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Ahlbrand R, Wilson A, Woller P, Sachdeva Y, Lai J, Davis N, Wiggins J, Sah R. Sex-specific threat responding and neuronal engagement in carbon dioxide associated fear and extinction: Noradrenergic involvement in female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100617. [PMID: 38433995 PMCID: PMC10907837 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Difficulty in appropriately responding to threats is a key feature of psychiatric disorders, especially fear-related conditions such as panic disorder (PD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most prior work on threat and fear regulation involves exposure to external threatful cues. However, fear can also be triggered by aversive, within-the-body, sensations. This interoceptive signaling of fear is highly relevant to PD and PTSD but is not well understood, especially in the context of sex. Using female and male mice, the current study investigated fear-associated spontaneous and conditioned behaviors to carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation, a potent interoceptive threat that induces fear and panic. We also investigated whether behavioral sensitivity to CO2 is associated with delayed PTSD-relevant behaviors. CO2 evoked heterogenous freezing behaviors in both male and female animals. However, active, rearing behavior was significantly reduced in CO2-exposed male but not female mice. Interestingly, behavioral sensitivity to CO2 was associated with compromised fear extinction, independent of sex. However, in comparison to CO2-exposed males, females elicited less freezing and higher rearing during extinction suggesting an engagement of active versus passive defensive coping. Persistent neuronal activation marker ΔFosB immuno-mapping revealed attenuated engagement of infralimbic-prefrontal areas in both sexes but higher activation of brain stem locus coeruleus (LC) area in females. Inter-regional co-activation mapping revealed sex-independent disruptions in the infralimbic-amygdala associations but altered LC associations only in CO2-exposed female mice. Lastly, dopamine β hydroxylase positive (DβH + ve) noradrenergic neuronal cell counts in the LC correlated with freezing and rearing behaviors during CO2 inhalation and extinction only in female but not male mice. Collectively, these data provide evidence for higher active defensive responding to interoceptive threat CO2-associated fear in females that may stem from increased recruitment of the brainstem noradrenergic system. Our findings reveal distinct contributory mechanisms that may promote sex differences in fear and panic associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Ahlbrand
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Allison Wilson
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - Patrick Woller
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - Yuv Sachdeva
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - Jayden Lai
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - Nikki Davis
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - James Wiggins
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - Renu Sah
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Xu T, Chen Z, Zhou X, Wang L, Zhou F, Yao D, Zhou B, Becker B. The central renin-angiotensin system: A genetic pathway, functional decoding, and selective target engagement characterization in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2306936121. [PMID: 38349873 PMCID: PMC10895353 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306936121] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the brain renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cognition and behavior as well as in the neuropathology of neurological and mental disorders. The angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) mediates most functional and neuropathology-relevant actions associated with the central RAS. However, an overarching comprehension to guide translation and utilize the therapeutic potential of the central RAS in humans is currently lacking. We conducted a comprehensive characterization of the RAS using an innovative combination of transcriptomic gene expression mapping, image-based behavioral decoding, and pre-registered randomized controlled discovery-replication pharmacological resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) trials (N = 132) with a selective AT1R antagonist. The AT1R exhibited a particular dense expression in a subcortical network encompassing the thalamus, striatum, and amygdalo-hippocampal formation. Behavioral decoding of the AT1R gene expression brain map showed an association with memory, stress, reward, and motivational processes. Transient pharmacological blockade of the AT1R further decreased neural activity in subcortical systems characterized by a high AT1R expression, while increasing functional connectivity in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuitry. Effects of AT1R blockade on the network level were specifically associated with the transcriptomic signatures of the dopaminergic, opioid, acetylcholine, and corticotropin-releasing hormone signaling systems. The robustness of the results was supported in an independent pharmacological fMRI trial. These findings present a biologically informed comprehensive characterization of the central AT1R pathways and their functional relevance on the neural and behavioral level in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xu
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiyi Chen
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing400037, People’s Republic of China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinqi Zhou
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lan Wang
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dezhong Yao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Zhou
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu610054, People’s Republic of China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong999077, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong999077, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang R, Zhao W, Qi Z, Xu T, Zhou F, Becker B. Angiotensin II Regulates the Neural Expression of Subjective Fear in Humans: A Precision Pharmaco-Neuroimaging Approach. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:262-270. [PMID: 36174930 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodent models and pharmacological neuroimaging studies in humans have been used to test novel pharmacological agents to reduce fear. However, these strategies are limited with respect to determining process-specific effects on the actual subjective experience of fear, which represents the key symptom that motivates patients to seek treatment. In this study, we used a novel precision pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging approach based on process-specific neuroaffective signatures to determine effects of the selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonist losartan on the subjective experience of fear. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging design, healthy participants (N = 87) were administered 50 mg losartan or placebo before they underwent an oddball paradigm that included neutral, novel, and fear oddballs. Effects of losartan on brain activity and connectivity as well as on process-specific multivariate neural signatures were examined. RESULTS AT1R blockade selectively reduced neurofunctional reactivity to fear-inducing visual oddballs in terms of attenuating dorsolateral prefrontal activity and amygdala-ventral anterior cingulate communication. Neurofunctional decoding further demonstrated fear-specific effects in that AT1R blockade reduced the neural expression of subjective fear but not of threat or nonspecific negative affect and did not influence reactivity to novel oddballs. CONCLUSIONS These results show a specific role of the AT1R in regulating the subjective fear experience and demonstrate the feasibility of a precision pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging approach to the affective characterization of novel receptor targets for fear in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Zhang
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziyu Qi
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, ChongQing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, ChongQing, China.
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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Winter A, McMurray KMJ, Ahlbrand R, Allgire E, Shukla S, Jones J, Sah R. The subfornical organ regulates acidosis-evoked fear by engaging microglial acid-sensor TDAG8 and forebrain neurocircuits in male mice. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1732-1746. [PMID: 35553084 PMCID: PMC9812228 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
An important role of pH homeostasis has been suggested in the physiology of panic disorder, with acidosis as an interoceptive trigger leading to fear and panic. Identification of novel mechanisms that can translate acidosis into fear will promote a better understanding of panic physiology. The current study explores a role of the subfornical organ (SFO), a blood-brain barrier compromised brain area, in translating acidosis to fear-relevant behaviors. We performed SFO-targeted acidification in male, wild-type mice and mice lacking microglial acid-sensing G protein-coupled receptor-T-cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8). Localized SFO acidification evoked significant freezing and reduced exploration that was dependent on the presence of acid-sensor TDAG8. Acidosis promoted the activation of SFO microglia and neurons that were absent in TDAG8-deficient mice. The assessment of regional neuronal activation in wild-type and TDAG8-deficient mice following SFO acidification revealed significant acidosis and genotype-dependent alterations in the hypothalamus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and periaqueductal gray nuclei. Furthermore, mapping of interregional co-activation patterns revealed that SFO acidosis promoted positive hypothalamic-cortex associations and desynchronized SFO-cortex and amygdala-cortex associations, suggesting an interplay of homeostatic and fear regulatory areas. Importantly, these alterations were not evident in TDAG8-deficient mice. Overall, our data support a regulatory role of subfornical organ microglial acid sensing in acidosis-evoked fear, highlighting a centralized role of blood-brain barrier compromised nodes in interoceptive sensing and behavioral regulation. Identification of pathways by which humoral information can modulate fear behavior is relevant to panic disorder, where aberrant interoceptive signaling has been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Winter
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Katherine M. J. McMurray
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rebecca Ahlbrand
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Emily Allgire
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Sachi Shukla
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - James Jones
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Renu Sah
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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5
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Correa BHM, Becari L, Peliky Fontes MA, Simões-e-Silva AC, Kangussu LM. Involvement of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Stress: State of the Art and Research Perspectives. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1212-1228. [PMID: 34554902 PMCID: PMC9886820 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210719142300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Along with other canonical systems, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has shown important roles in stress. This system is a complex regulatory proteolytic cascade composed of various enzymes, peptides, and receptors. Besides the classical (ACE/Ang II/AT1 receptor) and the counter-regulatory (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor) RAS axes, evidence indicates that nonclassical components, including Ang III, Ang IV, AT2 and AT4, can also be involved in stress. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS This comprehensive review summarizes the current knowledge on the participation of RAS components in different adverse environmental stimuli stressors, including air jet stress, cage switch stress, restraint stress, chronic unpredictable stress, neonatal isolation stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION In general, activation of the classical RAS axis potentiates stress-related cardiovascular, endocrine, and behavioral responses, while the stimulation of the counter-regulatory axis attenuates these effects. Pharmacological modulation in both axes is optimistic, offering promising perspectives for stress-related disorders treatment. In this regard, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are potential candidates already available since they block the classical axis, activate the counter-regulatory axis, and are safe and efficient drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo H. M. Correa
- Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil;
| | - Luca Becari
- Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil;
| | - Marco Antônio Peliky Fontes
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics - Biological Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil;
| | - Ana Cristina Simões-e-Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lucas M. Kangussu
- Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil; ,Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences Institute – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Tel: (+55-31) 3409-2772; E-mail:
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6
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Angiotensin antagonist inhibits preferential negative memory encoding via decreasing hippocampus activation and its coupling with amygdala. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:970-978. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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7
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Subfornical organ interleukin 1 receptor: A novel regulator of spontaneous and conditioned fear associated behaviors in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 101:304-317. [PMID: 35032573 PMCID: PMC9836229 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired threat responding and fear regulation is a hallmark of psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Panic Disorder (PD). Most studies have focused on external psychogenic threats to study fear, however, accumulating evidence suggests a primary role of homeostatic perturbations and interoception in regulating emotional behaviors. Heightened reactivity to interoceptive threat carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation associates with increased risk for developing PD and PTSD, however, contributory mechanisms and molecular targets are not well understood. Previous studies from our group suggested a potential role of interleukin 1 receptor (IL-1R1) signaling within BBB-devoid sensory circumventricular organ, the subfornical organ (SFO) in CO2-evoked fear. However, the necessity of SFO-IL-1R1 in regulating CO2-associated spontaneous fear as well as, long-term fear potentiation relevant to PD/PTSD has not been investigated. The current study tested male mice with SFO-targeted microinfusion of the IL-1R1 antagonist (IL-1RA) or vehicle in a recently developed CO2-startle-fear conditioning-extinction paradigm. Consistent with our hypothesis, SFO IL-1RA treatment elicited significant attenuation of freezing and increased rearing during CO2 inhalation suggesting SFO-IL1R1 regulation of spontaneous fear to CO2. Intriguingly, SFO IL-1RA treatment normalized CO2-associated potentiation of conditioned fear and impaired extinction a week later suggesting modulation of long-term fear by SFO-IL-1R1 signaling. Post behavior FosB mapping revealed recruitment of prefrontal cortex-amygdala-periaqueductal gray (PAG) areas in SFO-IL-1RA mediated effects. Additionally, we localized cellular IL-1R1 expression within the SFO to blood vessel endothelial cells and observed CO2-induced alterations in IL-1β/IL-1R1 expression in peripheral mononuclear cells and SFO. Lastly, CO2-evoked microglial activation was attenuated in SFO-IL-1RA treated mice. These observations suggest a peripheral monocyte-endothelial-microglia interplay in SFO-IL-1R1 modulation of CO2-associated spontaneous fear and delayed fear memory. Collectively, our data highlight a novel, "bottom-up" neuroimmune mechanism that integrates interoceptive and exteroceptive threat processing of relevance to fear-related pathologies.
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8
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Stein MB, Jain S, Simon NM, West JC, Marvar PJ, Bui E, He F, Benedek DM, Cassano P, Griffith JL, Howlett J, Malgaroli M, Melaragno A, Seligowski AV, Shu IW, Song S, Szuhany K, Taylor CT, Ressler KJ. Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Angiotensin Receptor Antagonist Losartan for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:473-481. [PMID: 34275593 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence-based pharmacological treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are few and of limited efficacy. Previous work suggests that angiotensin type 1 receptor inhibition facilitates fear inhibition and extinction, important for recovery from PTSD. This study tests the efficacy of the angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist losartan, an antihypertensive drug, repurposed for the treatment of PTSD. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted for 10 weeks in 149 men and women meeting DSM-5 PTSD criteria. Losartan (vs. placebo) was flexibly titrated from 25 to 100 mg/day by week 6 and held at highest tolerated dose until week 10. Primary outcome was the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) change score at 10 weeks from baseline. A key secondary outcome was change in CAPS-5 associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism of the ACE gene. Additional secondary outcomes included changes in the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and proportion of responders with a Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale of "much improved" or "very much improved." RESULTS Both groups had robust improvement in PTSD symptoms, but there was no significant difference on the primary end point, CAPS-5 measured as week 10 change from baseline, between losartan and placebo (mean change difference, 0.9, 95% confidence interval, -3.2 to 5.0). There was no significant difference in the proportion of Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale responders for losartan (58.6%) versus placebo (57.9%), no significant differences in changes in PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 or Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and no association between ACE genotype and CAPS-5 improvement on losartan. CONCLUSIONS At these doses and durations, there was no significant benefit of losartan compared with placebo for the treatment of PTSD. We discuss implications for failure to determine the benefit of a repurposed drug with strong a priori expectations of success based on preclinical and epidemiological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California.
| | - Sonia Jain
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Naomi M Simon
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - James C West
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Eric Bui
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Feng He
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - David M Benedek
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paolo Cassano
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Jonathan Howlett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Matteo Malgaroli
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Andrew Melaragno
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - I-Wei Shu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Suzan Song
- George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Kristin Szuhany
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Charles T Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.
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9
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Johnson E, J M, I L, R S. Asthma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Emerging links, potential models and mechanisms. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 97:275-285. [PMID: 34107349 PMCID: PMC8453093 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent, debilitating mental health condition. A better understanding of contributory neurobiological mechanisms will lead to effective treatments, improving quality of life for patients. Given that not all trauma-exposed individuals develop PTSD, identification of pre-trauma susceptibility factors that can modulate posttraumatic outcomes is important. Recent clinical evidence supports a strong link between inflammatory conditions and PTSD. A particularly strong association has been reported between asthma and PTSD prevalence and severity. Unlike many other PTSD-comorbid inflammatory conditions, asthma often develops in children, sensitizing them to subsequent posttraumatic pathology throughout their lifetime. Currently, there is a significant need to understand the neurobiology, shared mechanisms, and inflammatory mediators that may contribute to comorbid asthma and PTSD. Here, we provide a translational perspective of asthma and PTSD risk and comorbidity, focusing on clinical associations, relevant rodent paradigms and potential mechanisms that may translate asthma-associated inflammation to PTSD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Johnson
- Dept. of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH, 45220,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH, 45220
| | - McAlees J
- Division of Immunobiology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati OH, 45220
| | - Lewkowich I
- Division of Immunobiology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati OH, 45220,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH, 45220
| | - Sah R
- Dept. of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH, 45220,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH, 45220,VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45220
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10
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Modulation of fear behavior and neuroimmune alterations in house dust mite exposed A/J mice, a model of severe asthma. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 88:688-698. [PMID: 32380274 PMCID: PMC8988097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fear-associated conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD) are highly prevalent. There is considerable interest in understanding contributory risk and vulnerability factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that chronically elevated inflammatory load may be a potential risk factor for these disorders. In this regard, an association of asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition, with PTSD and PD has been reported. Symptoms of PD and PTSD are more prevalent in severe asthmatics, compared to those with mild or moderate asthma suggesting that factors that influence the severity of asthma, may also influence susceptibility to the development of fear-related disorders. There has been relatively little progress in identifying contributory factors and underlying mechanisms, particularly, the translation of severe asthma-associated lung inflammation to central neuroimmune alterations and behavioral manifestations remains unclear. The current study investigated the expression of behaviors relevant to PD and PTSD (CO2 inhalation and fear conditioning/extinction) in A/J mice using a model of severe allergic asthma associated with a mixed T helper 2 (Th2) and Th17 immune response. We also investigated the accumulation of Th2- and Th17-cytokine expressing cells in lung and brain tissue, microglial alterations, as well as neuronal activation marker, delta FosB (ΔFosB)) in fear and panic regulatory brain areas. HDM-exposed mice elicited higher freezing during fear extinction. CO2-associated spontaneous and conditioned freezing, as well as anxiety or depression-relevant exploratory and coping behaviors were not altered by HDM treatment. A significant increase in brain Th17-associated inflammatory mediators was observed prior to behavioral testing, accompanied by microglial alterations in specialized blood brain barrier-compromised circumventricular area, subfornical organ. Post extinction measurements revealed increased ΔFosB staining within the medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala in HDM-treated mice. Collectively, our data show modulation of brain immune mechanisms and fear circuits by peripheral airway inflammation, and is relevant to understanding the risk and comorbidity of asthma with fear-associated disorders such as PTSD.
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High Behavioral Sensitivity to Carbon Dioxide Associates with Enhanced Fear Memory and Altered Forebrain Neuronal Activation. Neuroscience 2020; 429:92-105. [PMID: 31930959 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable interest in pre-trauma individual differences that may contribute to increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identification of underlying vulnerability factors that predict differential responses to traumatic experiences is important. Recently, the relevance of homeostatic perturbations in shaping long-term behavior has been recognized. Sensitivity to CO2 inhalation, a homeostatic threat to survival, was shown to associate with the later development of PTSD symptoms in veterans. Here, we investigated whether behavioral sensitivity to CO2 associates with PTSD-relevant behaviors and alters forebrain fear circuitry in mice. Mice were exposed to 5% CO2 or air inhalation and tested one week later on acoustic startle and footshock contextual fear conditioning, extinction and reinstatement. CO2 inhalation evoked heterogenous freezing behaviors (high freezing CO2-H and low freezing CO2-L) that significantly associated with fear conditioning and extinction behaviors. CO2-H mice elicited potentiated conditioned fear and delayed extinction while behavioral responses in CO2-L mice were similar to the air group. Persistent neuronal activation marker ΔFosB immunostaining revealed altered regional neuronal activation within the hippocampus, amygdala and medial pre-frontal cortex that correlated with conditioned fear and extinction. Inter-regional co-activation mapping revealed disruptions in the coordinated activity of hippocampal dentate-amygdala-infralimbic regions and infralimbic-prelimbic associations in CO2-H mice that may explain their enhanced fear phenotype. In conclusion, our data support an association of behavioral sensitivity to interoceptive threats such as CO2 with altered fear responding to exteroceptive threats and suggest that "CO2-sensitive" individuals may be susceptible to developing PTSD.
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