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Li X, Ramos-Rolón AP, Kass G, Pereira-Rufino LS, Shifman N, Shi Z, Volkow ND, Wiers CE. Imaging neuroinflammation in individuals with substance use disorders. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e172884. [PMID: 38828729 PMCID: PMC11142750 DOI: 10.1172/jci172884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests a role of neuroinflammation in substance use disorders (SUDs). This Review presents findings from neuroimaging studies assessing brain markers of inflammation in vivo in individuals with SUDs. Most studies investigated the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) using PET; neuroimmune markers myo-inositol, choline-containing compounds, and N-acetyl aspartate using magnetic resonance spectroscopy; and fractional anisotropy using MRI. Study findings have contributed to a greater understanding of neuroimmune function in the pathophysiology of SUDs, including its temporal dynamics (i.e., acute versus chronic substance use) and new targets for SUD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Li
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Astrid P. Ramos-Rolón
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gabriel Kass
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lais S. Pereira-Rufino
- Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Naomi Shifman
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhenhao Shi
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Corinde E. Wiers
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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da Silva MCM, de Souza Ferreira LP, Giustina AD. Could immunotherapy be a hope for addiction treatment? Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2024; 79:100347. [PMID: 38583393 PMCID: PMC11002847 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiz Philipe de Souza Ferreira
- Department of Morphology and Genetics, Structural and Functional Biology Graduate Program, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Amanda Della Giustina
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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3
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Kelly TJ, Bonniwell EM, Mu L, Liu X, Hu Y, Friedman V, Yu H, Su W, McCorvy JD, Liu QS. Psilocybin analog 4-OH-DiPT enhances fear extinction and GABAergic inhibition of principal neurons in the basolateral amygdala. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:854-863. [PMID: 37752222 PMCID: PMC10948882 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01744-8] [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] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin show great promise for the treatment of depression and PTSD, but their long duration of action poses practical limitations for patient access. 4-OH-DiPT is a fast-acting and shorter-lasting derivative of psilocybin. Here we characterized the pharmacological profile of 4-OH-DiPT and examined its impact on fear extinction learning as well as a potential mechanism of action. First, we profiled 4-OH-DiPT at all 12 human 5-HT GPCRs. 4-OH-DiPT showed strongest agonist activity at all three 5-HT2A/2B/2C receptors with near full agonist activity at 5-HT2A. Notably, 4-OH-DiPT had comparable activity at mouse and human 5-HT2A/2B/2C receptors. In a fear extinction paradigm, 4-OH-DiPT significantly reduced freezing responses to conditioned cues in a dose-dependent manner with a greater potency in female mice than male mice. Female mice that received 4-OH-DiPT before extinction training had reduced avoidance behaviors several days later in the light dark box, elevated plus maze and novelty-suppressed feeding test compared to controls, while male mice did not show significant differences. 4-OH-DiPT produced robust increases in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in basolateral amygdala (BLA) principal neurons and action potential firing in BLA interneurons in a 5-HT2A-dependent manner. RNAscope demonstrates that Htr2a mRNA is expressed predominantly in BLA GABA interneurons, Htr2c mRNA is expressed in both GABA interneurons and principal neurons, while Htr2b mRNA is absent in the BLA. Our findings suggest that 4-OH-DiPT activates BLA interneurons via the 5-HT2A receptor to enhance GABAergic inhibition of BLA principal neurons, which provides a potential mechanism for suppressing learned fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Emma M Bonniwell
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Lianwei Mu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Xiaojie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Ying Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Vladislav Friedman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Wantang Su
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Qing-Song Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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4
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Grodin EN. Neuroimmune modulators as novel pharmacotherapies for substance use disorders. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 36:100744. [PMID: 38435721 PMCID: PMC10906159 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100744] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
One promising avenue of research is the use of neuroimmune modulators to treat substance use disorders (SUDs). Neuroimmune modulators target the interactions between the nervous system and immune system, which have been found to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of SUDs. Multiple classes of substances produce alterations to neuroimmune signaling and peripheral immune function, including alcohol, opioids, and psychostimulants Preclinical studies have shown that neuroimmune modulators can reduce drug-seeking behavior and prevent relapse in animal models of SUDs. Additionally, early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of using neuroimmune modulators as a treatment for SUDs in humans. These therapeutics can be used as stand-alone treatments or as adjunctive. This review summarizes the current state of the field and provides future directions with a specific focus on personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica N. Grodin
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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5
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Huang S, Shi C, Liu F, Si Y, Shen D, Yang L, Gao Y, Liao Y. Activation of Epac in the BLA disrupts reconsolidation and attenuates heroin-seeking behaviour. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13330. [PMID: 37753572 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13330] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The susceptibility to drug cravings evoked by stimuli poses a formidable hurdle in the treatment of addiction and the prevention of relapse. Pharmacological interventions targeting drug-associated memories hold promise for curbing relapse by impeding the process of memory reconsolidation, predominantly governed by cAMP signalling. Exchange Protein Activated by cAMP (Epac) serves as a distinctive mediator of cAMP signalling, which has been implicated in reinforcing the effects of cocaine and facilitating the acquisition. Nonetheless, the role of Epac in heroin-related memory and the subsequent seeking behaviour remains enigmatic. In this study, we explored the impact of Epac activation on the reconsolidation process of drug-related memories associated with heroin self-administration. Over the course of 10 consecutive days, rats underwent training, wherein they acquired the behaviour of nose poking to obtain heroin accompanied by a tone + light cue. This nose-poking behaviour was subsequently extinguished when heroin infusion and cue presentation were discontinued. Subsequently, we administered 8-pCPT-cAMP (8-CPT), an Epac-specific activator, into the basolateral amygdala at various time points, either in the presence or absence of a conditioned stimulus. Our findings demonstrate that administering 8-CPT immediately after memory retrieval effectively reduces cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement, with the observed effects persisting significantly for a minimum of 28 days. However, infusion of 8-CPT for a duration of 6 h following the memory retrieval trial, or without it altogether, had no discernible impact. Thus, these findings strongly suggest that Epac activation can disrupt the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory, thereby diminishing the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Cuijie Shi
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Fanglin Liu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Si
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Shen
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Liping Yang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yujun Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, The Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Yiwei Liao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Institute of Skull Base Surgery and Neurooncology at Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Mu L, Liu X, Yu H, Vickstrom CR, Friedman V, Kelly TJ, Hu Y, Su W, Liu S, Mantsch JR, Liu QS. cAMP-mediated upregulation of HCN channels in VTA dopamine neurons promotes cocaine reinforcement. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3930-3942. [PMID: 37845497 PMCID: PMC10730389 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02290-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic cocaine exposure induces enduring neuroadaptations that facilitate motivated drug taking. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are known to modulate neuronal firing and pacemaker activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons. However, it remained unknown whether cocaine self-administration affects HCN channel function and whether HCN channel activity modulates motivated drug taking. We report that rat VTA dopamine neurons predominantly express Hcn3-4 mRNA, while VTA GABA neurons express Hcn1-4 mRNA. Both neuronal types display similar hyperpolarization-activated currents (Ih), which are facilitated by acute increases in cAMP. Acute cocaine application decreases voltage-dependent activation of Ih in VTA dopamine neurons, but not in GABA neurons. Unexpectedly, chronic cocaine self-administration results in enhanced Ih selectively in VTA dopamine neurons. This differential modulation of Ih currents is likely mediated by a D2 autoreceptor-induced decrease in cAMP as D2 (Drd2) mRNA is predominantly expressed in dopamine neurons, whereas D1 (Drd1) mRNA is barely detectable in the VTA. Moreover, chronically decreased cAMP via Gi-DREADD stimulation leads to an increase in Ih in VTA dopamine neurons and enhanced binding of HCN3/HCN4 with tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b), an auxiliary subunit that is known to facilitate HCN channel surface trafficking. Finally, we show that systemic injection and intra-VTA infusion of the HCN blocker ivabradine reduces cocaine self-administration under a progressive ratio schedule and produces a downward shift of the cocaine dose-response curve. Our results suggest that cocaine self-administration induces an upregulation of Ih in VTA dopamine neurons, while HCN inhibition reduces the motivation for cocaine intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianwei Mu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Xiaojie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Casey R Vickstrom
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Vladislav Friedman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Thomas J Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Ying Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Wantang Su
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - John R Mantsch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Qing-Song Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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7
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Machado da Silva MC, Iglesias LP, Candelario-Jalil E, Khoshbouei H, Moreira FA, de Oliveira ACP. Role of Microglia in Psychostimulant Addiction. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:235-259. [PMID: 36503452 PMCID: PMC10190137 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221208142151] [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: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of psychostimulant drugs can modify brain function by inducing changes in the reward system, mainly due to alterations in dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmissions in the mesocorticolimbic pathway. However, the etiopathogenesis of addiction is a much more complex process. Previous data have suggested that microglia and other immune cells are involved in events associated with neuroplasticity and memory, which are phenomena that also occur in addiction. Nevertheless, how dependent is the development of addiction on the activity of these cells? Although the mechanisms are not known, some pathways may be involved. Recent data have shown psychoactive substances may act directly on immune cells, alter their functions and induce various inflammatory mediators that modulate synaptic activity. These could, in turn, be involved in the pathological alterations that occur in substance use disorder. Here, we extensively review the studies demonstrating how cocaine and amphetamines modulate microglial number, morphology, and function. We also describe the effect of these substances in the production of inflammatory mediators and a possible involvement of some molecular signaling pathways, such as the toll-like receptor 4. Although the literature in this field is scarce, this review compiles the knowledge on the neuroimmune axis that is involved in the pathogenesis of addiction, and suggests some pharmacological targets for the development of pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carolina Machado da Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil;
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lia Parada Iglesias
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Habibeh Khoshbouei
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fabrício Araujo Moreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Liu X, Vickstrom CR, Yu H, Liu S, Snarrenberg ST, Friedman V, Mu L, Chen B, Kelly TJ, Baker DA, Liu QS. Epac2 in midbrain dopamine neurons contributes to cocaine reinforcement via facilitation of dopamine release. eLife 2022; 11:80747. [PMID: 35993549 PMCID: PMC9436413 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse results in an upregulation of cAMP signaling in the mesolimbic dopamine system, a molecular adaptation thought to be critically involved in the development of drug dependence. Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac2) is a major cAMP effector abundantly expressed in the brain. However, it remains unknown whether Epac2 contributes to cocaine reinforcement. Here, we report that Epac2 in the mesolimbic dopamine system promotes cocaine reinforcement via enhancement of dopamine release. Conditional knockout of Epac2 from midbrain dopamine neurons (Epac2-cKO) and the selective Epac2 inhibitor ESI-05 decreased cocaine self-administration in mice under both fixed-ratio and progressive-ratio reinforcement schedules and across a broad range of cocaine doses. In addition, Epac2-cKO led to reduced evoked dopamine release, whereas Epac2 agonism robustly enhanced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in vitro. This mechanism is central to the behavioral effects of Epac2 disruption, as chemogenetic stimulation of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons via deschloroclozapine (DCZ)-induced activation of Gs-DREADD increased dopamine release and reversed the impairment of cocaine self-administration in Epac2-cKO mice. Conversely, chemogenetic inhibition of VTA dopamine neurons with Gi-DREADD reduced dopamine release and cocaine self-administration in wild-type mice. Epac2-mediated enhancement of dopamine release may therefore represent a novel and powerful mechanism that contributes to cocaine reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Casey R Vickstrom
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Shana Terai Snarrenberg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Vladislav Friedman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Lianwei Mu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Bixuan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Thomas J Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
| | - David A Baker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Qing-Song Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States
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Integrated Excitatory/Inhibitory Imbalance and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Association between Dysregulated Synaptic Genes and Anesthetic-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162497. [PMID: 36010580 PMCID: PMC9406780 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from human epidemiologic and animal studies has demonstrated that developmental anesthesia neurotoxicity could cause long-term cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We conducted an electrophysiological analysis of synapse activity and a transcriptomic assay of 24,881 mRNA expression on hippocampal tissues from postnatal day 60 (P60) mice receiving propofol exposure at postnatal day 7 (P7). We found that developmentally propofol-exposed P60 mouse hippocampal neurons displayed an E/I imbalance, compared with control mice as evidenced by the decreased excitation and increased inhibition. We found that propofol exposure at P7 led to the abnormal expression of 317 mRNAs in the hippocampus of P60 mice, including 23 synapse-related genes. Various bioinformatic analyses revealed that these abnormally expressed synaptic genes were associated with the function and development of synapse activity and plasticity, E/I balance, behavior, and cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that the altered E/I balance may constitute a mechanism for propofol-induced long-term impaired learning and memory in mice. The transcriptomic and bioinformatic analysis of these dysregulated genes related to synaptic function paves the way for development of therapeutic strategies against anesthetic neurodegeneration through the restoration of E/I balance and the modification of synaptic gene expression.
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