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McEwan AR, Hing B, Erickson JC, Hutchings G, Urama C, Norton-Hughes E, D'Ippolito M, Berry S, Delibegovic M, Grassmann F, MacKenzie A. An ancient polymorphic regulatory region within the BDNF gene associated with obesity modulates anxiety-like behaviour in mice and humans. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:660-670. [PMID: 38228888 PMCID: PMC11153140 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02359-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Obesity and anxiety are morbidities notable for their increased impact on society during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the mechanisms governing susceptibility to these conditions will increase our quality of life and resilience to future pandemics. In the current study, we explored the function of a highly conserved regulatory region (BE5.1) within the BDNF gene that harbours a polymorphism strongly associated with obesity (rs10767664; p = 4.69 × 10-26). Analysis in primary cells suggested that the major T-allele of BE5.1 was an enhancer, whereas the obesity-associated A-allele was not. However, CRISPR/CAS9 deletion of BE5.1 from the mouse genome (BE5.1KO) produced no significant effect on the expression of BDNF transcripts in the hypothalamus, no change in weight gain after 28 days and only a marginally significant increase in food intake. Nevertheless, transcripts were significantly increased in the amygdala of female mice and elevated zero maze and marble-burying tests demonstrated a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviour that could be reversed by diazepam. Consistent with these observations, human GWAS cohort analysis demonstrated a significant association between rs10767664 and anxiousness in human populations. Intriguingly, interrogation of the human GTEx eQTL database demonstrated no effect on BDNF mRNA levels associated with rs10767664 but a highly significant effect on BDNF-antisense (BDNF-AS) gene expression and splicing. The subsequent observation that deletion of BE5.1 also significantly reduced BDNF-AS expression in mice suggests a novel mechanism in the regulation of BDNF expression common to mice and humans, which contributes to the modulation of mood and anxiety in both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R McEwan
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Benjamin Hing
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Johanna C Erickson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Greg Hutchings
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Charity Urama
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Emily Norton-Hughes
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Mariam D'Ippolito
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Susan Berry
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Mirela Delibegovic
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK
| | - Felix Grassmann
- Institute for Clinical Research and Systems Medicine, Health and Medical University, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alasdair MacKenzie
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, UK.
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2
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Winter JJ, Rodríguez-Acevedo KL, Dittrich M, Heller EA. Early life adversity: Epigenetic regulation underlying drug addiction susceptibility. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103825. [PMID: 36842544 PMCID: PMC10247461 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103825] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with more than 70,000 Americans dying from drug overdose in 2019 alone. While only a small percentage of chronic drug users escalate to drug addiction, little is understood on the precise mechanisms of this susceptibility. Early life adversity is causally relevant to adult psychiatric disease and may contribute to the risk of addiction. Here we review recent pre-clinical evidence showing that early life exposure to stress and/or drugs regulates changes in behavior, gene expression, and the epigenome that persist into adulthood. We summarize the major findings and gaps in the preclinical literature, highlighting studies that demonstrate the often profound differences between female and male subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mia Dittrich
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
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3
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Basavarajappa BS, Subbanna S. Molecular Insights into Epigenetics and Cannabinoid Receptors. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1560. [PMID: 36358910 PMCID: PMC9687363 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The actions of cannabis are mediated by G protein-coupled receptors that are part of an endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS). ECS consists of the naturally occurring ligands N-arachidonylethanolamine (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), their biosynthetic and degradative enzymes, and the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Epigenetics are heritable changes that affect gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, transducing external stimuli in stable alterations of the DNA or chromatin structure. Cannabinoid receptors are crucial candidates for exploring their functions through epigenetic approaches due to their significant roles in health and diseases. Epigenetic changes usually promote alterations in the expression of genes and proteins that can be evaluated by various transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Despite the exponential growth of new evidence on the critical functions of cannabinoid receptors, much is still unknown regarding the contribution of various genetic and epigenetic factors that regulate cannabinoid receptor gene expression. Recent studies have identified several immediate and long-lasting epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, DNA-associated histone proteins, and RNA regulatory networks, in cannabinoid receptor function. Thus, they can offer solutions to many cellular, molecular, and behavioral impairments found after modulation of cannabinoid receptor activities. In this review, we discuss the significant research advances in different epigenetic factors contributing to the regulation of cannabinoid receptors and their functions under both physiological and pathological conditions. Increasing our understanding of the epigenetics of cannabinoid receptors will significantly advance our knowledge and could lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and innovative treatment strategies for diseases associated with altered cannabinoid receptor functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balapal S. Basavarajappa
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Shivakumar Subbanna
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
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4
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MacKenzie A, Hay EA, McEwan AR. Context-dependant enhancers as a reservoir of functional polymorphisms and epigenetic markers linked to alcohol use disorders and comorbidities. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 2:None. [PMID: 35712020 PMCID: PMC9101288 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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5
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Navarrete F, García-Gutiérrez MS, Gasparyan A, Navarro D, López-Picón F, Morcuende Á, Femenía T, Manzanares J. Biomarkers of the Endocannabinoid System in Substance Use Disorders. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030396. [PMID: 35327588 PMCID: PMC8946268 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite substance use disorders (SUD) being one of the leading causes of disability and mortality globally, available therapeutic approaches remain ineffective. The difficulty in accurately characterizing the neurobiological mechanisms involved with a purely qualitative diagnosis is an obstacle to improving the classification and treatment of SUD. In this regard, identifying central and peripheral biomarkers is essential to diagnosing the severity of drug dependence, monitoring therapeutic efficacy, predicting treatment response, and enhancing the development of safer and more effective pharmacological tools. In recent years, the crucial role that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays in regulating the reinforcing and motivational properties of drugs of abuse has been described. This has led to studies characterizing ECS alterations after exposure to various substances to identify biomarkers with potential diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility. This review aims to compile the primary evidence available from rodent and clinical studies on how the ECS components are modified in the context of different substance-related disorders, gathering data from genetic, molecular, functional, and neuroimaging experimental approaches. Finally, this report concludes that additional translational research is needed to further characterize the modifications of the ECS in the context of SUD, and their potential usefulness in the necessary search for biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María S. García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Navarro
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco López-Picón
- PET Preclinical Imaging Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland;
| | - Álvaro Morcuende
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
| | - Teresa Femenía
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-965-919-248
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6
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Iman IN, Yusof NAM, Talib UN, Ahmad NAZ, Norazit A, Kumar J, Mehat MZ, Jayabalan N, Muthuraju S, Stefaniuk M, Kaczmarek L, Muzaimi M. The IntelliCage System: A Review of Its Utility as a Novel Behavioral Platform for a Rodent Model of Substance Use Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:683780. [PMID: 34149373 PMCID: PMC8211779 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.683780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of animal models for substance use disorder (SUD) has made an important contribution in the investigation of the behavioral and molecular mechanisms underlying substance abuse and addiction. Here, we review a novel and comprehensive behavioral platform to characterize addiction-like traits in rodents using a fully automated learning system, the IntelliCage. This system simultaneously captures the basic behavioral navigation, reward preference, and aversion, as well as the multi-dimensional complex behaviors and cognitive functions of group-housed rodents. It can reliably capture and track locomotor and cognitive pattern alterations associated with the development of substance addiction. Thus, the IntelliCage learning system offers a potentially efficient, flexible, and sensitive tool for the high-throughput screening of the rodent SUD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Nurul Iman
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Ummi Nasrah Talib
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aimi Zawami Ahmad
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Anwar Norazit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zulfadli Mehat
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nanthini Jayabalan
- Translational Neuroscience Lab, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sangu Muthuraju
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Marzena Stefaniuk
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Leszek Kaczmarek
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mustapha Muzaimi
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
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7
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McEwan AR, Davidson C, Hay E, Turnbull Y, Erickson JC, Marini P, Wilson D, McIntosh AM, Adams MJ, Murgatroyd C, Barrett P, Delibegovic M, Clarke TK, MacKenzie A. CRISPR disruption and UK Biobank analysis of a highly conserved polymorphic enhancer suggests a role in male anxiety and ethanol intake. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2263-2276. [PMID: 32203157 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0707-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Excessive alcohol intake is associated with 5.9% of global deaths. However, this figure is especially acute in men such that 7.6% of deaths can be attributed to alcohol intake. Previous studies identified a significant interaction between genotypes of the galanin (GAL) gene with anxiety and alcohol abuse in different male populations but were unable to define a mechanism. To address these issues the current study analysed the human UK Biobank cohort and identified a significant interaction (n = 115,865; p = 0.0007) between allelic variation (GG or CA genotypes) in the highly conserved human GAL5.1 enhancer, alcohol intake (AUDIT questionnaire scores) and anxiety in men. Critically, disruption of GAL5.1 in mice using CRISPR genome editing significantly reduced GAL expression in the amygdala and hypothalamus whilst producing a corresponding reduction in ethanol intake in KO mice. Intriguingly, we also found the evidence of reduced anxiety-like behaviour in male GAL5.1KO animals mirroring that seen in humans from our UK Biobank studies. Using bioinformatic analysis and co-transfection studies we further identified the EGR1 transcription factor, that is co-expressed with GAL in amygdala and hypothalamus, as being important in the protein kinase C (PKC) supported activity of the GG genotype of GAL5.1 but less so in the CA genotype. Our unique study uses a novel combination of human association analysis, CRISPR genome editing in mice, animal behavioural analysis and cell culture studies to identify a highly conserved regulatory mechanism linking anxiety and alcohol intake that might contribute to increased susceptibility to anxiety and alcohol abuse in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R McEwan
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Connor Davidson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Elizabeth Hay
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Yvonne Turnbull
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Johanna Celene Erickson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Pietro Marini
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Dana Wilson
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Andrew M McIntosh
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9YL, UK.,Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Mark J Adams
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Chris Murgatroyd
- School of Healthcare Sciences, John Dalton Building, Manchester Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M15 6BH, UK
| | - Perry Barrett
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Mirela Delibegovic
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Toni-Kim Clarke
- School of Healthcare Sciences, John Dalton Building, Manchester Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M15 6BH, UK
| | - Alasdair MacKenzie
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK.
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8
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Phillips TJ, Roy T, Aldrich SJ, Baba H, Erk J, Mootz JRK, Reed C, Chesler EJ. Confirmation of a Causal Taar1 Allelic Variant in Addiction-Relevant Methamphetamine Behaviors. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:725839. [PMID: 34512422 PMCID: PMC8428522 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.725839] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensitivity to rewarding and reinforcing drug effects has a critical role in initial use, but the role of initial aversive drug effects has received less attention. Methamphetamine effects on dopamine re-uptake and efflux are associated with its addiction potential. However, methamphetamine also serves as a substrate for the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). Growing evidence in animal models indicates that increasing TAAR1 function reduces drug self-administration and intake. We previously determined that a non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in Taar1 predicts a conformational change in the receptor that has functional consequences. A Taar1 m1J mutant allele existing in DBA/2J mice expresses a non-functional receptor. In comparison to mice that possess one or more copies of the reference Taar1 allele (Taar1 +/+ or Taar1 +/m1J ), mice with the Taar1 m1J/m1J genotype readily consume methamphetamine, express low sensitivity to aversive effects of methamphetamine, and lack sensitivity to acute methamphetamine-induced hypothermia. We used three sets of knock-in and control mice in which one Taar1 allele was exchanged with the alternative allele to determine if other methamphetamine-related traits and an opioid trait are impacted by the same Taar1 SNP proven to affect MA consumption and hypothermia. First, we measured sensitivity to conditioned rewarding and aversive effects of methamphetamine to determine if an impact of the Taar1 SNP on these traits could be proven. Next, we used multiple genetic backgrounds to study the consistency of Taar1 allelic effects on methamphetamine intake and hypothermia. Finally, we studied morphine-induced hypothermia to confirm prior data suggesting that a gene in linkage disequilibrium with Taar1, rather than Taar1, accounts for prior observed differences in sensitivity. We found that a single SNP exchange reduced sensitivity to methamphetamine conditioned reward and increased sensitivity to conditioned aversion. Profound differences in methamphetamine intake and hypothermia consistently corresponded with genotype at the SNP location, with only slight variation in magnitude across genetic backgrounds. Morphine-induced hypothermia was not dependent on Taar1 genotype. Thus, Taar1 genotype and TAAR1 function impact multiple methamphetamine-related effects that likely predict the potential for methamphetamine use. These data support further investigation of their potential roles in risk for methamphetamine addiction and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara J Phillips
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Tyler Roy
- The Jackson Laboratory and Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Sara J Aldrich
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Harue Baba
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jason Erk
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - John R K Mootz
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Cheryl Reed
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Elissa J Chesler
- The Jackson Laboratory and Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
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9
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Soriano D, Brusco A, Caltana L. Further evidence of anxiety- and depression-like behavior for total genetic ablation of cannabinoid receptor type 1. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113007. [PMID: 33171148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is the most abundant cannabinoid receptor in central nervous system. Clinical studies and animal models have shown that the attenuation of endocannabinoid system signaling correlates with the development of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. In the present work, multiple behavioral tests were performed to evaluate behaviors related to anxiety and depression in CB1R+/- and CB1R-/-. CB1R+/- mice had anxiety-related behavior similar to wild type (CB1R+/+) mice, whereas CB1R-/- mice displayed an anxious-like phenotype, which indicates that lower expression of CB1R is sufficient to maintain the neural circuits modulating anxiety. In addition, CB1R-/- mice exhibited alterations in risk assessment and less exploration, locomotion, grooming, body weight and appetite. These phenotypic characteristics observed in CB1R-/- mice could be associated with symptoms observed in human psychiatric disorders such as depression. A better knowledge of the neuromodulatory role of CB1R may contribute to understand scope and limitations of the development of medical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia Soriano
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1ª Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. de Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alicia Brusco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1ª Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. de Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Caltana
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1ª Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. de Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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McEwan AR, MacKenzie A. Perspective: Quality Versus Quantity; Is It Important to Assess the Role of Enhancers in Complex Disease from an In Vivo Perspective? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7856. [PMID: 33113946 PMCID: PMC7660172 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequencing of the human genome has permitted the development of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to analyze the genetics of a number of complex disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Thanks to their ability to analyze huge cohort sizes, these studies have successfully identified thousands of loci associated with a broad spectrum of complex diseases. Disconcertingly, the majority of these GWAS hits occur in non-coding regions of the genome, much of which controls the cell-type-specific expression of genes essential to health. In contrast to gene coding sequences, it is a challenge to understand the function of this non-coding regulatory genome using conventional biochemical techniques in cell lines. The current commentary scrutinizes the field of complex genetics from the standpoint of the large-scale whole-genome functional analysis of the promoters and cis-regulatory elements using chromatin markers. We contrast these large scale quantitative techniques against comparative genomics and in vivo analyses including CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing to determine the functional characteristics of these elements and to understand how polymorphic variation and epigenetic changes within these elements might contribute to complex disease and drug response. Most importantly, we suggest that, although the role of chromatin markers will continue to be important in identifying and characterizing enhancers, more emphasis must be placed on their analysis in relevant in-vivo models that take account of the appropriate cell-type-specific roles of these elements. It is hoped that offering these insights might refocus progress in analyzing the data tsunami of non-coding GWAS and whole-genome sequencing "hits" that threatens to overwhelm progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alasdair MacKenzie
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK;
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Soriano D, Vacotto M, Brusco A, Caltana L. Neuronal and synaptic morphological alterations in the hippocampus of cannabinoid receptor type 1 knockout mice. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:2245-2262. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Delia Soriano
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. 1° Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética. Buenos Aires. Argentina. Buenos Aires Argentina
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN) CONICET‐Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Marina Vacotto
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN) CONICET‐Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Alicia Brusco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. 1° Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética. Buenos Aires. Argentina. Buenos Aires Argentina
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN) CONICET‐Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Laura Caltana
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. 1° Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética. Buenos Aires. Argentina. Buenos Aires Argentina
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN) CONICET‐Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
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12
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The Epigenetics of the Endocannabinoid System. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031113. [PMID: 32046164 PMCID: PMC7037698 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ES) is a cell-signalling system widely distributed in biological tissues that includes endogenous ligands, receptors, and biosynthetic and hydrolysing machineries. The impairment of the ES has been associated to several pathological conditions like behavioural, neurological, or metabolic disorders and infertility, suggesting that the modulation of this system may be critical for the maintenance of health status and disease treatment. Lifestyle and environmental factors can exert long-term effects on gene expression without any change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA, affecting health maintenance and influencing both disease load and resistance. This potentially reversible "epigenetic" modulation of gene expression occurs through the chemical modification of DNA and histone protein tails or the specific production of regulatory non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Recent findings demonstrate the epigenetic modulation of the ES in biological tissues; in the same way, endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, and cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists induce widespread or gene-specific epigenetic changes with the possibility of trans-generational epigenetic inheritance in the offspring explained by the transmission of deregulated epigenetic marks in the gametes. Therefore, this review provides an update on the epigenetics of the ES, with particular attention on the emerging role in reproduction and fertility.
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Navarrete F, García-Gutiérrez MS, Jurado-Barba R, Rubio G, Gasparyan A, Austrich-Olivares A, Manzanares J. Endocannabinoid System Components as Potential Biomarkers in Psychiatry. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:315. [PMID: 32395111 PMCID: PMC7197485 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The high heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders leads to a lack of diagnostic precision. Therefore, the search of biomarkers is a fundamental aspect in psychiatry to reach a more personalized medicine. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has gained increasing interest due to its involvement in many different functional processes in the brain, including the regulation of emotions, motivation, and cognition. This article reviews the role of the main components of the ECS as biomarkers in certain psychiatric disorders. Studies carried out in rodents evaluating the effects of pharmacological and genetic manipulation of cannabinoid receptors or endocannabinoids (eCBs) degrading enzymes were included. Likewise, the ECS-related alterations occurring at the molecular level in animal models reproducing some behavioral and/or neuropathological aspects of psychiatric disorders were reviewed. Furthermore, clinical studies evaluating gene or protein alterations in post-mortem brain tissue or in vivo blood, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed. Also, the results from neuroimaging studies using positron emission tomography (PET) or functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) were included. This review shows the close involvement of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1r) in stress regulation and the development of mood disorders [anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder (BD)], in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or eating disorders (i.e. anorexia and bulimia nervosa). On the other hand, recent results reveal the potential therapeutic action of the endocannabinoid tone manipulation by inhibition of eCBs degrading enzymes, as well as by the modulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2r) activity on anxiolytic, antidepressive, or antipsychotic associated effects. Further clinical research studies are needed; however, current evidence suggests that the components of the ECS may become promising biomarkers in psychiatry to improve, at least in part, the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Salud García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Jurado-Barba
- Instituto de Investigación i+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.,Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Educación y Salud, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Rubio
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación i+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.,Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Hay EA, Cowie P, McEwan AR, Ross R, Pertwee RG, MacKenzie A. Disease-associated polymorphisms within the conserved ECR1 enhancer differentially regulate the tissue-specific activity of the cannabinoid-1 receptor gene promoter; implications for cannabinoid pharmacogenetics. Hum Mutat 2019; 41:291-298. [PMID: 31608546 PMCID: PMC6973010 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor‐1 (CB1) represents a potential drug target against conditions that include obesity and substance abuse. However, drug trials targeting CB1 (encoded by the CNR1 gene) have been compromised by differences in patient response. Toward addressing the hypothesis that genetic changes within the regulatory regions controlling CNR1 expression contribute to these differences, we characterized the effects of disease‐associated allelic variation within a conserved regulatory sequence (ECR1) in CNR1 intron 2 that had previously been shown to modulate cannabinoid response, alcohol intake, and anxiety‐like behavior. We used primary cell analysis of reporters carrying different allelic variants of the human ECR1 and found that human‐specific C‐allele variants of ECR1 (ECR1(C)) drove higher levels of CNR1prom activity in primary hippocampal cells than did the ancestral T‐allele and demonstrated a differential response to CB1 agonism. We further demonstrate a role for the AP‐1 transcription factor in driving higher ECR1(C) activity and evidence that the ancestral t‐allele variant of ECR1 interacted with higher affinity with the insulator binding factor CTCF. The cell‐specific approaches used in our study represent an important step in gaining a mechanistic understanding of the roles of noncoding polymorphic variation in disease and in the increasingly important field of cannabinoid pharmacogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Hay
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Philip Cowie
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Andrew R McEwan
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ruth Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roger G Pertwee
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Alasdair MacKenzie
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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