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Vannan A, Dell’Orco M, Perrone-Bizzozero NI, Neisewander JL, Wilson MA. An approach for prioritizing candidate genes from RNA-seq using preclinical cocaine self-administration datasets as a test case. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad143. [PMID: 37433118 PMCID: PMC10542560 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology has led to a surge of neuroscience research using animal models to probe the complex molecular mechanisms underlying brain function and behavior, including substance use disorders. However, findings from rodent studies often fail to be translated into clinical treatments. Here, we developed a novel pipeline for narrowing candidate genes from preclinical studies by translational potential and demonstrated its utility in 2 RNA-seq studies of rodent self-administration. This pipeline uses evolutionary conservation and preferential expression of genes across brain tissues to prioritize candidate genes, increasing the translational utility of RNA-seq in model organisms. Initially, we demonstrate the utility of our prioritization pipeline using an uncorrected P-value. However, we found no differentially expressed genes in either dataset after correcting for multiple testing with false discovery rate (FDR < 0.05 or <0.1). This is likely due to low statistical power that is common across rodent behavioral studies, and, therefore, we additionally illustrate the use of our pipeline on a third dataset with differentially expressed genes corrected for multiple testing (FDR < 0.05). We also advocate for improved RNA-seq data collection, statistical testing, and metadata reporting that will bolster the field's ability to identify reliable candidate genes and improve the translational value of bioinformatics in rodent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Vannan
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
| | - Michela Dell’Orco
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Nora I Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Janet L Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
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Namba MD, Phillips MN, Chen PJ, Blass BE, Olive MF, Neisewander JL. HIV gp120 impairs nucleus accumbens neuroimmune function and dopamine D3 receptor-mediated inhibition of cocaine seeking in male rats. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 5:100062. [PMID: 36909738 PMCID: PMC9997483 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine Use Disorders (CUDs) are associated with an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Cocaine and the HIV envelope protein gp120 each induce distinct deficits to mesocorticolimbic circuit function and motivated behavior; however, little is known regarding how they interact to dysregulate these functions or how such interactions impact pharmacotherapeutic efficacy. We have previously shown that the selective, weak partial agonist of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R), MC-25-41, attenuates cocaine-seeking behavior in male rats. Here, we sought to characterize changes in striatal neuroimmune function in gp120-exposed rats across abstinence from operant access to cocaine (0.75 mg/kg, i.v.) or sucrose (45 mg/pellet), and to examine the impact of gp120 exposure on MC-25-41-reduced cocaine seeking. After establishing a history of cocaine or sucrose self-administration, rats received intracerebroventricular gp120 infusions daily the first 5 days of abstinence and were sacrificed either on day 6 or after 21 days of forced abstinence and a cue-induced cocaine seeking test. We demonstrated that MC-25-41 treatment attenuated cue-induced cocaine seeking among control rats but not gp120-exposed rats. Moreover, postmortem analysis of nucleus accumbens (NAc) core neuroimmune function indicated cocaine abstinence- and gp120-induced impairments, and the expression of several immune factors within the NAc core significantly correlated with cocaine-seeking behavior. We conclude that cocaine abstinence dysregulates striatal neuroimmune function and interacts with gp120 to inhibit the effectiveness of a D3R partial agonist in reducing cocaine seeking. These findings highlight the need to consider comorbidities, such as immune status, when evaluating the efficacy of novel pharmacotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Namba
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Megan N Phillips
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Peng-Jen Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin E Blass
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Foster Olive
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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O'Connor RM, Kenny PJ. Utility of 'substance use disorder' as a heuristic for understanding overeating and obesity. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 118:110580. [PMID: 35636576 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rates of obesity and obesity-associated diseases have increased dramatically in countries with developed economies. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are characterized by the persistent use of the substance despite negative consequences. It has been hypothesized that overconsumption of palatable energy dense food can elicit SUD-like maladaptive behaviors that contribute to persistent caloric intake beyond homeostatic need even in the face of negative consequences. Palatable food and drugs of abuse act on many of the same motivation-related circuits in the brain, and can induce, at least superficially, similar molecular, cellular, and physiological adaptations on these circuits. As such, applying knowledge about the neurobiological mechanisms of SUDs may serve as useful heuristic to better understand the persistent overconsumption of palatable food that contributes to obesity. However, many important differences exist between the actions of drugs of abuse and palatable food in the brain. This warrants caution when attributing weight gain and obesity to the manifestation of a putative SUD-related behavioral disorder. Here, we describe similarities and differences between compulsive drug use in SUDs and overconsumption in obesity and consider the merit of the concept of "food addiction".
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M O'Connor
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America.
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G-protein Biased Signaling Agonists of Dopamine D3 Receptor Promote Distinct Activation Patterns of ERK1/2. Pharmacol Res 2022; 179:106223. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Multimodal investigation of dopamine D 2/D 3 receptors, default mode network suppression, and cognitive control in cocaine-use disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:316-324. [PMID: 33007778 PMCID: PMC7852666 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00874-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Stimulant-use disorders have been associated with lower availability of dopamine type-2 receptors (D2R) and greater availability of type-3 receptors (D3R). Links between D2R levels, cognitive performance, and suppression of the default mode network (DMN) during executive functioning have been observed in healthy and addicted populations; however, there is limited evidence regarding a potential role of elevated D3R in influencing cognitive control processes in groups with and without addictions. Sixteen individuals with cocaine-use disorder (CUD) and 16 healthy comparison (HC) participants completed [11C]-(+)-PHNO PET imaging of D2R and D3R availability and fMRI during a Stroop task of cognitive control. Independent component analysis was performed on fMRI data to assess DMN suppression during Stroop performance. In HC individuals, lower D2R-related binding in the dorsal putamen was associated with improved task performance and greater DMN suppression. By comparison, in individuals with CUD, greater D3R-related binding in the substantia nigra was associated with improved performance and greater DMN suppression. Exploratory moderated-mediation analyses indicated that DMN suppression was associated with Stroop performance indirectly through D2R in HC and D3R in CUD participants, and these indirect effects were different between groups. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a dissociative and potentially beneficial role of elevated D3R availability in executive functioning in cocaine-use disorder.
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Powell GL, Namba MD, Vannan A, Bonadonna JP, Carlson A, Mendoza R, Chen PJ, Luetdke RR, Blass BE, Neisewander JL. The Long-Acting D3 Partial Agonist MC-25-41 Attenuates Motivation for Cocaine in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071076. [PMID: 32708461 PMCID: PMC7408535 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine D3 receptor is a prime target for developing treatments for cocaine use disorders (CUDs). In this study, we conducted a pre-clinical investigation of the therapeutic potential of a long-acting, D3 receptor partial agonist, MC-25-41. Male rats were pre-treated with MC-25-41 (vehicle, 1.0, 3.0, 5.6, or 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (IP)) five minutes prior to tests of cocaine or sucrose intake on either a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement or a variable interval 60 s multiple schedule consisting of 4, 15-min components with sucrose or cocaine available in alternating components. A separate cohort of rats was tested on a within-session, dose-reduction procedure to determine the effects of MC-25-41 on demand for cocaine using a behavioral economics analysis. Finally, rats were tested for effects of MC-25-41 on spontaneous and cocaine-induced locomotion. MC-25-41 failed to alter locomotion, but reduced reinforcement rates for both cocaine and sucrose on the low-effort, multiple schedule. However, on the higher-effort, progressive ratio schedule of cocaine reinforcement, MC-25-41 reduced infusions, and active lever presses at doses that did not alter sucrose intake. The behavioral economics analysis showed that MC-25-41 also increased cocaine demand elasticity compared to vehicle, indicating a reduction in consumption as price increases. Together, these results suggest that similar to other D3-selective antagonists and partial agonists, MC-25-41 reduces motivation for cocaine under conditions of high cost but has the added advantage of a long half-life (>10 h). These findings suggest that MC-25-41 may be a suitable pre-clinical lead compound for development of medications to treat CUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L. Powell
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Mark D. Namba
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Annika Vannan
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - John Paul Bonadonna
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Andrew Carlson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Rachel Mendoza
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Peng-Jen Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (P.-J.C.); (B.E.B.)
| | - Robert R. Luetdke
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Institute for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA;
| | - Benjamin E. Blass
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (P.-J.C.); (B.E.B.)
| | - Janet L. Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA; (G.L.P.); (M.D.N.); (A.V.); (J.P.B.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
- Correspondence:
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