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Uzan-Yulzari A, Turjeman S, Moadi L, Getselter D, Sharon E, Rautava S, Isolauri E, Khatib S, Elliott E, Koren O. A gut reaction? The role of the microbiome in aggression. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 122:301-312. [PMID: 39128572 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.011] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent research has unveiled conflicting evidence regarding the link between aggression and the gut microbiome. Here, we compared behavior profiles of control, germ-free (GF), and antibiotic-treated mice, as well as re-colonized GF mice to understand the impact of the gut microbiome on aggression using the resident-intruder paradigm. Our findings revealed a link between gut microbiome depletion and higher aggression, accompanied by notable changes in urine metabolite profiles and brain gene expression. This study extends beyond classical murine models to humanized mice to reveal the clinical relevance of early-life antibiotic use on aggression. Fecal microbiome transplant from infants exposed to antibiotics in early life (and sampled one month later) into mice led to increased aggression compared to mice receiving transplants from unexposed infants. This study sheds light on the role of the gut microbiome in modulating aggression and highlights its potential avenues of action, offering insights for development of therapeutic strategies for aggression-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Lelyan Moadi
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | | | - Efrat Sharon
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Samuli Rautava
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki and New Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Erika Isolauri
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Soliman Khatib
- Department of Natural Compounds and Analytical Chemistry, Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel; Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
| | - Evan Elliott
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel; Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Siegler Lathrop T, Perego S, Bastiaanssen TFS, van Hemert S, Chronakis IS, Diaz Heijtz R. Multispecies probiotic intake during pregnancy modulates neurodevelopmental trajectories of offspring: Aiming towards precision microbial intervention. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 122:547-554. [PMID: 39197545 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.050] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent research highlights the pivotal role of the maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy in shaping offspring neurodevelopment. In this study, we investigated the impact of maternal intake of a multispecies probiotic formulation during a critical prenatal window (from gestational day 6 until birth) on neurodevelopmental trajectories in mice. Our findings demonstrate significant and persistent benefits in emotional behavior, gut microbiota composition, and expression of tight junction-related genes, particularly in male offspring, who exhibited heightened sensitivity to the probiotic intervention compared to females. Additionally, we observed elevated gene expression levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of exposed juvenile offspring; however, these changes persisted only in the adult male offspring. Furthermore, the sustained increase in the expression of the proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter 1 (PepT1), which is involved in the transport of bacterial peptidoglycan motifs, in the PFC of exposed male offspring suggests a potential mechanistic pathway underlying the observed sex-dependent effects on behavior and gene expression. These results underscore the potential of prenatal multispecies probiotic interventions to promote long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, with implications for precision microbial reconstitution aimed at promoting healthy neurodevelopment and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Siegler Lathrop
- Technical University of Denmark, DTU-Food, Research Group for Food Production Engineering, Laboratory of Nano-BioScience, Denmark
| | - Sarah Perego
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden
| | | | - Saskia van Hemert
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
| | - Ioannis S Chronakis
- Technical University of Denmark, DTU-Food, Research Group for Food Production Engineering, Laboratory of Nano-BioScience, Denmark
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Xiong W, Wang B, Han F, Tong J, Gao H, Ding P, Liu K, Wu X, Huang K, Geng M, Tao F. Association between maternal antibiotic exposure and emotional and behavioural problems in children at four years of age: A biomonitoring-based prospective study. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 284:116949. [PMID: 39208579 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116949] [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: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal exposure to multiple antibiotics exposure during pregnancy has attracted extensive attention, but biomonitoring studies linking prenatal antibiotic exposure to emotional and behavioural problems in children are limited. METHODS A total of 2475 pregnant women from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort were included, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was completed when their children turned four years of age. The levels of 41 maternal urinary antibiotics and two metabolites were measured during the first, second and third trimesters. Generalized estimating equations and binary logistic regression models were applied to analyse the associations between maternal antibiotic exposure and emotional and behavioural problems in children and to determine the sensitive period, respectively. A quantile-based g-computation (QGC) approach was employed to examine the combined effects of multiple antibiotics on emotional and behavioural problems in children. RESULTS Overall, florfenicol and preferred-as-veterinary antibiotic (PVA) exposure during pregnancy increased the risk of emotional problems in children, and ofloxacin exposure increased the risk of hyperactivity-inattention. Maternal exposure to trimethoprime, ciprofloxacin, florfenicol, other antibiotics and PVA exposure during the first trimester was positively associated with emotional problems in children. Second-trimester trimethoprime concentrations and third-trimester ciprofloxacin concentrations were positively associated with hyperactivity-inattention. Third-trimester veterinary antibiotic (VA) exposure was negatively associated with hyperactivity-inattention, and second-trimester VA and PVA exposure was negatively associated with peer problems. The QGC model revealed that mixed antibiotic exposure in the first trimester exacerbated the risk of childhood emotional problems (the contribution of ciprofloxacin is prominent), and mixed antibiotic exposure in the second trimester increased the risk of hyperactivity-inattention (the contribution of trimethoprime is prominent). CONCLUSION Maternal mixed antibiotic exposure during the first and second trimesters increases the risk of emotional problems and hyperactivity-inattention in children at four years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanhong Xiong
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Baolin Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Feifei Han
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Juan Tong
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Peng Ding
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Kaiyong Liu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Kun Huang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Menglong Geng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
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Seneff S, Kyriakopoulos AM, Nigh G. Is autism a PIN1 deficiency syndrome? A proposed etiological role for glyphosate. J Neurochem 2024; 168:2124-2146. [PMID: 38808598 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16140] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, the prevalence of which has increased dramatically in the United States over the past two decades. It is characterized by stereotyped behaviors and impairments in social interaction and communication. In this paper, we present evidence that autism can be viewed as a PIN1 deficiency syndrome. Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-Interacting 1 (PIN1) is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, and it has widespread influences in biological organisms. Broadly speaking, PIN1 deficiency is linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, whereas PIN1 over-expression is linked to cancer. Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) strongly inhibits PIN1, and the hormone melatonin inhibits DAPK1. Melatonin deficiency is strongly linked to autism. It has recently been shown that glyphosate exposure to rats inhibits melatonin synthesis as a result of increased glutamate release from glial cells and increased expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Glyphosate's inhibition of melatonin leads to a reduction in PIN1 availability in neurons. In this paper, we show that PIN1 deficiency can explain many of the unique morphological features of autism, including increased dendritic spine density, missing or thin corpus callosum, and reduced bone density. We show how PIN1 deficiency disrupts the functioning of powerful high-level signaling molecules, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and p53. Dysregulation of both of these proteins has been linked to autism. Severe depletion of glutathione in the brain resulting from chronic exposure to oxidative stressors and extracellular glutamate leads to oxidation of the cysteine residue in PIN1, inactivating the protein and further contributing to PIN1 deficiency. Impaired autophagy leads to increased sensitivity of neurons to ferroptosis. It is imperative that further research be conducted to experimentally validate whether the mechanisms described here take place in response to chronic glyphosate exposure and whether this ultimately leads to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Seneff
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Greg Nigh
- Immersion Health, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Zhang S, Mi P, Luan J, Sun M, Zhao X, Feng X. Fluorene-9-bisphenol acts on the gut-brain axis by regulating oxytocin signaling to disturb social behaviors in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 255:119169. [PMID: 38763277 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119169] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have identified the exposure to ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors may be a risk factor of neurological disorders. However, the effects of fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF) in environmental exposure concentrations associated with these disorders are poorly understood. In this study, classic light-dark and social behavior tests were performed on zebrafish larvae and adults exposed BHPF exposure to evaluate social behavioral disorders and the microbiota-gut-brain axis was assessed to reveal the potential mechanisms underlying the behavioral abnormalities observed. Our results demonstrated that zebrafish larvae exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration (0.1 nM) of BHPF for 7 days showed a diminished response to external environmental factors (light or dark). Zebrafish larvae exposed to BHPF for 7 days or adults exposed to BHPF for 30 days at 1 μM displayed significant behavioral inhibition and altered social behaviors, including social recognition, social preference, and social fear contagion, indicating autism-like behaviors were induced by the exposure. BHPF exposure reduced the distribution of Nissl bodies in midbrain neurons and significantly reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling. Oxytocin (OXT) levels and expression of its receptor oxtra in the gut and brain were down-regulated by BHPF exposure. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to the excitation-inhibitory balance of synaptic transmission changed. Microbiomics revealed increased community diversity and altered abundance of some microflora, such as an elevation in Bacillota and Bacteroidota and a decline in Mycoplasmatota in zebrafish guts, which might contribute to the abnormal neural circuits and autism-like behaviors induced by BHPF. Finally, the rescue effect of exogenous OXT on social behavioral defects induced by BHPF exposure was verified in zebrafish, highlighting the crucial role of OXT signaling through gut-brain axis in the regulatory mechanisms of social behaviors affected by BHPF. This study contributes to understanding the effects of environmental BHPF exposure on neuropsychiatric disorders and attracts public attention to the health risks posed by chemicals in aquatic organisms. The potential mental disorders should be considered in the safety assessments of environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Zhang
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education. Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Ping Mi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Jialu Luan
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education. Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Mingzhu Sun
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Xizeng Feng
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education. Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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Warrington JP, Collins HE, Davidge ST, do Carmo JM, Goulopoulou S, Intapad S, Loria AS, Sones JL, Wold LE, Zinkhan EK, Alexander BT. Guidelines for in vivo models of developmental programming of cardiovascular disease risk. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 327:H221-H241. [PMID: 38819382 PMCID: PMC11380980 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00060.2024] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Research using animals depends on the generation of offspring for use in experiments or for the maintenance of animal colonies. Although not considered by all, several different factors preceding and during pregnancy, as well as during lactation, can program various characteristics in the offspring. Here, we present the most common models of developmental programming of cardiovascular outcomes, important considerations for study design, and provide guidelines for producing and reporting rigorous and reproducible cardiovascular studies in offspring exposed to normal conditions or developmental insult. These guidelines provide considerations for the selection of the appropriate animal model and factors that should be reported to increase rigor and reproducibility while ensuring transparent reporting of methods and results.
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Grants
- 20YVNR35490079 American Heart Association (AHA)
- R01HL139348 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL135158 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- U54GM115428 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- R01AG057046 HHS | NIH | National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- P20 GM104357 NIGMS NIH HHS
- HL146562-04S1 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P30 GM149404 NIGMS NIH HHS
- P20GM104357 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- P20GM135002 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- R01 HL163003 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01HL143459 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL146562 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL163003 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL163818 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01DK121411 HHS | NIH | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- R01HL147844 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Excellence Faculty Support Grant Jewish Heritage Fund
- P30GM149404 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- P30GM14940 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- P20GM121334 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- 23SFRNPCS1067044 American Heart Association (AHA)
- R01 HL146562 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R56HL159447 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- U54 GM115428 NIGMS NIH HHS
- 1R01HL163076 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P01HL51971 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- FS154313 CIHR
- Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada)
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Affiliation(s)
- Junie P Warrington
- Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
| | - Helen E Collins
- Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jussara M do Carmo
- Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
| | - Styliani Goulopoulou
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
- Department of Gynecology, and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
| | - Suttira Intapad
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Analia S Loria
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
| | - Jenny L Sones
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Loren E Wold
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States
| | - Erin K Zinkhan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah and Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Barbara T Alexander
- Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
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da Silva Rodrigues F, Jantsch J, de Farias Fraga G, Luiza de Camargo Milczarski V, Silva Dias V, Scheid C, de Oliveira Merib J, Giovernardi M, Padilha Guedes R. Cannabidiol improves maternal obesity-induced behavioral, neuroinflammatory and neurochemical dysfunctions in the juvenile offspring. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:301-316. [PMID: 38608740 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.04.010] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. While numerous studies focus on preventive measures targeting the mothers, only a limited number provide practical approaches for addressing the damages once they are already established. We have recently demonstrated the interplay between maternal obesity and treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) on hypothalamic inflammation and metabolic disturbances, however, little is known about this relationship on behavioral manifestations and neurochemical imbalances in other brain regions. Therefore, here we tested whether CBD treatment could mitigate anxiety-like and social behavioral alterations, as well as neurochemical disruptions in both male and female offspring of obese dams. Female Wistar rats were fed a cafeteria diet for 12 weeks prior to mating, and during gestation and lactation. Offspring received CBD (50 mg/kg) from weaning for 3 weeks. Behavioral tests assessed anxiety-like manifestations and social behavior, while neuroinflammatory and neurochemical markers were evaluated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus. CBD treatment attenuated maternal obesity-induced anxiety-like and social behavioral alterations, followed by rescuing effects on imbalanced neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid concentrations and altered expression of glial markers, CB1, oxytocin and dopamine receptors, with important differences between sexes. Overall, the findings of this study provide insight into the signaling pathways for the therapeutic benefits of CBD on neuroinflammation and neurochemical imbalances caused by perinatal maternal obesity in the PFC and the hippocampus, which translates into the behavioral manifestations, highlighting the sexual dimorphism encompassing both the transgenerational effect of obesity and the endocannabinoid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda da Silva Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Jantsch
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gabriel de Farias Fraga
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Vitória Luiza de Camargo Milczarski
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Victor Silva Dias
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Camila Scheid
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Josias de Oliveira Merib
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcia Giovernardi
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, 90050-170 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Renata Padilha Guedes
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, 90050-170 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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Tochitani S, Tsukahara T, Inoue R. Perturbed maternal microbiota shapes offspring microbiota during early colonization period in mice. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2024; 100:335-352. [PMID: 38692912 PMCID: PMC11377213 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.100.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the impact of disrupted maternal gut microbiota on the colonization of offspring gut microbiota, with implications for offspring developmental trajectories. The extent to which offspring inherit the characteristics of altered maternal gut microbiota remains elusive. In this study, we employed a mouse model where maternal gut microbiota disruption was induced using non-absorbable antibiotics. Systematic chronological analyses of dam fecal samples, offspring luminal content, and offspring gut tissue samples revealed a notable congruence between offspring gut microbiota profiles and those of the perturbed maternal gut microbiota, highlighting the profound influence of maternal microbiota on early-life colonization of offspring gut microbiota. Nonetheless, certain dominant bacterial genera in maternal microbiota did not transfer to the offspring, indicating a bacterial taxonomy-dependent mechanism in the inheritance of maternal gut microbiota. Our results embody the vertical transmission dynamics of disrupted maternal gut microbiota in an animal model, where the gut microbiota of an offspring closely mirrors the gut microbiota of its mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Tochitani
- Graduate School of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Mie, Japan
- Faculty of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Mie, Japan
- Division of Development of Mental Functions, Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Inoue
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
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9
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Aburto MR, Cryan JF. Gastrointestinal and brain barriers: unlocking gates of communication across the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 21:222-247. [PMID: 38355758 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00890-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Crosstalk between gut and brain has long been appreciated in health and disease, and the gut microbiota is a key player in communication between these two distant organs. Yet, the mechanisms through which the microbiota influences development and function of the gut-brain axis remain largely unknown. Barriers present in the gut and brain are specialized cellular interfaces that maintain strict homeostasis of different compartments across this axis. These barriers include the gut epithelial barrier, the blood-brain barrier and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Barriers are ideally positioned to receive and communicate gut microbial signals constituting a gateway for gut-microbiota-brain communication. In this Review, we focus on how modulation of these barriers by the gut microbiota can constitute an important channel of communication across the gut-brain axis. Moreover, barrier malfunction upon alterations in gut microbial composition could form the basis of various conditions, including often comorbid neurological and gastrointestinal disorders. Thus, we should focus on unravelling the molecular and cellular basis of this communication and move from simplistic framing as 'leaky gut'. A mechanistic understanding of gut microbiota modulation of barriers, especially during critical windows of development, could be key to understanding the aetiology of gastrointestinal and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- María R Aburto
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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10
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Suprunowicz M, Tomaszek N, Urbaniak A, Zackiewicz K, Modzelewski S, Waszkiewicz N. Between Dysbiosis, Maternal Immune Activation and Autism: Is There a Common Pathway? Nutrients 2024; 16:549. [PMID: 38398873 PMCID: PMC10891846 DOI: 10.3390/nu16040549] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by impaired social interactions and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. Growing evidence highlights an important role of the gut-brain-microbiome axis in the pathogenesis of ASD. Research indicates an abnormal composition of the gut microbiome and the potential involvement of bacterial molecules in neuroinflammation and brain development disruptions. Concurrently, attention is directed towards the role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and impaired intestinal tightness. This comprehensive review emphasizes the potential impact of maternal gut microbiota changes on the development of autism in children, especially considering maternal immune activation (MIA). The following paper evaluates the impact of the birth route on the colonization of the child with bacteria in the first weeks of life. Furthermore, it explores the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-17a and mother's obesity as potentially environmental factors of ASD. The purpose of this review is to advance our understanding of ASD pathogenesis, while also searching for the positive implications of the latest therapies, such as probiotics, prebiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation, targeting the gut microbiota and reducing inflammation. This review aims to provide valuable insights that could instruct future studies and treatments for individuals affected by ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Stefan Modzelewski
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Bialystok, pl. Wołodyjowskiego 2, 15-272 Białystok, Poland; (M.S.); (N.T.); (A.U.); (K.Z.); (N.W.)
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11
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Gan Y, Chen Y, Zhong H, Liu Z, Geng J, Wang H, Wang W. Gut microbes in central nervous system development and related disorders. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1288256. [PMID: 38343438 PMCID: PMC10854220 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1288256] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The association between gut microbiota and central nervous system (CNS) development has garnered significant research attention in recent years. Evidence suggests bidirectional communication between the CNS and gut microbiota through the brain-gut axis. As a long and complex process, CNS development is highly susceptible to both endogenous and exogenous factors. The gut microbiota impacts the CNS by regulating neurogenesis, myelination, glial cell function, synaptic pruning, and blood-brain barrier permeability, with implication in various CNS disorders. This review outlines the relationship between gut microbiota and stages of CNS development (prenatal and postnatal), emphasizing the integral role of gut microbes. Furthermore, the review explores the implications of gut microbiota in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, Rett syndrome, and Angelman syndrome, offering insights into early detection, prompt intervention, and innovative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Gan
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huijie Zhong
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiawei Geng
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huishan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wenxue Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease and Hepatic Disease, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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12
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Li L, Liu T, Shi Y. Treatment of preterm brain injury via gut-microbiota-metabolite-brain axis. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14556. [PMID: 38108213 PMCID: PMC10805406 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14556] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain injury in preterm infants potentially disrupts critical structural and functional connective networks in the brain. It is a major cause of neurological sequelae and developmental deficits in preterm infants. Interesting findings suggest that the gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites contribute to the programming of the central nervous system (CNS) during developmental stages and may exert structural and functional effects throughout the lifespan. AIM To summarize the existing knowledge of the potential mechanisms related to immune, endocrine, neural, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) mediated by GM and its metabolites in neural development and function. METHODS We review the recent literature and included 150 articles to summarize the mechanisms through which GM and their metabolites work on the nervous system. Potential health benefits and challenges of relevant treatments are also discussed. RESULTS This review discusses the direct and indirect ways through which the GM may act on the nervous system. Treatment of preterm brain injury with GM or related derivatives, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, dietary interventions, and fecal transplants are also included. CONCLUSION This review summarizes mechanisms underlying microbiota-gut-brain axis and novel therapeutic opportunities for neurological sequelae in preterm infants. Optimizing the initial colonization and microbiota development in preterm infants may represent a novel therapy to promote brain development and reduce long-term sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Department of PediatricsShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Tianjing Liu
- Department of PediatricsShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Yongyan Shi
- Department of PediatricsShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
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13
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Rabot S. tHIS way to cognitive development. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1947-1949. [PMID: 38096785 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The effect of the microbiota-gut-brain axis on cognitive development in infancy is increasingly being scrutinized. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Cerdó, Ruiz, and colleagues skillfully combine clinical and preclinical analyses, including a fecal transplantation experiment, to reveal associations between microbiota composition, cognitive scores, and histidine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Rabot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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14
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Parolisi S, Montanari C, Borghi E, Cazzorla C, Zuvadelli J, Tosi M, Barone R, Bensi G, Bonfanti C, Dionisi Vici C, Biasucci G, Burlina A, Carbone MT, Verduci E. Possible role of tryptophan metabolism along the microbiota-gut-brain axis on cognitive & behavioral aspects in Phenylketonuria. Pharmacol Res 2023; 197:106952. [PMID: 37804926 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106952] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive and psychiatric disorders are well documented across the lifetime of patients with inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs). Gut microbiota impacts behavior and cognitive functions through the gut-brain axis (GBA). According to recent research, a broad spectrum of GBA disorders may be influenced by a perturbed Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism and are associated with alterations in composition or function of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, early-life diets may influence children's neurodevelopment and cognitive deficits in adulthood. In Phenylketonuria (PKU), since the main therapeutic intervention is based on a life-long restrictive diet, important alterations of gut microbiota have been observed. Studies on PKU highlight the impact of alterations of gut microbiota on the central nervous system (CNS), also investigating the involvement of metabolic pathways, such as Trp and kynurenine (KYN) metabolisms, involved in numerous neurodegenerative disorders. An alteration of Trp metabolism with an imbalance of the KYN pathway towards the production of neurotoxic metabolites implicated in numerous neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases has been observed in PKU patients supplemented with Phe-free amino acid medical foods (AA-MF). The present review investigates the possible link between gut microbiota and the brain in IEMs, focusing on Trp metabolism in PKU. Considering the evidence collected, cognitive and behavioral well-being should always be monitored in routine IEMs clinical management. Further studies are required to evaluate the possible impact of Trp metabolism, through gut microbiota, on cognitive and behavioral functions in IEMs, to identify innovative dietetic strategies and improve quality of life and mental health of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Parolisi
- UOSD Metabolic Diseases, AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Montanari
- Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Borghi
- Department of Health Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cazzorla
- Division of Inherited Metabolic Diseases, DIDAS Department of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Juri Zuvadelli
- Clinical Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Tosi
- Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Health Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Barone
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, AOU Policlinico "G.Rodolico-San Marco", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giulia Bensi
- Paediatrics & Neonatology Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Cristina Bonfanti
- Rare metabolic disease unit, Pediatric Department, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Giacomo Biasucci
- Paediatrics & Neonatology Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Alberto Burlina
- Division of Inherited Metabolic Diseases, DIDAS Department of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria T Carbone
- UOSD Metabolic Diseases, AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, Naples, Italy
| | - Elvira Verduci
- Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Health Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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15
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Boerma T, Ter Haar S, Ganga R, Wijnen F, Blom E, Wierenga CJ. What risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder can tell us about the neurobiological mechanisms of language development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105398. [PMID: 37741516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105398] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Language is a complex multidimensional cognitive system that is connected to many neurocognitive capacities. The development of language is therefore strongly intertwined with the development of these capacities and their neurobiological substrates. Consequently, language problems, for example those of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), are explained by a variety of etiological pathways and each of these pathways will be associated with specific risk factors. In this review, we attempt to link previously described factors that may interfere with language development to putative underlying neurobiological mechanisms of language development, hoping to uncover openings for future therapeutical approaches or interventions that can help children to optimally develop their language skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessel Boerma
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sita Ter Haar
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Cognitive Neurobiology and Helmholtz Institute, Department of Psychology, Utrecht University/Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rachida Ganga
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Wijnen
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elma Blom
- Department of Development and Education of youth in Diverse Societies (DEEDS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Language and Culture, The Arctic University of Norway UiT, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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16
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Husso A, Pessa-Morikawa T, Koistinen VM, Kärkkäinen O, Kwon HN, Lahti L, Iivanainen A, Hanhineva K, Niku M. Impacts of maternal microbiota and microbial metabolites on fetal intestine, brain, and placenta. BMC Biol 2023; 21:207. [PMID: 37794486 PMCID: PMC10552303 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01709-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The maternal microbiota modulates fetal development, but the mechanisms of these earliest host-microbe interactions are unclear. To investigate the developmental impacts of maternal microbial metabolites, we compared full-term fetuses from germ-free and specific pathogen-free mouse dams by gene expression profiling and non-targeted metabolomics. RESULTS In the fetal intestine, critical genes mediating host-microbe interactions, innate immunity, and epithelial barrier were differentially expressed. Interferon and inflammatory signaling genes were downregulated in the intestines and brains of the fetuses from germ-free dams. The expression of genes related to neural system development and function, translation and RNA metabolism, and regulation of energy metabolism were significantly affected. The gene coding for the insulin-degrading enzyme (Ide) was most significantly downregulated in all tissues. In the placenta, genes coding for prolactin and other essential regulators of pregnancy were downregulated in germ-free dams. These impacts on gene expression were strongly associated with microbially modulated metabolite concentrations in the fetal tissues. Aryl sulfates and other aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands, the trimethylated compounds TMAO and 5-AVAB, Glu-Trp and other dipeptides, fatty acid derivatives, and the tRNA nucleobase queuine were among the compounds strongly associated with gene expression differences. A sex difference was observed in the fetal responses to maternal microbial status: more genes were differentially regulated in male fetuses than in females. CONCLUSIONS The maternal microbiota has a major impact on the developing fetus, with male fetuses potentially more susceptible to microbial modulation. The expression of genes important for the immune system, neurophysiology, translation, and energy metabolism are strongly affected by the maternal microbial status already before birth. These impacts are associated with microbially modulated metabolites. We identified several microbial metabolites which have not been previously observed in this context. Many of the potentially important metabolites remain to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksi Husso
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Pessa-Morikawa
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ville Mikael Koistinen
- Food Sciences Unit, Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Afekta Technologies Ltd., Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Kärkkäinen
- Afekta Technologies Ltd., Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hyuk Nam Kwon
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- School of Biological Sciences and Basic-Clinical Convergence Research Institute, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 44610, South Korea
| | - Leo Lahti
- Department of Computing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Antti Iivanainen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kati Hanhineva
- Food Sciences Unit, Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Afekta Technologies Ltd., Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikael Niku
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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