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Coyle JT. Passing the torch: The ascendance of the glutamatergic synapse in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116376. [PMID: 38906225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
For nearly fifty years, the dopamine hypothesis has dominated our understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and provided the lone target for drug development. However, with the exception of clozapine, the dopamine D2 receptor antagonizing anti-psychotic drugs have little impact on the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, aspects of the disorder that robustly predict outcome. Pathologic studies reveal cortical atrophy and wide-spread loss of glutamatergic synaptic spines, unexplained by dopaminergic malfunction. Recent genome-wide association studies indicate that at least thirty risk genes for schizophrenia encode proteins localized to the glutamatergic synapse and inhibit glutamate neurotransmission, especially at the NMDA receptor. To function, the NMDA receptor requires the binding of glycine (primarily in the cerebellum and brainstem) or D-serine (in forebrain) to the NR1 channel subunit of the NMDA receptor. Genetically silencing the gene (srr) encoding serine racemase, the biosynthetic enzyme for D-serine, results in forebrain NMDA receptor hypofunction. The srr-/- mice have 90 % loss of endogenous D-serine and approximately 70 % decrease in NMDA receptor function. Several animal models of schizophrenia are based on behavioral and pharmacologic strategies, which have negligible validity with regard to the fundamental etiology of schizophrenia. We summarize here the results of a mouse model, in which srr, one of the two dozen or more risk gene for schizophrenia that affect NMDA receptor function, has been inactivated. The srr-/- mice exhibit striking similarities to schizophrenia including cortical atrophy, loss of cortico-limbic glutamatergic synapses, increased sub-cortical dopamine release, EEG abnormalities, and cognitive impairments. The limited efficacy of drugs targeting the glutamatergic synapse on DSM-5 diagnosed criteria for schizophrenia used in clinical trials may reflect the fact that only 30 % of the patients have impaired glutamatergic neurotransmission, resulting from the genetic heterogeneity of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T Coyle
- Eben S Draper Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Harvard Medical School (Emeritus), McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St, Belmont, MA 02478, United States.
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Roh WS, Yoo JH, Dravid SM, Mannaioni G, Krizman EN, Wahl P, Robinson MB, Traynelis SF, Lee CJ, Han KS. Astrocytic PAR1 and mGluR2/3 control synaptic glutamate time course at hippocampal CA1 synapses. Glia 2024. [PMID: 38864289 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes play an essential role in regulating synaptic transmission. This study describes a novel form of modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the mouse hippocampus by astrocytic G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We have previously described astrocytic glutamate release via protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) activation, although the regulatory mechanisms for this are complex. Through electrophysiological analysis and modeling, we discovered that PAR1 activation consistently increases the concentration and duration of glutamate in the synaptic cleft. This effect was not due to changes in the presynaptic glutamate release or alteration in glutamate transporter expression. However, blocking group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) abolished PAR1-mediated regulation of synaptic glutamate concentration, suggesting a role for this GPCR in mediating the effects of PAR1 activation on glutamate release. Furthermore, activation of mGluR2/3 causes glutamate release through the TREK-1 channel in hippocampal astrocytes. These data show that astrocytic GPCRs engage in a novel regulatory mechanism to shape the time course of synaptically-released glutamate in excitatory synapses of the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Suk Roh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jae Hong Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Shashank M Dravid
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Creighton University, Department of Pharmacology, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Guido Mannaioni
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Florence, GA, Italy
| | - Elizabeth N Krizman
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Philip Wahl
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael B Robinson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stephen F Traynelis
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Seok Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
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Milczarek MM, Perry JC, Amin E, Haniffa S, Hathaway T, Vann SD. Impairments in the early consolidation of spatial memories via group II mGluR agonism in the mammillary bodies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5977. [PMID: 38472268 PMCID: PMC10933409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56015-3] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
mGluR2 receptors are widely expressed in limbic brain regions associated with memory, including the hippocampal formation, retrosplenial and frontal cortices, as well as subcortical regions including the mammillary bodies. mGluR2/3 agonists have been proposed as potential therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders, however, there is still little known about the role of these receptors in cognitive processes, including memory consolidation. To address this, we assessed the effect of the mGluR2/3 agonist, eglumetad, on spatial memory consolidation in both mice and rats. Using the novel place preference paradigm, we found that post-sample injections of eglumetad impaired subsequent spatial discrimination when tested 6 h later. Using the immediate early gene c-fos as a marker of neural activity, we showed that eglumetad injections reduced activity in a network of limbic brain regions including the hippocampus and mammillary bodies. To determine whether the systemic effects could be replicated with more targeted manipulations, we performed post-sample infusions of the mGluR2/3 agonist 2R,4R-APDC into the mammillary bodies. This impaired novelty discrimination on a place preference task and an object-in-place task, again highlighting the role of mGluR2/3 transmission in memory consolidation and demonstrating the crucial involvement of the mammillary bodies in post-encoding processing of spatial information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal M Milczarek
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - James C Perry
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Eman Amin
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Salma Haniffa
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Thomas Hathaway
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Seralynne D Vann
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.
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Kang W, Nuara SG, Bédard D, Frouni I, Kwan C, Hamadjida A, Gourdon JC, Gaudette F, Beaudry F, Huot P. The mGluR 2/3 orthosteric agonist LY-404,039 reduces dyskinesia, psychosis-like behaviours and parkinsonism in the MPTP-lesioned marmoset. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:2347-2355. [PMID: 37410156 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02587-2] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
LY-404,039 is an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamate 2 and 3 receptors (mGluR2/3) that may harbour additional agonist effect at dopamine D2 receptors. LY-404,039 and its pro-drug, LY-2140023, have previously entered clinical trials as treatment options for schizophrenia. They could therefore be repurposed, if proven efficacious, for other conditions, notably Parkinson's disease (PD). We have previously shown that the mGluR2/3 orthosteric agonist LY-354,740 alleviated L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia and psychosis-like behaviours (PLBs) in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned marmoset. Unlike LY-404,039, LY-354,740 does not stimulate dopamine D2 receptors, suggesting that LY-404,039 may elicit broader therapeutic effects in PD. Here, we sought to investigate the effect of this possible additional dopamine D2-agonist action of LY-404,039 by assessing its efficacy on dyskinesia, PLBs and parkinsonism in the MPTP-lesioned marmoset. We first determined the pharmacokinetic profile of LY-404,039 in the marmoset, in order to select doses resulting in plasma concentrations known to be well tolerated in the clinic. Marmosets were then injected L-DOPA with either vehicle or LY-404,039 (0.1, 0.3, 1 and 10 mg/kg). The addition of LY-404,039 10 mg/kg to L-DOPA resulted in a significant reduction of global dyskinesia (by 55%, P < 0.01) and PLBs (by 50%, P < 0.05), as well as reduction of global parkinsonism (by 47%, P < 0.05). Our results provide additional support of the efficacy of mGluR2/3 orthosteric stimulation at alleviating dyskinesia, PLBs and parkinsonism. Because LY-404,039 has already been tested in clinical trials, it could be repurposed for indications related to PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woojin Kang
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Stephen G Nuara
- Comparative Medicine & Animal Resource Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Dominique Bédard
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Imane Frouni
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
- Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cynthia Kwan
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Adjia Hamadjida
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Jim C Gourdon
- Comparative Medicine & Animal Resource Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fleur Gaudette
- Plateforme de Pharmacocinétique, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Francis Beaudry
- Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cerveau et l'Apprentissage (CIRCA), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe Huot
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
- Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Neurosciences, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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5
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Dormann OD, Schuelert N, Rosenbrock H. Effects of the mGlu2/3 receptor agonist LY379268 on two models of disturbed auditory evoked brain oscillations in mice. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:150. [PMID: 37147311 PMCID: PMC10162958 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02455-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia and is poorly addressed by currently available medication. This is partly because the underlying circuits are insufficiently understood, and available animal models for brain dysfunction do not adequately mimic human pathology. To improve the translatability of animal studies and complement behavioral data, EEG measurements are being increasingly used in preclinical research. Brain oscillations are similar across species and can be impaired via several means. In this study, we used two approaches to impair early sensory processing and cortical oscillations in mice: a pharmacological model targeting NMDA receptor function in the whole brain via systemic MK-801 application and an optogenetic model targeting parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons locally in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We evoked brain activity using auditory stimulation, a tool with high translatability from mouse to human. We then investigated the effect of LY379268, an agonist of mGlu2/3 receptors, a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia, on single neuron and EEG responses. LY379268 was able to rescue MK-801-induced deficits for a variety of clinically relevant early sensory EEG biomarkers. Single neuron recordings revealed a strong effect of LY379268 on the signal-to-noise ratio during auditory stimulation and optogenetic inhibition of PV+ interneurons. Our results contribute to a better understanding of how group II metabotropic glutamate receptors modulate neuronal population and network activity under sensory stimulation while challenged pharmacologically or optogenetically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana-Daniela Dormann
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riss, Germany.
| | - Niklas Schuelert
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riss, Germany
| | - Holger Rosenbrock
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riss, Germany
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Martínez-Pinteño A, Rodríguez N, Olivares D, Madero S, Gómez M, Prohens L, García-Rizo C, Mas S, Morén C, Parellada E, Gassó P. Early treatment with JNJ-46356479, a mGluR2 modulator, improves behavioral and neuropathological deficits in a postnatal ketamine mouse model of schizophrenia. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114079. [PMID: 36521250 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2), such as JNJ-46356479 (JNJ), may mitigate the glutamate storm during the early stages of schizophrenia (SZ), which could be especially useful in the treatment of cognitive and negative symptoms. We evaluated the efficacy of early treatment with JNJ or clozapine (CLZ) in reversing behavioral and neuropathological deficits induced in a postnatal ketamine (KET) mouse model of SZ. Mice exposed to KET (30 mg/kg) on postnatal days (PND) 7, 9, and 11 received JNJ or CLZ (10 mg/kg) daily in the adolescent period (PND 35-60). Mice exposed to KET did not show the expected preference for a novel object or for social novelty, but they recovered this preference with JNJ treatment. Similarly, KET group did not show the expected dishabituation in the fifth trial, but mice treated with JNJ or CLZ recovered an interest in the novel animal. Neuronal immunoreactivity also differed between treatment groups with mice exposed to KET showing a reduction in parvalbumin positive cells in the prefrontal cortex and decreased c-Fos expression in the hippocampus, which was normalized with the pharmacological treatment. JNJ-46356479 treatment in early stages may help improve the cognitive and negative symptoms, as well as certain neuropathological deficits, and may even obtain a better response than CLZ treatment. This may have relevant clinical translational applications since early treatment with mGluR2 modulators that inhibit glutamate release at the onset of critical phases of SZ may prevent or slow down the clinical deterioration of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - N Rodríguez
- Dept. of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Olivares
- Dept. of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Madero
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Dpt. of Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Gómez
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Dpt. of Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - L Prohens
- Dept. of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - C García-Rizo
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Dpt. of Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - S Mas
- Dept. of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - C Morén
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Dpt. of Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Spain
| | - E Parellada
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Dpt. of Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain.
| | - P Gassó
- Dept. of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain.
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Neurotoxic/Neuroprotective Effects of Clozapine and the Positive Allosteric Modulator of mGluR2 JNJ-46356479 in Human Neuroblastoma Cell Cultures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032054. [PMID: 36768378 PMCID: PMC9916793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Current antipsychotics (APs) effectively control positive psychotic symptoms, mainly by blocking dopamine (DA) D2 receptors, but have little effect on negative and cognitive symptoms. Increased glutamate (GLU) release would trigger neurotoxicity, leading to apoptosis and synaptic pruning, which is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. New pharmacological strategies are being developed such as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the metabotropic GLU receptor 2 (mGluR2) that inhibit the presynaptic release of GLU. We previously reported that treatment of adult mice with JNJ-46356479 (JNJ), a recently developed mGluR2 PAM, partially improved neuropathological deficits and schizophrenia-like behavior in a postnatal ketamine mouse model. In the present study, we evaluated, for the first time, the putative neuroprotective and antiapoptotic activity of JNJ in a human neuroblastoma cell line and compared it with the effect of clozapine (CLZ) as a clinical AP with the highest efficacy and with apparent utility in managing negative symptoms. Specifically, we measured changes in cell viability, caspase 3 activity and apoptosis, as well as in the expression of key genes involved in survival and cell death, produced by CLZ and JNJ alone and in combination with a high DA or GLU concentration as apoptosis inducers. Our results suggest that JNJ is not neurotoxic and attenuates apoptosis, particularly by decreasing the caspase 3 activation induced by DA and GLU, as well as increasing and decreasing the number of viable and apoptotic cells, respectively, only when cultures were exposed to GLU. Its effects seem to be less neurotoxic and more neuroprotective than those observed with CLZ. Moreover, JNJ partially normalized altered expression levels of glycolytic genes, which could act as a protective factor and be related to its putative neuroprotective effect. More studies are needed to define the mechanisms of action of this GLU modulator and its potential to become a novel therapeutic agent for schizophrenia.
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The Effect of Clozapine and Novel Glutamate Modulator JNJ-46356479 on Nitrosative Stress in a Postnatal Murine Ketamine Model of Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021022. [PMID: 36674542 PMCID: PMC9866372 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heterogeneous mental disorder, affecting ~1% of the worldwide population. One of the main pathophysiological theories of SZ is the imbalance of excitatory glutamatergic pyramidal neurons and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, involving N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAr). This may lead to local glutamate storms coupled with excessive dendritic pruning and subsequent cellular stress, including nitrosative stress, during a critical period of neurodevelopment, such as adolescence. Nitrosative stress is mediated by nitric oxide (NO), which is released by NO synthases (NOS) and has emerged as a key signaling molecule implicated in SZ. Regarding glutamatergic models of SZ, the administration of NMDAr antagonists has been found to increase NOS levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral hippocampus (HPC). We hypothesized that suboptimal NOS function in adolescence could be a target for early treatments, including clozapine (CLZ) and the novel metabotropic glutamate receptor modulator JNJ-46356479 (JNJ). We analyzed the protein levels of NOS isoforms in adult PFC and HPC of a postnatal ketamine induced murine model of SZ receiving CLZ or JNJ during adolescence by western blot. Endothelial NOS and neuronal NOS increased under ketamine administration in PFC and decreased in CLZ or JNJ treatments. The same trends were found in the HPC in neuronal NOS. In contrast, inducible NOS was increased under JNJ treatment with respect to ketamine induction in the HPC, and the same trends were found in the PFC. Taken together, our findings suggest a misbalance of the NOS system following NMDAr antagonist administration, which was then modulated under early CLZ and JNJ treatments.
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Li SH, Abd-Elrahman KS, Ferguson SS. Targeting mGluR2/3 for treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 239:108275. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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Mazzitelli M, Presto P, Antenucci N, Meltan S, Neugebauer V. Recent Advances in the Modulation of Pain by the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Cells 2022; 11:2608. [PMID: 36010684 PMCID: PMC9406805 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR or mGlu) are G-protein coupled receptors activated by the binding of glutamate, the main classical neurotransmitter of the nervous system. Eight different mGluR subtypes (mGluR1-8) have been cloned and are classified in three groups based on their molecular, pharmacological and signaling properties. mGluRs mediate several physiological functions such as neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity, but they have also been implicated in numerous pathological conditions including pain. The availability of new and more selective allosteric modulators together with the canonical orthosteric ligands and transgenic technologies has led to significant advances in our knowledge about the role of the specific mGluR subtypes in the pathophysiological mechanisms of various diseases. Although development of successful compounds acting on mGluRs for clinical use has been scarce, the subtype-specific-pharmacological manipulation might be a compelling approach for the treatment of several disorders in humans, including pain; this review aims to summarize and update on preclinical evidence for the roles of different mGluRs in the pain system and discusses knowledge gaps regarding mGluR-related sex differences and neuroimmune signaling in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariacristina Mazzitelli
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Peyton Presto
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Nico Antenucci
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Shakira Meltan
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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11
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Li ML, Peng Y, An Y, Li GY, Lan Y. LY395756 promotes NR2B expression via activation of AKT/CREB signaling in the juvenile methylazoxymethanol mice model of schizophrenia. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2466. [PMID: 35025141 PMCID: PMC8865150 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Synaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subtype 2B(NR2B) is significantly reduced in prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the neurodevelopmental methylazoxymethanol (MAM) model of schizophrenia (SCZ). Recent research has shown that LY395756 can effectively restore NR2B levels and improve cognitive performance in juvenile MAM mice model. However, the underlying mechanisms of these beneficial effects remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS Juvenile MAM mice model of SCZ is used in our study. Synaptic membrane protein levels were examined by western blotting under different treatment conditions. Interaction of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and the promoter of NR2B was detected by the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Further examination of signaling pathway that mediates NR2B expression was also investigated by western blotting. RESULTS In the PFC of the juvenile MAM mice schizophrenia model, CREB was found to directly bind with the promoter of NR2B. LY395756 activated the phosphorylation of AKT. Phosphorylated AKT subsequently induced the phosphorylation of CREB, and the activated CREB promoted the expression of NR2B. Subsequent experiments showed that the dephosphorylation of CREB induced by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) can inhibit NR2B levels. Taken together, these findings support that the AKT/CREB signaling pathway is essential for the promoting effect of LY395756 on synaptic NR2B in PFC in juvenile MAM mice SCZ model. CONCLUSIONS Our investigation has identified a novel mechanism by which LY395756 increases NR2B expression in juvenile MAM mice SCZ model. The AKT/CREB signaling pathway warrants further research as a potential direction for clinical treatment of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Lin Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Peng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying An
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo-Yan Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Lan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Wolf DH, Zheng D, Kohler C, Turetsky BI, Ruparel K, Satterthwaite TD, Elliott MA, March ME, Cross AJ, Smith MA, Zukin SR, Gur RC, Gur RE. Effect of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulation on frontostriatal working memory activation in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1226-1232. [PMID: 34667261 PMCID: PMC9018886 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01320-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Negative symptoms and cognitive deficits contribute strongly to disability in schizophrenia, and are resistant to existing medications. Recent drug development has targeted enhanced NMDA function by increasing mGluR2/3 signaling. However, the clinical utility of such agents remains uncertain, and markers of brain circuit function are critical for clarifying mechanisms and understanding individual differences in efficacy. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over (14 day washout) pilot study evaluating adjunctive use of the mGluR2 positive allosteric modulator AZD8529 (80 mg daily for 3 days), in chronic stable patients with schizophrenia (n = 26 analyzed). We focused on 3 T fMRI response in frontostriatal regions during an n-back working memory task, testing the hypothesis that AZD8529 produces fMRI changes that correlate with improvement in negative symptoms and cognition. We found that AZD8529 did not produce significant group-average effects on symptoms or cognitive accuracy. However, AZD8529 did increase n-back fMRI activation in striatum (p < 0.0001) and anterior cingulate/paracingulate (p = 0.002). Greater drug-versus-placebo effects on caudate activation significantly correlated with greater reductions in PANSS negative symptom scores (r = -0.42, p = 0.031), and exploratory correlations suggested broader effects across multiple symptom domains and regions of interest. These findings demonstrate that fMRI responses to mGluR2 positive modulation relate to individual differences in symptom reduction, and could be pursued for future biomarker development. Negative clinical results at the group level should not lead to premature termination of investigation of this mechanism, which may benefit an important subset of individuals with schizophrenia. Imaging biomarkers may reveal therapeutic mechanisms, and help guide treatment toward specific populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H. Wolf
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - David Zheng
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Christian Kohler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Bruce I. Turetsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Kosha Ruparel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | | | - Mark A. Elliott
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Mary E. March
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Alan J. Cross
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington DE, 19850.,Present affiliations: Psy Therapeutics, Thornton PA 19373
| | - Mark A. Smith
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington DE, 19850.,Vistagen Therapeutics, South San Francisco CA 94080;,Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912
| | - Stephen R. Zukin
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington DE, 19850.,PRA Health Sciences, Blue Bell PA 19422
| | - Ruben C. Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Raquel E. Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104
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13
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Parellada E, Gassó P. Glutamate and microglia activation as a driver of dendritic apoptosis: a core pathophysiological mechanism to understand schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:271. [PMID: 33958577 PMCID: PMC8102516 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01385-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia disorder remains an unsolved puzzle. However, the integration of recent findings from genetics, molecular biology, neuroimaging, animal models and translational clinical research offers evidence that the synaptic overpruning hypothesis of schizophrenia needs to be reassessed. During a critical period of neurodevelopment and owing to an imbalance of excitatory glutamatergic pyramidal neurons and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, a regionally-located glutamate storm might occur, triggering excessive dendritic pruning with the activation of local dendritic apoptosis machinery. The apoptotic loss of dendritic spines would be aggravated by microglia activation through a recently described signaling system from complement abnormalities and proteins of the MHC, thus implicating the immune system in schizophrenia. Overpruning of dendritic spines coupled with aberrant synaptic plasticity, an essential function for learning and memory, would lead to brain misconnections and synaptic inefficiency underlying the primary negative symptoms and cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. This driving hypothesis has relevant therapeutic implications, including the importance of pharmacological interventions during the prodromal phase or the transition to psychosis, targeting apoptosis, microglia cells or the glutamate storm. Future research on apoptosis and brain integrity should combine brain imaging, CSF biomarkers, animal models and cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Parellada
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU). Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Patricia Gassó
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU). Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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14
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Kryszkowski W, Boczek T. The G Protein-Coupled Glutamate Receptors as Novel Molecular Targets in Schizophrenia Treatment-A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071475. [PMID: 33918323 PMCID: PMC8038150 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disease with an unknown etiology. The research into the neurobiology of this disease led to several models aimed at explaining the link between perturbations in brain function and the manifestation of psychotic symptoms. The glutamatergic hypothesis postulates that disrupted glutamate neurotransmission may mediate cognitive and psychosocial impairments by affecting the connections between the cortex and the thalamus. In this regard, the greatest attention has been given to ionotropic NMDA receptor hypofunction. However, converging data indicates metabotropic glutamate receptors as crucial for cognitive and psychomotor function. The distribution of these receptors in the brain regions related to schizophrenia and their regulatory role in glutamate release make them promising molecular targets for novel antipsychotics. This article reviews the progress in the research on the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in schizophrenia etiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waldemar Kryszkowski
- General Psychiatric Ward, Babinski Memorial Hospital in Lodz, 91229 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Boczek
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92215 Lodz, Poland
- Correspondence:
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15
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Tiwari P, Fanibunda SE, Kapri D, Vasaya S, Pati S, Vaidya VA. GPCR signaling: role in mediating the effects of early adversity in psychiatric disorders. FEBS J 2021; 288:2602-2621. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Praachi Tiwari
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sashaina E. Fanibunda
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
- Medical Research Centre Kasturba Health Society Mumbai India
| | - Darshana Kapri
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Shweta Vasaya
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sthitapranjya Pati
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Vidita A. Vaidya
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
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16
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Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Modulate Sound Evoked and Spontaneous Activity in the Mouse Inferior Colliculus. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0328-20.2020. [PMID: 33334826 PMCID: PMC7814476 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0328-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the functions of Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs2/3) in the inferior colliculus (IC), a midbrain structure that is a major integration region of the central auditory system. We investigated how these receptors modulate sound-evoked and spontaneous firing in the mouse IC in vivo. We first performed immunostaining and tested hearing thresholds to validate vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT)-ChR2 transgenic mice on a mixed CBA/CaJ x C57BL/6J genetic background. Transgenic animals allowed for optogenetic cell-type identification. Extracellular single neuron recordings were obtained before and after pharmacological mGluR2/3 activation. We observed increased sound-evoked firing, as assessed by the rate-level functions (RLFs), in a subset of both GABAergic and non-GABAergic IC neurons following mGluR2/3 pharmacological activation. These neurons also displayed elevated spontaneous excitability and were distributed throughout the IC area tested, suggesting a widespread mGluR2/3 distribution in the mouse IC.
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17
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Cieślik P, Wierońska JM. Regulation of Glutamatergic Activity via Bidirectional Activation of Two Select Receptors as a Novel Approach in Antipsychotic Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228811. [PMID: 33233865 PMCID: PMC7699963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects approximately 1-2% of the population and develops in early adulthood. The disease is characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. A large percentage of patients with schizophrenia have a treatment-resistant disease, and the risk of developing adverse effects is high. Many researchers have attempted to introduce new antipsychotic drugs to the clinic, but most of these treatments failed, and the diversity of schizophrenic symptoms is one of the causes of disappointing results. The present review summarizes the results of our latest papers, showing that the simultaneous activation of two receptors with sub-effective doses of their ligands induces similar effects as the highest dose of each compound alone. The treatments were focused on inhibiting the increased glutamate release responsible for schizophrenia arousal, without interacting with dopamine (D2) receptors. Ligands activating metabotropic receptors for glutamate, GABAB or muscarinic receptors were used, and the compounds were administered in several different combinations. Some combinations reversed all schizophrenia-related deficits in animal models, but others were active only in select models of schizophrenia symptoms (i.e., cognitive or negative symptoms).
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18
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Abstract
Pain is an essential protective mechanism that the body uses to alert or prevent further damage. Pain sensation is a complex event involving perception, transmission, processing, and response. Neurons at different levels (peripheral, spinal cord, and brain) are responsible for these pro- or antinociceptive activities to ensure an appropriate response to external stimuli. The terminals of these neurons, both in the peripheral endings and in the synapses, are equipped with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels that sense structurally diverse stimuli and inhibitors of neuronal activity. This review will focus on the largest class of sensory proteins, the GPCRs, as they are distributed throughout ascending and descending neurons and regulate activity at each step during pain transmission. GPCR activation also directly or indirectly controls the function of co-localized ion channels. The levels and types of some GPCRs are significantly altered in different pain models, especially chronic pain states, emphasizing that these molecules could be new targets for therapeutic intervention in chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacology and Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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19
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Hascup KN, Britz J, Findley CA, Tischkau S, Hascup ER. LY379268 Does Not Have Long-Term Procognitive Effects nor Attenuate Glutamatergic Signaling in AβPP/PS1 Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 68:1193-1209. [PMID: 30909243 DOI: 10.3233/jad-181231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chronically elevated basal glutamate levels are hypothesized to attenuate detection of physiological signals thereby inhibiting memory formation and retrieval, while inducing excitotoxicity-mediated neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, current medication targeting the glutamatergic system, such as memantine, shows limited efficacy and is unable to decelerate disease progression, possibly because it modulates postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors rather than glutamate release or clearance. To determine if decreasing presynaptic glutamate release leads to long-term procognitive effects, we treated AβPP/PS1 mice with LY379268 (3.0 mg/kg; i.p.), a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)2/3 agonist from 2-6 months of age when elevated glutamate levels are first observed but cognition is unaffected. C57BL/6J genetic background control mice and another cohort of AβPP/PS1 mice received normal saline (i.p.) as vehicle controls. After 6 months off treatment, mice receiving LY379268 did not show long-term improvement as assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) spatial learning and memory paradigm. Following MWM, mice were isoflurane anesthetized and a glutamate selective microelectrode was used to measure in vivo basal and stimulus-evoked glutamate release and clearance independently from the dentate, CA3, and CA1 hippocampal subregions. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure hippocampal astrogliosis and plaque pathology. Similar to previous studies, we observed elevated basal glutamate, stimulus evoked glutamate release, and astrogliosis in AβPP/PS1 vehicle mice versus C57BL/6J mice. Treatment with LY379268 did not attenuate these responses nor diminish plaque pathology. The current study builds upon previous research demonstrating hyperglutamatergic hippocampal signaling in AβPP/PS1 mice; however, long-term therapeutic efficacy of LY379268 in AβPP/PS1 was not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin N Hascup
- Department of Neurology, Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Neurosciences Institute, Springfield, IL, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Jesse Britz
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Caleigh A Findley
- Department of Neurology, Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Neurosciences Institute, Springfield, IL, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Shelley Tischkau
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Erin R Hascup
- Department of Neurology, Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Neurosciences Institute, Springfield, IL, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
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20
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Martínez-Pinteño A, García-Cerro S, Mas S, Torres T, Boloc D, Rodríguez N, Lafuente A, Gassó P, Arnaiz JA, Parellada E. The positive allosteric modulator of the mGlu2 receptor JNJ-46356479 partially improves neuropathological deficits and schizophrenia-like behaviors in a postnatal ketamine mice model. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 126:8-18. [PMID: 32407891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Current antipsychotics have limited efficacy in controlling cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ). Glutamatergic dysregulation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of SZ, based on the capacity of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists such as ketamine (KET) to induce SZ-like behaviors. This could be related to their putative neuropathological effect on gamma-aminobutyric (GABAergic) interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV), which would lead to a hyperglutamatergic condition. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) negatively modulates glutamate release and has been considered a potential clinical target for novel antipsychotics drugs. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of JNJ-46356479 (JNJ), a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the mGluR2, in reversing neuropathological and behavioral deficits induced in a postnatal KET mice model of SZ. These animals presented impaired spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test, suggesting deficits in spatial working memory, and a decrease in social motivation and memory, assessed in both the Three-Chamber and the Five Trial Social Memory tests. Interestingly, JNJ treatment of adult mice partially reversed these deficits. Mice treated with KET also showed a reduction in PV+ in the mPFC and dentate gyrus together with an increase in c-Fos expression in this hippocampal area. Compared to the control group, mice treated with KET + JNJ showed a similar PV density and c-Fos activity pattern. Our results suggest that pharmacological treatment with a PAM of the mGluR2 such as JNJ could help improve cognitive and negative symptoms related to SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susana García-Cerro
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Mas
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain; The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Teresa Torres
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Boloc
- Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Rodríguez
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amalia Lafuente
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain; The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Patricia Gassó
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain; The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Albert Arnaiz
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Spain; The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Eduard Parellada
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Clinic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain.
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21
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Snyder MA, Gao WJ. NMDA receptor hypofunction for schizophrenia revisited: Perspectives from epigenetic mechanisms. Schizophr Res 2020; 217:60-70. [PMID: 30979669 PMCID: PMC7258307 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with cognitive deficits manifesting during early stages of the disease. Evidence suggests that genetic factors in combination with environmental insults lead to complex changes to glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic systems. In particular, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a major glutamate receptor subtype, is implicated in both the disease progression and symptoms of SZ. NMDARs are critical for synaptic plasticity and cortical maturation, as well as learning and memory processes. In fact, any deviation from normal NMDAR expression and function can have devastating consequences. Surprisingly, there is little evidence from human patients that direct mutations of NMDAR genes contribute to SZ. One intriguing hypothesis is that epigenetic changes, which could result from early insults, alter protein expression and contribute to the NMDAR hypofunction found in SZ. Epigenetics is referred to as modifications that alter gene transcription without changing the DNA sequence itself. In this review, we first discuss how epigenetic changes to NMDAR genes could contribute to NMDAR hypofunction. We then explore how NMDAR hypofunction may contribute to epigenetic changes in other proteins or genes that lead to synaptic dysfunction and symptoms in SZ. We argue that NMDAR hypofunction occurs in early stage of the disease, and it may consequentially initiate GABA and dopamine deficits. Therefore, targeting NMDAR dysfunction during the early stages would be a promising avenue for prevention and therapeutic intervention of cognitive and social deficits that remain untreatable. Finally, we discuss potential questions regarding the epigenetic of SZ and future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Snyder
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8M5,Correspondence: Wen-Jun Gao, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, Phone: (215) 991-8907, Fax: (215) 843-9802, ; Melissa A. Snyder, Ph.D.,
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, United States of America.
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22
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Distinct anti-dyskinetic effects of amantadine and group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist LY354740 in a rodent model: An electrophysiological perspective. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 139:104807. [PMID: 32088382 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a major complication of long-term dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease. Characteristic neural oscillation and abnormal activity of striatal projection neurons (SPNs) are typical pathological events of LID, which would be reliable biomarkers for assessment of novel anti-dyskinetic approach if fully profiled. Glutamate dysregulation plays a critical role in the development of LID, and the group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) is believed to regulate the release of glutamate on the presynaptic terminals and inhibits postsynaptic excitation. However, the anti-dyskinetic effect of modulating mGluR2/3 is still unclear. In this study, rats with unilateral dopaminergic lesion were injected with L-DOPA (12 mg/kg, i.p.) for seven days, while motor behavior was correlated with in vivo electrophysiology analyzing LFP and single-cell activity in both primary motor cortex and dorsolateral striatum. Our study showed that as LID established, high γ oscillation (hγ) predominated during LID, the number of unstable responses of SPN to dopamine increased, and the coherence between these patterns of oscillation and spiking activity also increased. We found that pretreatment of NMDA receptor antagonist, amantadine 60 mg/kg, i.p. (AMAN) significantly reduced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs), in parallel with the reduction of hγ oscillation, and more markedly with a decrease in unstable responses of SPNs. In contrast, a mGluR2/3 agonist, LY354740 12 mg/kg, i.p. (LY) significantly shortened the duration of LID but merely exhibited a weak effect in diminishing the intensity of LID or reversing SPN responses. Together results indicate that AIMs in the rat model of PD are associated with abnormal corticostriatal signaling, which could be reversed by NMDAR antagonism more efficiently than mGluR2/3 agonism.
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23
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Translating preclinical findings in clinically relevant new antipsychotic targets: focus on the glutamatergic postsynaptic density. Implications for treatment resistant schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:795-827. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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24
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Lee G, Zhou Y. NMDAR Hypofunction Animal Models of Schizophrenia. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:185. [PMID: 31417356 PMCID: PMC6685005 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction hypothesis has been proposed to help understand the etiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This hypothesis was based on early observations that NMDAR antagonists could induce a full range of symptoms of schizophrenia in normal human subjects. Accumulating evidence in humans and animal studies points to NMDAR hypofunctionality as a convergence point for various symptoms of schizophrenia. Here we review animal models of NMDAR hypofunction generated by pharmacological and genetic approaches, and how they relate to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In addition, we discuss the limitations of animal models of NMDAR hypofunction and their potential utility for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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25
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Zhand N, Attwood DG, Harvey PD. Glutamate modulators for treatment of schizophrenia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pmip.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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26
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Hao CZ, Yu LM, Xia SW. Combining bioactivity and affinity to design of positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor using 3D-QSAR. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:1880-1885. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1618733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Zhi Hao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Liang-Min Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Shu-Wei Xia
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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27
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Thyme SB, Pieper LM, Li EH, Pandey S, Wang Y, Morris NS, Sha C, Choi JW, Herrera KJ, Soucy ER, Zimmerman S, Randlett O, Greenwood J, McCarroll SA, Schier AF. Phenotypic Landscape of Schizophrenia-Associated Genes Defines Candidates and Their Shared Functions. Cell 2019; 177:478-491.e20. [PMID: 30929901 PMCID: PMC6494450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.01.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Genomic studies have identified hundreds of candidate genes near loci associated with risk for schizophrenia. To define candidates and their functions, we mutated zebrafish orthologs of 132 human schizophrenia-associated genes. We created a phenotype atlas consisting of whole-brain activity maps, brain structural differences, and profiles of behavioral abnormalities. Phenotypes were diverse but specific, including altered forebrain development and decreased prepulse inhibition. Exploration of these datasets identified promising candidates in more than 10 gene-rich regions, including the magnesium transporter cnnm2 and the translational repressor gigyf2, and revealed shared anatomical sites of activity differences, including the pallium, hypothalamus, and tectum. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered an essential role for the understudied transcription factor znf536 in the development of forebrain neurons implicated in social behavior and stress. This phenotypic landscape of schizophrenia-associated genes prioritizes more than 30 candidates for further study and provides hypotheses to bridge the divide between genetic association and biological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer B Thyme
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Lindsey M Pieper
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Eric H Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Shristi Pandey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yiqun Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Nathan S Morris
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Carrie Sha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Joo Won Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kristian J Herrera
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Edward R Soucy
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Steve Zimmerman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Owen Randlett
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Joel Greenwood
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Steven A McCarroll
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander F Schier
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, MA 02138, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
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Specific activation of mGlu2 induced IGF-1R transactivation in vitro through FAK phosphorylation. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2019; 40:460-467. [PMID: 29946167 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-018-0033-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2) belongs to the group-II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors and is a neurotransmitter G protein-coupled receptor. The group-II mGlu receptors are promising antipsychotic targets, but the specific role of mGlu2 signaling remains unclear. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are also believed to participate in brain pathogenesis. To investigate whether there is any communication between mGlu2 and RTKs, we generated a CHO-mGlu2 cell line that stably expresses mGlu2 and showed that activation of mGlu2 by LY379268, a group II mGlu agonist, was able to transactivate insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). We further determined that the Gi/o protein, Gβγ subunits, phospholipase C, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were involved in the IGF-1R transactivation signaling axis, which further induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and cAMP response element-binding protein. In primary mouse cortical neurons, similar signaling pathways were observed when mGlu2 were stimulated by LY487379, an mGlu2 positive allosteric modulator. Transactivation of IGF-1R through FAK in response to mGlu2 should provide a better understanding of the association of mGlu2 with brain disease.
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Stansley BJ, Conn PJ. Neuropharmacological Insight from Allosteric Modulation of mGlu Receptors. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2019; 40:240-252. [PMID: 30824180 PMCID: PMC6445545 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that regulate cell physiology throughout the nervous system. The potential of mGlu receptors as therapeutic targets has been bolstered by current research that has provided insight into the diverse modes of mGlu activation and signaling. In particular, the allosteric modulation of mGlu receptors represents a major area of focus in studies of basic pharmacology as well as drug development, largely due to the high subtype specificity achievable by targeting allosteric sites on mGlu receptors. These provide sophisticated regulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission to influence behavioral output. Here, we review how these allosteric mechanisms have been leveraged preclinically to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of allosteric modulators for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease (PD), stress, and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden J Stansley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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Pereira V, Goudet C. Emerging Trends in Pain Modulation by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 11:464. [PMID: 30662395 PMCID: PMC6328474 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is an essential protective mechanism meant to prevent tissue damages in organisms. On the other hand, chronic or persistent pain caused, for example, by inflammation or nerve injury is long lasting and responsible for long-term disability in patients. Therefore, chronic pain and its management represents a major public health problem. Hence, it is critical to better understand chronic pain molecular mechanisms to develop innovative and efficient drugs. Over the past decades, accumulating evidence has demonstrated a pivotal role of glutamate in pain sensation and transmission, supporting glutamate receptors as promising potential targets for pain relieving drug development. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Once released into the synapse, glutamate acts through ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), which are ligand-gated ion channels triggering fast excitatory neurotransmission, and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which are G protein-coupled receptors modulating synaptic transmission. Eight mGluRs subtypes have been identified and are divided into three classes based on their sequence similarities and their pharmacological and biochemical properties. Of note, all mGluR subtypes (except mGlu6 receptor) are expressed within the nociceptive pathways where they modulate pain transmission. This review will address the role of mGluRs in acute and persistent pain processing and emerging pharmacotherapies for pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Pereira
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ. de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Cyril Goudet
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ. de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Pillinger T, Rogdaki M, McCutcheon RA, Hathway P, Egerton A, Howes OD. Altered glutamatergic response and functional connectivity in treatment resistant schizophrenia: the effect of riluzole and therapeutic implications. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:1985-1997. [PMID: 30820633 PMCID: PMC6642056 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-5188-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) glutamatergic abnormalities are reported in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and implicated in functional dysconnectivity and psychopathology. Preclinical evidence indicates riluzole reduces synaptic glutamate. However, it is unknown whether riluzole can modulate glutamate metabolite levels and associated functional connectivity in TRS. OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between glutamatergic function and cortical connectivity and determine if riluzole can modulate glutamate metabolite levels and cortical functional connectivity in TRS. METHODS Nineteen TRS patients and 18 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent magnetic resonance imaging consisting of MR spectroscopy measuring ACC glutamate plus glutamine (Glx), fMRI measuring resting ACC-functional connectivity, and arterial spin labelling measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), and clinical measures. They then received 50 mg riluzole twice daily for 2 days when imaging was repeated. RESULTS Baseline (pre-riluzole) Glx levels were correlated directly with negative symptom severity (r = 0.49; p = 0.03) and inversely with verbal learning in TRS (r = - 0.63; p = 0.002), but not HV (r = - 0.24; p = 0.41). Connectivity between the ACC and anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) was correlated with verbal learning in TRS (r = 0.49; p = 0.04), but not HV (r = 0.28; p = 0.33). There was a significant group × time interaction effect on Glx levels (p < 0.05) and on ACC connectivity to the aPFC (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected). Riluzole decreased Glx and increased ACC-aPFC connectivity in TRS relative to HV. Change in Glx correlated inversely with change in ACC-aPFC connectivity in TRS (r = - 0.52; p = 0.02) but not HV (r = 0.01; p = 0.98). Riluzole did not alter rCBF (p > 0.05), indicating absence of a non-specific blood flow effect. CONCLUSION Results indicate glutamatergic function and cortical connectivity are linked to symptoms and cognitive measures and that it is possible to pharmacologically modulate them in TRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Pillinger
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, England ,0000000122478951grid.14105.31Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, England ,0000 0001 2113 8111grid.7445.2Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England
| | - Maria Rogdaki
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, England ,0000000122478951grid.14105.31Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, England ,0000 0001 2113 8111grid.7445.2Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England
| | - Robert A. McCutcheon
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, England ,0000000122478951grid.14105.31Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, England ,0000 0001 2113 8111grid.7445.2Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England
| | - Pamela Hathway
- 0000 0001 2113 8111grid.7445.2Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London, England
| | - Alice Egerton
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, England
| | - Oliver D. Howes
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, England ,0000000122478951grid.14105.31Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, England ,0000 0001 2113 8111grid.7445.2Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England
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Multi-Target Approach for Drug Discovery against Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19103105. [PMID: 30309037 PMCID: PMC6213273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19103105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Polypharmacology is nowadays considered an increasingly crucial aspect in discovering new drugs as a number of original single-target drugs have been performing far behind expectations during the last ten years. In this scenario, multi-target drugs are a promising approach against polygenic diseases with complex pathomechanisms such as schizophrenia. Indeed, second generation or atypical antipsychotics target a number of aminergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) simultaneously. Novel strategies in drug design and discovery against schizophrenia focus on targets beyond the dopaminergic hypothesis of the disease and even beyond the monoamine GPCRs. In particular these approaches concern proteins involved in glutamatergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, challenging the concept of antipsychotic activity without dopamine D₂ receptor involvement. Potentially interesting compounds include ligands interacting with glycine modulatory binding pocket on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, positive allosteric modulators of α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamatergic receptors, agonists and positive allosteric modulators of α7 nicotinic receptors, as well as muscarinic receptor agonists. In this review we discuss classical and novel drug targets for schizophrenia, cover benefits and limitations of current strategies to design multi-target drugs and show examples of multi-target ligands as antipsychotics, including marketed drugs, substances in clinical trials, and other investigational compounds.
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Wei L, He F, Zhang W, Chen W, Yu B. Bioinformatics analysis of microarray data to reveal the pathogenesis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Biol Res 2018; 51:26. [PMID: 30124166 PMCID: PMC6100713 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-018-0175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the main cause of pediatric brain tumor death. This study was designed to identify key genes associated with DIPG. Methods The gene expression profile GSE50021, which consisted of 35 pediatric DIPG samples and 10 normal brain samples, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by limma package. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed by the DAVID tool. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and transcription factor (TF)–microRNA (miRNA)–target gene network were constructed using Cytoscape. Moreover, the expression levels of several genes were validated in human glioma cell line U251 and normal glia HEB cells through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results A total of 378 DEGs were screened (74 up-regulated and 304 down-regulated genes). In the PPI network, GRM1, HTR2A, GRM7 and GRM2 had higher degrees. Besides, GRM1 and HTR2A were significantly enriched in the neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. In addition, TFAP2C was a significant down-regulated functional gene and hsa-miR-26b-5p had a higher degree in the TF-miRNA-target gene network. PCR analysis revealed that GRM7 and HTR2A were significantly downregulated while TFAP2C was upregulated in U251 cells compared with that in HEB cells (p < 0.001). GRM2 was not detected in cells. Conclusions GRM1 and HTR2A might function in DIPG through the neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway and the calcium signaling pathway. Furthermore, the TFAP2C and hsa-miR-26b-5p might play important roles in the development and progression mechanisms of DIPG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wei
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 100, Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Fei He
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 100, Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 100, Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Wenhua Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 100, Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China.,School of International Medical Technology, Shanghai Sanda University, No. 2727, Jinhai Road, Shanghai, 201209, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 100, Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,School of International Medical Technology, Shanghai Sanda University, No. 2727, Jinhai Road, Shanghai, 201209, China.
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Wood CM, Wafford KA, McCarthy AP, Hewes N, Shanks E, Lodge D, Robinson ESJ. Investigating the role of mGluR2 versus mGluR3 in antipsychotic-like effects, sleep-wake architecture and network oscillatory activity using novel Han Wistar rats lacking mGluR2 expression. Neuropharmacology 2018; 140:246-259. [PMID: 30005976 PMCID: PMC6137075 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2 and mGluR3) are implicated in a number of psychiatric disorders. They also control sleep-wake architecture and may offer novel therapeutic targets. However, the roles of the mGluR2 versus mGluR3 subtypes are not well understood. Here, we have taken advantage of the recently described mutant strain of Han Wistar rats, which do not express mGluR2 receptors, to investigate behavioural, sleep and EEG responses to mGluR2/3 ligands. The mGluR2/3 agonist, LY354740 (10 mg/kg), reversed amphetamine- and phencyclidine-induced locomotion and rearing behaviours in control Wistar but not in mGluR2 lacking Han Wistar rats. In control Wistar but not in Han Wistar rats the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 (3 & 10 mg/kg) induced REM sleep suppression with dose-dependent effects on wake and NREM sleep. By contrast, the mGluR2/3 antagonist LY3020371 (3 & 10 mg/kg) had wake-promoting effects in both rat strains, albeit smaller in the mGluR2-lacking Han Wistar rats, indicating both mGluR2 and mGluR3-mediated effects on wakefulness. LY3020371 enhanced wake cortical oscillations in the theta (4–9 Hz) and gamma (30–80 Hz) range in both Wistar and Han Wistar rat strains, whereas LY379268 reduced theta and gamma oscillations in control Wistar rats, with minimal effects in Han Wistar rats. Together these studies illustrate the significant contribution of mGluR2 to the antipsychotic-like, sleep and EEG effects of drugs acting on group II mGluRs. However, we also provide evidence of a role for mGluR3 activity in the control of sleep and wake cortical theta and gamma oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Wood
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Keith A Wafford
- Neuroscience Division, Eli Lilly & Co. Ltd., Windlesham, GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P McCarthy
- Neuroscience Division, Eli Lilly & Co. Ltd., Windlesham, GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Hewes
- Neuroscience Division, Eli Lilly & Co. Ltd., Windlesham, GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Shanks
- Neuroscience Division, Eli Lilly & Co. Ltd., Windlesham, GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - David Lodge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
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Xing B, Han G, Wang MJ, Snyder MA, Gao WJ. Juvenile treatment with mGluR2/3 agonist prevents schizophrenia-like phenotypes in adult by acting through GSK3β. Neuropharmacology 2018; 137:359-371. [PMID: 29793154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Prodromal memory deficits represent an important marker for the development of schizophrenia (SZ), in which glutamatergic hypofunction occurs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 (LY37) attenuates excitatory N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-induced neurotoxicity, a central pathological characteristic of glutamatergic hypofunction. We therefore hypothesized that early treatment with LY37 would rescue cognitive deficits and confer benefits for SZ-like behaviors in adults. To test this, we assessed whether early intervention with LY37 would improve learning outcomes in the Morris Water Maze for rats prenatally exposed to methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM), a neurodevelopmental SZ model. We found that a medium dose of LY37 prevents learning deficits in MAM rats. These effects were mediated through postsynaptic mGluR2/3 via improving GluN2B-NMDAR function by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). Furthermore, dendritic spine loss and learning and memory deficits observed in adult MAM rats were restored by juvenile LY37 treatment, which did not change prefrontal neuronal excitability and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in adult normal rats. Our results provide a mechanism for mGluR2/3 agonists against NMDAR hypofunction, which may prove to be beneficial in the prophylactic treatment of SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xing
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, 19129, PA, USA
| | - Genie Han
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, 19129, PA, USA
| | - Min-Juan Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, 19129, PA, USA
| | - Melissa A Snyder
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, 19129, PA, USA
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, 19129, PA, USA.
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Sathyasaikumar KV, Tararina M, Wu HQ, Neale SA, Weisz F, Salt TE, Schwarcz R. Xanthurenic Acid Formation from 3-Hydroxykynurenine in the Mammalian Brain: Neurochemical Characterization and Physiological Effects. Neuroscience 2017; 367:85-97. [PMID: 29031603 PMCID: PMC5819007 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Xanthurenic acid (XA), formed from 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation, may modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission by inhibiting the vesicular glutamate transporter and/or activating Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. Here we examined the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which 3-HK controls the neosynthesis of XA in rat, mouse and human brain, and compared the physiological actions of 3-HK and XA in the rat brain. In tissue homogenates, XA formation from 3-HK was observed in all three species and traced to a major role of kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II). Transamination of 3-HK to XA was also demonstrated using human recombinant KAT II. Neosynthesis of XA was significantly increased in the quinolinate-lesioned rat striatum, indicating a non-neuronal localization of the process. Studies using rat cortical slices revealed that newly produced XA is rapidly released into the extracellular compartment, and that XA biosynthesis can be manipulated experimentally in the same way as the production of kynurenic acid from kynurenine (omission of Na+ or glucose, depolarizing conditions, or addition of 2-oxoacids). The synthesis of XA from 3-HK was confirmed in vivo by striatal microdialysis. In slices from the rat hippocampus, both 3-HK and XA reduced the slopes of dentate gyrus field EPSPs. The effect of 3-HK was reduced in the presence of the KAT inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid. Finally, both 3-HK and XA reduced the power of gamma-oscillatory activity recorded from the hippocampal CA3 region. Endogenous XA, newly formed from 3-HK, may therefore play a physiological role in attentional and cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K V Sathyasaikumar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - M Tararina
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - H-Q Wu
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - S A Neale
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK; Neurexpert Ltd., London, UK
| | - F Weisz
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - T E Salt
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK; Neurexpert Ltd., London, UK
| | - R Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA.
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Jin LE, Wang M, Yang ST, Yang Y, Galvin VC, Lightbourne TC, Ottenheimer D, Zhong Q, Stein J, Raja A, Paspalas CD, Arnsten AFT. mGluR2/3 mechanisms in primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: evidence for both presynaptic and postsynaptic actions. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1615-1625. [PMID: 27502475 PMCID: PMC5298940 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits in psychiatric and age-related disorders generally involve dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), but there are few treatments for these debilitating symptoms. Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3), which couple to Gi/Go, have been a focus of therapeutics based on rodent research, where mGluR2/3 have been shown to reduce axonal glutamate release and increase glial glutamate uptake. However, this strategy has had mixed results in patients, and understanding mGluR2/3 mechanisms in primates will help guide therapeutic interventions. The current study examined mGluR2/3 localization and actions in the primate dlPFC layer III circuits underlying working memory, where the persistent firing of 'Delay cells' is mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and weakened by cAMP-PKA-potassium channel signaling in dendritic spines. Immunoelectron microscopy identified postsynaptic mGluR2/3 in the spines, in addition to the traditional presynaptic and astrocytic locations. In vivo iontophoretic application of the mGluR2/3 agonists (2R, 4R)-APDC or LY379268 onto dlPFC Delay cells produced an inverted-U effect on working memory representation, with enhanced neuronal firing following low doses of mGluR2/3 agonists. The enhancing effects were reversed by an mGluR2/3 antagonist or by activating cAMP signaling, consistent with mGluR2/3 inhibiting postsynaptic cAMP signaling in spines. Systemic administration of these agonists to monkeys performing a working memory task also produced an inverted-U dose-response, where low doses improved performance but higher doses, similar to clinical trials, had mixed effects. Our data suggest that low doses of mGluR2/3 stimulation may have therapeutic effects through unexpected postsynaptic actions in dlPFC, strengthening synaptic connections and improving cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Jin
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - S-T Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Y Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - V C Galvin
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - T C Lightbourne
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - D Ottenheimer
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Q Zhong
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - J Stein
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Raja
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C D Paspalas
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. E-mail: or
| | - A F T Arnsten
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. E-mail: or
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Nishiyama K, Suzuki H, Harasawa T, Suzuki N, Kurimoto E, Kawai T, Maruyama M, Komatsu H, Sakuma K, Shimizu Y, Shimojo M. FTBMT, a Novel and Selective GPR52 Agonist, Demonstrates Antipsychotic-Like and Procognitive Effects in Rodents, Revealing a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Schizophrenia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 363:253-264. [PMID: 28851764 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.242925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR52 is a Gs-coupled G protein-coupled receptor that is predominantly expressed in the striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc) and was recently proposed as a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia. In the current study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo pharmacologic activities of a novel GPR52 agonist, 4-(3-(3-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-5-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-methylbenzamide (FTBMT). FTBMT functioned as a selective GPR52 agonist in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by the activation of Camp signaling in striatal neurons. FTBMT inhibited MK-801-induced hyperactivity, an animal model for acute psychosis, without causing catalepsy in mice. The c-fos expression also revealed that FTBMT preferentially induced neuronal activation in the shell of the Nac compared with the striatum, thereby supporting its antipsychotic-like activity with less catalepsy. Furthermore, FTBMT improved recognition memory in a novel object-recognition test and attenuated MK-801-induced working memory deficits in a radial arm maze test in rats. These recognitive effects were supported by the results of FTBMT-induced c-fos expression in the brain regions related to cognition, including the medial prefrontal cortex, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus. Taken together, these findings suggest that FTBMT shows antipsychotic and recognitive properties without causing catalepsy in rodents. Given its unique pharmacologic profile, which differs from that of current antipsychotics, FTBMT may provide a new therapeutic option for the treatment of positive and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Nishiyama
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Hirobumi Suzuki
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Toshiya Harasawa
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Noriko Suzuki
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Emi Kurimoto
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kawai
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Minoru Maruyama
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Komatsu
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Kensuke Sakuma
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Yuji Shimizu
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Masato Shimojo
- CNS Drug Discovery Unit, Research (K.N., H.S., T.H., N.S., E.K., T.K., M.M., H.K., Y.S., M.S.) and Regenerative Medicine Unit (K.S.), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
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Gjørlund MD, Carlsen EMM, Kønig AB, Dmytrieva O, Petersen AV, Jacobsen J, Berezin V, Perrier JF, Owczarek S. Soluble Ectodomain of Neuroligin 1 Decreases Synaptic Activity by Activating Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:116. [PMID: 28515678 PMCID: PMC5413576 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic cell adhesion molecules represent important targets for neuronal activity-dependent proteolysis. Postsynaptic neuroligins (NLs) form trans-synaptic complexes with presynaptic neurexins (NXs). Both NXs and NLs are cleaved from the cell surface by metalloproteases in an activity-dependent manner, releasing a soluble extracellular fragment and membrane-tethered C-terminal fragment. The cleavage of NL1 depresses synaptic transmission, but the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) are located primarily at the periphery of presynaptic terminals, where they inhibit the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and consequently suppress the release of glutamate and decrease synaptic transmission. In the present study, we found that the soluble ectodomain of NL1 binds to and activates mGluR2 in both neurons and heterologous cells, resulting in a decrease in cAMP formation. In a slice preparation from the hippocampus of mice, NL1 inhibited the release of glutamate from mossy fibers that project to CA3 pyramidal neurons. The presynaptic effect of NL1 was abolished in the presence of a selective antagonist for mGluR2. Thus, our data suggest that the soluble extracellular domain of NL1 functionally interacts with mGluR2 and thereby decreases synaptic strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle D Gjørlund
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark.,Neuronal Signaling Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva M M Carlsen
- Neuronal Signaling Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas B Kønig
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oksana Dmytrieva
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders V Petersen
- Neuronal Signaling Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Jacobsen
- Department of Biology, University of CopenhagenHelsingør, Denmark
| | - Vladimir Berezin
- Neuronal Signaling Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jean-François Perrier
- Neuronal Signaling Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sylwia Owczarek
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
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Li ML, Gulchina Y, Monaco SA, Xing B, Ferguson BR, Li YC, Li F, Hu XQ, Gao WJ. Juvenile treatment with a novel mGluR2 agonist/mGluR3 antagonist compound, LY395756, reverses learning deficits and cognitive flexibility impairments in adults in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 140:52-61. [PMID: 28213064 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder, in which cognitive function becomes disrupted at early stages of the disease. Although the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments remain unclear, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) hypofunctioning in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated. Moreover, cognitive symptoms in SCZ are usually unresponsive to treatment with current antipsychotics and by onset, disruption of the dopamine system, not NMDAR hypofunctioning, dominates the symptoms. Therefore, treating cognitive deficits at an early stage is a realistic approach. In this study, we tested whether an early treatment targeting mGluR2 would be effective in ameliorating cognitive impairments in the methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) model of SCZ. We investigated the effects of an mGluR2 agonist/mGluR3 antagonist, LY395756 (LY39), on the NMDAR expression and function in juveniles, as well as cognitive deficits in adult rats after juvenile treatment. We found that gestational MAM exposure induced a significant decrease in total protein levels of the NMDAR subunit, NR2B, and a significant increase of pNR2BTyr1472 in the juvenile rat PFC. Treatment with LY39 in juvenile MAM-exposed rats effectively recovered the disrupted NMDAR expression. Furthermore, a subchronic LY39 treatment in juvenile MAM-exposed rats also alleviated the learning deficits and cognitive flexibility impairments when tested with a cross-maze based set-shifting task in adults. Therefore, our study demonstrates that targeting dysfunctional NMDARs with an mGluR2 agonist during the early stage of SCZ could be an effective strategy in preventing the development and progression in addition to ameliorating cognitive impairments of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Lin Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Yelena Gulchina
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Sarah A Monaco
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Bo Xing
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Brielle R Ferguson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Yan-Chun Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510275 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xi-Quan Hu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
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Felder CC, Schober DA, Tu Y, Quets A, Xiao H, Watt M, Siuda E, Nisenbaum E, Xiang C, Heinz B, Prieto L, McKinzie DL, Monn JA. Translational Pharmacology of the Metabotropic Glutamate 2 Receptor–Preferring Agonist LY2812223 in the Animal and Human Brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 361:190-197. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.237859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Beck K, Javitt DC, Howes OD. Targeting glutamate to treat schizophrenia: lessons from recent clinical studies. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:2425-8. [PMID: 27212398 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4318-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Beck
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Daniel C Javitt
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Columbia University Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Schizophrenia Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, Imperial College, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
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Lindsley CW, Emmitte KA, Hopkins CR, Bridges TM, Gregory KJ, Niswender CM, Conn PJ. Practical Strategies and Concepts in GPCR Allosteric Modulator Discovery: Recent Advances with Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Chem Rev 2016; 116:6707-41. [PMID: 26882314 PMCID: PMC4988345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of GPCRs has initiated a new era of basic and translational discovery, filled with therapeutic promise yet fraught with caveats. Allosteric ligands stabilize unique conformations of the GPCR that afford fundamentally new receptors, capable of novel pharmacology, unprecedented subtype selectivity, and unique signal bias. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the basics of GPCR allosteric pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism, and validated approaches to address each of the major challenges and caveats. Then, the review narrows focus to highlight recent advances in the discovery of allosteric ligands for metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes 1-5 and 7 (mGlu1-5,7) highlighting key concepts ("molecular switches", signal bias, heterodimers) and practical solutions to enable the development of tool compounds and clinical candidates. The review closes with a section on late-breaking new advances with allosteric ligands for other GPCRs and emerging data for endogenous allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig W. Lindsley
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Kyle A. Emmitte
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNT System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - Corey R. Hopkins
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Thomas M. Bridges
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Karen J. Gregory
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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44
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BrainSeq: Neurogenomics to Drive Novel Target Discovery for Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Neuron 2016; 88:1078-1083. [PMID: 26687217 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
We outline an ambitious project to characterize the genetic and epigenetic regulation of multiple facets of transcription in distinct brain regions across the human lifespan in samples of major neuropsychiatric disorders and controls. Initially focused on schizophrenia and mood disorders, the goal of this consortium is to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of genetic associations with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets. The consortium currently consists of seven pharmaceutical companies and a not-for-profit medical research institution working as a precompetitive team to generate and analyze publicly available archival brain genomic data related to neuropsychiatric illness.
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Abstract
Interest in the negative symptoms of schizophrenia has increased rapidly over the last several decades, paralleling a growing interest in functional, in addition to clinical, recovery, and evidence underscoring the importance negative symptoms play in the former. Efforts continue to better define and measure negative symptoms, distinguish their impact from that of other symptom domains, and establish effective treatments as well as trials to assess these. Multiple interventions have been the subject of investigation, to date, including numerous pharmacological strategies, brain stimulation, and non-somatic approaches. Level and quality of evidence vary considerably, but to this point, no specific treatment can be recommended. This is particularly problematic for individuals burdened with negative symptoms in the face of mild or absent positive symptoms. Presently, clinicians will sometimes turn to interventions that are seen as more “benign” and in line with routine clinical practice. Strategies include use of atypical antipsychotics, ensuring the lowest possible antipsychotic dose that maintains control of positive symptoms (this can involve a shift from antipsychotic polypharmacy to monotherapy), possibly an antidepressant trial (given diagnostic uncertainty and the frequent use of these drugs in schizophrenia), and non-somatic interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT). The array and diversity of strategies currently under investigation highlight the lack of evidence-based treatments and our limited understanding regarding negative symptoms underlying etiology and pathophysiology. Their onset, which can precede the first psychotic break, also means that treatments are delayed. From this perspective, identification of biomarkers and/or endophenotypes permitting earlier diagnosis and intervention may serve to improve treatment efficacy as well as outcomes.
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46
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Litman RE, Smith MA, Doherty JJ, Cross A, Raines S, Gertsik L, Zukin SR. AZD8529, a positive allosteric modulator at the mGluR2 receptor, does not improve symptoms in schizophrenia: A proof of principle study. Schizophr Res 2016; 172:152-7. [PMID: 26922656 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Activation of metabotropic glutamate (mGluR2/3) receptors has been proposed as an alternative mechanism to dopaminergic-based antipsychotics to correct glutamatergic deficits hypothesized to underlie schizophrenia symptoms. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of AZD8529, a selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) at the mGlu2 receptor, in symptomatic patients with schizophrenia. METHODS Patients were randomized to receive AZD8529 40 mg, risperidone 4 mg, or placebo as monotherapy. Treatment lasted for 28 days, and clinical efficacy was assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores. RESULTS There were no significant differences between patients treated with AZD8529 versus placebo in change from baseline to endpoint in PANSS total, negative and positive symptom subscale, or CGI-S scores. In contrast, risperidone demonstrated significant efficacy relative to placebo. CONCLUSION These results do not support a role for the mGluR-2 PAM AZD8529 as an antipsychotic and indicate that positive modulation of mGluR type 2 receptors alone is not sufficient for antipsychotic effects in acutely ill schizophrenia patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Litman
- CBH Health, LLC, 9210 Corporate Blvd., Suite 110, Rockville, MD, United States; Georgetown University, 3700 O St. NW, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Mark A Smith
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19542, United States; Teva Pharmaceuticals, 41 Moores Rd., Frazer, PA 19355, United States
| | - James J Doherty
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19542, United States; Sage Therapeutics, 215 First St., Cambridge, MA 02142, United States
| | - Alan Cross
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19542, United States
| | - Shane Raines
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19542, United States; 2b Analytics, LLC, 128 Westminster Dr., Wallingford, PA 19086, United States
| | - Lev Gertsik
- California Clinical Trials Medical Group, 1560 East Chevy Chase Dr., Suite 140, Glendale, CA 91206, United States
| | - Stephen R Zukin
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19542, United States; Forest Research Institute, Jersey City, NJ, United States; Haborside Financial Center, Plaza V, Jersey City, NJ 07311, United States
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Ahnaou A, de Boer P, Lavreysen H, Huysmans H, Sinha V, Raeymaekers L, Van De Casteele T, Cid J, Van Nueten L, Macdonald G, Kemp J, Drinkenburg W. Translational neurophysiological markers for activity of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2) modulator JNJ-40411813: Sleep EEG correlates in rodents and healthy men. Neuropharmacology 2016; 103:290-305. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Engel M, Snikeris P, Matosin N, Newell KA, Huang XF, Frank E. mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 rescues NMDA and GABAA receptor level deficits induced in a two-hit mouse model of schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:1349-59. [PMID: 26861891 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4230-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission underlies the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia. Agonists of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGluR2/3, have been proposed as novel therapeutic agents to correct this imbalance. However, the influence of mGluR2/3 activity on excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors has not been explored. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the ability of a novel mGluR2/3 agonist, LY379268, to modulate the availability of the excitatory N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) and the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyrate-A receptor (GABAA-R), in a two-hit mouse model of schizophrenia. METHODS Wild type (WT) and heterozygous neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain mutant mice (NRG1 HET) were treated daily with phencyclidine (10 mg/kg ip) or saline for 14 days. After a 14-day washout, an acute dose of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 (3 mg/kg), olanzapine (antipsychotic drug comparison, 1.5 mg/kg), or saline was administered. NMDA-R and GABAA-R binding densities were examined by receptor autoradiography in several schizophrenia-relevant brain regions. RESULTS In both WT and NRG1 HET mice, phencyclidine treatment significantly reduced NMDA-R and GABAA-R binding density in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Acute treatment with LY379268 restored NMDA-R and GABAA-R levels in the two-hit mouse model comparable to olanzapine. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 restores excitatory and inhibitory deficits with similar efficiency as olanzapine in our two-hit schizophrenia mouse model. This study significantly contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of LY379268 and supports the use of agents aimed at mGluR2/3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Engel
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia. .,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. .,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
| | - Peta Snikeris
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Natalie Matosin
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Kelly Anne Newell
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Elisabeth Frank
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
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Wood CM, Nicolas CS, Choi SL, Roman E, Nylander I, Fernandez-Teruel A, Kiianmaa K, Bienkowski P, de Jong TR, Colombo G, Chastagnier D, Wafford KA, Collingridge GL, Wildt SJ, Conway-Campbell BL, Robinson ESJ, Lodge D. Prevalence and influence of cys407* Grm2 mutation in Hannover-derived Wistar rats: mGlu2 receptor loss links to alcohol intake, risk taking and emotional behaviour. Neuropharmacology 2016; 115:128-138. [PMID: 26987983 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu2) receptor function has huge potential for treating psychiatric and neurological diseases. Development of drugs acting on mGlu2 receptors depends on the development and use of translatable animal models of disease. We report here a stop codon mutation at cysteine 407 in Grm2 (cys407*) that is common in some Wistar rats. Therefore, researchers in this field need to be aware of strains with this mutation. Our genotypic survey found widespread prevalence of the mutation in commercial Wistar strains, particularly those known as Han Wistar. Such Han Wistar rats are ideal for research into the separate roles of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors in CNS function. Previous investigations, unknowingly using such mGlu2 receptor-lacking rats, provide insights into the role of mGlu2 receptors in behaviour. The Grm2 mutant rats, which dominate some selectively bred lines, display characteristics of altered emotionality, impulsivity and risk-related behaviours and increased voluntary alcohol intake compared with their mGlu2 receptor-competent counterparts. In addition, the data further emphasize the potential therapeutic role of mGlu2 receptors in psychiatric and neurological disease, and indicate novel methods of studying the role of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors, 5 years on'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Wood
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Celine S Nicolas
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Sun-Lim Choi
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Erika Roman
- Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behaviour, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 591, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Nylander
- Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behaviour, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 591, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alberto Fernandez-Teruel
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kalervo Kiianmaa
- Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, National Institute for Health and Welfare, POB 30 00271 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Trynke R de Jong
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Denis Chastagnier
- Janvier Labs, CS4105 Le Genest-Saint-Isle, F-53941 Saint-Berthevin, France
| | - Keith A Wafford
- Eli Lilly Research Laboratories, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Graham L Collingridge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Sheryl J Wildt
- Envigo, 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard, Indianapolis IN 46250, USA
| | - Becky L Conway-Campbell
- Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, University of Bristol, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - David Lodge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
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Still NAAG’ing After All These Years. NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: A TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH T. COYLE 2016; 76:215-55. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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