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Issahaku AR, Wilhelm A, Schutte-Smith M, Erasmus E, Visser H. Elucidating the binding mechanisms of GABA and Muscimol as an avenue to discover novel GABA-mimetic small molecules. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38520326 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2331088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling is the principal inhibitory pathway in the central nervous system. It is critical in neuronal cell proliferation and fate determination. Any aberration in GABA inhibition results in psychiatric and neurological diseases. Thus, modulating GABAergic neurotransmission has become the basis of drug therapy for psychiatric and several neurological diseases. Though GABA and muscimol are classical inhibitors of GABA receptors, the search for novel inhibitors continues unabated. In this study, the binding mechanism of GABA and muscimol was elucidated and applied in the search for small molecule GABAergic inhibitors using comprehensive computational techniques. It was revealed that a high-affinity binding of GABA and muscimol was mediated by a water molecule involving α1Thr129 and then stabilized by strong interactions including salt bridges with β2Glu155 and α1Arg66 amidst hydrogen bonds, π-π stacking, and π -cation interactions with other residues. The binding of GABA and muscimol was also characterized by stability and deeper penetration into the hydrophobic core of the protein which resulted in conformational changes of the binding pocket and domain, by inducing correlated motions of the residues. Thermodynamics analysis showed GABA and muscimol exhibited total binding free energies of -19.85 ± 8.83 Kcal/mol and -26.55 ± 3.42 Kcal/mol, respectively. A pharmacophore model search, based on the energy contributions of implicating binding residues, resulted in the identification of ZINC68604167, ZINC19735138, ZINC04202466, ZINC00901626, and ZINC01532854 as potential GABA-mimetic compounds from metabolites and natural products libraries. This study has elucidated the binding mechanisms of GABA and muscimol and successfully applied in the identification of GABA-mimetic compounds.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anke Wilhelm
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | | | - Elizabeth Erasmus
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Hendrik Visser
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Platonov M, Maximyuk O, Rayevsky A, Iegorova O, Hurmach V, Holota Y, Bulgakov E, Cherninskyi A, Karpov P, Ryabukhin S, Krishtal O, Volochnyuk D. Integrated workflow for the identification of new GABA A R positive allosteric modulators based on the in silico screening with further in vitro validation. Case study using Enamine's stock chemical space. Mol Inform 2024; 43:e202300156. [PMID: 37964718 DOI: 10.1002/minf.202300156] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies reported an association between GABAA R subunit genes and epilepsy, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and bipolar disorders. This study was aimed to find some potential positive allosteric modulators and was performed by combining the in silico approach with further in vitro evaluation of its real activity. We started from the GABAA R-diazepam complexes and assembled a lipid embedded protein ensemble to refine it via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Then we focused on the interaction of α1β2γ2 with some Z-drugs (non-benzodiazepine compounds) using an Induced Fit Docking (IFD) into the relaxed binding site to generate a pharmacophore model. The pharmacophore model was validated with a reference set and applied to decrease the pre-filtered Enamine database before the main docking procedure. Finally, we succeeded in identifying a set of compounds, which met all features of the docking model. The aqueous solubility and stability of these compounds in mouse plasma were assessed. Then they were tested for the biological activity using the rat Purkinje neurons and CHO cells with heterologously expressed human α1β2γ2 GABAA receptors. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were used to reveal the GABA induced currents. Our study represents a convenient and tunable model for the discovery of novel positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors. A High-throughput virtual screening of the largest available database of chemical compounds resulted in the selection of 23 compounds. Further electrophysiological tests allowed us to determine a set of 3 the most outstanding active compounds. Considering the structural features of leader compounds, the study can develop into the MedChem project soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksym Platonov
- Institute of molecular biology and genetics, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Zabolotnogo Str., 150, Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleksandr Maximyuk
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4 Bogomoletz Str., 01024, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Alexey Rayevsky
- Institute of molecular biology and genetics, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Zabolotnogo Str., 150, Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Osypovskoho Str., 2 A, Kyiv, 04123, Ukraine
| | - Olena Iegorova
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4 Bogomoletz Str., 01024, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Vasyl Hurmach
- Institute of molecular biology and genetics, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Zabolotnogo Str., 150, Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Yuliia Holota
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Elijah Bulgakov
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Osypovskoho Str., 2 A, Kyiv, 04123, Ukraine
| | - Andrii Cherninskyi
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4 Bogomoletz Str., 01024, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Pavel Karpov
- Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Osypovskoho Str., 2 A, Kyiv, 04123, Ukraine
| | - Sergey Ryabukhin
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Institute of High Technologies, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv., Glushkova Ave, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Institute of organic chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 5 Murmanska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleg Krishtal
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4 Bogomoletz Str., 01024, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Dmitriy Volochnyuk
- Enamine Ltd., 78 Chervonotkatska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Institute of High Technologies, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv., Glushkova Ave, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Institute of organic chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 5 Murmanska Str., 02660, Kyiv, Ukraine
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3
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Qian X, Zhao X, Yu L, Yin Y, Zhang XD, Wang L, Li JX, Zhu Q, Luo JL. Current status of GABA receptor subtypes in analgesia. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115800. [PMID: 37935070 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-protein-producing amino acid synthesized from the excitatory amino acid glutamate via the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase, is extensively found in microorganisms, plants and vertebrates, and is abundantly expressed in the spinal cord and brain. It is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system. GABA plays crucial roles in the regulation of synaptic transmission, the promotion of neuronal development and relaxation, and the prevention of insomnia and depression. As the major inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA plays pivotal roles in the regulation of pain sensation, which is initiated by the activation of peripheral nociceptors and transmitted to the spinal cord and brain along nerves. GABA exerts these roles by directly acting on three types of receptors: ionotropic GABAA and GABAC receptors and G protein-coupled GABAB receptor. The chloride-permeable ion channel receptors GABAA and GABAC mediate fast neurotransmission, while the metabotropic GABAB receptor mediates slow effect. Different GABA receptors regulate pain sensation via different signaling pathways. Here we highlight recent updates on the involvement of specific GABA receptors and their subtypes in the process of pain sensation. Further understanding of different GABA receptors and signaling pathways in pain sensation will benefit the development of novel analgesics for pain management by targeting specific GABA receptor subtypes and signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunjia Qian
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lulu Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yujian Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liyun Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jia-Lie Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
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Gómez LCG, Medina NB, Blasco SS, Gravielle MC. Diazepam-Induced Down-Regulation of The Gaba a Receptor α1 Subunit, as Mediated by the Activation of L-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel/Ca 2+/Protein Kinase A Signaling Cascade. Neurosci Lett 2023:137358. [PMID: 37356564 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Benzodiazepines are among the most prescribed drug class worldwide to treat disorders such as anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasticity, and convulsive disorders, and to induce presurgical sedation. Although benzodiazepines exhibit a high therapeutic index and low toxicity in short-term treatments, prolonged administration induces tolerance to most of their therapeutic actions. The mechanism of this tolerance remains unclear. The central actions of benzodiazepines are mediated by binding to GABAA receptors, which mediate most fast inhibitory transmission in the brain. The majority of GABAA receptors are composed of two α-(1-6), two β-(1-3) and one γ-subunits (1-3). In a previous report, we demonstrated that the prolonged exposure of cerebrocortical neurons to diazepam produces a transcriptional repression of the GABAA receptor α1 subunit gene via a mechanism dependent on the activation of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (L-VGCCs). The results reported here confirm that the diazepam-induced downregulation of the α1 subunit is contingent upon calcium influx from extracellular space. In addition, this regulatory mechanism involves the activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and is accompanied by the activation of two transcription factors, the cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) and the inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER). Together, our results suggest that diazepam's activation of an L-VGCC/Ca2+/PKA/CREB-ICER signaling pathway is responsible for the regulation of GABAA receptors. This elucidation of the intracellular signaling cascade activated by a prolonged benzodiazepine exposure, itself potentially involved in the development of tolerance, may contribute to locating molecular targets for future therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leydi Carolina González Gómez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA). Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nelsy Beatriz Medina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA). Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sara Sanz Blasco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA). Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Clara Gravielle
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA). Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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A missense variant in SHARPIN mediates Alzheimer's disease-specific brain damages. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:590. [PMID: 34785643 PMCID: PMC8595886 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01680-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Established genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) account for only a portion of AD heritability. The aim of this study was to identify novel associations between genetic variants and AD-specific brain atrophy. We conducted genome-wide association studies for brain magnetic resonance imaging measures of hippocampal volume and entorhinal cortical thickness in 2643 Koreans meeting the clinical criteria for AD (n = 209), mild cognitive impairment (n = 1449) or normal cognition (n = 985). A missense variant, rs77359862 (R274W), in the SHANK-associated RH Domain Interactor (SHARPIN) gene was associated with entorhinal cortical thickness (p = 5.0 × 10-9) and hippocampal volume (p = 5.1 × 10-12). It revealed an increased risk of developing AD in the mediation analyses. This variant was also associated with amyloid-β accumulation (p = 0.03) and measures of memory (p = 1.0 × 10-4) and executive function (p = 0.04). We also found significant association of other SHARPIN variants with hippocampal volume in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (rs3417062, p = 4.1 × 10-6) and AddNeuroMed (rs138412600, p = 5.9 × 10-5) cohorts. Further, molecular dynamics simulations and co-immunoprecipitation indicated that the variant significantly reduced the binding of linear ubiquitination assembly complex proteins, SHPARIN and HOIL-1 Interacting Protein (HOIP), altering the downstream NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that SHARPIN plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Ghit A, Assal D, Al-Shami AS, Hussein DEE. GABA A receptors: structure, function, pharmacology, and related disorders. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2021; 19:123. [PMID: 34417930 PMCID: PMC8380214 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-021-00224-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Background γ-Aminobutyric acid sub-type A receptors (GABAARs) are the most prominent inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the CNS. They are a family of ligand-gated ion channel with significant physiological and therapeutic implications. Main body GABAARs are heteropentamers formed from a selection of 19 subunits: six α (alpha1-6), three β (beta1-3), three γ (gamma1-3), three ρ (rho1-3), and one each of the δ (delta), ε (epsilon), π (pi), and θ (theta) which result in the production of a considerable number of receptor isoforms. Each isoform exhibits distinct pharmacological and physiological properties. However, the majority of GABAARs are composed of two α subunits, two β subunits, and one γ subunit arranged as γ2β2α1β2α1 counterclockwise around the center. The mature receptor has a central chloride ion channel gated by GABA neurotransmitter and modulated by a variety of different drugs. Changes in GABA synthesis or release may have a significant effect on normal brain function. Furthermore, The molecular interactions and pharmacological effects caused by drugs are extremely complex. This is due to the structural heterogeneity of the receptors, and the existence of multiple allosteric binding sites as well as a wide range of ligands that can bind to them. Notably, dysfunction of the GABAergic system contributes to the development of several diseases. Therefore, understanding the relationship between GABAA receptor deficits and CNS disorders thus has a significant impact on the discovery of disease pathogenesis and drug development. Conclusion To date, few reviews have discussed GABAA receptors in detail. Accordingly, this review aims to summarize the current understanding of the structural, physiological, and pharmacological properties of GABAARs, as well as shedding light on the most common associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Ghit
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. .,Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Dina Assal
- Department of Biotechnology, American University in Cairo (AUC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Al-Shami
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Diaa Eldin E Hussein
- Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Port of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
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Michalettos G, Walter HL, Antunes ARP, Wieloch T, Talhada D, Ruscher K. Effect of Anti-inflammatory Treatment with AMD3100 and CX 3CR1 Deficiency on GABA A Receptor Subunit and Expression of Glutamate Decarboxylase Isoforms After Stroke. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5876-5889. [PMID: 34417725 PMCID: PMC8599239 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02510-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Following stroke, attenuation of detrimental inflammatory pathways might be a promising strategy to improve long-term outcome. In particular, cascades driven by pro-inflammatory chemokines interact with neurotransmitter systems such as the GABAergic system. This crosstalk might be of relevance for mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, however, detailed studies are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine if treatment with 1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane] (AMD3100), an antagonist to the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and partial allosteric agonist to CXCR7 (AMD3100) alone or in combination with C-X3-C chemokine receptor type 1 (CX3CR1) deficiency, affect the expression of GABAA subunits and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) isoforms. Heterozygous, CX3CR1-deficient mice and wild-type littermates were subjected to photothrombosis (PT). Treatment with AMD3100 (0.5 mg/kg twice daily i.p.) was administered starting from day 2 after induction of PT until day 14 after the insult. At this time point, GABAA receptor subunits (α3, β3, δ), GAD65 and GAD67, and CXCR4 were analyzed from the peri-infarct tissue and homotypic brain regions of the contralateral hemisphere by quantitative real-time PCR and Western Blot. Fourteen days after PT, CX3CR1 deficiency resulted in a significant decrease of the three GABAA receptor subunits in both the lesioned and the contralateral hemisphere compared to sham-operated mice. Treatment with AMD3100 promoted the down-regulation of GABAA subunits and GAD67 in the ipsilateral peri-infarct area, while the β3 subunit and the GAD isoforms were up-regulated in homotypic regions of the contralateral cortex. Changes in GABAA receptor subunits and GABA synthesis suggest that the CXCR4/7 and CX3CR1 signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the post-ischemic brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Michalettos
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A13, S-22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Helene L Walter
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A13, S-22184, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ana Rita Pombo Antunes
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A13, S-22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tadeusz Wieloch
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A13, S-22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniela Talhada
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A13, S-22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karsten Ruscher
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A13, S-22184, Lund, Sweden. .,LUBIN Lab - Lunds Laboratorium För Neurokirurgisk Hjärnskadeforskning, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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Regulation of GABA A Receptors Induced by the Activation of L-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11070486. [PMID: 34209589 PMCID: PMC8304739 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11070486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
GABAA receptors are pentameric ion channels that mediate most synaptic and tonic extrasynaptic inhibitory transmissions in the central nervous system. There are multiple GABAA receptor subtypes constructed from 19 different subunits in mammals that exhibit different regional and subcellular distributions and distinct pharmacological properties. Dysfunctional alterations of GABAA receptors are associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders. Short- and long-term plastic changes in GABAA receptors can be induced by the activation of different intracellular signaling pathways that are triggered, under physiological and pathological conditions, by calcium entering through voltage-gated calcium channels. This review discusses several mechanisms of regulation of GABAA receptor function that result from the activation of L-type voltage gated calcium channels. Calcium influx via these channels activates different signaling cascades that lead to changes in GABAA receptor transcription, phosphorylation, trafficking, and synaptic clustering, thus regulating the inhibitory synaptic strength. These plastic mechanisms regulate the interplay of synaptic excitation and inhibition that is crucial for the normal function of neuronal circuits.
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Adachi K, Kato D, Kahyo T, Konishi T, Sato T, Madokoro Y, Mizuno M, Akatsu H, Setou M, Matsukawa N. Possible correlated variation of GABA A receptor α3 expression with hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide precursor protein in the hippocampus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 542:80-86. [PMID: 33503541 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cholinergic neural activation from the medial septal nucleus to hippocampus plays a crucial role in episodic memory as a regulating system for glutamatergic neural activation in the hippocampus. As a candidate regulating factor for acetylcholine synthesis in the medial septal nucleus, hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP) was purified from the soluble fraction of young adult rat hippocampus. HCNP is released from its precursor protein (HCNP-pp), also referred to as phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1. We recently reported that HCNP-pp conditional knockout (KO) mice, in which the HCNP-pp gene was knocked out at 3 months of age by tamoxifen injection, display no significant behavioral abnormalities, whereas HCNP-pp KO mice have a diminished cholinergic projection to CA1 and a decreased of theta activity in CA1. In this study, to address whether HCNP-pp reduction in early life is associated with behavioral changes, we evaluated the behavior of HCNP-pp KO mice in which HCNP-pp was downregulated from an early phase (postnatal days 14-28). As unexpected, HCNP-pp KO mice had no behavioral deficits. However, a significant positive correlation between HCNP-pp and gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor α3 subunit mRNA expression was found in individuals. This finding suggests involvement of HCNP-pp in regulating GABAA receptor α3 gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Adachi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kato
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Tomoaki Kahyo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy and International Mass Imaging Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Konishi
- Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, 010-0195, Japan
| | - Toyohiro Sato
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yuta Madokoro
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Masayuki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Akatsu
- Department of Community-based Medical Education, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Mitsutoshi Setou
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy and International Mass Imaging Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Matsukawa
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan.
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Goetjen A, Watson M, Lieberman R, Clinton K, Kranzler HR, Covault J. Induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming-associated methylation at the GABRA2 promoter and chr4p12 GABA A subunit gene expression in the context of alcohol use disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:464-474. [PMID: 33029895 PMCID: PMC8022112 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Twin studies indicate that there is a significant genetic contribution to the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). With the exception of coding variants in ADH1B and ALDH2, little is known about the molecular effects of AUD-associated loci. We previously reported that the AUD-associated synonymous polymorphism rs279858 within the GABAA α2 receptor subunit gene, GABRA2, was associated with gene expression of the chr4p12 GABAA subunit gene cluster in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cultures. Based on this and other studies that showed changes in GABRA2 DNA methylation associated with schizophrenia and aging, we examined methylation in GABRA2. Specifically, using 69 iPSC lines and neural cultures derived from 47 of them, we examined whether GABRA2 rs279858 genotype predicted methylation levels and whether methylation was related to GABAA receptor subunit gene expression. We found that the GABRA2 CpG island undergoes random stochastic methylation during reprogramming and that methylation is associated with decreased GABRA2 gene expression, an effect that extends to the GABRB1 gene over 600 kb distal to GABRA2. Further, we identified additive effects of GABRA2 CpG methylation and GABRA2 rs279858 genotype on expression of the GABRB1 subunit gene in iPSC-derived neural cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Goetjen
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
- Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Maegan Watson
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Richard Lieberman
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Kaitlin Clinton
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Henry R. Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- VISN 4 MIRECC, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
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Agrawal J, Dwivedi Y. GABA A Receptor Subunit Transcriptional Regulation, Expression Organization, and Mediated Calmodulin Signaling in Prefrontal Cortex of Rats Showing Testosterone-Mediated Impulsive Behavior. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:600099. [PMID: 33240041 PMCID: PMC7677587 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.600099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone can induce impulsivity, a behavioral impairment associated with various psychiatric illnesses. The molecular mechanisms associated with testosterone-induced impulsivity are unclear. Our earlier studies showed that supraphysiological doses of testosterone to rats induced impulsive behavior, impacted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis interactions, and altered α2A adrenergic receptors in prefrontal cortex (PFC). Owing to the importance of GABAergic system in impulsivity and memory, the present study examines whether testosterone-mediated impulsivity is associated with changes in the expression of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) A and B receptor subunit transcripts (Gabra1, Gabra2, Gabra2 transcript variant 2, Gabra3, Gabra4, Gabra5, Gabra6, Gabrb1, Gabrb2, Gabrb3, Gabrg1, Gabrg2, Gabrg3, Gabbr1, Gabbr2) in rat PFC, and whether testosterone influences GABAA receptor subunit organization. We studied GABA receptor functions by examining GABA receptor-mediated calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase signaling genes (Calm1, Calm2, Calm3, Camk2a, Camk2b, Camk2g, Camk2d, Camk4) in the testosterone-induced impulsivity model. Rats were left untreated as controls (C), gonadectomized (GDX), or GDX and injected with supraphysiological doses of testosterone (T). Impulsive behavior was examined using the go/no-go paradigm. Gene expression was studied using qRT-PCR and GABAA subunit reorganization using cross correlation. Our findings show that expressions of select GABAA receptor subunits (Gabra3, Gabra5, Gabra6) were significantly upregulated in PFC of T group compared to GDX or C groups. GABAA receptor subunit organization was different in C, T, and GDX groups. Additionally, Camk4 expression was significantly downregulated in T compared to C group. Our findings suggest that specific GABAA receptor subunit expression, their reorganization, and Camk4-mediated functions may be associated with testosterone-mediated impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhee Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Yogesh Dwivedi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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12
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Advances in Understanding CREB Signaling-Mediated Regulation of the Pathogenesis and Progression of Epilepsy. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020; 196:106018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2020.106018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Franco-Enzástiga Ú, García G, Murbartián J, González-Barrios R, Salinas-Abarca AB, Sánchez-Hernández B, Tavares-Ferreira D, Herrera LA, Barragán-Iglesias P, Delgado-Lezama R, Price TJ, Granados-Soto V. Sex-dependent pronociceptive role of spinal α 5 -GABA A receptor and its epigenetic regulation in neuropathic rodents. J Neurochem 2020; 156:897-916. [PMID: 32750173 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Extrasynaptic α5 -subunit containing GABAA (α5 -GABAA ) receptors participate in chronic pain. Previously, we reported a sex difference in the action of α5 -GABAA receptors in dysfunctional pain. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this sexual dimorphism in neuropathic rodents and the mechanisms involved. Female and male Wistar rats or ICR mice were subjected to nerve injury followed by α5 -GABAA receptor inverse agonist intrathecal administration, L-655,708. The drug produced an antiallodynic effect in nerve-injured female rats and mice, and a lower effect in males. We hypothesized that changes in α5 -GABAA receptor, probably influenced by hormonal and epigenetic status, might underlie this sex difference. Thus, we performed qPCR and western blot. Nerve injury increased α5 -GABAA mRNA and protein in female dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and decreased them in DRG and spinal cord of males. To investigate the hormonal influence over α5 -GABAA receptor actions, we performed nerve injury to ovariectomized rats and reconstituted them with 17β-estradiol (E2). Ovariectomy abrogated L-655,708 antiallodynic effect and E2 restored it. Ovariectomy decreased α5 -GABAA receptor and estrogen receptor α protein in DRG of neuropathic female rats, while E2 enhanced them. Since DNA methylation might contribute to α5 -GABAA receptor down-regulation in males, we examined CpG island DNA methylation of α5 -GABAA receptor coding gene through pyrosequencing. Nerve injury increased methylation in male, but not female rats. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferases increased α5 -GABAA receptor and enabled L-655,708 antinociceptive effect in male rats. These results suggest that α5 -GABAA receptor is a suitable target to treat chronic pain in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe García
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Murbartián
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Ana B Salinas-Abarca
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Beatriz Sánchez-Hernández
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Luis A Herrera
- Cancer Biomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paulino Barragán-Iglesias
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav, Zacatenco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Theodore J Price
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Vinicio Granados-Soto
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
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Barker JS, Hines RM. Regulation of GABA A Receptor Subunit Expression in Substance Use Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124445. [PMID: 32580510 PMCID: PMC7352578 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The modulation of neuronal cell firing is mediated by the release of the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobuytric acid), which binds to two major families of receptors. The ionotropic GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are composed of five distinct subunits that vary in expression by brain region and cell type. The action of GABA on GABAARs is modulated by a variety of clinically and pharmacologically important drugs such as benzodiazepines and alcohol. Exposure to and abuse of these substances disrupts homeostasis and induces plasticity in GABAergic neurotransmission, often via the regulation of receptor expression. Here, we review the regulation of GABAAR subunit expression in adaptive and pathological plasticity, with a focus on substance use. We examine the factors influencing the expression of GABAAR subunit genes including the regulation of the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions, variations in DNA methylation, immediate early genes and transcription factors that regulate subunit expression, translational and post-translational modifications, and other forms of receptor regulation beyond expression. Advancing our understanding of the factors regulating GABAAR subunit expression during adaptive plasticity, as well as during substance use and withdrawal will provide insight into the role of GABAergic signaling in substance use disorders, and contribute to the development of novel targeted therapies.
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Specht CG. Fractional occupancy of synaptic binding sites and the molecular plasticity of inhibitory synapses. Neuropharmacology 2019; 169:107493. [PMID: 30648560 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The postsynaptic density (PSD) at inhibitory synapses is a complex molecular assembly that serves as a platform for the interaction of neurotransmitter receptors, scaffold and adapter proteins, cytoskeletal elements and signalling molecules. The stability of the PSD depends on a multiplicity of interactions linking individual components. At the same time the PSD retains a substantial degree of flexibility. The continuous exchange of synaptic molecules and the preferential addition or removal of certain components induce plastic changes in the synaptic structure. This property necessarily implies that interactors are in dynamic equilibrium and that not all synaptic binding sites are occupied simultaneously. This review discusses the molecular plasticity of inhibitory synapses in terms of the connectivity of their components. Whereas stable protein complexes are marked by stoichiometric relationships between subunits, the majority of synaptic interactions have fractional occupancy, which is here defined as the non-saturation of synaptic binding sites. Fractional occupancy can have several causes: reduced kinetic or thermodynamic stability of the interactions, an imbalance in the concentrations or limited spatio-temporal overlap of interacting proteins, negative cooperativity or mutually exclusive binding. The role of fractional occupancy in the regulation of synaptic structure and function is explored based on recent data about the connectivity of inhibitory receptors and scaffold proteins. I propose that the absolute quantification of interactors and their stoichiometry at identified synapses can provide new mechanistic insights into the dynamic properties of inhibitory PSDs at the molecular level. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Mobility and trafficking of neuronal membrane proteins'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian G Specht
- École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology (IBENS), Paris, 75005, France.
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Prytkova I, Goate A, Hart RP, Slesinger PA. Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Role for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells? Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1572-1590. [PMID: 29897633 PMCID: PMC6120805 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects millions of people and costs nearly 250 billion dollars annually. Few effective FDA-approved treatments exist, and more are needed. AUDs have a strong heritability, but only a few genes have been identified with a large effect size on disease phenotype. Genomewide association studies (GWASs) have identified common variants with low effect sizes, most of which are in noncoding regions of the genome. Animal models frequently fail to recapitulate key molecular features of neuropsychiatric disease due to the polygenic nature of the disease, partial conservation of coding regions, and significant disparity in noncoding regions. By contrast, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from patients provide a powerful platform for evaluating genes identified by GWAS and modeling complex interactions in the human genome. hiPSCs can be differentiated into a wide variety of human cells, including neurons, glia, and hepatic cells, which are compatible with numerous functional assays and genome editing techniques. In this review, we focus on current applications and future directions of patient hiPSC-derived central nervous system cells for modeling AUDs in addition to highlighting successful applications of hiPSCs in polygenic neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iya Prytkova
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Alison Goate
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ronald P. Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ 08854, USA
| | - Paul A. Slesinger
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
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Cicvaric A, Bulat T, Bormann D, Yang J, Auer B, Milenkovic I, Cabatic M, Milicevic R, Monje FJ. Sustained consumption of cocoa-based dark chocolate enhances seizure-like events in the mouse hippocampus. Food Funct 2018; 9:1532-1544. [PMID: 29431797 DOI: 10.1039/c7fo01668a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
While the consumption of caffeine and cocoa has been associated with a variety of health benefits to humans, some authors have proposed that excessive caffeine intake may increase the frequency of epileptic seizures in humans and reduce the efficiency of antiepileptic drugs. Little is known, however, about the proconvulsant potential of the sustained, excessive intake of cocoa on hippocampal neural circuits. Using the mouse as an experimental model, we examined the effects of the chronic consumption of food enriched in cocoa-based dark chocolate on motor and mood-related behaviours as well as on the excitability properties of hippocampal neurons. Cocoa food enrichment did not affect body weights or mood-related behaviours but rather promoted general locomotion and improved motor coordination. However, ex vivo electrophysiological analysis revealed a significant enhancement in seizure-like population spike bursting at the neurogenic dentate gyrus, which was paralleled by a significant reduction in the levels of GABA-α1 receptors thus suggesting that an excessive dietary intake of cocoa-enriched food might alter some of the synaptic elements involved in epileptogenesis. These data invite further multidisciplinary research aiming to elucidate the potential deleterious effects of chocolate abuse on behaviour and brain hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cicvaric
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Tanja Bulat
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Daniel Bormann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jiaye Yang
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Bastian Auer
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ivan Milenkovic
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maureen Cabatic
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Radoslav Milicevic
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Francisco J Monje
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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18
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Wu G, Yu J, Wang L, Ren S, Zhang Y. PKC/CREB pathway mediates the expressions of GABA A receptor subunits in cultured hippocampal neurons after low-Mg 2+ solution treatment. Epilepsy Res 2018; 140:155-161. [PMID: 29414524 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential effects of the PKC/CREB pathway on the expressions of GABAA receptor subunits α1, γ2, and δ in cultured hippocampal neurons using a model of epilepsy that employed conditions of low magnesium (Mg2+). METHODS A total of 108 embryonic rats at the age of 18 embryonic days (E18)prepared from adult female SD rats were used as experimental subjects. Primary rat hippocampal cultures were prepared from the embryonic 18 days rats. The cultured hippocampal neurons were then treated with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing low Mg2+ solutions to generate a low Mg2+ model of epilepsy. The low Mg2+ stimulation lasted for 3 h and then returned to in maintenance medium for 20 h. The changes of the GABAA receptor subunit α1, γ2, δ were observed by blocking or activating the function of the CREB. The quantification of the GABAA receptor subunit α1, γ2, δ and the CREB were determined by a qRT-PCR and a Western blot method. RESULTS After the neurons were exposed to a low-Mg2+ solution for 3 h, GABAA receptor mRNA expression markedly increased compared to the control, and then gradually decreased. In contrast, CREB mRNA levels exhibited a dramatic down-regulation 3 h after terminating low-Mg2+ treatment, and then peaked at 9 h. Western blot analyses verified that staurosporine suppressed CREB phosphorylation (p-CREB). The mRNA expression of GABAA receptor subunit α1 increased only in the presence of staurosporine, whereas the expressions of subunits γ2 and δ significantly increased in the presence of either KG-501 or staurosporine. Furthermore, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased the expressions of GABAA subunits α1, γ2, and δ when administered alone. However, the administration of either KG-501 or staurosporine reversed the inhibitory effects of PMA. CONCLUSIONS The PKC/CREB pathway may negatively regulate the expressions of GABAA receptor subunits α1, γ2, and δ in cultured hippocampal neurons in low Mg2+ model of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofeng Wu
- Emergency Department of the Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, 550004, PR China.
| | - Jinpeng Yu
- Emergency Department of the Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, 550004, PR China
| | - Likun Wang
- Emergency Department of the Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, 550004, PR China
| | - Siying Ren
- Emergency Department of the Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, 550004, PR China
| | - Yixia Zhang
- Guizhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang City, 550004, PR China
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Shergis JL, Ni X, Sarris J, Zhang AL, Guo X, Xue CC, Lu C, Hugel H. Ziziphus spinosa seeds for insomnia: A review of chemistry and psychopharmacology. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2017; 34:38-43. [PMID: 28899507 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Chinese medicine, Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou is widely used for the treatment of insomnia. PURPOSE/SECTIONS This paper summarises the chemistry, psychopharmacology, and compares the pharmaceutical effects of the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba plant, Ziziphus spinosa (ZS) seeds, with benzodiazepines. Whole extracts and constituent compounds have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. CONCLUSIONS ZS secondary metabolites modulate GABAergic activity and the serotonergic system. The actual therapeutic agents require further confirmation/identification so that new insomnia phytomedicines can be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannah Linda Shergis
- China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
| | - Xiaojia Ni
- China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111 Dade Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510120, PR China
| | - Jerome Sarris
- Department of Psychiatry and The Melbourne Clinic, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3121, Australia; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anthony Lin Zhang
- China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
| | - Xinfeng Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111 Dade Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510120, PR China
| | - Charlie C Xue
- China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111 Dade Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510120, PR China
| | - Chuanjian Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111 Dade Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510120, PR China.
| | - Helmut Hugel
- School of Science, RMIT University, PO Box 2476, Melbourne 3001 VIC, Australia.
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Jin Y, Jin W, Zheng Z, Chen E, Wang Q, Wang Y, Wang O, Zhang X. GABRB2 plays an important role in the lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 492:323-330. [PMID: 28859983 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.08.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid cancer is a common malignant tumor of the endocrine system. Its incidence has increased continuously worldwide for the past three decades. With advanced sequencing technology, we discovered that GABRB2 gene is overexpressed in tumor tissues and closely associated with vertebrate nervous systems. However, its role in cancer remains unclear. METHODS We conducted a massively parallel whole transcriptome resequencing and a comprehensive analysis of matched papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumors and normal tissues in 19 patients. Results showed that GABRB2 expression was significantly upregulated in thyroid cancer. Forty-five pairs of tumors and normal tissues were subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to validate previous findings. The specific functions of GABRB2 in PTC cell lines (BCPAP, TPC1, and KTC-1) transfected with small interfering RNA were determined through cell colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell migration, Transwell invasion, and apoptosis assays. The effect of DNA demethylation on this gene was also examined. RESULTS GABRB2 was remarkably overexpressed in primarily sequenced PTC tumors and validation cohort (T: N = 4.94 ± 3.43:0.83 ± 1.71, P < 0.001), and this observation was consistent with that in the TCGA cohort (T: N = 38.92 ± 35.53:0.30 ± 0.55, P < 0.001). GABRB2 overexpression was correlated with lymph node metastasis in both cohorts (P < 0.01). In vitro experiments revealed that GABRB2 downregulation significantly inhibited the colony formation, migration, and invasion of the three PTC cell lines. CONCLUSION GABRB2 plays important tumorigenic functions and acts as a novel oncogene in PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiang Jin
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wenxu Jin
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhouci Zheng
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Endong Chen
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingxuan Wang
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yinghao Wang
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ouchen Wang
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhang
- Departments of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Chua HC, Chebib M. GABA A Receptors and the Diversity in their Structure and Pharmacology. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY 2017; 79:1-34. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Kim YS, Yang M, Mat WK, Tsang SY, Su Z, Jiang X, Ng SK, Liu S, Hu T, Pun F, Liao Y, Tang J, Chen X, Hao W, Xue H. GABRB2 Haplotype Association with Heroin Dependence in Chinese Population. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142049. [PMID: 26561861 PMCID: PMC4643001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance dependence is a frequently observed comorbid disorder in schizophrenia, but little is known about genetic factors possibly shared between the two psychotic disorders. GABRB2, a schizophrenia candidate gene coding for GABAA receptor β2 subunit, is examined for possible association with heroin dependence in Han Chinese population. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GABRB2, namely rs6556547 (S1), rs1816071 (S3), rs18016072 (S5), and rs187269 (S29), previously associated with schizophrenia, were examined for their association with heroin dependence. Two additional SNPs, rs10051667 (S31) and rs967771 (S32), previously associated with alcohol dependence and bipolar disorder respectively, were also analyzed. The six SNPs were genotyped by direct sequencing of PCR amplicons of target regions for 564 heroin dependent individuals and 498 controls of Han Chinese origin. Interestingly, it was found that recombination between the haplotypes of all-derived-allele (H1; OR = 1.00) and all-ancestral-allele (H2; OR = 0.74) at S5-S29 junction generated two recombinants H3 (OR = 8.51) and H4 (OR = 5.58), both conferring high susceptibility to heroin dependence. Additional recombination between H2 and H3 haplotypes at S1-S3 junction resulted in a risk-conferring haplotype H5 (OR = 1.94x109). In contrast, recombination between H1 and H2 haplotypes at S3-S5 junction rescued the risk-conferring effect of recombination at S5-S29 junction, giving rise to the protective haplotype H6 (OR = 0.68). Risk-conferring effects of S1-S3 and S5-S29 crossovers and protective effects of S3-S5 crossover were seen in both pure heroin dependent and multiple substance dependence subgroups. In conclusion, significant association was found with haplotypes of the S1-S29 segment in GABRB2 for heroin dependence in Han Chinese population. Local recombination was an important determining factor for switching haplotypes between risk-conferring and protective statuses. The present study provide evidence for the schizophrenia candidate gene GABRB2 to play a role in heroin dependence, but replication of these findings is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung Su Kim
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wai-Kin Mat
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shui-Ying Tsang
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Center for Statistical Science, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhonghua Su
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Xianfei Jiang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Siu-Kin Ng
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siyu Liu
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Taobo Hu
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frank Pun
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Center for Statistical Science, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yanhui Liao
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinsong Tang
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaogang Chen
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Hao
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Xue
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Center for Statistical Science, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
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Santos EADS, Marques TEBS, Matos HDC, Leite JP, Garcia-Cairasco N, Paçó-Larson ML, Gitaí DLG. Diurnal Variation Has Effect on Differential Gene Expression Analysis in the Hippocampus of the Pilocarpine-Induced Model of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141121. [PMID: 26473354 PMCID: PMC4608695 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis have been widely investigated by differential gene expression approach, especially RT-qPCR methodology. However, controversial findings highlight the occurrence of unpredictable sources of variance in the experimental designs. Here, we investigated if diurnal rhythms of transcript's levels may impact on differential gene expression analysis in hippocampus of rats with experimental epilepsy. For this, we have selected six core clock genes (Per1, Per3, Bmal1, Clock, Cry1 and Cry2), whose rhythmic expression pattern in hippocampus had been previously reported. Initially, we identified Tubb2a/Rplp1 and Tubb2a/Ppia as suitable normalizers for circadian studies in hippocampus of rats maintained to 12:12 hour light:dark (LD) cycle. Next, we confirmed the temporal profiling of Per1, Per3, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 mRNA levels in the hippocampus of naive rats by both Acrophase and CircWave statistical tests for circadian analysis. Finally, we showed that temporal differences of sampling can change experimental results for Per1, Per3, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2, but not for Clock, which was consistently decreased in rats with epilepsy in all comparison to the naive group. In conclusion, our study demonstrates it is mandatory to consider diurnal oscillations, in order to avoid erroneous conclusions in gene expression analysis in hippocampus of rats with epilepsy. Investigators, therefore, should be aware that genes with circadian expression could be out of phase in different animals of experimental and control groups. Moreover, our results indicate that a sub-expression of Clock may be involved in epileptogenicity, although the functional significance of this remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelin Antonieli da Silva Santos
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
| | | | - Heloísa de Carvalho Matos
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - João Pereira Leite
- Department of Neurology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Norberto Garcia-Cairasco
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Luisa Paçó-Larson
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Leite Góes Gitaí
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Lieberman R, Kranzler HR, Joshi P, Shin DG, Covault J. GABRA2 Alcohol Dependence Risk Allele is Associated with Reduced Expression of Chromosome 4p12 GABAA Subunit Genes in Human Neural Cultures. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:1654-64. [PMID: 26250693 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variation in a region of chromosome 4p12 that includes the GABAA subunit gene GABRA2 has been reproducibly associated with alcohol dependence (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association are unknown. This study examined correlates of in vitro gene expression of the AD-associated GABRA2 rs279858*C-allele in human neural cells using an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model system. METHODS We examined mRNA expression of chromosome 4p12 GABAA subunit genes (GABRG1, GABRA2, GABRA4, and GABRB1) in 36 human neural cell lines differentiated from iPSCs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and next-generation RNA sequencing. mRNA expression in adult human brain was examined using the BrainCloud and BRAINEAC data sets. RESULTS We found significantly lower levels of GABRA2 mRNA in neural cell cultures derived from rs279858*C-allele carriers. Levels of GABRA2 RNA were correlated with those of the other 3 chromosome 4p12 GABAA genes, but not other neural genes. Cluster analysis based on the relative RNA levels of the 4 chromosome 4p12 GABAA genes identified 2 distinct clusters of cell lines, a low-expression cluster associated with rs279858*C-allele carriers and a high-expression cluster enriched for the rs279858*T/T genotype. In contrast, there was no association of genotype with chromosome 4p12 GABAA gene expression in postmortem adult cortex in either the BrainCloud or BRAINEAC data sets. CONCLUSIONS AD-associated variation in GABRA2 is associated with differential expression of the entire cluster of GABAA subunit genes on chromosome 4p12 in human iPSC-derived neural cell cultures. The absence of a parallel effect in postmortem human adult brain samples suggests that AD-associated genotype effects on GABAA expression, although not present in mature cortex, could have effects on regulation of the chromosome 4p12 GABAA cluster during neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lieberman
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,VISN4 MIRECC, Philadelphia VAMC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Pujan Joshi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Dong-Guk Shin
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.,Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
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25
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Mathew S, Faheem M, Al-Malki AL, Kumosani TA, Qadri I. In silico inhibition of GABARAP activity using antiepileptic medicinal derived compounds. Bioinformation 2015; 11:189-95. [PMID: 26124559 PMCID: PMC4479051 DOI: 10.6026/97320630011189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting more than 50 million people worldwide. It can be controlled by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) but more than 30% patients are still resistant to AEDs. To overcome this problem, researchers are trying to develop novel approaches to treat epilepsy including the use of herbal medicines. The γ-amino butyric acid type-A receptor associated protein (GABARAP) is ubiquitin-like modifier implicated in the intracellular trafficking of GABAAR. An in silico mutation was created at 116 amino acid position G116A, and an in silico study was carried out to identify the potential binding inhibitors (with antiepileptic properties) against the active sites of GABARAP. Five different plant derived compounds namely (a) Aconitine (b) Berberine (c) Montanine (d) Raubasine (e) Safranal were selected, and their quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) have been conducted to search the inhibitory activity of the selected compounds. The results have shown maximum number of hydrogen bond (H-bond) interactions of Raubasine with highest interaction energy among all of the five compounds. So, Raubasine could be the best fit ligand of GABARAP but in vitro, and in vivo studies are necessary for further confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilu Mathew
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Muhammad Faheem
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA
- Authors contributed equally
| | | | - Taha A Kumosani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA
- Experimental Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA
| | - Ishtiaq Qadri
- Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine Research, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdul Aziz University, PO Box 80216 Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Barragan A, Weidner JM, Jin Z, Korpi ER, Birnir B. GABAergic signalling in the immune system. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2015; 213:819-27. [PMID: 25677654 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The GABAergic system is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates. Signalling of the transmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) via GABA type A receptor channels or G-protein-coupled type B receptors is implicated in multiple CNS functions. Recent findings have implicated the GABAergic system in immune cell functions, inflammatory conditions and diseases in peripheral tissues. Interestingly, the specific effects may vary between immune cell types, with stage of activation and be altered by infectious agents. GABA/GABA-A receptor-mediated immunomodulatory functions have been unveiled in immune cells, being present in T lymphocytes and regulating the migration of Toxoplasma-infected dendritic cells. The GABAergic system may also play a role in the regulation of brain resident immune cells, the microglial cells. Activation of microglia appears to regulate the function of GABAergic neurotransmission in neighbouring neurones through changes induced by secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The neurotransmitter-driven immunomodulation is a new but rapidly growing field of science. Herein, we review the present knowledge of the GABA signalling in immune cells of the periphery and the CNS and raise questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Barragan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences; The Wenner-Gren Institute; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Medicine; Center for Infectious Medicine; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
| | - J. M. Weidner
- Department of Molecular Biosciences; The Wenner-Gren Institute; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Medicine; Center for Infectious Medicine; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Z. Jin
- Department of Neuroscience; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - E. R. Korpi
- Department of Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pharmacology; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; National University Health System; Neurobiology and Ageing Programme; Life Sciences Institute; National University of Singapore, and SINAPSE, Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology; Singapore
| | - B. Birnir
- Department of Neuroscience; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
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Wang XX, Ma GI, Xie JB, Pang GC. Influence of JuA in evoking communication changes between the small intestines and brain tissues of rats and the GABAA and GABAB receptor transcription levels of hippocampal neurons. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2015; 159:215-223. [PMID: 25449456 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Jujuboside A (JuA) is a main active ingredient of semen ziziphi spinosae, which can significantly reduce spontaneous activity in mammals, increase the speed of falling asleep, prolong the sleeping time as well as improve the sleeping efficiency. In this study, the mechanism and the pathway of the sedative and hypnotic effect of JuA were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS After being treated with JuA (in vitro), the rat׳s small intestine tissues cultures were used to stimulate the brain tissues. Then 27 cytokine levels were detected in the two kinds of tissue culture via liquid protein chip technology; In addition, the cultured hippocampal neurons of rat were treated with JuA, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunits (GABAAα1, GABAAα5, GABAAβ1 and GABABR1) mRNAs were evaluated by Real-time PCR. RESULTS The levels of IL-1α, MIP-1α, IL-1β and IL-2 were reduced significantly after 3h of treating the small intestine tissues with JuA (200µl/ml), and the concentration change rates, in order, were -59.3%, -3.59%, -50.1% and -49.4%; these cytokines were transmitted to brain tissues 2h later, which could lead to significant levels of reduction of IL-1α, IFN-γ, IP-10 and TNF-α; the concentration change rates were -62.4%, -25.7%, -55.2% and -38.5%, respectively. Further, the intercellular communication network diagram was mapped out, which could suggest the mechanism and the pathway of the sedative and hypnotic effect of JuA. The results also indicated that JuA (50µl/ml) increased significantly GABAAα1 receptor mRNAs and reduced GABABR1, mRNAs in hippocampal neurons after 24h of stimulation; however, all the mRNA transcription levels of GABAAα1,GABAAα5, GABAAβ1 and GABABR1 receptors increased significantly after 48h. CONCLUSION JuA performed its specific sedative and hypnotic effect through not only adjusting GABA receptors subunit mRNAs expression, but also down-regulating the secretion of relevant inflammation cytokines on the intestinal mucosal system to affect the intercellular cytokine network between nerve cells in the brain. This mechanism is similar to that of melatonin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Xi Wang
- Biotechnology & Food Science College, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Biotechnology,Tianjin 300134, China.
| | - Gu-Ijie Ma
- Biotechnology & Food Science College, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Biotechnology,Tianjin 300134, China
| | - Jun-Bo Xie
- Biotechnology & Food Science College, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Biotechnology,Tianjin 300134, China.
| | - Guang-Chang Pang
- Biotechnology & Food Science College, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Biotechnology,Tianjin 300134, China.
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Nguyen TT, Mattick JSA, Yang Q, Orman MA, Ierapetritou MG, Berthiaume F, Androulakis IP. Bioinformatics analysis of transcriptional regulation of circadian genes in rat liver. BMC Bioinformatics 2014; 15:83. [PMID: 24666587 PMCID: PMC3987685 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-15-83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The circadian clock is a critical regulator of biological functions controlling behavioral, physiological and biochemical processes. Because the liver is the primary regulator of metabolites within the mammalian body and the disruption of circadian rhythms in liver is associated with severe illness, circadian regulators would play a strong role in maintaining liver function. However, the regulatory structure that governs circadian dynamics within the liver at a transcriptional level remains unknown. To explore this aspect, we analyzed hepatic transcriptional dynamics in Sprague-Dawley rats over a period of 24 hours to assess the genome-wide responses. Results Using an unsupervised consensus clustering method, we identified four major gene expression clusters, corresponding to central carbon and nitrogen metabolism, membrane integrity, immune function, and DNA repair, all of which have dynamics which suggest regulation in a circadian manner. With the assumption that transcription factors (TFs) that are differentially expressed and contain CLOCK:BMAL1 binding sites on their proximal promoters are likely to be clock-controlled TFs, we were able to use promoter analysis to putatively identify additional clock-controlled TFs besides PARF and RORA families. These TFs are both functionally and temporally related to the clusters they regulate. Furthermore, we also identified significant sets of clock TFs that are potentially transcriptional regulators of gene clusters. Conclusions All together, we were able to propose a regulatory structure for circadian regulation which represents alternative paths for circadian control of different functions within the liver. Our prediction has been affirmed by functional and temporal analyses which are able to extend for similar studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ioannis P Androulakis
- Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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29
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Fritschy JM, Panzanelli P. GABAAreceptors and plasticity of inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1845-65. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Fritschy
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich; University of Zurich and ETH; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Patrizia Panzanelli
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini; University of Turin; Turin Italy
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30
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Isoflurane regulates atypical type-A γ-aminobutyric acid receptors in alveolar type II epithelial cells. Anesthesiology 2013; 118:1065-75. [PMID: 23485993 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0b013e31828e180e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volatile anesthetics act primarily through upregulating the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. They also exhibit antiinflammatory actions in the lung. Rodent alveolar type II (ATII) epithelial cells express GABAA receptors and the inflammatory factor cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The goal of this study was to determine whether human ATII cells also express GABAA receptors and whether volatile anesthetics upregulate GABAA receptor activity, thereby reducing the expression of COX-2 in ATII cells. METHODS The expression of GABAA receptor subunits and COX-2 in ATII cells of human lung tissue and in the human ATII cell line A549 was studied with immunostaining and immunoblot analyses. Patch clamp recordings were used to study the functional and pharmacological properties of GABAA receptors in cultured A549 cells. RESULTS ATII cells in human lungs and cultured A549 cells expressed GABAA receptor subunits and COX-2. GABA induced currents in A549 cells, with half-maximal effective concentration of 2.5 µM. Isoflurane (0.1-250 µM) enhanced the GABA currents, which were partially inhibited by bicuculline. Treating A549 cells with muscimol or with isoflurane (250 µM) reduced the expression of COX-2, an effect that was attenuated by cotreatment with bicuculline. CONCLUSIONS GABAA receptors expressed by human ATII cells differ pharmacologically from those in neurons, exhibiting a higher affinity for GABA and lower sensitivity to bicuculline. Clinically relevant concentrations of isoflurane increased the activity of GABAA receptors and reduced the expression of COX-2 in ATII cells. These findings reveal a novel mechanism that could contribute to the antiinflammatory effect of isoflurane in the human lung.
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Enoch MA, Baghal B, Yuan Q, Goldman D. A factor analysis of global GABAergic gene expression in human brain identifies specificity in response to chronic alcohol and cocaine exposure. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64014. [PMID: 23717525 PMCID: PMC3661725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 04/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although expression patterns of GABAergic genes in rodent brain have largely been elucidated, no comprehensive studies have been performed in human brain. The purpose of this study was to identify global patterns of GABAergic gene expression in healthy adults, including trans and cis effects in the GABAA gene clusters, before determining the effects of chronic alcohol and cocaine exposure on gene expression in the hippocampus. RNA-Seq data from ‘BrainSpan’ was obtained across 16 brain regions from postmortem samples from nine adults. A factor analysis was performed on global expression of 21 GABAergic pathway genes. Factor specificity for response to chronic alcohol/cocaine exposure was subsequently determined from the analysis of RNA-Seq data from postmortem hippocampus of eight alcoholics, eight cocaine addicts and eight controls. Six gene expression factors were identified. Most genes loaded (≥0.5) onto one factor; six genes loaded onto two. The largest factor (0.30 variance) included the chromosome 5 gene cluster that encodes the most common GABAA receptor, α1β2γ2, and genes encoding the α3β3γ2 receptor. Genes within this factor were largely unresponsive to chronic alcohol/cocaine exposure. In contrast, the chromosome 4 gene cluster factor (0.14 variance) encoding the α2β1γ1 receptor was influenced by chronic alcohol/cocaine exposure. Two other factors (0.17 and 0.06 variance) showed expression changes in alcoholics/cocaine addicts; these factors included genes involved in GABA synthesis and synaptic transport. Finally there were two factors that included genes with exceptionally low (0.10 variance) and high (0.09 variance) expression in the cerebellum; the former factor was unaffected by alcohol/cocaine exposure. This study has shown that there appears to be specificity of GABAergic gene groups, defined by covariation in expression, for response to chronic alcohol/cocaine exposure. These findings might have implications for combating stress-related craving and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Anne Enoch
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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32
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Scarr E, Gibbons AS, Neo J, Udawela M, Dean B. Cholinergic connectivity: it's implications for psychiatric disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:55. [PMID: 23653591 PMCID: PMC3642390 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine has been implicated in both the pathophysiology and treatment of a number of psychiatric disorders, with most of the data related to its role and therapeutic potential focusing on schizophrenia. However, there is little thought given to the consequences of the documented changes in the cholinergic system and how they may affect the functioning of the brain. This review looks at the cholinergic system and its interactions with the intrinsic neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-amino butyric acid as well as those with the projection neurotransmitters most implicated in the pathophysiologies of psychiatric disorders; dopamine and serotonin. In addition, with the recent focus on the role of factors normally associated with inflammation in the pathophysiologies of psychiatric disorders, links between the cholinergic system and these factors will also be examined. These interfaces are put into context, primarily for schizophrenia, by looking at the changes in each of these systems in the disorder and exploring, theoretically, whether the changes are interconnected with those seen in the cholinergic system. Thus, this review will provide a comprehensive overview of the connectivity between the cholinergic system and some of the major areas of research into the pathophysiologies of psychiatric disorders, resulting in a critical appraisal of the potential outcomes of a dysregulated central cholinergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Scarr
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Gibbons
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jaclyn Neo
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Madhara Udawela
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Neuroscience, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Brian Dean
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, VIC, Australia
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Machuca-Parra AI, Miledi R, Martínez-Torres A. Identification of the minimal promoter for specific expression of the GABAρ1 receptor in retinal bipolar cells. J Neurochem 2013; 124:175-88. [PMID: 23106649 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Revised: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ρ receptors regulate rapid synaptic ion currents in the axon end of retinal ON bipolar neurons, acting as a point of control along the visual pathway. In the GABAρ1 subunit knock out mouse, inhibition mediated by this receptor is totally eliminated, showing its role in neural transmission in retina. GABAρ1 mRNA is expressed in mouse retina after post-natal day 7, but little is known about its transcriptional regulation. To identify the GABAρ1 promoter, in silico analyses were performed and indicated that a 0.290-kb fragment, flanking the 5'-end of the GABAρ1 gene, includes putative transcription factor-binding sites, two Inr elements, and lacks a TATA-box. A rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) assay showed three transcription start sites (TSS) clustered in the first exon. Luciferase reporter assays indicated that a 0.232-kb fragment upstream from the ATG is the minimal promoter in transfected cell lines and in vitro electroporated retinae. The second Inr and AP1 site are important to activate transcription in secretin tumor cells (STC-1) and retina. Finally, the 0.232-kb fragment drives green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression to the inner nuclear layer, where bipolar cells are present. This first work paves the way for further studies of molecular elements that control GABAρ1 transcription and regulate its expression during retinal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Israel Machuca-Parra
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Neurobiología, Querétaro, Mexico
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Fuks JM, Arrighi RBG, Weidner JM, Kumar Mendu S, Jin Z, Wallin RPA, Rethi B, Birnir B, Barragan A. GABAergic signaling is linked to a hypermigratory phenotype in dendritic cells infected by Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1003051. [PMID: 23236276 PMCID: PMC3516538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During acute infection in human and animal hosts, the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii infects a variety of cell types, including leukocytes. Poised to respond to invading pathogens, dendritic cells (DC) may also be exploited by T. gondii for spread in the infected host. Here, we report that human and mouse myeloid DC possess functional γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and the machinery for GABA biosynthesis and secretion. Shortly after T. gondii infection (genotypes I, II and III), DC responded with enhanced GABA secretion in vitro. We demonstrate that GABA activates GABAA receptor-mediated currents in T. gondii-infected DC, which exhibit a hypermigratory phenotype. Inhibition of GABA synthesis, transportation or GABAA receptor blockade in T. gondii-infected DC resulted in impaired transmigration capacity, motility and chemotactic response to CCL19 in vitro. Moreover, exogenous GABA or supernatant from infected DC restored the migration of infected DC in vitro. In a mouse model of toxoplasmosis, adoptive transfer of infected DC pre-treated with GABAergic inhibitors reduced parasite dissemination and parasite loads in target organs, e.g. the central nervous system. Altogether, we provide evidence that GABAergic signaling modulates the migratory properties of DC and that T. gondii likely makes use of this pathway for dissemination. The findings unveil that GABA, the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, has activation functions in the immune system that may be hijacked by intracellular pathogens. Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite and an important food- and water-borne human and veterinary pathogen. Toxoplasmosis is normally self-limiting but severe manifestations occur upon congenital transmission to the developing fetus or during infection in immune-compromised individuals. Toxoplasma invades a variety of cell types and mounting evidence shows that certain white blood cells, e.g. dendritic cells, can shuttle parasites in the infected host by a Trojan horse type of mechanism. Dendritic cells are considered the gatekeepers of the immune system but can, paradoxically, also mediate dissemination of the parasite. Previous work has shown that Toxoplasma induces a hypermigratory state in dendritic cells when they become infected. Here, we show that, shortly after infection by the parasite, dendritic cells start secreting γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), also known as the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. We show that dendritic cells express GABA receptors, as well as the machinery to synthesize and transport GABA. When GABA synthesis, transport or receptor function was inhibited, the migration of infected dendritic cells was impaired. In a mouse model of toxoplasmosis, treatment of infected dendritic cells with GABA inhibitors resulted in reduced propagation of the parasite. This study establishes that GABAergic signaling modulates the migratory properties of dendritic cells and that the intracellular pathogen Toxoplasma gondii sequesters the GABAergic signaling of dendritic cells to assure propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas M. Fuks
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Romanico B. G. Arrighi
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica M. Weidner
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Zhe Jin
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert P. A. Wallin
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bence Rethi
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bryndis Birnir
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Antonio Barragan
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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Tlx1/3 and Ptf1a control the expression of distinct sets of transmitter and peptide receptor genes in the developing dorsal spinal cord. J Neurosci 2012; 32:8509-20. [PMID: 22723691 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.6301-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing the pattern of expression of transmitters and peptides as well as their receptors in different neuronal types is crucial for understanding the circuitry in various regions of the brain. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transmitter and peptide phenotypes in mouse dorsal spinal cord neurons are determined by the transcription factors Tlx1/3 and Ptf1a. Here we show that these transcription factors also determine the expression of two distinct sets of transmitter and peptide receptor genes in this region. We have screened the expression of 78 receptor genes in the spinal dorsal horn by in situ hybridization. We found that receptor genes Gabra1, Gabra5, Gabrb2, Gria3, Grin3a, Grin3b, Galr1, and Npy1r were preferentially expressed in Tlx3-expressing glutamatergic neurons and their derivatives, and deletion of Tlx1 and Tlx3 resulted in the loss of expression of these receptor genes. Furthermore, we obtained genetic evidence that Tlx3 uses distinct pathways to control the expression of receptor genes. We also found that receptor genes Grm3, Grm4, Grm5, Grik1, Grik2, Grik3, and Sstr2 were mainly expressed in Pax2-expressing GABAergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn, and their expression in this region was abolished or markedly reduced in Ptf1a and Pax2 deletion mutant mice. Together, our studies indicate that Tlx1/3 and Ptf1a, the key transcription factors for fate determination of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the dorsal spinal cord, are also responsible for controlling the expression of two distinct sets of transmitter and peptide receptor genes.
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Manceau V, Kremmer E, Nabel EG, Maucuer A. The protein kinase KIS impacts gene expression during development and fear conditioning in adult mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43946. [PMID: 22937132 PMCID: PMC3427225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain-enriched protein kinase KIS (product of the gene UHMK1) has been shown to phosphorylate the human splicing factor SF1 in vitro. This phosphorylation in turn favors the formation of a U2AF65-SF1-RNA complex which occurs at the 3′ end of introns at an early stage of spliceosome assembly. Here, we analyzed the effects of KIS knockout on mouse SF1 phosphorylation, physiology, adult behavior, and gene expression in the neonate brain. We found SF1 isoforms are differently expressed in KIS-ko mouse brains and fibroblasts. Re-expression of KIS in fibroblasts restores a wild type distribution of SF1 isoforms, confirming the link between KIS and SF1. Microarray analysis of transcripts in the neonate brain revealed a subtle down-regulation of brain specific genes including cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels and metabolic enzymes. Q-PCR analyses confirmed these defects and point to an increase of pre-mRNA over mRNA ratios, likely due to changes in splicing efficiency. While performing similarly in prepulse inhibition and most other behavioral tests, KIS-ko mice differ in spontaneous activity and contextual fear conditioning. This difference suggests that disregulation of gene expression due to KIS inactivation affects specific brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Manceau
- INSERM, UMR-S 839, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Elisabeth Kremmer
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany
| | - Elizabeth G. Nabel
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alexandre Maucuer
- INSERM, UMR-S 839, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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Anisman H, Merali Z, Poulter M. Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Involvement in Depressive Illness. THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASIS OF SUICIDE 2012. [DOI: 10.1201/b12215-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Jin Z, Bazov I, Kononenko O, Korpi ER, Bakalkin G, Birnir B. Selective Changes of GABA(A) Channel Subunit mRNAs in the Hippocampus and Orbitofrontal Cortex but not in Prefrontal Cortex of Human Alcoholics. Front Cell Neurosci 2012; 5:30. [PMID: 22319468 PMCID: PMC3249692 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2011.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is a common chronic relapsing disorder. The development of alcohol dependence has been associated with changes in brain GABA(A) channel-mediated neurotransmission and plasticity. We have examined mRNA expression of the GABA(A) channel subunit genes in three brain regions in individuals with or without alcohol dependence using quantitative real-time PCR assay. The levels of selective GABA(A) channel subunit mRNAs were altered in specific brain regions in alcoholic subjects. Significant increase in the α1, α4, α5, β1, and γ1 subunit mRNAs in the hippocampal dentate gyrus region, and decrease in the β2 and δ subunit mRNAs in the orbitofrontal cortex were identified whereas no changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were detected. The data increase our understanding of the role of GABA(A) channels in the development of alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Jin
- The Division of Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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Sherin A, Anu J, Peeyush K, Smijin S, Anitha M, Roshni B, Paulose C. Cholinergic and GABAergic receptor functional deficit in the hippocampus of insulin-induced hypoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Neuroscience 2012; 202:69-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Revised: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Enhanced GABAergic tone in the ventral pallidum: memory of unpleasant experiences? Neuroscience 2011; 196:131-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2011] [Revised: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Qian H, Feng Y, He X, Yang Y, Sung JH, Xia Y. Effects of inhibitory amino acids on expression of GABAA Rα and glycine Rα1 in hypoxic rat cortical neurons during development. Brain Res 2011; 1425:1-12. [PMID: 22018691 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 09/21/2011] [Accepted: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that GABA and glycine are protective to mature but toxic to immature cortical neurons during prolonged hypoxia. Since the action of these inhibitory amino acids is mediated by GABA and glycine receptors, the expression of these receptors is a critical factor in determining neuronal response to GABA(A) and glycine in hypoxia. Therefore, we asked whether in rat cortical neurons, 1) hypoxia alters the expression of the GABA and glycine receptors; 2) inhibitory amino acids change the course of GABA and glycine receptor expression; and 3) there are any differences between the immature and mature neurons. In cultured rat cortical neurons from day 4 (four days in vitro or DIV 4) to day 20 (DIV 20), we observed that 1) GABA(A)Rα and GlyRα1 underwent differential changes in expression during the development in vitro; 2) hypoxia for 3 days decreased GABA(A)Rα and GlyRα1 density in the neurons in-between DIV 4 and DIV 20, but did not induce a major change in immature (DIV 4) and mature (DIV 20) neurons; 3) during normoxia GABA, glycine and taurine decreased GABA(A)Rα and GlyRα1 density in the immature neurons, but had a tendency to increase the density in the mature neurons, except for taurine; 4) under hypoxia, all these amino acids decreased GABA(A)Rα and GlyRα1 density in most groups of the immature neurons with a slight effect on the mature neurons; and 5) δ-opioid receptor activation with DADLE increased GABA(A)Rα and GlyRα1 density in both the immature and mature neurons under normoxia and in the mature neurons under hypoxic condition. These data suggest that inhibitory amino acids differentially regulate the expression of GABA(A) and glycine receptors in rat cortical neurons under normoxic and hypoxic conditions with major differences between the immature and mature neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Qian
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Pun FW, Zhao C, Lo WS, Ng SK, Tsang SY, Nimgaonkar V, Chung WS, Ungvari GS, Xue H. Imprinting in the schizophrenia candidate gene GABRB2 encoding GABA(A) receptor β(2) subunit. Mol Psychiatry 2011; 16:557-68. [PMID: 20404824 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2010.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder, the inheritance pattern of which is likely complicated by epigenetic factors yet to be elucidated. In this study, transmission disequilibrium tests with family trios yielded significant differences between paternal and maternal transmissions of the disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6556547 and its haplotypes. The minor allele (T) of rs6556547 was paternally undertransmitted to male schizophrenic offsprings, and this parent-of-origin effect strongly suggested that GABRB2 is imprinted. 'Flipping' of allelic expression in heterozygotes of SNP rs2229944 (C/T) in GABRB2 or rs2290732 (G/A) in the neighboring GABRA1 was compatible with imprinting effects on gene expression. Clustering analysis of GABRB2 mRNA expressions suggested that imprinting brought about the observed two-tiered distribution of expression levels in controls with heterozygous genotype at the disease-associated SNP rs1816071 (A/G). The deficit of upper-tiered expressions accounted for the lowered expression levels in the schizophrenic heterozygotes. The occurrence of a two-tiered distribution furnished support for imprinting, and also pointed to the necessity of differentiating between two kinds of heterozygotes of different parental origins in disease association studies on GABRB2. Bisulfite sequencing revealed hypermethylation in the neighborhood of SNP rs1816071, and methylation differences between controls and schizophrenia patients. Notably, the two schizophrenia-associated SNPs rs6556547 and rs1816071 overlapped with a CpG dinucleotide, thereby opening the possibility that CpG methylation status of these sites could have an impact on the risk of schizophrenia. Thus multiple lines of evidence pointed to the occurrence of imprinting in the GABRB2 gene and its possible role in the development of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- F W Pun
- Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
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Mohabatkar H, Mohammad Beigi M, Esmaeili A. Prediction of GABAA receptor proteins using the concept of Chou's pseudo-amino acid composition and support vector machine. J Theor Biol 2011; 281:18-23. [PMID: 21536049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2011] [Revised: 04/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The amino acid gamma-aminobutyric-acid receptors (GABA(A)Rs) belong to the ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) superfamily. GABA(A)Rs are highly diverse in the central nervous system. These channels play a key role in regulating behavior. As a result, the prediction of GABA(A)Rs from the amino acid sequence would be helpful for research on these receptors. We have developed a method to predict these proteins using the features obtained from Chou's pseudo-amino acid composition concept and support vector machine as a powerful machine learning approach. The predictor efficiency was assessed by five-fold cross-validation. This method achieved an overall accuracy and Matthew's correlation coefficient (MCC) of 94.12% and 0.88, respectively. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect and power of each feature, the minimum Redundancy and Maximum Relevance (mRMR) feature selection method was implemented. An interesting finding in this study is the presence of all six characters (hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, side chain mass, pK1, pK2 and pI) or combination of the characters among the 5 higher ranked features (pk2 and pI, hydrophobicity and mass, pk1, hydrophilicity and mass) obtained from the mRMR feature selection method. The results show a biologically justifiable ranked attributes of pk2 and pI; hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity and mass; mass and pk1; pk2 and mass. Based on our results, using the concept of Chou's pseudo-amino acid composition and support vector machine is an effective approach for the prediction of GABA(A)Rs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Mohabatkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
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Rissman RA, Mobley WC. Implications for treatment: GABAA receptors in aging, Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2011; 117:613-22. [PMID: 21388375 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07237.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In addition to progressive dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by increased incidence of seizure activity. Although originally discounted as a secondary process occurring as a result of neurodegeneration, more recent data suggest that alterations in excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) balance occur in AD and may be a primary mechanism contributing AD cognitive decline. In this study, we discuss relevant research and reports on the GABA(A) receptor in developmental disorders, such as Down syndrome, in healthy aging, and highlight documented aberrations in the GABAergic system in AD. Stressing the importance of understanding the subunit composition of individual GABA(A) receptors, investigations demonstrate alterations of particular GABA(A) receptor subunits in AD, but overall sparing of the GABAergic system. In this study, we review experimental data on the GABAergic system in the pathobiology of AD and discuss relevant therapeutic implications. When developing AD therapeutics that modulate GABA it is important to consider how E/I balance impacts AD pathogenesis and the relationship between seizure activity and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0624, USA.
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Fillman SG, Duncan CE, Webster MJ, Elashoff M, Weickert CS. Developmental co-regulation of the beta and gamma GABAA receptor subunits with distinct alpha subunits in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Int J Dev Neurosci 2010; 28:513-9. [PMID: 20609421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2010.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2010] [Revised: 05/13/2010] [Accepted: 05/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R) is a pentameric chloride ion channel that mediates neuronal inhibition and is commonly comprised of 2alpha, 2beta and 1gamma subunits. These subunits have distinct characteristics that critically impact receptor function. In this study, we sought to determine if developmental expression of the beta and gamma subunit mRNAs in the prefrontal cortex would show complementary or opposing patterns of change as compared to the alpha subunits. Certain GABA(A)R subunit genes are arranged in tandem on the chromosome, and we hypothesized that genomic proximity would lead to co-regulation during development. The mRNA expression of the 3beta and 3gamma subunits was measured in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 68 individuals aged neonate to adult, using microarray with qPCR validation. Changes between age groups were identified through ANOVA, linear regression and post hoc Fisher LSD tests while a principal component analysis was used to establish co-regulation of GABA(A)R genes. beta1, gamma1 and gamma3 subunits decreased in expression with age whereas gamma2 increased. beta2 showed dynamic regulation with early increases plateauing across childhood and adolescence before decreasing in adulthood while beta3 levels remained relatively constant. Using published alpha subunit data we identified two principal components labeled 'Decreasing' (alpha2, alpha5, beta1, gamma1 and gamma3) and 'Dynamic' (alpha1, alpha4, beta2 and gamma2) responsible for 84% of the variation in GABA(A)R subunit development. This grouping is generally consistent with the chromosomal localization of subunits, lending credence to regional transcriptional control mechanisms. In addition, understanding developmental changes in GABA(A)R subunits could foster better pediatric pharmaceutical treatments.
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Poulter MO, Du L, Zhurov V, Palkovits M, Faludi G, Merali Z, Anisman H. Altered Organization of GABA(A) Receptor mRNA Expression in the Depressed Suicide Brain. Front Mol Neurosci 2010; 3:3. [PMID: 20407580 PMCID: PMC2854532 DOI: 10.3389/neuro.02.003.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2009] [Accepted: 01/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inter-relationships ordinarily exist between mRNA expression of GABAA subunits in the frontopolar cortex (FPC) of individuals that had died suddenly from causes other than suicide. However, these correlations were largely absent in persons that had died by suicide. In the present investigation, these findings were extended by examining GABAA receptor expression patterns (of controls and depressed individuals that died by suicide) in the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), hippocampus, amygdala. locus coeruleus (LC) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), all of which have been implicated in either depression, anxiety or stress responsivity. Using QPCR analysis, we found that in controls the inter-relations between GABAA subunits varied across brain regions, being high in the hippocampus and amygdala, intermediate in the LC, and low in the OFC and PVN. The GABAA subunit inter-relations were markedly different in persons that died by suicide, being reduced in hippocampus and amygdala, stable in the LC, but more coordinated in the OFC and to some extent in the PVN. It seems that altered brain region-specific inhibitory signaling, stemming from altered GABAA subunit coordination, are associated with depression/suicide. Although, it is unknown whether GABAA subunit re-organization was specifically tied to depression, suicide, or the accompanying distress, these data show that the coordinated expression of this transcriptome does vary depending on brain region and is plastic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael O Poulter
- Molecular Brain Research Group, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada
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You ZL, Xia Q, Liang FR, Tang YJ, Xu CL, Huang J, Zhao L, Zhang WZ, He JJ. Effects on the expression of GABAA receptor subunits by jujuboside A treatment in rat hippocampal neurons. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2010; 128:419-423. [PMID: 20083184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2009] [Revised: 01/03/2010] [Accepted: 01/11/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
AIM OF STUDY To determine the effect of jujuboside A (JuA) in modulating the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor subunits gene expression of hippocampal neurons at different terms in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hippocampal neurons of rat were cultured in vitro, treated with JuA or diazepam (DZP). Then GABA(A) receptor mRNAs were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS JuA at the low dose of 41 microM (about 0.05 g/l) induced significant increase of GABA(A) receptor alpha1, alpha5, beta2 subunit mRNAs in both 24 and 72h treatments. JuA at the high dose of 82 microM (about 0.1g/l) significantly increased GABA(A) receptor alpha1, alpha5 subunit mRNA levels and decreased beta2 subunit mRNA level at 24h treatment, and decreased GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha1, beta2 mRNAs expression at 72h treatment. DZP of 10 microM significantly increased expression of GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha1, alpha5 and decreased expression of beta2 at 24h treatment, and decreased alpha1, alpha5, beta2 subunits gene expression at 72h treatment. CONCLUSION Differences in alterations in GABA(A) receptor subunit mRNAs expression following JuA and DZP treatments could help to explain the differences in the pharmacological action of the two drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-li You
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
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Uusi-Oukari M, Korpi ER. Regulation of GABA(A) receptor subunit expression by pharmacological agents. Pharmacol Rev 2010; 62:97-135. [PMID: 20123953 DOI: 10.1124/pr.109.002063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor system, the main fast-acting inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the brain, is the pharmacological target for many drugs used clinically to treat, for example, anxiety disorders and epilepsy, and to induce and maintain sedation, sleep, and anesthesia. These drugs facilitate the function of pentameric GABA(A) receptors that exhibit widespread expression in all brain regions and large structural and pharmacological heterogeneity as a result of composition from a repertoire of 19 subunit variants. One of the main problems in clinical use of GABA(A) receptor agonists is the development of tolerance. Most drugs, in long-term use and during withdrawal, have been associated with important modulations of the receptor subunit expression in brain-region-specific manner, participating in the mechanisms of tolerance and dependence. In most cases, the molecular mechanisms of regulation of subunit expression are poorly known, partly as a result of neurobiological adaptation to altered neuronal function. More knowledge has been obtained on the mechanisms of GABA(A) receptor trafficking and cell surface expression and the processes that may contribute to tolerance, although their possible pharmacological regulation is not known. Drug development for neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, alcoholism, schizophrenia, and anxiety, has been ongoing for several years. One key step to extend drug development related to GABA(A) receptors is likely to require deeper understanding of the adaptational mechanisms of neurons, receptors themselves with interacting proteins, and finally receptor subunits during drug action and in neuropsychiatric disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Uusi-Oukari
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku, Itainen Pitkakatu 4, 20014 Turku, Finland.
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Enoch MA, Hodgkinson CA, Yuan Q, Shen PH, Goldman D, Roy A. The influence of GABRA2, childhood trauma, and their interaction on alcohol, heroin, and cocaine dependence. Biol Psychiatry 2010; 67:20-7. [PMID: 19833324 PMCID: PMC2964936 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2009] [Revised: 08/19/2009] [Accepted: 08/20/2009] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The GABRA2 gene has been implicated in addiction. Early life stress has been shown to alter GABRA2 expression in adult rodents. We hypothesized that childhood trauma, GABRA2 variation, and their interaction would influence addiction vulnerability. METHODS African-American men were recruited for this study: 577 patients with lifetime DSM-IV single and comorbid diagnoses of alcohol, cocaine, and heroin dependence, and 255 control subjects. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was administered. Ten GABRA2 haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped. RESULTS We found that exposure to childhood trauma predicted substance dependence (p < .0001). Polysubstance dependence was associated with the highest CTQ scores (p < .0001). The African Americans had four common haplotypes (frequency: .11-.30) within the distal haplotype block: two that correspond to the Caucasian and Asian yin-yang haplotypes, and two not found in other ethnic groups. One of the unique haplotypes predicted heroin addiction, whereas the other haplotype was more common in control subjects and seemed to confer resilience to addiction after exposure to severe childhood trauma. The yin-yang haplotypes had no effects. Moreover, the intron 2 SNP rs11503014, not located in any haplotype block and potentially implicated in exon splicing, was independently associated with addiction, specifically heroin addiction (p < .005). Childhood trauma interacted with rs11503014 variation to influence addiction vulnerability, particularly to cocaine (p < .005). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that at least in African-American men, childhood trauma, GABRA2 variation, and their interaction play a role in risk-resilience for substance dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Anne Enoch
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9412, USA.
| | - Colin A Hodgkinson
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Qiaoping Yuan
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pei-Hong Shen
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alec Roy
- Psychiatry Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey VA Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
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Noriega NC, Eghlidi DH, Garyfallou VT, Kohama SG, Kryger SG, Urbanski HF. Influence of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone on GABAergic gene expression in the arcuate nucleus, amygdala and hippocampus of the rhesus macaque. Brain Res 2009; 1307:28-42. [PMID: 19833106 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2009] [Accepted: 10/04/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and the responsiveness of neurons to GABA can be modulated by sex steroids. To better understand how ovarian steroids influence the GABAergic system in the primate brain, we evaluated the expression of genes encoding GABA receptor subunits, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and a GABA transporter in the brains of female rhesus macaques. Ovariectomized adults were subjected to a hormone replacement paradigm involving either 17beta-estradiol (E), or E plus progesterone (E+P). Untreated animals served as controls. Using GeneChip microarray analysis and real-time RT-PCR (qPCR), we examined gene expression differences within and between the amygdala (AMD), hippocampus (HPC) and arcuate nuclei of the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH). The results from PCR corresponded with results from representative GeneChip probesets, and showed similar effects of sex steroids on GABA receptor subunit gene expression in the AMD and HPC, and a more pronounced expression than in the MBH. Exposure to E+P attenuated GAD1, GAD2 and SLC32A1 gene expression in the AMD and HPC, but not in the MBH. GABA receptor subunit gene expression was generally higher in the AMD and HPC than in the MBH, with the exception of receptor subunits epsilon and gamma 2. Taken together, the data demonstrate differential regulation of GABA receptor subunits and GABAergic system components in the MBH compared to the AMD and HPC of rhesus macaques. Elevated epsilon and reduced delta subunit expression in the MBH supports the hypothesis that the hypothalamic GABAergic system is resistant to the modulatory effects of sex steroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel C Noriega
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185(th)Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
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