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Navarro-Sánchez M, Gil-Miravet I, Montero-Caballero D, Bathgate RAD, Hossain MA, Castillo-Gómez E, Gundlach AL, Olucha-Bordonau FE. Modulation of contextual fear acquisition and extinction by acute and chronic relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) activation in the rat retrosplenial cortex. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116264. [PMID: 38710334 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116264] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) plays a central role in processing contextual fear conditioning. In addition to corticocortical and thalamocortical projections, the RSC receives subcortical inputs, including a substantial projection from the nucleus incertus in the pontine tegmentum. This GABAergic projection contains the neuropeptide, relaxin-3 (RLN3), which inhibits target neurons via its Gi/o-protein-coupled receptor, RXFP3. To assess this peptidergic system role in contextual fear conditioning, we bilaterally injected the RSC of adult rats with an adeno-associated-virus (AAV), expressing the chimeric RXFP3 agonist R3/I5 or a control AAV, and subjected them to contextual fear conditioning. The R3/I5 injected rats did not display any major differences to control-injected and naïve rats but displayed a significantly delayed extinction. Subsequently, we employed acute bilateral injections of the specific RXFP3 agonist peptide, RXFP3-Analogue 2 (A2), into RSC. While the administration of A2 before each extinction trial had no impact on the extinction process, treatment with A2 before each acquisition trial resulted in delayed extinction. In related anatomical studies, we detected an enrichment of RLN3-immunoreactive nerve fibers in deep layers of the RSC, and a higher level of co-localization of RXFP3 mRNA with vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) mRNA than with vesicular glutamate transporter-1 (vGLUT1) mRNA across the RSC, consistent with an effect of RLN3/RXFP3 signalling on the intrinsic, inhibitory circuits within the RSC. These findings suggest that contextual conditioning processes in the RSC involve, in part, RLN3 afferent modulation of local inhibitory neurons that provides a stronger memory acquisition which, in turn, retards the extinction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Navarro-Sánchez
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Isis Gil-Miravet
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Daniel Montero-Caballero
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain; CIBERsam-isciii, Red Española de Estrés, Spain
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Francisco E Olucha-Bordonau
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain; CIBERsam-isciii, Red Española de Estrés, Spain.
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N-Methyl D-aspartate receptor subunit signaling in fear extinction. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:239-250. [PMID: 30238131 PMCID: PMC6374191 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5022-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
N-Methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) are central mediators of glutamate actions underlying learning and memory processes including those required for extinction of fear and fear-related behaviors. Consistent with this view, in animal models, antagonists of NMDAR typically impair fear extinction, whereas partial agonists have facilitating effects. Promoting NMDAR function has thus been recognized as a promising strategy towards reduction of fear symptoms in patients suffering from anxiety disorders and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, application of these drugs in clinical trials has proved of limited utility. Here we summarize recent advances in our knowledge of NMDAR pharmacology relevant for fear extinction, focusing on molecular, cellular, and circuit aspects of NMDAR function as they relate to fear extinction at the level of behavior and cognition. We also discuss how these advances from animal models might help to understand and overcome the limitations of existing approaches in human anxiety disorders and how novel, more specific, and personalized approaches might help advance future therapeutic strategies.
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Corcoran KA, Yamawaki N, Leaderbrand K, Radulovic J. Role of retrosplenial cortex in processing stress-related context memories. Behav Neurosci 2018; 132:388-395. [PMID: 29878804 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This work summarizes evidence for the role of RSC in processing fear-inducing context memories. Specifically, we discuss molecular, cellular, and network mechanisms by which RSC might contribute the processing of contextual fear memories. We focus on glutamatergic and cholinergic mechanisms underlying encoding, retrieval, and extinction of context-dependent fear. RSC mechanisms underlying retrieval of recently and remotely acquired memories are compared to memory mechanisms of anterior cortices. Due to the strong connectivity between hippocampus and RSC, we also compare the extent to which their mechanisms of encoding, retrieval, and extinction show overlap. At a theoretical level, we discuss the role of RSC in the framework of systems consolidation as well as retrieval-induced memory modulation. Lastly, we emphasize the implication of these findings for psychopathologies associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Corcoran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University
| | | | | | - Jelena Radulovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University
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Abstract
The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway is implicated in learning and memory. Here, we examined the role of JNK activation mediated by the JNK-interacting protein 1 (JIP1) scaffold protein. We compared male wild-type mice with a mouse model harboring a point mutation in the Jip1 gene that selectively blocks JIP1-mediated JNK activation. These male mutant mice exhibited increased NMDAR currents, increased NMDAR-mediated gene expression, and a lower threshold for induction of hippocampal long-term potentiation. The JIP1 mutant mice also displayed improved hippocampus-dependent spatial memory and enhanced associative fear conditioning. These results were confirmed using a second JIP1 mutant mouse model that suppresses JNK activity. Together, these observations establish that JIP1-mediated JNK activation contributes to the regulation of hippocampus-dependent, NMDAR-mediated synaptic plasticity and learning.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The results of this study demonstrate that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation induced by the JNK-interacting protein 1 (JIP1) scaffold protein negatively regulates the threshold for induction of long-term synaptic plasticity through the NMDA-type glutamate receptor. This change in plasticity threshold influences learning. Indeed, mice with defects in JIP1-mediated JNK activation display enhanced memory in hippocampus-dependent tasks, such as contextual fear conditioning and Morris water maze, indicating that JIP1-JNK constrains spatial memory. This study identifies JIP1-mediated JNK activation as a novel molecular pathway that negatively regulates NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity and memory.
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Ji LL, Peng JB, Fu CH, Tong L, Wang ZY. Sigma-1 receptor activation ameliorates anxiety-like behavior through NR2A-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in a rat model submitted to single-prolonged stress. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:4987-4993. [PMID: 28791385 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the σ-1 receptor (σ‑1R) possesses neuroprotective effects and is a potential novel therapeutic target for certain psychiatric diseases, including post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) accompanied with anxiety disorder. It has been reported that σ‑1R agonist treatment could be modulated by the brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway. However, it remains unclear whether BDNF and its upstream regulator are mechanistically involved in the therapeutic effect of σ‑1R in PTSD. To address this question, rats were subjected to a single‑prolonged stress (SPS) paradigm and σ‑1R agonist administration. Open‑field and elevated plus maze tests were implemented to evaluate the effect of σ‑1R activation on the improvement of anxiety‑like behaviors. Furthermore, the expression levels of BDNF, phosphorylated cAMP responsive element‑binding protein (CREB) and glutamate receptor ionotropic N‑methyl D‑aspartate 2A (NMDAR2A) were investigated in the hippocampi of rats. It was revealed that the downregulation of BDNF, phosphorylated CREB and NMDAR2A induced by SPS were reversed by σ‑1R activation. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that the NMDAR2A/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway is involved in the activation of σ‑1R resulting in therapeutic effects for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Ji
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Jun-Bo Peng
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Chang-Hai Fu
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Lei Tong
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Zhen-Yu Wang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
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Kwon W, Kim HS, Jeong J, Sung Y, Choi M, Park S, Lee J, Jang S, Kim SH, Lee S, Kim MO, Ryoo ZY. Tet1 overexpression leads to anxiety-like behavior and enhanced fear memories via the activation of calcium-dependent cascade through Egr1 expression in mice. FASEB J 2017; 32:390-403. [PMID: 28899881 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601340rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (Tet1) initiates DNA demethylation by converting 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) at CpG-rich regions of genes, which have key roles in adult neurogenesis and memory. In addition, the overexpression of Tet1 with 5-hmC alteration in patients with psychosis has also been reported, for instance in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. The mechanism underlying Tet1 overexpression in the brain; however, is still elusive. In the present study, we found that Tet1-transgenic (Tet1-TG) mice displayed abnormal behaviors involving elevated anxiety and enhanced fear memories. We confirmed that Tet1 overexpression affected adult neurogenesis with oligodendrocyte differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of Tet1-TG mice. In addition, Tet1 overexpression induced the elevated expression of immediate early genes, such as Egr1, c-fos, Arc, and Bdnf, followed by the activation of intracellular calcium signals (i.e., CamKII, ERK, and CREB) in prefrontal and hippocampal neurons. The expression of GABA receptor subunits (Gabra2 and Gabra4) fluctuated in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We evaluated the effects of Tet1 overexpression on intracellular calcium-dependent cascades by activating the Egr1 promoter in vitro Tet1 enhanced Egr1 expression, which may have led to alterations in Gabra2 and Gabra4 expression in neurons. Taken together, we suggest that the Tet1 overexpression in our Tet1-TG mice can be applied as an effective model for studying various stress-related diseases that show hyperactivation of intracellular calcium-dependent cascades in the brain.-Kwon, W., Kim, H.-S., Jeong, J., Sung, Y., Choi, M., Park, S., Lee, J., Jang, S., Kim, S. H., Lee, S., Kim, M. O., Ryoo, Z. Y. Tet1 overexpression leads to anxiety-like behavior and enhanced fear memories via the activation of calcium-dependent cascade through Egr1 expression in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wookbong Kwon
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Hyeng-Soo Kim
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.,Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; and
| | - Jain Jeong
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Yonghun Sung
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Minjee Choi
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Song Park
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jinhee Lee
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Soyoung Jang
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sung Hyun Kim
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; and
| | - Sanggyu Lee
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Myoung Ok Kim
- The School of Animal Biotechnology (BT) Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, South Korea
| | - Zae Young Ryoo
- School of Life Science, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea;
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Hafenbreidel M, Rafa Todd C, Mueller D. Infralimbic GluN2A-Containing NMDA Receptors Modulate Reconsolidation of Cocaine Self-Administration Memory. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017; 42:1113-1125. [PMID: 28042872 PMCID: PMC5506782 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is characterized by high relapse susceptibility, and relapse can be triggered by drug-associated cues. Cue presentation induces retrieval of the drug-cue memory, which becomes labile and must be reconsolidated into long-term storage. Repeated unpaired cue presentation, however, promotes extinction. Cue-reactivity can be reduced by blocking reconsolidation or facilitating extinction, which are mediated by NMDA receptors (NMDArs). However, the role of NMDArs in either process following self-administration is unclear. Thus, to determine their role in extinction, rats learned to self-administer cocaine before receiving injections of the NMDAr antagonist CPP immediately after four 45-min extinction sessions. During a subsequent 90-min extinction retention test, CPP-treated rats lever pressed less than saline-treated rats indicating that NMDAr blockade facilitated extinction or disrupted drug-cue memory reconsolidation. In addition, infusing CPP into the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL-mPFC), a structure implicated in extinction, before four 45-min or immediately after four 30min extinction sessions, had similar results during the extinction retention tests. Next, the GluN2A-selective antagonist NVP or GluN2B-selective antagonist Ro25 was infused into IL-mPFC or nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, another structure implicated in extinction, after four 45-min extinction sessions. Blocking GluN2A-, but not GluN2B-, containing NMDArs, in IL-mPFC or NAc shell reduced lever pressing during the extinction retention tests. Finally, to dissociate reconsolidation from extinction, NVP was infused into IL-mPFC after four 10-min reactivation sessions, which resulted in reduced lever pressing during the retention test. These results indicate that IL-mPFC GluN2A-containing NMDArs modulate reconsolidation, and suggest a novel treatment strategy, as reducing cue reactivity could limit relapse susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolynn Rafa Todd
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Devin Mueller
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA,Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, Puerto Rico,Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, PO Box 7004, Ponce 00732-7004, Puerto Rico, Tel: +1 787 840 2575 Ext. 2588, Fax: +1 787 844 1980, E-mail:
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Leaderbrand K, Chen HJ, Corcoran KA, Guedea AL, Jovasevic V, Wess J, Radulovic J. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors act in synergy to facilitate learning and memory. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 23:631-638. [PMID: 27918283 PMCID: PMC5066603 DOI: 10.1101/lm.043133.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how episodic memories are formed and retrieved is necessary if we are to treat disorders in which they malfunction. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) in the hippocampus and cortex underlie memory formation, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their role in memory retrieval. Additionally, there is no consensus on which mAChR subtypes are critical for memory processing. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we found that (1) encoding and retrieval of contextual memory requires mAChR in the dorsal hippocampus (DH) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC), (2) memory formation requires hippocampal M3 and cooperative activity of RSC M1 and M3, and (3) memory retrieval is more impaired by inactivation of multiple M1–M4 mAChR in DH or RSC than inactivation of individual receptor subtypes. Contrary to the view that acetylcholine supports learning but is detrimental to memory retrieval, we found that coactivation of multiple mAChR is required for retrieval of both recently and remotely acquired context memories. Manipulations with higher receptor specificity were generally less potent than manipulations targeting multiple receptor subtypes, suggesting that mAChR act in synergy to regulate memory processes. These findings provide unique insight into the development of therapies for amnestic symptoms, suggesting that broadly acting, rather than receptor-specific, mAchR agonists and positive allosteric modulators may be the most effective therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Leaderbrand
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Helen J Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kevin A Corcoran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Anita L Guedea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Vladimir Jovasevic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jurgen Wess
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Jelena Radulovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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The Functional and Molecular Properties, Physiological Functions, and Pathophysiological Roles of GluN2A in the Central Nervous System. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:1008-1021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9715-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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10
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Baldi E, Bucherelli C. Brain sites involved in fear memory reconsolidation and extinction of rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 53:160-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Yang L, Gu X, Zhang W, Zhang J, Ma Z. Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine alleviates neuropathic pain in the dorsal root ganglia by downregulating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2A. Neurol Sci 2015; 35:1365-71. [PMID: 24659417 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-014-1713-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a member of the small proline-directed serine/threonine kinase family. Cdk5 is not involved in cell cycle regulation, but is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders. However, the role of Cdk5 in neuropathic pain remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility that Cdk5 is involved in neuropathic pain in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). We injected intrathecally Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine in rat model of chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion and examined pain behaviors and the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit 2A (NR2A) but not NR2B or NR1 in DRG. We found that roscovitine alleviated neuropathic pain, causing decline in paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency. Furthermore, roscovitine inhibited NR2A expression in DRG. These data suggest that Cdk5-NR2A pathway regulates neuropathic pain in DRG, and intrathecal injection of roscovitine could alleviate neuropathic pain. Our findings provide new insight into the analgesic effects of Roscovitine and identify Cdk5-NR2A pathway as a potential target for effective treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Singewald N, Schmuckermair C, Whittle N, Holmes A, Ressler KJ. Pharmacology of cognitive enhancers for exposure-based therapy of fear, anxiety and trauma-related disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 149:150-90. [PMID: 25550231 PMCID: PMC4380664 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 273] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Pathological fear and anxiety are highly debilitating and, despite considerable advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy they remain insufficiently treated in many patients with PTSD, phobias, panic and other anxiety disorders. Increasing preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that pharmacological treatments including cognitive enhancers, when given as adjuncts to psychotherapeutic approaches [cognitive behavioral therapy including extinction-based exposure therapy] enhance treatment efficacy, while using anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines as adjuncts can undermine long-term treatment success. The purpose of this review is to outline the literature showing how pharmacological interventions targeting neurotransmitter systems including serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, histamine, glutamate, GABA, cannabinoids, neuropeptides (oxytocin, neuropeptides Y and S, opioids) and other targets (neurotrophins BDNF and FGF2, glucocorticoids, L-type-calcium channels, epigenetic modifications) as well as their downstream signaling pathways, can augment fear extinction and strengthen extinction memory persistently in preclinical models. Particularly promising approaches are discussed in regard to their effects on specific aspects of fear extinction namely, acquisition, consolidation and retrieval, including long-term protection from return of fear (relapse) phenomena like spontaneous recovery, reinstatement and renewal of fear. We also highlight the promising translational value of the preclinial research and the clinical potential of targeting certain neurochemical systems with, for example d-cycloserine, yohimbine, cortisol, and L-DOPA. The current body of research reveals important new insights into the neurobiology and neurochemistry of fear extinction and holds significant promise for pharmacologically-augmented psychotherapy as an improved approach to treat trauma and anxiety-related disorders in a more efficient and persistent way promoting enhanced symptom remission and recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Singewald
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - C Schmuckermair
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - N Whittle
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - A Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - K J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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13
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Bukalo O, Pinard CR, Holmes A. Mechanisms to medicines: elucidating neural and molecular substrates of fear extinction to identify novel treatments for anxiety disorders. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:4690-718. [PMID: 24835117 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of anxiety disorders is growing, but the efficacy of available anxiolytic treatments remains inadequate. Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders focuses on identifying and modifying maladaptive patterns of thinking and behaving, and has a testable analogue in rodents in the form of fear extinction. A large preclinical literature has amassed in recent years describing the neural and molecular basis of fear extinction in rodents. In this review, we discuss how this work is being harnessed to foster translational research on anxiety disorders and facilitate the search for new anxiolytic treatments. We begin by summarizing the anatomical and functional connectivity of a medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-amygdala circuit that subserves fear extinction, including new insights from optogenetics. We then cover some of the approaches that have been taken to model impaired fear extinction and associated impairments with mPFC-amygdala dysfunction. The principal goal of the review is to evaluate evidence that various neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems mediate fear extinction by modulating the mPFC-amygdala circuitry. To that end, we describe studies that have tested how fear extinction is impaired or facilitated by pharmacological manipulations of dopamine, noradrenaline, 5-HT, GABA, glutamate, neuropeptides, endocannabinoids and various other systems, which either directly target the mPFC-amygdala circuit, or produce behavioural effects that are coincident with functional changes in the circuit. We conclude that there are good grounds to be optimistic that the progress in defining the molecular substrates of mPFC-amygdala circuit function can be effectively leveraged to identify plausible candidates for extinction-promoting therapies for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Bukalo
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
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