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Naka M, Inaba A, Miyasaka H, Suzue K, Ishigaki J, Shibuya H, Hara K, Ohishi N, Sugiyama Y, Shiio Y, Tajiri R, Kishida Y, Ishihara T, Yugeta A. An elderly case of paraneoplastic anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:336. [PMID: 38997707 PMCID: PMC11241970 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03137-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are involved in the cell proliferation in several tumors. However, there have been no reports demonstrating the expression of NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). CASE PRESENTATION Here, we report the first elderly case of paraneoplastic anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with LCNEC of the lung with NR1 expression. Of note, NR1 subunit expression in the tumor cells of the present case was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Radiation therapy and immunotherapies, such as corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), shrank the tumors and improved neurological symptoms in the present case. Additionally, we also confirmed the expression of NR1 in the tumor cells obtained from three other cases with LCNEC of the lung at our hospital by IHC. CONCLUSION Our IHC results indicate that LCNEC generally expresses NR1 subunit and NMDA receptor may be involved in the tumor development and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamitsu Naka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Atsushi Inaba
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan.
| | - Hana Miyasaka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Keisuke Suzue
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Junichi Ishigaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Hideki Shibuya
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Kei Hara
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Nobuya Ohishi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sugiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Yasushi Shiio
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tajiri
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kishida
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan
| | - Tasuku Ishihara
- Department of Neurology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yugeta
- Department of Neurology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan
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Kang WC, Lee YS, Park K, Kong CH, Jeon M, Kim MS, Jung SY, Choi JH, Ryu JH. Paeonol alleviates postmenopause-induced neuropsychiatric symptoms through the modulation of GPR30 in ovariectomized mice. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 327:118063. [PMID: 38493906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Moutan cortex (MC), the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Anderws (Paeoniaceae), has been historically employed in traditional herbal medicine for addressing women's ailments by replenishing kidney Yin. AIM OF THE STUDY We aimed to explore if paeonol, an active constituent of MC, could ameliorate neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments, associated with post-menopausal syndrome (PMS) in an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental design comprised 6 groups, including a sham group, OVX group, paeonol administration groups (3, 10 or 30 mg/kg, p.o.), and an estradiol (E2)-treated positive control group. Behavioral tests including the open field, novel object recognition, Y-maze, elevated plus-maze, splash, and forced swimming tests were conducted. In addition, we investigated the effets of paeonol on the phosphorylated levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), as well as on the expression levels of G protein-coupled receptor (GPR30) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. RESULTS Paeonol treatment (10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) effectively reversed the cognitive decline in OVX mice, measured by the novel object recognition and Y-maze tests, similar to that in the positive control group. Additionally, it alleviated anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, as evaluated by the elevated plus-maze test, splash test, and forced swimming test. Paeonol restored GPR30 expression levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, mirroring the effects of E2 administration. Furthermore, it reversed the reduced expression levels of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and increased BDNF expression in the hippocampus of OVX mice. CONCLUSION This research suggests that paeonol would be beneficial for alleviating PMS-associated cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Chang Kang
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Seung Lee
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Keontae Park
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hyeon Kong
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Mijin Jeon
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Seo Kim
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Yun Jung
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hye Choi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hoon Ryu
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Mohtaj Khorassani Y, Moghimi A, Khakzad MR, Fereidoni M, Hassani D, Torbati Gah J. Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on autistic behaviors and GRIN2B gene expression in valproic acid-exposed rats. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1385189. [PMID: 38562305 PMCID: PMC10982371 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1385189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, and restricted repetitive behaviors. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a potential treatment for autism, although its effects on behavior and gene expression are not well understood. The GRIN2B gene, known for its involvement in encoding a glutamate receptor subunit crucial for neuron communication and associated with autism, was a focus of this study. Methods Using a rat model induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid, we examined the impact of HBOT on autism-like behaviors and GRIN2B gene expression. Male Wistar rats were categorized into four groups: control, VPA (valproic acid-exposed), VPA+HBOT [2 atmosphere absolute (ATA)], and VPA+HBOT (2.5 ATA). The rats underwent several behavioral tests to assess social behavior, anxiety, stereotype and exploratory behaviors, and learning. Following the behavioral tests, the HBOT groups received 15 sessions of HBOT at pressures of 2 and 2.5 (ATA), and their behaviors were re-evaluated. Subsequently, real-time PCR was employed to measure GRIN2B gene expression in the frontal lobe. Results Our results indicated that HBOT significantly increased social interaction and exploratory behaviors in VPA-exposed rats, alongside elevated GRIN2B gene expression in their frontal lobe. Discussion Our findings imply that HBOT might have a potential role in ameliorating autism-related behaviors in the VPA rat model of autism through potential modulation of GRIN2B gene expression. However, additional research is essential to fully comprehend the underlying mechanisms and refine the HBOT protocol for optimizing its effectiveness in improving autism-related symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalda Mohtaj Khorassani
- Rayan Research Center for Neuroscience & Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Moghimi
- Rayan Research Center for Neuroscience & Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Khakzad
- Innovative Medical Research Center and Department of Immunology, Mashhad Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Masoud Fereidoni
- Rayan Research Center for Neuroscience & Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Delaram Hassani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Torbati Gah
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mashhad Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
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Taheri F, Joushi S, Mohammadipoor-Ghasemabad L, Rad I, Esmaeilpour K, Sheibani V. Effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sex of adult rats exposed prenatally to valproic acid. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2300. [PMID: 38277409 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2300] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in reciprocal social interactions, deficits in communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests. In previous studies, music has been identified as an intervention therapy for children with ASD. OBJECTIVES The present study evaluated the effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sexes of adult rats exposed prenatally to Valproic acid. METHODS For induction of autism, pregnant female rats were pretreated with either saline or VPA (600 mg/kg.i.p.) at gestational day (GD) 12.5. Male and female offspring were divided into Saline.Non-Music, VPA.Non-Music, Saline.Music, and VPA.Music groups. The adult rats in the music groups were exposed to Mozart's piano sonata K.448 for 30 days (4 h/day), from postnatal day (PND) 60 to 90. Social interaction and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks were tested at PND 90. RESULTS Our results revealed that prenatal exposure to VPA decreased sociability and social memory performance in both sexes of adult rats. Moreover, prenatal exposure to VPA created learning and memory impairments in both sexes of adult rats in the MWM task. Music intervention improved sociability in both sexes of VPA-exposed rats and social memory in both sexes of VPA-exposed rats, especially in females. Furthermore, our results revealed that music ameliorated learning impairments in VPA-exposed female rats in the MWM task. In addition, music improved spatial memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes, especially in females, which needs more investigation in molecular and histological fields in future studies. CONCLUSION Music intervention improved sociability and social memory in adult VPA-exposed rats, especially in female animals. Furthermore, music improved memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes. It seems that music had a better influence on female rats. However, future studies need more investigations in molecular and histological fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Taheri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sara Joushi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Iman Rad
- Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center Afzalipour Medical University of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Chen C, Khanthiyong B, Thaweetee-Sukjai B, Charoenlappanit S, Roytrakul S, Thanoi S, Reynolds GP, Nudmamud-Thanoi S. Proteomic association with age-dependent sex differences in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance in healthy Thai subjects. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20238. [PMID: 37981639 PMCID: PMC10658079 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46750-4] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in cognitive function exist, but they are not stable and undergo dynamic change during the lifespan. However, our understanding of how sex-related neural information transmission evolves with age is still in its infancy. This study utilized the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the label-free proteomics method with bioinformatic analysis to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related sex differences in cognitive performance in 199 healthy Thai subjects (aged 20-70 years), as well as explore the sex-dependent protein complexes for predicting cognitive aging. The results showed that males outperformed females in two of the five WCST sub-scores: %Corrects and %Errors. Sex differences in these scores were related to aging, becoming noticeable in those over 60. At the molecular level, differently expressed individual proteins and protein complexes between both sexes are associated with the potential N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated excitotoxicity, with the NMDAR complex being enriched exclusively in elderly female samples. These findings provided a preliminary indication that healthy Thai females might be more susceptible to such neurotoxicity, as evidenced by their cognitive performance. NMDAR protein complex enrichment in serum could be proposed as a potential indication for predicting cognitive aging in healthy Thai females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Medical Science Graduate Program, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Sawanya Charoenlappanit
- National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sittiruk Roytrakul
- National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Samur Thanoi
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
| | - Gavin P Reynolds
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Sutisa Nudmamud-Thanoi
- Centre of Excellence in Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.
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Mabry S, Wilson EN, Bradshaw JL, Gardner JJ, Fadeyibi O, Vera E, Osikoya O, Cushen SC, Karamichos D, Goulopoulou S, Cunningham RL. Sex and age differences in social and cognitive function in offspring exposed to late gestational hypoxia. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:81. [PMID: 37951901 PMCID: PMC10640736 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00557-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gestational sleep apnea is a hypoxic sleep disorder that affects 8-26% of pregnancies and increases the risk for central nervous system dysfunction in offspring. Specifically, there are sex differences in the sensitivity of the fetal hippocampus to hypoxic insults, and hippocampal impairments are associated with social dysfunction, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Yet, it is unclear whether gestational sleep apnea impacts these hippocampal-associated functions and if sex and age modify these effects. To examine the relationship between gestational sleep apnea and hippocampal-associated behaviors, we used chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) to model late gestational sleep apnea in pregnant rats. We hypothesized that late gestational CIH would produce sex- and age-specific social, anxiety-like, repetitive, and cognitive impairments in offspring. METHODS Timed pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to CIH or room air normoxia from GD 15-19. Behavioral testing of offspring occurred during either puberty or young adulthood. To examine gestational hypoxia-induced behavioral phenotypes, we quantified hippocampal-associated behaviors (social function, repetitive behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors, and spatial memory and learning), hippocampal neuronal activity (glutamatergic NMDA receptors, dopamine transporter, monoamine oxidase-A, early growth response protein 1, and doublecortin), and circulating hormones in offspring. RESULTS Late gestational CIH induced sex- and age-specific differences in social, repetitive, and memory functions in offspring. In female pubertal offspring, CIH impaired social function, increased repetitive behaviors, and elevated circulating corticosterone levels but did not impact memory. In contrast, CIH transiently induced spatial memory dysfunction in pubertal male offspring but did not impact social or repetitive functions. Long-term effects of gestational CIH on social behaviors were only observed in female offspring, wherein CIH induced social disengagement and suppression of circulating corticosterone levels in young adulthood. No effects of gestational CIH were observed in anxiety-like behaviors, hippocampal neuronal activity, or circulating testosterone and estradiol levels, regardless of sex or age of offspring. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that hypoxia-associated pregnancy complications during late gestation can increase the risk for behavioral and physiological outcomes in offspring, such as social dysfunction, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive impairment, that are dependent on sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Mabry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - E Nicole Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Jessica L Bradshaw
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Jennifer J Gardner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Oluwadarasimi Fadeyibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Edward Vera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Oluwatobiloba Osikoya
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Spencer C Cushen
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Styliani Goulopoulou
- Departments of Basic Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA.
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Khaledi F, Dehkordi HT, Zarean E, Shahrani M, Amini-Khoei H. Possible role of NO/NMDA pathway in the autistic-like behaviors induced by maternal separation stress in mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292631. [PMID: 37815997 PMCID: PMC10564128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Maternal separation (MS) stress is an established model of early-life stress associated with autistic-like behaviors. Altered glutamatergic and nitrergic neurotransmissions may contribute to the pathophysiology of ASD. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these alterations and their relationship to MS-induced autistic-like behaviors remain unclear. Addressing this knowledge gap, this study aims to elucidate the involvement of the nitric oxide (NO)/ N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) pathway in MS-induced autistic-like behaviors in mice. This knowledge has the potential to guide future research, potentially leading to the development of targeted interventions or treatments aimed at modulating the NO/NMDA pathway to ameliorate ASD symptoms. Ninety male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice were assigned to six groups (n = 15) comprising a control group (treated with saline) and five groups subjected to MS and treated with saline, ketamine, NMDA, L-NAME, and L-arginine. Behavioral tests were conducted, including the three-chamber test, shuttle box, elevated plus-maze, and marble burying test. Gene expression of iNOS, nNOS, and NMDA-R subunits (NR2A and NR2B), along with nitrite levels, was evaluated in the hippocampus. The findings demonstrated that MS induced autistic-like behaviors, accompanied by increased gene expression of iNOS, nNOS, NR2B, NR2A, and elevated nitrite levels in the hippocampus. Modulation of the NO/NMDA pathway with activators and inhibitors altered the effects of MS. These results suggest that the NO/NMDA pathway plays a role in mediating the negative effects of MS and potentially contributes to the development of autistic-like behaviors in maternally separated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Khaledi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Tahmasebi Dehkordi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Zarean
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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8
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Mabry S, Wilson EN, Bradshaw JL, Gardner JJ, Fadeyibi O, Vera E, Osikoya O, Cushen SC, Karamichos D, Goulopoulou S, Cunningham RL. Sex and age differences in social and cognitive function in offspring exposed to late gestational hypoxia. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2507737. [PMID: 37333114 PMCID: PMC10275064 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2507737/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Background Gestational sleep apnea affects 8-26% of pregnancies and can increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with social dysfunction, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. To examine the relationship between gestational sleep apnea and ASD-associated behaviors, we used a chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) protocol between gestational days (GD) 15-19 in pregnant rats to model late gestational sleep apnea. We hypothesized that late gestational CIH would produce sex- and age-specific social, mood, and cognitive impairments in offspring. Methods Timed pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to CIH or room air normoxia from GD 15-19. Behavioral testing of offspring occurred during either puberty or young adulthood. To examine ASD-associated phenotypes, we quantified ASD-associated behaviors (social function, repetitive behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors, and spatial memory and learning), hippocampal activity (glutamatergic NMDA receptors, dopamine transporter, monoamine oxidase-A, EGR-1, and doublecortin), and circulating hormones in offspring. Results Late gestational CIH induced sex- and age-specific differences in social, repetitive and memory functions in offspring. These effects were mostly transient and present during puberty. In female pubertal offspring, CIH impaired social function, increased repetitive behaviors, and increased circulating corticosterone levels, but did not impact memory. In contrast, CIH transiently induced spatial memory dysfunction in pubertal male offspring but did not impact social or repetitive functions. Long-term effects of gestational CIH were only observed in female offspring, wherein CIH induced social disengagement and suppression of circulating corticosterone levels in young adulthood. No effects of gestational CIH were observed on anxiety-like behaviors, hippocampal activity, circulating testosterone levels, or circulating estradiol levels, regardless of sex or age of offspring. Conclusions Our results indicate that hypoxia-associated pregnancy complications during late gestation can increase the risk for ASD-associated behavioral and physiological outcomes, such as pubertal social dysfunction, corticosterone dysregulation, and memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Mabry
- UNTHSC: University of North Texas Health Science Center
| | | | | | | | | | - Edward Vera
- UNTHSC: University of North Texas Health Science Center
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Taheri F, Joushi S, Esmaeilpour K, Sheibani V, Ebrahimi MN, Taheri Zadeh Z. Music alleviates cognitive impairments in an animal model of autism. Int J Dev Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37246451 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core symptoms including impairment in social communication and restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests. Music has emerged in the past decade as an intervention therapy for children with ASD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of music on cognition impairments in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism. The VPA was administered for animal modeling of autism on embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) (600 mg/kg). Male and female pups were sub divided into four main groups (Saline.Non-music, VPA.Non-music, Saline.Music, and VPA.Music). The rats in the music groups were exposed to Mozart's piano sonata K.448 for 30 days (4 h/day), from postnatal day (PND) 21 to 50. Autistic-like behaviors were tested using a social interaction, the Morris water maze (MWM), and a passive avoidance tasks at the end of the PND 50. Our results demonstrated that VPA-exposed rat pups had significantly lower sociability and social memory performance compared with the saline-exposed rats in both sexes. VPA-exposed rat pups exhibited learning and memory impairments in the MWM and passive avoidance tasks. Our results demonstrated that music improved sociability in VPA-exposed rats, especially in males. Furthermore, our findings revealed that music improved learning impairments in VPA-exposed male rats in MWM task. In addition, music improved spatial memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes. We also found that music improved passive avoidance memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes, especially in females. More investigation in future studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Taheri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sara Joushi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Physics and Astronomy department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Navid Ebrahimi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Zahra Taheri Zadeh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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10
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Akwa Y, Di Malta C, Zallo F, Gondard E, Lunati A, Diaz-de-Grenu LZ, Zampelli A, Boiret A, Santamaria S, Martinez-Preciado M, Cortese K, Kordower JH, Matute C, Lozano AM, Capetillo-Zarate E, Vaccari T, Settembre C, Baulieu EE, Tampellini D. Stimulation of synaptic activity promotes TFEB-mediated clearance of pathological MAPT/Tau in cellular and mouse models of tauopathies. Autophagy 2023; 19:660-677. [PMID: 35867714 PMCID: PMC9851246 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2095791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Synapses represent an important target of Alzheimer disease (AD), and alterations of their excitability are among the earliest changes associated with AD development. Synaptic activation has been shown to be protective in models of AD, and deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical strategy that modulates neuronal activity to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders, produced positive effects in AD patients. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective role(s) of brain stimulation are still elusive. We have previously demonstrated that induction of synaptic activity exerts protection in mouse models of AD and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) by enhancing the macroautophagy/autophagy flux and lysosomal degradation of pathological MAPT/Tau. We now provide evidence that TFEB (transcription factor EB), a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy, is a key mediator of this cellular response. In cultured primary neurons from FTD-transgenic mice, synaptic stimulation inhibits MTORC1 signaling, thus promoting nuclear translocation of TFEB, which, in turn, induces clearance of MAPT/Tau oligomers. Conversely, synaptic activation fails to promote clearance of toxic MAPT/Tau in neurons expressing constitutively active RRAG GTPases, which sequester TFEB in the cytosol, or upon TFEB depletion. Activation of TFEB is also confirmed in vivo in DBS-stimulated AD mice. We also demonstrate that DBS reduces pathological MAPT/Tau and promotes neuroprotection in Parkinson disease patients with tauopathy. Altogether our findings indicate that stimulation of synaptic activity promotes TFEB-mediated clearance of pathological MAPT/Tau. This mechanism, underlying the protective effect of DBS, provides encouraging support for the use of synaptic stimulation as a therapeutic treatment against tauopathies.Abbreviations: 3xTg-AD: triple transgenic AD mice; AD: Alzheimer disease; CSA: cyclosporine A; DBS: deep brain stimulation; DIV: days in vitro; EC: entorhinal cortex; FTD: frontotemporal dementia; gLTP: glycine-induced long-term potentiation; GPi: internal segment of the globus pallidus; PD: Parkinson disease; STN: subthalamic nucleus; TFEB: transcription factor EB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Akwa
- Department of Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System, U1195 INSERM - Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Chiara Di Malta
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy,Department. of Translational Medicine, Medical Genetics, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Fátima Zallo
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU) and Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades, Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Leioa, Spain
| | - Elise Gondard
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adele Lunati
- Institut Professeur Baulieu, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Lara Z. Diaz-de-Grenu
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU) and Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades, Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Leioa, Spain,TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Angela Zampelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Anne Boiret
- Department of Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System, U1195 INSERM - Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France,Institut Professeur Baulieu, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Sara Santamaria
- Cellular Electron Microscopy Lab, DIMES, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Maialen Martinez-Preciado
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU) and Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades, Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Leioa, Spain
| | - Katia Cortese
- Cellular Electron Microscopy Lab, DIMES, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Jeffrey H. Kordower
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA,College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Carlos Matute
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU) and Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades, Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Leioa, Spain
| | - Andres M. Lozano
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Estibaliz Capetillo-Zarate
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU) and Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades, Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Leioa, Spain,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Thomas Vaccari
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carmine Settembre
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy,Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Etienne E. Baulieu
- Department of Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System, U1195 INSERM - Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France,Institut Professeur Baulieu, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Davide Tampellini
- Department of Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System, U1195 INSERM - Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France,Institut Professeur Baulieu, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France,CONTACT Davide Tampellini CHU Bicêtre, U 1195 Inserm - Université Paris-Saclay. Secteur Marron, Bât. G. Pincus, door 47, 80, rue du General Leclerc 94276 Kremlin-Bicêtre CedexFrance
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11
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Deutsch SI, Burket JA. From Mouse to Man: N-Methyl-d-Aspartic Acid Receptor Activation as a Promising Pharmacotherapeutic Strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Med Clin North Am 2023; 107:101-117. [PMID: 36402493 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The BALB/c mouse displays hypersensitivity to behavioral effects of MK-801 (dizocilpine), a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor "open-channel" blocker, and shows both no preference for an enclosed stimulus mouse over an inanimate object and reduced social interaction with a freely behaving stimulus mouse. NMDA receptor agonist interventions improved measures of social preference and social interaction of the BALB/c mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A "proof of principle/proof of concept" translational 10-week clinical trial with 8-week of active medication administration was conducted comparing 20 DSM-IV-TR-diagnosed older adolescent/young adult patients with ASD randomized to once-weekly pulsed administration (50 mg/d) versus daily administration of d-cycloserine (50 mg/d). The results showed that d-cycloserine, a partial glycine agonist, was well tolerated, the 2 dosing strategies did not differ, and improvement was noted on the "lethargy/social withdrawal" and "stereotypic behavior" subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. NMDA receptor activation contributes to the regulation of mTOR signaling, a pathologic point of convergence in several monogenic syndromic forms of ASD. Furthermore, both NMDA receptor hypofunction and imbalance between NMDA receptor activation mediated by GluN2B and GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors occur as "downstream" consequences of several genetically unrelated abnormalities associated with ASD. NMDA receptor-subtype selective "positive allosteric modulators (PAMs)" are particularly appealing medication candidates for future translational trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| | - Jessica A Burket
- Department of Molecular Biology & Chemistry, Christopher Newport University, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA 23606, USA.
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12
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Sheng Z, Liu Q, Cheng C, Li M, Barash J, Kofke WA, Shen Y, Xie Z. Fentanyl induces autism-like behaviours in mice by hypermethylation of the glutamate receptor gene Grin2b. Br J Anaesth 2022; 129:544-554. [PMID: 35697546 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental factors contribute to autism spectrum disorder. Fentanyl, one of the most widely used opioid analgesics in anaesthesia, can induce neurotoxicity, but its role in autism remains unknown. We determined whether fentanyl induced autism-like behaviours in young mice and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Young male and female mice received fentanyl at postnatal days 6, 8, and 10, and performed behavioural tests, including three-chamber social preference, elevated plus maze, grooming behaviour, and open-field test, from postnatal days 30-32. Expression of Grin2b, the gene encoding the GluN2B subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, was assessed in the anterior cingulate cortex of male mice using fluorescence in situ hybridisation histochemistry. We used bisulfite target sequencing to determine Grin2b hypermethylation sites after fentanyl treatment. In the specific activation and rescue experiments, we injected the mu opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala,2 N-MePhe,4 Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) or Grin2b overexpression lentivirus into the anterior cingulate cortex of male mice. RESULTS Fentanyl induced autism-like behaviours in both young male and female mice, and downregulated Grin2b expression (0.49-fold [0.08] vs 1.00-fold [0.09]; P<0.01) and GluN2B protein amounts (0.38-fold [0.07] vs 1.00-fold [0.12]; P<0.01) in the anterior cingulate cortex through hypermethylation of Grin2b. The mu-opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and overexpression of Grin2b in anterior cingulate cortex attenuated the fentanyl-induced effects, whereas DAMGO injection into the anterior cingulate cortex induced autism-like behaviours. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that fentanyl induces autism-like behaviours in young mice via an epigenetic mechanism. Further research is required to determine possible clinical relevance to autism risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Sheng
- Anesthesia and Brain Research Institute, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qidong Liu
- Anesthesia and Brain Research Institute, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun Cheng
- Anesthesia and Brain Research Institute, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengzhu Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jed Barash
- Department of Medicine, Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, MA, USA
| | - W Andrew Kofke
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuan Shen
- Anesthesia and Brain Research Institute, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhongcong Xie
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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13
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Shen Z, Xiang M, Chen C, Ding F, Wang Y, Shang C, Xin L, Zhang Y, Cui X. Glutamate excitotoxicity: Potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 151:113125. [PMID: 35609367 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is an important mechanism leading to post ischemic stroke damage. After acute stroke, the sudden reduction in cerebral blood flow is most initially followed by ion transport protein dysfunction and disruption of ion homeostasis, which in turn leads to impaired glutamate release, reuptake, and excessive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation, promoting neuronal death. Despite extensive evidence from preclinical studies suggesting that excessive NMDAR stimulation during ischemic stroke is a central step in post-stroke damage, NMDAR blockers have failed to translate into clinical stroke treatment. Current treatment options for stroke are very limited, and there is therefore a great need to develop new targets for neuroprotective therapeutic agents in ischemic stroke to extend the therapeutic time window. In this review, we highlight recent findings on glutamate release, reuptake mechanisms, NMDAR and its downstream cellular signaling pathways in post-ischemic stroke damage, and review the pathological changes in each link to help develop viable new therapeutic targets. We then also summarize potential neuroprotective drugs and therapeutic approaches for these new targets in the treatment of ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihuan Shen
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Clinical Medical School, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Mi Xiang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Fan Ding
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Clinical Medical School, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yuling Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Clinical Medical School, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chang Shang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Clinical Medical School, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Laiyun Xin
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Xiangning Cui
- Department of Cardiovascular, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
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14
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Donnard E, Shu H, Garber M. Single cell transcriptomics reveals dysregulated cellular and molecular networks in a fragile X syndrome model. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010221. [PMID: 35675353 PMCID: PMC9212148 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiology of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), its molecular basis is still poorly understood. Whole brain tissue expression profiles have proved surprisingly uninformative, therefore we applied single cell RNA sequencing to profile an FMRP deficient mouse model with higher resolution. We found that the absence of FMRP results in highly cell type specific gene expression changes that are strongest among specific neuronal types, where FMRP-bound mRNAs were prominently downregulated. Metabolic pathways including translation and respiration are significantly upregulated across most cell types with the notable exception of excitatory neurons. These effects point to a potential difference in the activity of mTOR pathways, and together with other dysregulated pathways, suggest an excitatory-inhibitory imbalance in the Fmr1-knock out cortex that is exacerbated by astrocytes. Our data demonstrate that FMRP loss affects abundance of key cellular communication genes that potentially affect neuronal synapses and provide a resource for interrogating the biological basis of this disorder. Fragile X syndrome is a leading genetic cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. It results from the inactivation of a single gene, FMR1 and hence the loss of its encoded protein FMRP. Despite decades of intensive research, we still lack an overview of the molecular and biological consequences of the disease. Using single cell RNA sequencing, we profiled cells from the brain of healthy mice and of knock-out mice lacking the FMRP protein, a common model for this disease, to identify molecular changes that happen across different cell types. We find neurons are the most impacted cell type, where genes in multiple pathways are similarly impacted. This includes transcripts known to be bound by FMRP, which are collectively decreased only in neurons but not in other cell types. Our results show how the loss of FMRP affects the intricate interactions between different brain cell types, which could provide new perspectives to the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Donnard
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ED); (HS); (MG)
| | - Huan Shu
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ED); (HS); (MG)
| | - Manuel Garber
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ED); (HS); (MG)
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15
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Male sex bias in early and late onset neurodevelopmental disorders: shared aspects and differences in autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104577. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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16
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Francija E, Lukic I, Petrovic Z, Brkic Z, Mitic M, Radulovic J, Adzic M. GluN2A-ERK-mTOR pathway confers a vulnerability to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviour. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113625. [PMID: 34637854 PMCID: PMC9878822 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the major depressive disorder. Namely, neuroinflammation can induce the production of neuroactive metabolites that interfere with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR)-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission and contribute to depressive-like behaviour. On the other hand, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity with synaptogenic effects is the main mediator of antidepressant effects of several potent NMDAR antagonists. In this study, we investigated the specific role of GluN2A subunits of NMDAR on the activity of mTOR signaling and behaviour in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induces model of depression. The results showed that mice lacking GluN2A subunit did not display depressive-like behavior after the immune challenge, opposite to LPS-treated wild-type mice. Specifically, in GluN2A knockout mice, we estimated the activity of the mTOR pathway in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) by measuring synaptic levels of upstream regulators (p-Akt, p-ERK, and p-GSK3β) and downstream effectors (p-mTOR, and p-p70S6K) of mTOR activity. In addition, we assessed the changes in the levels of two important synaptic markers, GluA1 and PSD-95. Contrary to downregulated mTOR signaling and decreased synaptic markers in LPS-treated wild-type animals, the resilience of GluN2A KO mice to depressive-like behaviour was paralleled with sustained mTOR signaling activity synaptic stability in hippocampus and PFC. Finally, we disclosed that resistance of GluN2A knockouts to LPS-induced depressive-like behavior was ERK-dependent. These findings demonstrate that GluN2A-ERK-mTOR signaling is a vulnerability factor of inflammation-related depressive behaviour, making this signaling pathway the promising target for developing novel antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Francija
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade
| | - Iva Lukic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade
| | - Zorica Petrovic
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Zeljka Brkic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade
| | - Milos Mitic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade
| | - Jelena Radulovic
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade,corresponding author: Miroslav Adzic, Ph.D., Full Research Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute, of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, P.O. Box 522-MBE090, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia, Phone: +381 11 340-8304,
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17
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Deutsch SI, Luyo ZNM, Burket JA. Targeted NMDA Receptor Interventions for Autism: Developmentally Determined Expression of GluN2B and GluN2A-Containing Receptors and Balanced Allosteric Modulatory Approaches. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020181. [PMID: 35204682 PMCID: PMC8961601 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Various ASD risk alleles have been associated with impairment of NMDA receptor activation (i.e., NMDA Receptor Hypofunction) and/or disturbance of the careful balance between activation mediated by GluN2B-subtype and GluN2A-subtype-containing NMDA receptors. Importantly, although these various risk alleles affect NMDA receptor activation through different mechanisms, they share the pathogenic consequences of causing disturbance of highly regulated NMDA receptor activation. Disturbances of NMDA receptor activation due to sequence variants, protein termination variants and copy number variants are often cell-specific and regionally selective. Thus, translational therapeutic NMDA receptor agonist interventions, which may require chronic administration, must have specificity, selectivity and facilitate NMDA receptor activation in a manner that is physiologic (i.e., mimicking that of endogenously released glutamate and glycine/D-serine released in response to salient and relevant socio-cognitive provocations within discrete neural circuits). Importantly, knockout mice with absent expression and mice with haploinsufficient expression of the deleterious genes often serve as good models to test the potential efficacy of promising pharmacotherapeutic strategies. The Review considers diverse examples of “illness” genes, their pathogenic effects on NMDA receptor activation and, when available, results of studies of impaired sociability in mouse models, including “proof of principle/proof of concept” experiments exploring NMDA receptor agonist interventions and the development of promising positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), which serve as support and models for developing an inventory of PAMs and negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) for translational therapeutic intervention. Conceivably, selective PAMs and NAMs either alone or in combination will be administered to patients guided by their genotype in order to potentiate and/or restore disrupted balance between activation mediated by GluN2B-subtype and GluN2A-subtype containing NMDA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I. Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA;
| | - Zachary N. M. Luyo
- Program in Neuroscience, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, USA;
| | - Jessica A. Burket
- Program in Neuroscience, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, USA;
- Department of Molecular Biology & Chemistry, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-757-594-8743
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Joseph TP, Zhou F, Sai LY, Chen H, Lin SL, Schachner M. Duloxetine ameliorates valproic acid-induced hyperactivity, anxiety-like behavior, and social interaction deficits in zebrafish. Autism Res 2022; 15:27-41. [PMID: 34605202 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Syndromic autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors. Currently available therapeutic agents against ASD have limited efficacy. Thus, searching for novel and effective drugs ameliorating core symptoms, in particular social deficits, is of utmost importance. Duloxetine (DLX), an antidepressant that has been identified as an agonist mimetic for the cell adhesion molecule L1, exhibits beneficial functions in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the rapid and persistent neuroprotective function of DLX following valproic acid (VPA)-triggered hyperactivity, anxiety-like behavior and social deficits in zebrafish. Embryonic exposure to VPA reduced survival in a dose- and time-dependent manner, delayed hatching, and also resulted in a significant number of malformed larvae. After initial dose-response experiments in zebrafish larvae, 10 μM VPA exposure between 0.33 and 4.5 days post fertilization (dpf) was identified as an effective concentration that led to an early and persistent ASD-like phenotype in zebrafish. ASD-like elevated acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity and reduced Akt-mTOR signaling was observed in zebrafish whole brain. Acute administration of DLX (4.5-6 dpf) reduced the VPA-induced ASD-like phenotype in zebrafish larvae. Additionally, such early-life acute DLX treatment had long-term effects in ameliorating social impairments, hyperactivity, and anxiety-like behaviors through adulthood. This was accompanied by reduced AChE activity and by normalized Akt-mTOR signaling. Overall, DLX treatment showed a long-term therapeutic effect on autistic-like behaviors, and alteration of AChE activity and Akt-mTOR signaling were identified as crucial in the VPA-induced ASD zebrafish model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fang Zhou
- Center of Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Liu Yang Sai
- Center of Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Hanyu Chen
- Center of Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Stanley Li Lin
- Department of Cell Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Melitta Schachner
- Center of Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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Zaman Q, Zhang D, Reddy OS, Wong WT, Lai WF. Roles and Mechanisms of Astragaloside IV in Combating Neuronal Aging. Aging Dis 2022; 13:1845-1861. [DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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20
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Gao WJ, Mack NR. From Hyposociability to Hypersociability-The Effects of PSD-95 Deficiency on the Dysfunctional Development of Social Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:618397. [PMID: 33584217 PMCID: PMC7876227 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.618397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal social behavior, including both hypo- and hypersociability, is often observed in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. However, the mechanisms associated with these two distinct social behavior abnormalities remain unknown. Postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) is a highly abundant scaffolding protein in the excitatory synapses and an essential regulator of synaptic maturation by binding to NMDA and AMPA receptors. The DLG4 gene encodes PSD-95, and it is a risk gene for hypersocial behavior. Interestingly, PSD-95 knockout mice exhibit hyposociability during adolescence but hypersociability in adulthood. The adolescent hyposociability is accompanied with an NMDAR hyperfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), an essential part of the social brain for control of sociability. The maturation of mPFC development is delayed until young adults. However, how PSD-95 deficiency affects the functional maturation of mPFC and its connection with other social brain regions remains uncharacterized. It is especially unknown how PSD-95 knockout drives the switch of social behavior from hypo- to hyper-sociability during adolescent-to-adult development. We propose an NMDAR-dependent developmental switch of hypo- to hyper-sociability. PSD-95 deficiency disrupts NMDAR-mediated synaptic connectivity of mPFC and social brain during development in an age- and pathway-specific manner. By utilizing the PSD-95 deficiency mouse, the mechanisms contributing to both hypo- and hyper-sociability can be studied in the same model. This will allow us to assess both local and long-range connectivity of mPFC and examine how they are involved in the distinct impairments in social behavior and how changes in these connections may mature over time.
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21
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Deutsch SI, Burket JA. Psychotropic medication use for adults and older adults with intellectual disability; selective review, recommendations and future directions. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 104:110017. [PMID: 32544599 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A growing expert consensus has emerged to guide prescribing behavior and monitoring of psychotropic medications in adults and older adults with intellectual disability (ID). However, there is little empirically-derived evidence to inform physician selection of specific categories of psychotropic medication for treatment of "challenging" behaviors in this vulnerable population (such as aggression to self, others and objects; self-injurious behaviors; repetitive stereotypic behaviors; and hyperactivity). Difficulties with application of formal definitional diagnostic criteria and reliable assignment of psychiatric diagnoses to adults with ID, which is often difficult due to their poor communication skills, contribute to confusion and uncertainty surrounding medication selection. Long-term administration of antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed for challenging behaviors in spite of their questionable long-term efficacy, leading some to suggest that their "episodic" short-term administration for imminent dangerousness to self and others or when difficult-to-find residential placements are threatened is preferred to their long-term administration. Further, literature supports engagement of interdisciplinary treatment teams to seek causes for challenging behaviors, formulate non-pharmacological psychosocial and behavioral plans for their amelioration and, if medications are initiated, convene regular medication monitoring to identify "drug-related problems". Medication monitoring is important because medication-related adverse events cause or contribute to challenging behaviors, which can sometimes be improved by dose reduction, medication discontinuation and/or elimination of polypharmacy and co-pharmacy. Importantly, medications themselves may interfere with self-reported measures of Quality of Life. The data clearly highlight the need for well-designed randomized controlled clinical trials in samples that are homogeneous with respect to severity of ID and residential setting; moreover, they should include a wider variety of clinical and safety outcome measures. Preclinical studies have suggested novel pharmacological strategies to prevent progressive worsening of adaptive function in adults with Down syndrome in particular, and improvement of cognition in adults with ID in general, irrespective of the etiopathogenesis of the ID. Translational clinical trials to address pathogenic mechanisms of ID, as well as challenging behaviors, are anticipated but raise societal issues pertaining to protection of this vulnerable population enrolling in clinical trials and prioritization of urgent therapeutic targets (e.g., amelioration of challenging behaviors versus improving or preserving intellectual functioning).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, USA.
| | - Jessica A Burket
- Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry, Christopher Newport University, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Christopher Newport University, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA
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22
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Cohen Kadosh K, Muhardi L, Parikh P, Basso M, Jan Mohamed HJ, Prawitasari T, Samuel F, Ma G, Geurts JMW. Nutritional Support of Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Function in Infants and Young Children-An Update and Novel Insights. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13010199. [PMID: 33435231 PMCID: PMC7828103 DOI: 10.3390/nu13010199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper nutrition is crucial for normal brain and neurocognitive development. Failure to optimize neurodevelopment early in life can have profound long-term implications for both mental health and quality of life. Although the first 1000 days of life represent the most critical period of neurodevelopment, the central and peripheral nervous systems continue to develop and change throughout life. All this time, development and functioning depend on many factors, including adequate nutrition. In this review, we outline the role of nutrients in cognitive, emotional, and neural development in infants and young children with special attention to the emerging roles of polar lipids and high quality (available) protein. Furthermore, we discuss the dynamic nature of the gut-brain axis and the importance of microbial diversity in relation to a variety of outcomes, including brain maturation/function and behavior are discussed. Finally, the promising therapeutic potential of psychobiotics to modify gut microbial ecology in order to improve mental well-being is presented. Here, we show that the individual contribution of nutrients, their interaction with other micro- and macronutrients and the way in which they are organized in the food matrix are of crucial importance for normal neurocognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Cohen Kadosh
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (K.C.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Leilani Muhardi
- FrieslandCampina AMEA, Singapore 039190, Singapore; (L.M.); (P.P.)
| | - Panam Parikh
- FrieslandCampina AMEA, Singapore 039190, Singapore; (L.M.); (P.P.)
| | - Melissa Basso
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (K.C.K.); (M.B.)
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Hamid Jan Jan Mohamed
- Nutrition and Dietetics Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia;
| | - Titis Prawitasari
- Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Working Group, Indonesian Pediatric Society, Jakarta 10310, Indonesia;
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusomo National Referral Hospital Jakarta, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Folake Samuel
- Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria;
| | - Guansheng Ma
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China;
- Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jan M. W. Geurts
- FrieslandCampina, 3818 LE Amersfoort, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-6-53310499
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Lv Y, Chen P, Kuang L, Han Z, Solanki B, Zhou W, Tao F, Chen R, Yao Y. Role of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the impact of chronic stress during pregnancy on inducing depression in male offspring mice. Brain Res 2020; 1747:147029. [PMID: 32717275 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yili Lv
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Chen
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Liang Kuang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Zhenmin Han
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Bhawna Solanki
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Weiju Zhou
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Ruoling Chen
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK.
| | - Yuyou Yao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
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Burket JA, Pickle JC, Rusk AM, Haynes BA, Sharp JA, Deutsch SI. Glycine transporter type 1 (GlyT1) inhibition improves conspecific-provoked immobility in BALB/c mice: Analysis of corticosterone response and glucocorticoid gene expression in cortex and hippocampus. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 99:109869. [PMID: 31962186 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.109869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Stress reactivity and glucocorticoid signaling alterations are reported in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). BALB/c mice display decreased locomotor activity in the presence of stimulus mice and spend less time exploring enclosed stimulus mice; this mouse strain has been validated as an ASD model. VU0410120, a glycine type 1 transporter (GlyT1) inhibitor, improved sociability in BALB/c mice, consistent with data that NMDA Receptor (NMDAR) activation regulates sociability, and the endogenous tone of NMDAR-mediated neurotransmission is altered in this strain. Effects of a prosocial dose of VU0410120 on conspecific-provoked immobility, and relationships between conspecific-provoked immobility and corticosterone response were explored. VU0410120-treated BALB/c mice showed reduced immobility in the presence of conspecifics and increased the conspecific-provoked corticosterone response. However, the intensity of conspecific-provoked immobility in VU0410120-treated BALB/c mice did not differ as a function of corticosterone response. Expression profiles of 88 glucocorticoid signaling associated genes within frontal cortex and hippocampus were examined. BALB/c mice resistant to prosocial effects of VU0410120 had increased mRNA expression of Ddit4, a negative regulator of mTOR signaling. Dysregulated mTOR signaling activity is a convergent finding in several monogenic syndromic forms of ASD. Prosocial effects of VU0410120 in the BALB/c strain may be related to regulatory influences of NMDAR-activation on mTOR signaling activity. Because corticosterone response is a marker of social stress, the current data suggest that the stressfulness of a social encounter alone may not be the sole determinant of increased immobility in BALB/c mice; this strain may also display an element of social disinterest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Burket
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States; Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Jerrah C Pickle
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Allison M Rusk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Bronson A Haynes
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Julia A Sharp
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Stephen I Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States; Anne Armistead Robinson Endowed Chair in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507, United States.
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25
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Deutsch SI, Burket JA. An Evolving Therapeutic Rationale for Targeting the α 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 45:167-208. [PMID: 32468495 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Abnormalities of cholinergic nuclei, cholinergic projections, and cholinergic receptors, as well as abnormalities of growth factors involved in the maturation and maintenance of cholinergic neurons, have been described in postmortem brains of persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Further, microdeletions of the 15q13.3 locus that encompasses CHRNA7, the gene coding the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR), are associated with a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD. The heterozygous 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome suggests that diminished or impaired transduction of the acetylcholine (ACh) signal by the α7 nAChR can be a pathogenic mechanism of ASD. The α7 nAChR has a role in regulating the firing and function of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing GABAergic projections, which synchronize the oscillatory output of assemblies of pyramidal neurons onto which they project. Synchronous oscillatory output is an electrophysiological substrate for higher executive functions, such as working memory, and functional connectivity between discrete anatomic areas of the brain. The α7 nAChR regulates PV expression and works cooperatively with the co-expressed NMDA receptor in subpopulations of GABAergic interneurons in mouse models of ASD. An evolving literature supports therapeutic exploration of selectively targeted cholinergic interventions for the treatment of ASD, especially compounds that target the α7 nAChR subtype. Importantly, development and availability of high-affinity, brain-penetrable, α7 nAChR-selective agonists, partial agonists, allosteric agonists, and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) should facilitate "proof-of-principle/concept" clinical trials. nAChRs are pentameric allosteric proteins that function as ligand-gated ion channel receptors constructed from five constituent polypeptide subunits, all of which share a common structural motif. Importantly, in addition to α7 nAChR-gated Ca2+ conductance causing membrane depolarization, there are emerging data consistent with possible metabotropic functions of this ionotropic receptor. The ability of α7-selective type II PAMs to "destabilize" the desensitized state and promote ion channel opening may afford them therapeutic advantages over orthosteric agonists. The current chapter reviews historic and recent literature supporting selective therapeutic targeting of the α7 nAChR in persons affected with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
| | - Jessica A Burket
- Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA, USA
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26
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Mabunga DFN, Park D, Ryu O, Valencia ST, Adil KJL, Kim S, Kwon KJ, Shin CY, Jeon SJ. Recapitulation of Neuropsychiatric Behavioral Features in Mice Using Acute Low-dose MK-801 Administration. Exp Neurobiol 2019; 28:697-708. [PMID: 31902157 PMCID: PMC6946115 DOI: 10.5607/en.2019.28.6.697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite some innate limitations, animal models are a potent investigative tool when used to model specific symptoms of a disorder. For example, MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is used as a pharmacological tool to induce symptoms found in some neuropsychiatric disorders. However, a close examination of literature suggests that the application window of MK-801 doses is relatively narrow between individual behavioral paradigms, necessitating careful characterization of the evoked behavioral aberrations and the doses used to induce them. Moreover, variation in behaviors depending on the animal strain, gender of the subject, and the timing of administration is observed, making it difficult to compare the behavioral characteristics reported in different studies. We aim to characterize the behavioral aberrations induced by different doses of MK-801 in CD-1 mice and create a ready reference for future studies. We used CD-1 mice to recapitulate behavioral impairments resulting from acute administration of MK-801. In 0.1 mg kg−1, we observed diminished spontaneous alteration during the Y-maze test, while 0.12 mg kg−1 resulted in hyperlocomotion and social deficit. Mice treated with 0.2 and 0.3 mg kg−1 of MK-801 demonstrated a decreased self-grooming. Finally, all doses significantly impaired cliff avoidance behaviors suggesting increased impulsivity. These results affirm that MK-801 can effectively model various symptoms of different neuropsychiatric disorders in a dose-dependent manner. The observed sensitivity against spatial-memory impairment and impulsive behaviors at low concentration of MK-801 suggest that MK801 may modulate cognitive function and impulsivity in even lower concentration before it can modulate other behavioral domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Froy N Mabunga
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Donghyun Park
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Onjeon Ryu
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Schley T Valencia
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | | | - Seonmin Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Kyoung Ja Kwon
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Se Jin Jeon
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
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27
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Yi H, Talmon G, Wang J. Glutamate in cancers: from metabolism to signaling. J Biomed Res 2019; 34:260-270. [PMID: 32594024 PMCID: PMC7386414 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.34.20190037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamine and glutamate are major bioenergy substrates for normal and cancer cell growth. Cancer cells need more biofuel than normal tissues for energy supply, anti-oxidation activity and biomass production. Genes related to metabolic chains in many cancers are somehow mutated, which makes cancer cells more glutamate dependent. Meanwhile, glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter for conducting signals through binding with different types of receptors in central neuron system. Interestingly, increasing evidences have shown involvement of glutamate signaling, guided through their receptors, in human malignancy. Dysregulation of glutamate transporters, such as excitatory amino acid transporter and cystine/glutamate antiporter system, also generates excessive extracellular glutamate, which in turn, activates glutamate receptors on cancer cells and results in malignant growth. These features make glutamate an attractive target for anti-cancer drug development with some glutamate targeted but blood brain barrier impermeable anti-psychosis drugs under consideration. We discussed the relevant progressions and drawbacks in this field herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Yi
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy
| | | | - Jing Wang
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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28
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Sceniak MP, Fedder KN, Wang Q, Droubi S, Babcock K, Patwardhan S, Wright-Zornes J, Pham L, Sabo SL. An autism-associated mutation in GluN2B prevents NMDA receptor trafficking and interferes with dendrite growth. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:jcs.232892. [PMID: 31548203 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.232892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders with multiple genetic associations. Analysis of de novo mutations identified GRIN2B, which encodes the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptors, as a gene linked to ASDs with high probability. However, the mechanisms by which GRIN2B mutations contribute to ASD pathophysiology are not understood. Here, we investigated the cellular phenotypes induced by a human mutation that is predicted to truncate GluN2B within the extracellular loop. This mutation abolished NMDA-dependent Ca2+ influx. Mutant GluN2B co-assembled with GluN1 but was not trafficked to the cell surface or dendrites. When mutant GluN2B was expressed in developing cortical neurons, dendrites appeared underdeveloped, with shorter and fewer branches, while spine density was unaffected. Mutant dendritic arbors were often dysmorphic, displaying abnormal filopodial-like structures. Interestingly, dendrite maldevelopment appeared when mutant GluN2B was expressed on a wild-type background, reflecting the disease given that individuals are heterozygous for GRIN2B mutations. Restoring the fourth transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail did not rescue the phenotypes. Finally, abnormal development was not accompanied by reduced mTOR signaling. These data suggest that mutations in GluN2B contribute to ASD pathogenesis by disrupting dendrite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Sceniak
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Karlie N Fedder
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Sammy Droubi
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Katie Babcock
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Sagar Patwardhan
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jazmin Wright-Zornes
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Lucynda Pham
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Shasta L Sabo
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA .,Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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29
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Metabotropic functions of the NMDA receptor and an evolving rationale for exploring NR2A-selective positive allosteric modulators for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 90:142-160. [PMID: 30481555 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
NMDA receptors are widely distributed throughout the brain and major therapeutic challenges include targeting specific NMDA receptor subtypes while preserving spatial and temporal specificity during their activation. The NR2A-subunit containing NMDA receptor is implicated in regulating synchronous oscillatory output of cortical pyramidal neurons, which may be disturbed in clinical presentations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because NR2A-selective positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) preserve spatial and temporal selectivity while activating this subpopulation of receptors, they represent a promising strategy to address neocortical circuit abnormalities in ASD. In addition to promoting Ca2+ entry and membrane depolarization, diverse metabotropic effects of NMDA receptor activation on signal transduction pathways occur within the cell, some of which depend on alignment of protein binding partners. For example, NMDA receptor agonist interventions attenuate impaired sociability in transgenic mice with 'loss-of-function' mutations of the Shank family of scaffolding proteins, which highlights the necessity of a carefully orchestrated alignment of protein binding partners in the excitatory synapse. The current Review considers metabotropic functions of the NMDA receptor that could play a role in sociability and the pathogenesis of ASD (e.g., mTOR signaling), in addition to its more familiar ionotropic functions, and provides a rationale for therapeutic exploration of NR2A-selective PAMs.
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30
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Cui W, Ning Y, Hong W, Wang J, Liu Z, Li MD. Crosstalk Between Inflammation and Glutamate System in Depression: Signaling Pathway and Molecular Biomarkers for Ketamine's Antidepressant Effect. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:3484-3500. [PMID: 30140973 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1306-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a worldwide illness with a significant impact on both family and society. Conventional antidepressants are ineffective for more than 30% of patients. In such patients, who have what is called treatment-resistant depression (TRD), inflammatory biomarkers are expressed excessively in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral blood. Ketamine, a glutamate receptor antagonist, exerts a rapid and sustained therapeutic effect in patients with TRD. Thus, the investigation of the relations between inflammation and glutamate underlying depression has drawn great attention. Inflammation influences glutamate release, transmission, and metabolism, resulting in accumulated extracellular glutamate in the CNS. Downstream of the glutamate receptors, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating ketamine's antidepressant effect by improving neurogenesis and plasticity. Based on the mechanism and clinical evidence of the inflammatory contribution to the pathogenesis of depression, extensive research has been devoted to inflammatory biomarkers of the clinical response of depression to ketamine. The inconsistent findings from the biomarker investigations are at least partially attributable to the heterogeneity of depression, limited sample size, and complex gene-environment interactions. Deep exploration of the clinical observations and the underlying mechanism of ketamine's antidepressant response can provide new insights into the selection of specific groups of depressed patients for ketamine treatment and to aid in monitoring the therapeutic effect during antidepressant medication. Further, targeting persistent inflammation in patients with TRD and the key molecules mediating ketamine's antidepressant effect may encourage the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yuping Ning
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wu Hong
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ju Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhening Liu
- The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming D Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA.
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31
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Um SM, Ha S, Lee H, Kim J, Kim K, Shin W, Cho YS, Roh JD, Kang J, Yoo T, Noh YW, Choi Y, Bae YC, Kim E. NGL-2 Deletion Leads to Autistic-like Behaviors Responsive to NMDAR Modulation. Cell Rep 2018; 23:3839-3851. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.05.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neurodevelopmental disorders disproportionately affect males. The mechanisms underlying male vulnerability or female protection are not known and remain understudied. Determining the processes involved is crucial to understanding the etiology and advancing treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we review current findings and theories that contribute to male preponderance of neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on autism. RECENT FINDINGS Recent work on the biological basis of the male preponderance of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders includes discussion of a higher genetic burden in females and sex-specific gene mutations or epigenetic changes that differentially confer risk to males or protection to females. Other mechanisms discussed are sex chromosome and sex hormone involvement. Specifically, fetal testosterone is involved in many aspects of development and may interact with neurotransmitter, neuropeptide, or immune pathways to contribute to male vulnerability. Finally, the possibilities of female underdiagnosis and a multi-hit hypothesis are discussed. This review highlights current theories of male bias in developmental disorders. Topics include environmental, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms; theories of sex chromosomes, hormones, neuroendocrine, and immune function; underdiagnosis of females; and a multi-hit hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Ferri
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building, 169 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building, 169 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Edward S. Brodkin
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2202, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403 USA
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Braidy N, Essa MM, Poljak A, Selvaraju S, Al-Adawi S, Manivasagm T, Thenmozhi AJ, Ooi L, Sachdev P, Guillemin GJ. Consumption of pomegranates improves synaptic function in a transgenic mice model of Alzheimer's disease. Oncotarget 2018; 7:64589-64604. [PMID: 27486879 PMCID: PMC5323101 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular plaques containing abnormal Amyloid Beta (Aβ) aggregates, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein, microglia-dominated neuroinflammation, and impairments in synaptic plasticity underlying cognitive deficits. Therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AD are currently limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of 4% pomegranate extract to a standard chow diet on neuroinflammation, and synaptic plasticity in APPsw/Tg2576 mice brain. Treatment with a custom mixed diet (pellets) containing 4% pomegranate for 15 months ameliorated the loss of synaptic structure proteins, namely PSD-95, Munc18-1, and SNAP25, synaptophysin, phosphorylation of Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase IIα (p-CaMKIIα/ CaMKIIα), and phosphorylation of Cyclic AMP-Response Element Binding Protein (pCREB/CREB), inhibited neuroinflammatory activity, and enhanced autophagy, and activation of the phophoinositide-3-kinase-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. These neuroprotective effects were associated with reduced β-site cleavage of Amyloid Precursor Protein in APPsw/Tg2576 mice. Therefore, long-term supplementation with pomegranates can attenuate AD pathology by reducing inflammation, and altering APP-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Musthafa Mohamed Essa
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman.,Ageing and Dementia Research Group, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman
| | - Anne Poljak
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman
| | - Subash Selvaraju
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman.,Ageing and Dementia Research Group, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman
| | - Samir Al-Adawi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman.,College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Oman
| | | | | | - Lezanne Ooi
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Perminder Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Neuropsychiatric Institute, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Neuroinflammation Group, MND and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Centre, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia
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mTOR-Dependent Cell Proliferation in the Brain. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:7082696. [PMID: 29259984 PMCID: PMC5702949 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7082696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is a molecular complex equipped with kinase activity which controls cell viability being key in the PI3K/PTEN/Akt pathway. mTOR acts by integrating a number of environmental stimuli to regulate cell growth, proliferation, autophagy, and protein synthesis. These effects are based on the modulation of different metabolic pathways. Upregulation of mTOR associates with various pathological conditions, such as obesity, neurodegeneration, and brain tumors. This is the case of high-grade gliomas with a high propensity to proliferation and tissue invasion. Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a WHO grade IV malignant, aggressive, and lethal glioma. To date, a few treatments are available although the outcome of GBM patients remains poor. Experimental and pathological findings suggest that mTOR upregulation plays a major role in determining an aggressive phenotype, thus determining relapse and chemoresistance. Among several activities, mTOR-induced autophagy suppression is key in GBM malignancy. In this article, we discuss recent evidence about mTOR signaling and its role in normal brain development and pathological conditions, with a special emphasis on its role in GBM.
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Ahmadiantehrani S, London SE. Bidirectional manipulation of mTOR signaling disrupts socially mediated vocal learning in juvenile songbirds. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:9463-9468. [PMID: 28739951 PMCID: PMC5584414 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1701829114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life experiences can have long-lasting behavioral consequences because they are encoded when the brain is most malleable. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade modulates experience-dependent synaptic plasticity, among other processes. mTOR has been almost exclusively examined in adult rodent learning models, but may be especially important in organizing neural circuits required for developmental acquisition of meaningful complex behaviors. It is among the most commonly implicated factors in neurodevelopmental autism spectrum disorders (ASD), characterized, in part, by distinct social and communication phenotypes. Here, we investigated mTOR in juvenile zebra finch songbirds. Much as children learn language, young male zebra finches need to interact socially with an adult tutor to learn a meaningful song. The memory of the tutor's song structure guides the juvenile's own song, which it uses to communicate for the rest of its life. We hypothesized that mTOR is required for juveniles to learn song. To this end, we first discovered that hearing song activates mTOR signaling in a brain area required for tutor song memorization in males old enough to copy song but not in younger males or females, who cannot sing. We then showed that both inhibition and constitutive activation of mTOR during tutor experiences significantly diminished tutor song copying. Finally, we found that constitutive mTOR activation lowered a behavioral measure of the juvenile's social engagement during tutor experiences, mirroring the relationship in humans. These studies therefore advance understanding about the effects of experience in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders and typical neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Ahmadiantehrani
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Institute for Mind and Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Sarah E London
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637;
- Institute for Mind and Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
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Abstract
The primary processes that contribute to the efficient capture of soil nitrate are the development of a root system that effectively explores the soil and the expression of high-affinity nitrate uptake systems in those roots. Both these processes are highly regulated to take into account the availability and distribution of external nitrate pools and the endogenous N status of the plant. While significant progress has been made in elucidating the early steps in sensing and responding to external nitrate, there is much less clarity about how the plant monitors its N status. This review specifically addresses the questions of what N compounds are sensed and in which part of the plant, as well as the identity of the signalling pathways responsible for their detection. Candidates that are considered for the role of N sensory systems include the target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway, the general control non-derepressible 2 (GCN2) pathway, the plastidic PII-dependent pathway, and the family of glutamate-like receptors (GLRs). However, despite significant recent progress in elucidating the function and mode of action of these signalling systems, there is still much uncertainty about the extent to which they contribute to the process by which plants monitor their N status. The possibility is discussed that the large GLR family of Ca2+ channels, which are gated by a wide range of different amino acids and expressed throughout the plant, could act as amino acid sensors upstream of a Ca2+-regulated signalling pathway, such as the TOR pathway, to regulate the plant's response to changes in N status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gent
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Brian G Forde
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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System-based proteomic and metabonomic analysis of the Df(16)A +/- mouse identifies potential miR-185 targets and molecular pathway alterations. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:384-395. [PMID: 27001617 PMCID: PMC5322275 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Deletions on chromosome 22q11.2 are a strong genetic risk factor for development of schizophrenia and cognitive dysfunction. We employed shotgun liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) proteomic and metabonomic profiling approaches on prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampal (HPC) tissue from Df(16)A+/- mice, a model of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Proteomic results were compared with previous transcriptomic profiling studies of the same brain regions. The aim was to investigate how the combined effect of the 22q11.2 deletion and the corresponding miRNA dysregulation affects the cell biology at the systems level. The proteomic brain profiling analysis revealed PFC and HPC changes in various molecular pathways associated with chromatin remodelling and RNA transcription, indicative of an epigenetic component of the 22q11.2DS. Further, alterations in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, mitochondrial function and lipid biosynthesis were identified. Metabonomic profiling substantiated the proteomic findings by identifying changes in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS)-related pathways, such as changes in ceramide phosphoethanolamines, sphingomyelin, carnitines, tyrosine derivates and panthothenic acid. The proteomic findings were confirmed using selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry, validating decreased levels of several proteins encoded on 22q11.2, increased levels of the computationally predicted putative miR-185 targets UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-peptide N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 110 kDa subunit (OGT1) and kinesin heavy chain isoform 5A and alterations in the non-miR-185 targets serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 2B catalytic subunit gamma isoform, neurofilament light chain and vesicular glutamate transporter 1. Furthermore, alterations in the proteins associated with mammalian target of rapamycin signalling were detected in the PFC and with glutamatergic signalling in the hippocampus. Based on the proteomic and metabonomic findings, we were able to develop a schematic model summarizing the most prominent molecular network findings in the Df(16)A+/- mouse. Interestingly, the implicated pathways can be linked to one of the most consistent and strongest proteomic candidates, (OGT1), which is a predicted miR-185 target. Our results provide novel insights into system-biological mechanisms associated with the 22q11DS, which may be linked to cognitive dysfunction and an increased risk to develop schizophrenia. Further investigation of these pathways could help to identify novel drug targets for the treatment of schizophrenia.
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38
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Ignácio ZM, Réus GZ, Arent CO, Abelaira HM, Pitcher MR, Quevedo J. New perspectives on the involvement of mTOR in depression as well as in the action of antidepressant drugs. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2016; 82:1280-1290. [PMID: 26613210 PMCID: PMC5061805 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the revolution in recent decades regarding monoamine involvement in the management of major depressive disorder (MDD), the biological mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder are still poorly understood. Currently available treatments require long time courses to establish antidepressant response and a significant percentage of people are refractory to single drug or combination drug treatment. These issues, and recent findings demonstrating the involvement of synaptic plasticity in the pathophysiological mechanisms of MDD, are encouraging researchers to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric disease in more depth. The discovery of the rapid antidepressant effect exerted by glutamatergic and cholinergic agents highlights the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway as a critical pathway that contributes to the efficacy of these pharmacological agents in clinical and pre-clinical research. The mTOR pathway is a downstream intracellular signal that transmits information after the direct activation of α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) and neurotrophic factor receptors. Activation of these receptors is hypothesized to be one of the major axes involved in the synthesis of synaptogenic proteins underlying synaptic plasticity and critical to both the rapid and delayed effects exerted by classic antidepressants. This review focuses on the involvement of mTOR in the pathophysiology of depression and on molecular mechanisms involved in the activity of emerging and classic antidepressant agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuleide M Ignácio
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
- Laboratory of Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology and Psychopathology, Campus Chapeco, Federal University of South Frontier, Chapeco, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Z Réus
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
| | - Camila O Arent
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Helena M Abelaira
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Meagan R Pitcher
- Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - João Quevedo
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
- Center for Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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Zhang Q, Zhang D, Liu KY, Liu YH, Sheng J, Jin ZX, Wang SF, Bo QL, Wang JJ, Yin HF. Perinatal sulfamonomethoxine exposure influences physiological and behavioral responses and the brain mTOR pathway in mouse offspring. Hum Exp Toxicol 2016; 36:256-275. [DOI: 10.1177/0960327116646839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) is widely used in the veterinary field in China. Although some clinical surveys have revealed that sulfonamide antibiotics cause adverse nervous system symptoms, the related mechanisms of maternal SMM exposure on the neurobehavioral development of offspring remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of perinatal SMM exposure on the physiological and behavioral responses of pubertal offspring mice and the underlying mechanisms. We randomly allocated pregnant mice into the groups treated with SMM at different doses and the saline-treated groups. Maternal mice were orally administered SMM daily from gestational day 1 to postpartum day 21. On postnatal day (PND) 22, the parameters of growth, endocrine hormones, and brain amino acid composition were assessed, as well as the brain transcript levels of key genes involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. From PND 50 to 55, a battery of behavioral tests relevant to anxiety and memory were then administered. Analysis of the results indicated that the pups, particularly the pubertal female offspring, showed anxiety-like behavior. Moreover, the pubertal offspring showed cognitive impairments and fat accumulation. Furthermore, the relative mRNA expression of genes involved in the mTOR signaling pathway in females on PND 22 was elevated, whereas the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor 2B (NR2B) was reduced. Together, the results showed that perinatal SMM exposure perturbs neuroendocrine functions, and further alters gene expression in the mTOR pathway and NR2B gene expression early in life, which may contribute to brain dysfunction in pubertal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - D Zhang
- Lujiang County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lujiang County, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kai-yong Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ye-hao Liu
- Department of Public Health Inspection and Quarantine Science, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - J Sheng
- Department of Public Health Inspection and Quarantine Science, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhong-xiu Jin
- Department of Public Health Inspection and Quarantine Science, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Su-fang Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing-li Bo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia-jia Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui-fang Yin
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Long Yan University, Longyan, People’s Republic of China
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40
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Green TL, Burket JA, Deutsch SI. Age-dependent effects on social interaction of NMDA GluN2A receptor subtype-selective antagonism. Brain Res Bull 2016; 125:159-67. [PMID: 27378651 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission is implicated in the regulation of normal sociability in mice. The heterotetrameric NMDA receptor is composed of two obligatory GluN1 and either two "modulatory" GluN2A or GluN2B receptor subunits. GluN2A and GluN2B-containing receptors differ in terms of their developmental expression, distribution between synaptic and extrasynaptic locations, and channel kinetic properties, among other differences. Because age-dependent differences in disruptive effects of GluN2A and GluN2B subtype-selective antagonists on sociability and locomotor activity have been reported in rats, the current investigation explored age-dependent effects of PEAQX, a GluN2A subtype-selective antagonist, on sociability, stereotypic behaviors emerging during social interaction, and spatial working memory in 4- and 8-week old male Swiss Webster mice. The data implicate an age-dependent contribution of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors to the regulation of normal social interaction in mice. Specifically, at a dose of PEAQX devoid of any effect on locomotor activity and mouse rotarod performance, the social interaction of 8-week old mice was disrupted without any effect on the social salience of a stimulus mouse. Moreover, PEAQX attenuated stereotypic behavior emerging during social interaction in 4- and 8-week old mice. However, PEAQX had no effect on spontaneous alternations, a measure of spatial working memory, suggesting that neural circuits mediating sociability and spatial working memory may be discrete and dissociable from each other. Also, the data suggest that the regulation of stereotypic behaviors and sociability may occur independently of each other. Because expression of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors occurs at a later developmental stage, they may be more involved in mediating the pathogenesis of ASDs in patients with histories of "regression" after a period of normal development than GluN2B receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torrian L Green
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA, 23507, United States
| | - Jessica A Burket
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA, 23507, United States
| | - Stephen I Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA, 23507, United States.
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Garza-Lombó C, Gonsebatt ME. Mammalian Target of Rapamycin: Its Role in Early Neural Development and in Adult and Aged Brain Function. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:157. [PMID: 27378854 PMCID: PMC4910040 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates signals triggered by energy, stress, oxygen levels, and growth factors. It regulates ribosome biogenesis, mRNA translation, nutrient metabolism, and autophagy. mTOR participates in various functions of the brain, such as synaptic plasticity, adult neurogenesis, memory, and learning. mTOR is present during early neural development and participates in axon and dendrite development, neuron differentiation, and gliogenesis, among other processes. Furthermore, mTOR has been shown to modulate lifespan in multiple organisms. This protein is an important energy sensor that is present throughout our lifetime its role must be precisely described in order to develop therapeutic strategies and prevent diseases of the central nervous system. The aim of this review is to present our current understanding of the functions of mTOR in neural development, the adult brain and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Garza-Lombó
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México México
| | - María E Gonsebatt
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México México
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42
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Kumar H, Sharma B. Memantine ameliorates autistic behavior, biochemistry & blood brain barrier impairments in rats. Brain Res Bull 2016; 124:27-39. [PMID: 27034117 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, commonly characterized by altered social behavior, communication, biochemistry and pathological conditions. One percent of the worldwide population suffers from autism and males suffer more than females. NMDA receptors have the important role in neurodevelopment, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This study has been designed to investigate the role of memantine, a NMDA receptor modulator, in prenatal valproic acid-induced autism in rats. Animals with prenatal valproic acid have shown the reduction in social interaction (three-chamber social behavior apparatus), spontaneous alternation (Y-Maze), exploratory activity (Hole board test), intestinal motility, serotonin levels (both in prefrontal cortex and ileum) and prefrontal cortex mitochondrial complex activity (complex I, II, IV). Furthermore, prenatal valproic acid-treated animals have shown an increase in locomotion (actophotometer), anxiety (elevated plus maze), brain oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive species, glutathione, catalase), nitrosative stress (nitrite/nitrate), inflammation (both in brain and ileum myeloperoxidase activity), calcium and blood-brain barrier permeability. Treatment with memantine has significantly attenuated prenatal valproic acid-induced reduction in social interaction, spontaneous alteration, exploratory activity intestinal motility, serotonin levels and prefrontal cortex mitochondrial complex activity. Furthermore, memantine has also attenuated the prenatal valproic acid-induced increase in locomotion, anxiety, brain oxidative and nitrosative stress, inflammation, calcium and blood-brain barrier permeability. Thus, it may be concluded that prenatal valproic acid has induced autistic behavior, biochemistry and blood-brain barrier impairment in animals, which were significantly attenuated by memantine. NMDA receptor modulators like memantine should be explored further for the therapeutic benefits in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hariom Kumar
- CNS Research Lab., Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Bharat Institute of Technology, Partapur Bypass, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Bhupesh Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India; CNS Pharmacology, Conscience Research, Pocket F-233 B, Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India.
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A Potential Role for Felbamate in TSC- and NF1-Related Epilepsy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Rep Neurol Med 2015; 2015:960746. [PMID: 26579319 PMCID: PMC4633543 DOI: 10.1155/2015/960746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A 15-year-old girl with maternal inheritance of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and paternal inheritance of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) developed intractable epilepsy at age 5. Her seizures were refractory to adequate doses of four antiepileptic medications until felbamate was initiated at age 7. She has since remained seizure-free on felbamate monotherapy. Although felbamate has multiple mechanisms of action, it is thought to have its most potent antiepileptic effects through inhibition of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Previous studies have shown that the NMDAR is altered in varying epilepsy syndromes and notably in the cortical tubers found in TSC. The aim of this paper is to examine how felbamate monotherapy was able to achieve such robust antiepileptic effects in a unique patient and possibly offer a novel therapeutic approach to patients suffering from TSC- and NF-related epilepsy.
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44
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Deutsch SI, Burket JA, Benson AD, Urbano MR. NMDA agonists for autism spectrum disorders: progress and possibilities. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl.15.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mice with NMDA-receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction display impaired sociability (i.e., diminished preference for exploring conspecifics), supporting a critical role for the NMDAR in regulation of sociability. The endogenous tone of NMDAR-mediated neurotransmission is altered in the Balb/c mouse model of autism spectrum disorders; thus, the effects of targeting the NMDAR in Balb/c mice on sociability, cognition and stereotypic behavior were explored. Positive effects of this pharmacotherapeutic strategy were observed in Balb/c and other relevant mouse strains displaying impaired sociability. Furthermore, in a preliminary translational clinical trial, D-cycloserine, a partial glycineB site agonist, improved sociability and diminished stereotypies in a sample of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders. The data encourage pharmacotherapeutic targeting of the NMDAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507–1912, USA
| | - Jessica A Burket
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507–1912, USA
| | - Andrew D Benson
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507–1912, USA
| | - Maria R Urbano
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 710, Norfolk, VA 23507–1912, USA
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The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: A mediator of pathogenesis and therapeutic target in autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome. Biochem Pharmacol 2015; 97:363-377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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