L. japonica extract significantly increased the contents of reduced sugar and phenolic compounds. Supplementation with fermented L. japonica extract significantly ameliorated the increases of plasma corticosterone revels and decline in the proliferating cells, neuroblasts, and expression of BDNF and pCREB in the physically stressed mice. These results indicate that fermented L. japonica extract has positive effects in ameliorating the physical stress induced reduction in neurogenesis by modulating BDNF and pCREB expression in the dentate gyrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Young Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.Y.J.); (W.K.); (K.R.H.); (Y.S.Y.)
| | - Woosuk Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.Y.J.); (W.K.); (K.R.H.); (Y.S.Y.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Kwon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Oral Sciences, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Korea; (H.J.K.); (D.W.K.)
| | - Dae Young Yoo
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea;
| | - Sung Min Nam
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Institute for Environmental Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea;
| | - Kyu Ri Hahn
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.Y.J.); (W.K.); (K.R.H.); (Y.S.Y.)
| | - Sun Shin Yi
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea;
| | - Jung Hoon Choi
- Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
| | - Dae Won Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Oral Sciences, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Korea; (H.J.K.); (D.W.K.)
| | - Yeo Sung Yoon
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.Y.J.); (W.K.); (K.R.H.); (Y.S.Y.)
| | - In Koo Hwang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.Y.J.); (W.K.); (K.R.H.); (Y.S.Y.)
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Gladulich LFH, Peixoto-Rodrigues MC, Campello-Costa P, Paes-de-Carvalho R, Cossenza M. NMDA-induced nitric oxide generation and CREB activation in central nervous system is dependent on eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1867:118783. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Chauhan NR, Kumar R, Gupta A, Meena RC, Nanda S, Mishra KP, Singh SB. Heat stress induced oxidative damage and perturbation in BDNF/ERK1/2/CREB axis in hippocampus impairs spatial memory. Behav Brain Res 2020; 396:112895. [PMID: 32890597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Heat exposure is an environmental stress that causes diverse heat related pathophysiological changes under extreme conditions. The brain including hippocampal region which is associated with learning and memory is significantly affected by heat stress resulting in memory impairment. However, the effect of heat on the spatial memory remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the effect of heat stress on hippocampus and spatial memory in rats. Rat model of acute heat stress was used which was divided into two groups, viz. moderate heat stress (MHS) and severe heat stress (SHS). Redox parameters evaluation revealed that MHS and SHS exposure markedly increase the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), reactive oxidative species (ROS), protein oxidation level and decrease the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the hippocampal tissue. Furthermore, Cresyl Violet (CV) staining of hippocampal region showed higher pyknosis in rats exposed to SHS. Pronounced increase of caspase3 expression and Fluoro Jade-C (FJ-C) positive cells were observed in SHS resulting in neuronal injury and apoptosis in CA3 region of hippocampus culminating in spatial memory deficit. Our data also suggest that heat stress induces phospho Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK)1/2 activation induced by Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) leading to further activation of phospho cAMP-response element binding protein (pCREB) under MHS. However, during SHS, BDNF and pCREB expression were completely dysregulated and not sufficient to rescue cognitive decline in rats. In conclusion, SHS induces pathological alterations that include oxidative damage and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons, disturbing BDNF/ERK1/2/CREB axis that may affect spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Ranjan Chauhan
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054, India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054, India
| | - Avinash Gupta
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054, India
| | - Ramesh Chand Meena
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054, India
| | - Sarita Nanda
- Department of Biochemistry, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi North Campus, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Kamla Prasad Mishra
- Scientist E, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, Delhi 110011, India
| | - Shashi Bala Singh
- Distinguished Scientist and Director General (Life Sciences), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, Delhi 110011, India.
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Long-term Administration of Salicylate-induced Changes in BDNF Expression and CREB Phosphorylation in the Auditory Cortex of Rats. Otol Neurotol 2019; 39:e173-e180. [PMID: 29342042 PMCID: PMC5821486 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000001717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether salicylate induces tinnitus through alteration of the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), proBDNF, tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) in the auditory cortex (AC).
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Thamizhoviya G, Vanisree AJ. Enriched environment modulates behavior, myelination and augments molecules governing the plasticity in the forebrain region of rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress. Metab Brain Dis 2019; 34:875-887. [PMID: 30604029 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-018-0370-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Recently, several reports on chronic stress have shown that prolonged exposure to stress contributes to psychological and neurological complications. However, the impact of stress-induced alterations in myelination remains to be unexplored. Therefore, in the current study, the rats were subjected to immobilization stress (IS) followed by enriched environment (EE) and the behavioral, neurochemical changes pertaining to neuronal survival pathway, in addition, to the ultrastructural changes in myelin in forebrain (FB) region of rats were analyzed. Immobilization stress-exposed rats (4 h/day IS, for 28 days) exhibited increased anhedonia, anxiety, immobility, and reduced social interaction, which could be reflected in increased levels of corticosterone. In contrast, exposure to EE (4 h IS+2 h EE/day, for 28 days) was found to minimize anhedonic state, supress the depressive-like features, enhance social interaction and also reduce the levels of corticosterone. The ultrastructural changes in the FB region of the brain revealed that IS group showed enhanced g-ratio indicating decreased myelin thickness, while EE group exhibited reduced g-ratio manifesting increased myelination. Further, the study revealed that IS exposed group showed decreased levels of NGF, TrkA, PI3K, AKT, ERK, CREB, and MBP in FB regions whereas EE group could preserve normal protein and mRNA levels of these neuronal survival molecules. The results from this study suggest that EE exerts a positive impact by improving myelination in rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress.
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Xiaoyao Kangai Jieyu Fang, a Chinese Herbal Formulation, Ameliorates Cancer-Related Depression Concurrent with Breast Cancer in Mice via Promoting Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:3967642. [PMID: 30581482 PMCID: PMC6276466 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3967642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Diagnosis with breast cancer is a major life event that elicits increases in depressive symptoms for up to 50% of women. Xiaoyao Kangai Jieyu Fang (XYKAJY) is derived from a canonical TCM formula, Xiaoyao San (XYS), which has a history of nearly 1000 years for treating depression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether XYKAJY alleviates depression-like behavior and breast tumor proliferation in breast cancer mice then explore the mechanisms underlying its action on HPA axis and hippocampal plasticity further. XYKAJY was treated at the high dose of 1.95 g/mL and 0.488 g/mL, after 21 days of administration. Different behaviors, monoamine neurotransmitters, tumor markers, and the index of HPA axis were detected to evaluate depressive-like symptoms of breast cancer mice. Also, the pathological changes of the tumor, hippocampus, and the expressions of GR, NR2A, NR2B, CAMKII, CREB, and BDNF were detected. In this study, XYKAJY formulation significantly improved the autonomic behavior, reduced the incubation period of feeding, and reversed the typical depressive-like symptoms in breast cancer mice. Also, it reduced the content of CORT, ACTH, CRH, and CA125, CA153, CEA in the blood, protected the pathological changes of the hippocampus and tumor, upregulated the expression of GR, CREB, and BDNF in the hippocampus, and significantly decreased the expression of NR2A, NR2B, and CaMKII. These results provide direct evidence that XYKAJY effectively alleviates depression-like behaviors and tumor proliferation in vehicle mice with ameliorates hippocampus synaptic plasticity dysfunctions.
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Aberrant brain grey matter volume patterns differ among Chinese Han drug-naïve depression patients with acute and chronic stress. Oncotarget 2017; 8:91958-91964. [PMID: 29190889 PMCID: PMC5696155 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic or acute stress can induce structural changes and brain alterations associated with the neural mechanisms of depression. Aimed to investigate the GMV alterations in the drug-naïve depression patients with chronic and acute stress experience,we enrolled fifty depression patients with acute stress experience, fifty five depression patients with chronic stress experience and forty seven healthy controls(HC) to participant in the present study. We used voxel-based morphometry to analyze the brain grey matter volume (GMV) alterations. Compared with the HC, the patients with acute stress and those with chronic stress exhibited a distinct GMV impairment pattern. Widespread, decreased GMV was detected in most of the cerebral cortex in all the depression patients. Importantly, the greatest finding in our study is that the decreased GMV in the depression patients with chronic stress was more widespread than that in the patients with acute stress. All brain regions with decreased GMV participated in the regulation of emotions, memory, and executive function processing, which is consistent with previous findings. There was no significant difference between the major depression disorder patients with acute stressful life events and those with chronic stressful life events, and this finding largely weakens the support of our current conclusion. Thus, we cannot confirm this postulation. However, our findings probably indicate that GMV may be more sensitive to major depression disorder patients when compared to healthy controls, it did not sensitive when in the comparison of patient's group. Overall, our findings provide important information for the use of appropriate treatment methods to address acute stress and alleviate chronic stress in patients with depression, and such treatments can delay the deterioration of the affected brain regions and improve remission rates. More importantly, all the inexplicable findings in the present study encourage us to conduct a follow-up study to describe the developmental trajectory of the pathological brain features of depression patients and explore therapeutic targets for future personalized treatment.
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Shwartz A, Betzer O, Kronfeld N, Kazimirsky G, Cazacu S, Finniss S, Lee HK, Motiei M, Dagan SY, Popovtzer R, Brodie C, Yadid G. Therapeutic Effect of Astroglia-like Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing Glutamate Transporter in a Genetic Rat Model of Depression. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:2690-2703. [PMID: 28819456 PMCID: PMC5558562 DOI: 10.7150/thno.18914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have proposed that abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission and glial pathology play an important role in the etiology and manifestation of depression. It was postulated that restoration of normal glutamatergic transmission, by enhancing glutamate uptake, may have a beneficial effect on depression. We examined this hypothesis using unique human glial-like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which in addition to inherent properties of migration to regions of injury and secretion of neurotrophic factors, were differentiated to express high levels of functional glutamate transporters (excitatory amino acid transporters; EAAT). Additionally, gold nanoparticles (GNPs), which serve as contrast agents for CT imaging, were loaded into the cells for non-invasive, real-time imaging and tracking of MSC migration and final location within the brain. MSC-EAAT (2×105; 10 μl) were administered (i.c.v.) to Flinder Sensitive Line rats (FSLs), a genetic model for depression, and longitudinal behavioral and molecular changes were monitored. FSL rats treated with MSC-EAAT showed attenuated depressive-like behaviors (measured by the forced swim test, novelty exploration test and sucrose self-administration paradigm), as compared to controls. CT imaging, Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy analysis and immunohistochemistry showed that the majority of MSCs homed specifically to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, a region showing structural brain changes in depression, including loss of glial cells. mRNA and protein levels of EAAT1 and BDNF were significantly elevated in the hippocampus of MSC-EAAT-treated FSLs. Our findings indicate that MSC-EAATs effectively improve depressive-like manifestations, possibly in part by increasing both glutamate uptake and neurotropic factor secretion in the hippocampus.
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Li G, Jing P, Liu Z, Li Z, Ma H, Tu W, Zhang W, Zhuo C. Beneficial effect of fluoxetine treatment aganist psychological stress is mediated by increasing BDNF expression in selected brain areas. Oncotarget 2017; 8:69527-69537. [PMID: 29050222 PMCID: PMC5642497 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
SSRI antidepressant fluoxetine is widely used to treat psychological stress related disorders, however the underlying working mechanisms is not fully understood, as SSRIs can rapidly increase the extracellular serotonin levels but it normally takes weeks to reveal their therapeutic effect in the stress-related psychological disorders. Our previous study demonstrated that purely psychological stress without any physic stimuli induces a biphasic change in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which immediately decrease and then gradually increase after the stress; and that the latter BDNF increase in response to the psychological stress involves the activation of serotonin system. To investigate the role of BDNF in the fluoxetine treatment for stress-related psychological disorders, we examined the mRNA and protein levels of BDNF in the brain of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, which were pretreated with fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg or vehicle solution for 14 days, over 24 hour after an acute psychological stress exposure. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the expression of BDNF at different time points in various brain regions after the psychological stress. We found that fluoxetine treatment completely blocked the BDNF decrease induced by the psychological stress, and also enhanced the gradual increase in the expression of BDNF in most of the brain regions except VTA after the psychological stress. The results suggest that the enhancement in BDNF levels induced by chronic fluoxetine treatment mediates the therapeutic effect against psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gongying Li
- Insitute of Mental health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China
| | - Ping Jing
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China
| | - Zhidong Liu
- Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300000, China
| | - Zhiruo Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272000, China
| | - Hongxia Ma
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272051, China
| | - Wenzhen Tu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China
| | - Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China.,Insitute of Mental health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China.,Department of Psychiatric Neuroimaging Laboratory, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center, Tianjin 300222, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anning Hospital, Tianjin 300300, China
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Jiang DG, Jin SL, Li GY, Li QQ, Li ZR, Ma HX, Zhuo CJ, Jiang RH, Ye MJ. Serotonin regulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in select brain regions during acute psychological stress. Neural Regen Res 2016; 11:1471-1479. [PMID: 27857753 PMCID: PMC5090852 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.191222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that serotonin (5-HT) might interact with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during the stress response. However, the relationship between 5-HT and BDNF expression under purely psychological stress is unclear. In this study, one hour before psychological stress exposure, the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT or antagonist MDL73005, or the 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOI or antagonist ketanserin were administered to rats exposed to psychological stress. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed that after psychological stress, with the exception of the ventral tegmental area, BDNF protein and mRNA expression levels were higher in the 5-HT1A and the 5-HT2A receptor agonist groups compared with the solvent control no-stress or psychological stress group in the CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, central amygdaloid nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, dentate gyrus, shell of the nucleus accumbens and the midbrain periaqueductal gray. There was no significant difference between the two agonist groups. In contrast, after stress exposure, BDNF protein and mRNA expression levels were lower in the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor antagonist groups than in the solvent control non-stress group, with the exception of the ventral tegmental area. Our findings suggest that 5-HT regulates BDNF expression in a rat model of acute psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-guo Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou 7 People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shi-li Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Gong-ying Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qing-qing Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhi-ruo Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hong-xia Ma
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chuan-jun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou 7 People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Rong-huan Jiang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Psychological Medicine, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Min-jie Ye
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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