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North HF, Weissleder C, Bitar M, Barry G, Fullerton JM, Webster MJ, Weickert CS. RNA-sequencing suggests extracellular matrix and vasculature dysregulation could impair neurogenesis in schizophrenia cases with elevated inflammation. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:50. [PMID: 38704390 PMCID: PMC11069512 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00466-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
A subgroup of schizophrenia cases with elevated inflammation have reduced neurogenesis markers and increased macrophage density in the human subependymal zone (SEZ; also termed subventricular zone or SVZ) neurogenic niche. Inflammation can impair neurogenesis; however, it is unclear which other pathways are associated with reduced neurogenesis. This research aimed to discover transcriptomic differences between inflammatory subgroups of schizophrenia in the SEZ. Total RNA sequencing was performed on SEZ tissue from schizophrenia cases, designated into low inflammation (n = 13) and high inflammation (n = 14) subgroups, based on cluster analysis of inflammation marker gene expression. 718 genes were differentially expressed in high compared to low inflammation schizophrenia (FDR p < 0.05) and were most significantly over-represented in the pathway 'Hepatic Fibrosis/Hepatic Stellate-Cell Activation'. Genes in this pathway relate to extracellular matrix stability (including ten collagens) and vascular remodelling suggesting increased angiogenesis. Collagen-IV, a key element of the basement membrane and fractones, had elevated gene expression. Immunohistochemistry revealed novel collagen-IV+ fractone bulbs within the human SEZ hypocellular gap. Considering the extracellular matrix's regulatory role in SEZ neurogenesis, fibrosis-related alterations in high inflammation schizophrenia may disrupt neurogenesis. Increased angiogenesis could facilitate immune cell transmigration, potentially explaining elevated macrophages in high inflammation schizophrenia. This discovery-driven analysis sheds light on how inflammation may contribute to schizophrenia neuropathology in the neurogenic niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley F North
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christin Weissleder
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Mechanism and therapy for genetic brain diseases, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | | | - Guy Barry
- OncoLife Therapeutics, Yeronga, QLD, Australia
| | - Janice M Fullerton
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maree J Webster
- Laboratory of Brain Research, Stanley Medical Research Institute, 9800, Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
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Chen Z, Li Y, Gao Y, Fan X, Du X, Li X, Liu Z, Liu S, Cao X. The role of the immune system in early-onset schizophrenia: identifying immune characteristic genes and cells from peripheral blood. BMC Immunol 2024; 25:26. [PMID: 38702611 PMCID: PMC11067251 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-024-00618-y] [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: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) is a type of schizophrenia (SCZ) with an age of onset of < 18 years. An abnormal inflammatory immune system may be involved in the occurrence and development of SCZ. We aimed to identify the immune characteristic genes and cells involved in EOS and to further explore the pathogenesis of EOS from the perspective of immunology. METHODS We obtained microarray data from a whole-genome mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); 19 patients with EOS (age range: 14.79 ± 1.90) and 18 healthy controls (HC) (age range: 15.67 ± 2.40) were involved. We screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Limma software package and modular genes using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). In addition, to identify immune characteristic genes and cells, we performed enrichment analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis; we also used a random forest (RF), a support vector machine (SVM), and the LASSO-Cox algorithm. RESULTS We selected the following immune characteristic genes: CCL8, PSMD1, AVPR1B and SEMG1. We employed a RF, a SVM, and the LASSO-Cox algorithm. We identified the following immune characteristic cells: activated mast cells, CD4+ memory resting T cells, resting mast cells, neutrophils and CD4+ memory activated T cells. In addition, the AUC values of the immune characteristic genes and cells were all > 0.7. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that immune system function is altered in SCZ. In addition, CCL8, PSMD1, AVPR1B and SEMG1 may regulate peripheral immune cells in EOS. Further, immune characteristic genes and cells are expected to be diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Chen
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Yuxue Li
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Yao Gao
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Fan
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Xinzhe Du
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Xinrong Li
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Zhifen Liu
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Sha Liu
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
| | - Xiaohua Cao
- Department of Mental Health, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Treatment for Mental Disorders, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
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Puvogel S, Alsema A, North HF, Webster MJ, Weickert CS, Eggen BJL. Single-Nucleus RNA-Seq Characterizes the Cell Types Along the Neuronal Lineage in the Adult Human Subependymal Zone and Reveals Reduced Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Abundance with Age. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0246-23.2024. [PMID: 38351133 PMCID: PMC10913050 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0246-23.2024] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The subependymal zone (SEZ), also known as the subventricular zone (SVZ), constitutes a neurogenic niche that persists during postnatal life. In humans, the neurogenic potential of the SEZ declines after the first year of life. However, studies discovering markers of stem and progenitor cells highlight the neurogenic capacity of progenitors in the adult human SEZ, with increased neurogenic activity occurring under pathological conditions. In the present study, the complete cellular niche of the adult human SEZ was characterized by single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and compared between four youth (age 16-22) and four middle-aged adults (age 44-53). We identified 11 cellular clusters including clusters expressing marker genes for neural stem cells (NSCs), neuroblasts, immature neurons, and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. The relative abundance of NSC and neuroblast clusters did not differ between the two age groups, indicating that the pool of SEZ NSCs does not decline in this age range. The relative abundance of oligodendrocyte progenitors and microglia decreased in middle-age, indicating that the cellular composition of human SEZ is remodeled between youth and adulthood. The expression of genes related to nervous system development was higher across different cell types, including NSCs, in youth as compared with middle-age. These transcriptional changes suggest ongoing central nervous system plasticity in the SEZ in youth, which declined in middle-age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Puvogel
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid Alsema
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands
| | - Hayley F North
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Maree J Webster
- Laboratory of Brain Research, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Rockville 20850, Maryland
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13201
| | - Bart J L Eggen
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands
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Matuleviciute R, Akinluyi ET, Muntslag TAO, Dewing JM, Long KR, Vernon AC, Tremblay ME, Menassa DA. Microglial contribution to the pathology of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:663-683. [PMID: 37656188 PMCID: PMC10564830 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02629-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are the brain's resident macrophages, which guide various developmental processes crucial for brain maturation, activity, and plasticity. Microglial progenitors enter the telencephalic wall by the 4th postconceptional week and colonise the fetal brain in a manner that spatiotemporally tracks key neurodevelopmental processes in humans. However, much of what we know about how microglia shape neurodevelopment comes from rodent studies. Multiple differences exist between human and rodent microglia warranting further focus on the human condition, particularly as microglia are emerging as critically involved in the pathological signature of various cognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this article, we review the evidence supporting microglial involvement in basic neurodevelopmental processes by focusing on the human species. We next concur on the neuropathological evidence demonstrating whether and how microglia contribute to the aetiology of two neurodevelopmental disorders: autism spectrum conditions and schizophrenia. Next, we highlight how recent technologies have revolutionised our understanding of microglial biology with a focus on how these tools can help us elucidate at unprecedented resolution the links between microglia and neurodevelopmental disorders. We conclude by reviewing which current treatment approaches have shown most promise towards targeting microglia in neurodevelopmental disorders and suggest novel avenues for future consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rugile Matuleviciute
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth T Akinluyi
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Tim A O Muntslag
- Princess Maxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Katherine R Long
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony C Vernon
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - David A Menassa
- Department of Neuropathology & The Queen's College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
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Chandra A, Miller BJ, Goldsmith DR. Predictors of successful anti-inflammatory drug trials in patients with schizophrenia: A meta-regression and critical commentary. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:154-162. [PMID: 37607662 PMCID: PMC10592013 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Given evidence pointing toward a role for immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, anti-inflammatory agents are promising adjunctive treatments that have potential to support a causal relationship for inflammation and psychopathology and lead to novel treatments for individuals. Indeed, previous meta-analyses have demonstrated small-to-medium effect sizes (ES) in favor of various anti-inflammatory agents, though there is significant heterogeneity and challenges in the interpretation of this literature. Identifying predictors, including sociodemographic variables, trial duration, and/or symptoms themselves, of successful anti-inflammatory trials may help identify which patients who might benefit from these compounds. We performed a meta-regression analysis of 63 adjunctive anti-inflammatory trial arms (2232 patients randomized to adjunctive anti-inflammatory agents and 2207 patients randomized to placebo).Potential predictors of effect size estimates for changes in psychopathology scores from baseline to endpoint included geography, trial duration, sample size, age, sex, race, smoking, body mass index, illness duration, age of onset of psychosis, study quality score and psychopathology scores (total and subscale) at baseline. Geography (β = 0.31, p = 0.011), smaller sample size (β = 0.33, p = 0.009), and higher study quality score (β = 0.44, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of larger ES estimates for change in total psychopathology in favor of anti-inflammatory agents. Smaller sample size (β = 0.37, p = 0.034) and higher study quality score (β = 0.55, p = 0.003) were significant predictors of larger ES estimates for change in negative psychopathology in favor of anti-inflammatory agents. Higher study quality score (β = 0.46, p = 0.019) was a significant predictor of larger ES estimates for change in general psychopathology in favor of anti-inflammatory agents. These findings should be interpreted with caution given concerns of publication bias regarding the geographic differences and small study effects. The lack of an association with other demographic variables should be seen as a primary limitation of the literature that needs to be considered in future studies. The association with study quality score suggests that future anti-inflammatory trials must consider demographic variables known to be associated with inflammation (e.g., BMI and smoking) and evidence of increased baseline inflammation should be incorporated in study design. Moreover, evidence of target engagement and endpoints thoughts to be associated with increased inflammation should be considered as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Chandra
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Brian J Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - David R Goldsmith
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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Sami M, Liddle P. Neurobiology of psychosis and schizophrenia 2022: Nottingham meeting. Compr Psychiatry 2023; 127:152415. [PMID: 37683306 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Musa Sami
- Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU, United Kingdom; Private Practice.
| | - Peter Liddle
- Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU, United Kingdom
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Hindley G, Drange OK, Lin A, Kutrolli G, Shadrin AA, Parker N, O'Connell KS, Rødevand L, Cheng W, Bahrami S, Karadag N, Holen B, Jaholkowski P, Woldeyohannes MT, Djurovic S, Dale AM, Frei O, Ueland T, Smeland OB, Andreassen OA. Cross-trait genome-wide association analysis of C-reactive protein level and psychiatric disorders. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 157:106368. [PMID: 37659117 PMCID: PMC10802833 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106368] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP) tends to be elevated in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Recent findings have suggested a protective effect of the genetic liability to elevated CRP on schizophrenia risk and a causative effect on depression despite weak genetic correlations, while causal relationships with bipolar disorder were inconclusive. We investigated the shared genetic underpinnings of psychiatric disorders and variation in CRP levels. Genome-wide association studies for CRP (n = 575,531), bipolar disorder (n = 413,466), depression (n = 480,359), and schizophrenia (n = 130,644) were used in causal mixture models to compare CRP with psychiatric disorders based on polygenicity, discoverability, and genome-wide genetic overlap. The conjunctional false discovery rate method was used to identify specific shared genetic loci. Shared variants were mapped to putative causal genes, which were tested for overrepresentation among gene ontology gene-sets. CRP was six to ten times less polygenic (n = 1400 vs 8600-14,500 variants) and had a discoverability one to two orders of magnitude higher than psychiatric disorders. Most CRP-associated variants were overlapping with psychiatric disorders. We identified 401 genetic loci jointly associated with CRP and psychiatric disorders with mixed effect directions. Gene-set enrichment analyses identified predominantly CNS-related gene sets for CRP and each of depression and schizophrenia, and basic cellular processes for CRP and bipolar disorder. In conclusion, CRP has a markedly different genetic architecture to psychiatric disorders, but the majority of CRP associated variants are also implicated in psychiatric disorders. Shared genetic loci implicated CNS-related processes to a greater extent than immune processes, which may have implications for how we conceptualise causal relationships between CRP and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Hindley
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Akershus University Hospital, Division of Mental Health Services, Department for Special Psychiatry, Lorenskog, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ole Kristian Drange
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Aihua Lin
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gleda Kutrolli
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexey A Shadrin
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadine Parker
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin S O'Connell
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Linn Rødevand
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Weiqiu Cheng
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Shahram Bahrami
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Naz Karadag
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Børge Holen
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Piotr Jaholkowski
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markos Tesfaye Woldeyohannes
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT Centre, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Oleksandr Frei
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thor Ueland
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav B Smeland
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Severance EG, Prandovszky E, Yang S, Leister F, Lea A, Wu CL, Tamouza R, Leboyer M, Dickerson F, Yolken RH. Prospects and Pitfalls of Plasma Complement C4 in Schizophrenia: Building a Better Biomarker. Dev Neurosci 2023; 45:349-360. [PMID: 37734326 DOI: 10.1159/000534185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Complex brain disorders like schizophrenia may have multifactorial origins related to mis-timed heritable and environmental factors interacting during neurodevelopment. Infections, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases are over-represented in schizophrenia leading to immune system-centered hypotheses. Complement component C4 is genetically and neurobiologically associated with schizophrenia, and its dual activity peripherally and in the brain makes it an exceptional target for biomarker development. Studies to evaluate the biomarker potential of plasma or serum C4 in schizophrenia do so to understand how peripheral C4 might reflect central nervous system-derived neuroinflammation, synapse pruning, and other mechanisms. This effort, however, has produced mostly conflicting results, with peripheral C4 sometimes elevated, reduced, or unchanged between comparison groups. We undertook a pilot biomarker development study to systematically identify sociodemographic, genetic, and immune-related variables (autoimmune, infection-related, gastrointestinal, inflammatory), which may be associated with plasma C4 levels in schizophrenia (SCH; n = 335) and/or in nonpsychiatric comparison subjects (NCs; n = 233). As with previously inconclusive studies, we detected no differences in plasma C4 levels between SCH and NCs. In contrast, levels of general inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), were significantly elevated in SCH compared to NCs (ANOVA, F = 20.74, p < 0.0001), suggestive that plasma C4 and CRP may reflect different sources or causes of inflammation. In multivariate regressions of C4 gene copy number variants, plasma C4 levels were correlated only for C4A (not C4B, C4L, C4S) and only in NCs (R Coeff = 0.39, CI = 0.01-0.77, R2 = 0.18, p < 0.01; not SCH). Other variables associated with plasma C4 levels only in NCs included sex, double-stranded DNA IgG, tissue-transglutaminase (TTG) IgG, and cytomegalovirus IgG. Toxoplasma gondii IgG was the only variable significantly correlated with plasma C4 in SCH but not in NCs. Many variables were associated with plasma C4 in both groups (body mass index, race, CRP, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) NR2 subunit IgG, TTG IgA, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and soluble CD14 (sCD14). While the direction of most C4 associations was positive, autoimmune markers tended to be inverse, and associated with reduced plasma C4 levels. When NMDAR-NR2 autoantibody-positive individuals were removed, plasma C4 was elevated in SCH versus NCs (ANOVA, F = 5.16, p < 0.02). Our study was exploratory and confirmation of the many variables associated with peripheral C4 requires replication. Our preliminary results point toward autoimmune factors and exposure to the pathogen, T. gondii, as possibly significant contributors to variability of total C4 protein levels in plasma of individuals with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G Severance
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emese Prandovszky
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shuojia Yang
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Flora Leister
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashley Lea
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ching-Lien Wu
- Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, AP-HP, Hôpital Universitaire Henri Mondor, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision en Psychiatrie, Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, AP-HP, Hôpital Universitaire Henri Mondor, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision en Psychiatrie, Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, AP-HP, Hôpital Universitaire Henri Mondor, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision en Psychiatrie, Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Faith Dickerson
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Shao L, Fu J, Xie L, Cai G, Cheng Y, Zheng N, Zeng P, Yan X, Ling Z, Ye S. Fecal Microbiota Underlying the Coexistence of Schizophrenia and Multiple Sclerosis in Chinese Patients. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY = JOURNAL CANADIEN DES MALADIES INFECTIEUSES ET DE LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE 2023; 2023:5602401. [PMID: 37680457 PMCID: PMC10482522 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5602401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Both schizophrenia (SZ) and multiple sclerosis (MS) affect millions of people worldwide and impose a great burden on society. Recent studies indicated that MS elevated the risk of SZ and vice versa, whereas the underlying pathological mechanisms are still obscure. Considering that fecal microbiota played a vital role in regulating brain functions, the fecal microbiota and serum cytokines from 90 SZ patients and 71 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched cognitively normal subjects (referred as SZC), 22 MS patients and 33 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched healthy subjects (referred as MSC) were analyzed. We found that both diseases demonstrated similar microbial diversity and shared three differential genera, including the down-regulated Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and the up-regulated Streptococcus. Functional analysis indicated that the three genera were involved in pathways such as "carbohydrate metabolism" and "amino acid metabolism." Moreover, the variation patterns of serum cytokines associated with MS and SZ patients were a bit different. Among the six cytokines perturbed in both diseases, TNF-α increased, while IL-8 and MIP-1α decreased in both diseases. IL-1ra, PDGF-bb, and RANTES were downregulated in MS patients but upregulated in SZ patients. Association analyses showed that Faecalibacterium demonstrated extensive correlations with cytokines in both diseases. Most notably, Faecalibacterium correlated negatively with TNF-α. In other words, fecal microbiota such as Faecalibacterium may contribute to the coexistence of MS and SZ by regulating serum cytokines. Our study revealed the potential roles of fecal microbiota in linking MS and SZ, which paves the way for developing gut microbiota-targeted therapies that can manage two diseases with a single treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Shao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Hepatology and Metabolic Diseases, Hangzhou Normal University, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinlong Fu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Hepatology and Metabolic Diseases, Hangzhou Normal University, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lulu Xie
- Rugao Experimental Primary School, Nantong, China
| | - Guangyong Cai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Lishui Second People's Hospital, Lishui, China
| | - Yiwen Cheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
| | - Nengneng Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ping Zeng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiumei Yan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Lishui Second People's Hospital, Lishui, China
| | - Zongxin Ling
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
| | - Shiwei Ye
- Department of Psychiatry, Lishui Second People's Hospital, Lishui, China
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Nguyen KD, Amerio A, Aguglia A, Magnani L, Parise A, Conio B, Serafini G, Amore M, Costanza A. Microglia and Other Cellular Mediators of Immunological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Narrative Synthesis of Clinical Findings. Cells 2023; 12:2099. [PMID: 37626909 PMCID: PMC10453550 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric condition that may involve immune system dysregulation. Since most putative disease mechanisms in schizophrenia have been derived from genetic association studies and fluid-based molecular analyses, this review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on clinical correlates to immune system dysfunction in this psychiatric disorder. We conclude this review by attempting to develop a unifying hypothesis regarding the relative contributions of microglia and various immune cell populations to the development of schizophrenia. This may provide important translational insights that can become useful for addressing the multifaceted clinical presentation of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa D. Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA;
- Tranquis Therapeutics, Palo Alto, CA 94065, USA
| | - Andrea Amerio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Aguglia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Magnani
- Department of Psychiatry, San Maurizio Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy;
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Benedetta Conio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanza
- Department of Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry Service, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1207 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Italian Switzerland (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Huang T, Xiao Y, Zhang Y, Ge Y, Gao J. Combination of single-nucleus and bulk RNA-seq reveals the molecular mechanism of thalamus haemorrhage-induced central poststroke pain. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1174008. [PMID: 37153564 PMCID: PMC10157064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1174008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Central poststroke pain (CPSP) induced by thalamic haemorrhage (TH) can be continuous or intermittent and is accompanied by paresthesia, which seriously affects patient quality of life. Advanced insights into CPSP mechanisms and therapeutic strategies require a deeper understanding of the molecular processes of the thalamus. Here, using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), we sequenced the transcriptomes of 32332 brain cells, which revealed a total of four major cell types within the four thalamic samples from mice. Compared with the control group, the experimental group possessed the higher sensitivity to mechanical, thermal, and cold stimuli, and increased microglia numbers and decreased neuron numbers. We analysed a collection of differentially expressed genes and neuronal marker genes obtained from bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq) data and found that Apoe, Abca1, and Hexb were key genes verified by immunofluorescence (IF). Immune infiltration analysis found that these key genes were closely related to macrophages, T cells, related chemokines, immune stimulators and receptors. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis also showed that the key genes were enriched in biological processes such as protein export from nucleus and protein sumoylation. In summary, using large-scale snRNA-seq, we have defined the transcriptional and cellular diversity in the brain after TH. Our identification of discrete cell types and differentially expressed genes within the thalamus can facilitate the development of new CPSP therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianfeng Huang
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University/Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yinggang Xiao
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University/Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University/Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yali Ge
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University/Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ju Gao
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University/Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
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