1
|
Wells AC, Mojica C, Lotfipour S. Hypersensitivity of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit (CHRNA2 L9'S/L9'S) in female adolescent mice produces deficits in nicotine-induced facilitation of hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 213:107959. [PMID: 38964600 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107959] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is characterized by a critical period of maturation and growth, during which regions of the brain are vulnerable to long-lasting cognitive disturbances. Adolescent exposure to nicotine can lead to deleterious neurological and psychological outcomes. Moreover, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has been shown to play a functionally distinct role in the development of the adolescent brain. CHRNA2 encodes for the α2 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors associated with CA1 oriens lacunosum moleculare GABAergic interneurons and is associated with learning and memory. Previously, we found that adolescent male hypersensitive CHRNA2L9'S/L9' mice had impairments in learning and memory during a pre-exposure-dependent contextual fear conditioning task that could be rescued by low-dose nicotine exposure. In this study, we assessed learning and memory in female adolescent hypersensitive CHRNA2L9'S/L9' mice exposed to saline or a subthreshold dose of nicotine using a hippocampus-dependent task of pre-exposure-dependent contextual fear conditioning. We found that nicotine-treated wild-type female mice had significantly greater improvements in learning and memory than both saline-treated wild-type mice and nicotine-treated CHRNA2L9'S/L9' female mice. Thus, hyperexcitability of CHRNA2 in female adolescent mice ablated the nicotine-mediated potentiation of learning and memory seen in wild-types. Our results indicate that nicotine exposure during adolescence mediates sexually dimorphic patterns of learning and memory, with wild-type female adolescents being more susceptible to the effects of sub-threshold nicotine exposure. To understand the mechanism underlying sexually dimorphic behavior between hyperexcitable CHRNA2 mice, it is critical that further research be conducted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia C Wells
- School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Celina Mojica
- Graduate Division, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Shahrdad Lotfipour
- School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hilscher MM, Mikulovic S, Perry S, Lundberg S, Kullander K. The alpha2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a subunit with unique and selective expression in inhibitory interneurons associated with principal cells. Pharmacol Res 2023; 196:106895. [PMID: 37652281 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106895] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play crucial roles in various human disorders, with the α7, α4, α6, and α3-containing nAChR subtypes extensively studied in relation to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, nicotine dependence, mood disorders, and stress disorders. In contrast, the α2-nAChR subunit has received less attention due to its more restricted expression and the scarcity of specific agonists and antagonists for studying its function. Nevertheless, recent research has shed light on the unique expression pattern of the Chrna2 gene, which encodes the α2-nAChR subunit, and its involvement in distinct populations of inhibitory interneurons. This review highlights the structure, pharmacology, localization, function, and disease associations of α2-containing nAChRs and points to the unique expression pattern of the Chrna2 gene and its role in different inhibitory interneuron populations. These populations, including the oriens lacunosum moleculare (OLM) cells in the hippocampus, Martinotti cells in the neocortex, and Renshaw cells in the spinal cord, share common features and contribute to recurrent inhibitory microcircuits. Thus, the α2-nAChR subunit's unique expression pattern in specific interneuron populations and its role in recurrent inhibitory microcircuits highlight its importance in various physiological processes. Further research is necessary to uncover the comprehensive functionality of α2-containing nAChRs, delineate their specific contributions to neuronal circuits, and investigate their potential as therapeutic targets for related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus M Hilscher
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, IGP/BMC, Box 815, 751 08 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Sanja Mikulovic
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, IGP/BMC, Box 815, 751 08 Uppsala, Sweden; Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Cognition & Emotion Laboratory, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health(DZPG), Germany
| | - Sharn Perry
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, IGP/BMC, Box 815, 751 08 Uppsala, Sweden; Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Stina Lundberg
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, IGP/BMC, Box 815, 751 08 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Klas Kullander
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, IGP/BMC, Box 815, 751 08 Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Expression of Chrna9 is regulated by Tbx3 in undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1611. [PMID: 36709241 PMCID: PMC9884305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28814-7] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
It was reported that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-mediated signaling pathways affect the proliferation and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. However, detail expression profiles of nAChR genes were unrevealed in these cells. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the gene expression of α subunit of nAChRs (Chrna) during differentiation and induction of pluripotent stem cells. Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells expressed multiple Chrna genes (Chrna3-5, 7 and 9) in undifferentiated status. Among them, Chrna9 was markedly down-regulated upon the differentiation into mesenchymal cell lineage. In mouse tissues and cells, Chrna9 was mainly expressed in testes, ES cells and embryonal F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells. Expression of Chrna9 gene was acutely reduced during differentiation of ES and F9 cells within 24 h. In contrast, Chrna9 expression was increased in induced pluripotent stem cells established from mouse embryonic fibroblast. It was shown by the reporter assays that T element-like sequence in the promoter region of Chrna9 gene is important for its activities in ES cells. Chrna9 was markedly reduced by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Tbx3, a pluripotency-related transcription factor of the T-box gene family. These results indicate that Chrna9 is a nAChR gene that are transcriptionally regulated by Tbx3 in undifferentiated pluripotent cells.
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou L, Tao X, Pang G, Mu M, Sun Q, Liu F, Hu Y, Tao H, Li B, Xu K. Maternal Nicotine Exposure Alters Hippocampal Microglia Polarization and Promotes Anti-inflammatory Signaling in Juvenile Offspring in Mice. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:661304. [PMID: 34045967 PMCID: PMC8144443 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.661304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence reveal that maternal smoking or perinatal nicotine replacement therapy impairs hippocampal neurogenesis, neural development, and cognitive behaviors in the offspring. Microglia is a source of non-neural regulation of neuronal development and postnatal neurogenesis. In this study, we explored the impact of nicotine on the microglia during the development of hippocampus. Developmental nicotine exposure in a mouse model was conducted by supplementing nicotine in the drinking water to mother mice during gestation and lactation period. We found that juvenile offspring with maternal nicotine exposure presented physical and neurobehavioral development delay and an increase in anxiety-like behavior in the open field test on postnatal day (PND) 20. To further detect possible developmental neurotoxic effects of nicotine in offspring and underlying mechanism, whole genome microarray analysis of the expression profile of the hippocampus was performed on postnatal day 20. Significant alterations in the expression of genes related to inflammatory, neurotransmitter, and synapsis were observed in the hippocampus after maternal nicotine exposure, as compared to the vehicle control. Concurrently, an increase in microglial markers and the presence of M2 polarity state in the hippocampus of the nicotine offspring were observed by histological analysis and confocal z-stacking scanning. The M2 microglial polarization state was further confirmed with in vitro primary microglia culture by cytokine array, and double-positive expression of BDNF/Iba1 in microglia by immunohistochemical staining in the juvenile offspring hippocampus was visualized. We also found that nicotine offspring showed an increase of neurite length in the molecular layer and CA1 by Tuj1 staining, as well as an increase in the expression of synapse associated protein, PSD95, but the expression of NeuroD1 in CA1 and CA3 reduced. In summary, maternal nicotine exposure dysregulates immune-related genes expression by skewing the polarity of M2 microglia in the hippocampus, which may cause abnormal cognitive and behavioral performance in the offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhou
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Xinrong Tao
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Gang Pang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Min Mu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Qixian Sun
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Yuting Hu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Huihui Tao
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Keyi Xu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Brooks AC, Henderson BJ. Systematic Review of Nicotine Exposure's Effects on Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells. Brain Sci 2021; 11:172. [PMID: 33573081 PMCID: PMC7912116 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
While various modalities of chronic nicotine use have been associated with numerous negative consequences to human health, one possible benefit of nicotine exposure has been uncovered. The discovery of an inverse correlation between smoking and Parkinson's disease, and later Alzheimer's disease as well, motivated investigation of nicotine as a neuroprotective agent. Some studies have demonstrated that nicotine elicits improvements in cognitive function. The hippocampus, along with the subventricular zone (SVZ), is a distinct brain region that allow for ongoing postnatal neurogenesis throughout adulthood and plays a major role in certain cognitive behaviors like learning and memory. Therefore, one hypothesis underlying nicotine-induced neuroprotection is possible effects on neural stem cells and neural precursor cells. On the other hand, nicotine withdrawal frequently leads to cognitive impairments, particularly in hippocampal-dependent behaviors, possibly suggesting an impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis with nicotine exposure. This review discusses the current body of evidence on nicotine's effects on neural stem cells and neural progenitors. Changes in neural stem cell proliferation, survival, intracellular dynamics, and differentiation following acute and chronic nicotine exposure are examined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arrin C. Brooks
- Department of Biomedical Science, Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25545, USA;
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu F, Tao X, Pang G, Wu D, Hu Y, Xue S, Liu J, Li B, Zhou L, Liu Q, Zhang YM. Maternal Nicotine Exposure During Gestation and Lactation Period Affects Behavior and Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Mouse Offspring. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1569. [PMID: 32038246 PMCID: PMC6987079 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoking or nicotine exposure during pregnancy is associated with numerous obstetrical, fetal, and developmental complications, as well as an increased risk of adverse health consequences in the adult offspring. In this study, we examined the effects of maternal nicotine exposure during perinatal and lactation stages on behavioral performance and hippocampal neurogenesis in the adolescent stage of offspring mice. Female C57BL/mice received nicotine in drinking water (200 μg/ml nicotine) or vehicle (1% saccharin) starting from 2 weeks premating until the offspring were weaned on postnatal day 20. Experiments started on postnatal day 35. Female offspring with maternal nicotine exposure presented an increase in anxiety-like behavior in an open-field test. BrdU assay revealed that nicotine offspring presented an increase in cell proliferation in hippocampal dentate gyrus, but the number of BrdU+ cells was decreased in one week and further decreased in three weeks. The occurrence of disarray of DCX+ cells increased in both male and female nicotine offspring. The density of microglial marker protein Iba1 was significantly increased in the nicotine offspring. Furthermore, the expression of microglia marker Iba1, the CX3CL1, CX3CR1, and downstream molecules PKA and p-ErK were significantly increased in the nicotine group. In summary, maternal nicotine exposure affects both hippocampal neurogenesis and microglial activity in the adolescent offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Xinrong Tao
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Purification and Occupational Health of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Gang Pang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Diqing Wu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Yuting Hu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Song Xue
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Yong-Mei Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|