1
|
Yang X, Li H, Yang C, Ge J. Supplementation with stigma maydis polysaccharide attenuates autism-like behaviors and improves gut function in valproic acid-induced autism model male rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38923604 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Stigma maydis polysaccharide (SMPS) has regulatory effect on the intestinal microflora and promotes gastrointestinal peristalsis. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience gastrointestinal problems and dysbiosis in their gut microbiota. Our previous study revealed that SMPS interventions had an impact on the gut microbiota of valproic acid (VPA)-induced autism model rats. However, the effects of SMPS on the behavior and gut function of autism model rats remain poorly understood. Therefore, we gave different doses of SMPS intervention in the early stage of autism model rats to observe their developmental conditions and behavior performances. Through histological evaluation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), integrity of the intestinal structure and the expression of tight junction-related gene Zo-1 and Occludin were detected. The results indicated that SMPS intervention improved the physical development, learning and memory impairment, and social performance of autism model rats. Meanwhile, SMPS promoted intestinal peristalsis and restored the integrity of the intestinal structure, reduced the number of inflammatory cells, and increased the expression of the Zo-1 and Occludin genes. Furthermore, the expression levels of neurotransmitters (substance P, enkephalin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and 5-hydroxytryptamine) in the hippocampal tissues were altered after SMPS treatment. In conclusion, SMPS could ameliorate ASD-like phenotypes and gut problems in autism model rats. Collectively, these results provide new evidence for the relationship between the gut-brain axis and ASD and suggest a novel therapeutic target for ASD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Yang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Hongjie Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Preventive Treatment, Qiqihar Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jie Ge
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fard YA, Sadeghi EN, Pajoohesh Z, Gharehdaghi Z, Khatibi DM, Khosravifar S, Pishkari Y, Nozari S, Hijazi A, Pakmehr S, Shayan SK. Epigenetic underpinnings of the autistic mind: Histone modifications and prefrontal excitation/inhibition imbalance. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024:e32986. [PMID: 38837296 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex neurobehavioral condition influenced by several cellular and molecular mechanisms that are often concerned with synaptogenesis and synaptic activity. Based on the excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance theory, ASD could be the result of disruption in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission across the brain. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the chief regulator of executive function and can be affected by altered neuronal excitation and inhibition in the course of ASD. The molecular mechanisms involved in E/I imbalance are subject to epigenetic regulation. In ASD, altered enrichment and spreading of histone H3 and H4 modifications such as the activation-linked H3K4me2/3, H3K9ac, and H3K27ac, and repression-linked H3K9me2, H3K27me3, and H4K20me2 in the PFC result in dysregulation of molecules mediating synaptic excitation (ARC, EGR1, mGluR2, mGluR3, GluN2A, and GluN2B) and synaptic inhibition (BSN, EphA7, SLC6A1). Histone modifications are a dynamic component of the epigenetic regulatory elements with a pronounced effect on patterns of gene expression with regards to any biological process. The excitation/inhibition imbalance associated with ASD is based on the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity in different regions of the brain, including the PFC, the ultimate outcome of which is highly influenced by transcriptional activity of relevant genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zohreh Pajoohesh
- Faculty of Medicine, Zabol Univeristy of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Zahra Gharehdaghi
- Department of Pharmacology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | | | | | - Yasamin Pishkari
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shadi Nozari
- School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmed Hijazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sepideh Karkon Shayan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Anand P, Kaur A, Singh S. Fucoxanthin mitigates valproic acid-induced autistic behavior through modulation of the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 967:176335. [PMID: 38331341 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176335] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of fucoxanthin, a natural compound found in seaweed, on various aspects of autism using a rat model induced by valproic acid (VPA). Pregnant rats were administered VPA (600 mg/kg) on gestational day 12.5, and male pups were orally administered fucoxanthin at 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg beginning on post-natal day (PND) 23-43. Behavioral assessments were conducted on PND 45-53, and on PND 54, the animals were sacrificed for further biochemical analyses (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO)) via UV spectroscopy. Inflammatory markers (IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-1β) were also analyzed by sandwich ELISA, and the molecular parameters were evaluated through ELISA. The results revealed that, compared with VPA, fucoxanthin improved behavior and neuronal morphology. Specifically, fucoxanthin administration was found to enhance spatial memory, reduce pain sensitivity, and improve social interaction, locomotor activity, balance, and motor coordination. Fucoxanthin also exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as indicated by the restoration of SOD and GSH levels and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels. Molecular analyses revealed that fucoxanthin restored the levels of GSK-3β and AKT. Furthermore, fucoxanthin regulates neurotransmitters, which are related to increasing GABA and reducing glutamate levels in the cortex and cerebellum. The therapeutic effects were dose-dependent, with higher doses (200 mg/kg) showing greater efficacy than lower doses (100 mg/kg) in improving behavioral, biochemical, neurotransmitter, and molecular parameters. Fucoxanthin is a potential treatment for autism, but further research, including clinical trials, is necessary to determine its effectiveness in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piyush Anand
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Arshbir Kaur
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Shamsher Singh
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mallan S, Singh S. Syringic acid alleviates valproic acid induced autism via activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase: Possible molecular approach. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2400-2415. [PMID: 37357844 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by restrictive and repetitive behavior followed by impairment in social, verbal, and non-verbal interaction and communication. Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anti-epileptic drug, but its prenatal exposure to animals causes social impairment, neurotransmitters imbalance, and neuroinflammation with ASD-like phenotypes. Syringic acid (SA) is a polyphenolic compound with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and neuromodulator activity. The purpose of study was to investigate the protective effect of Syringic acid (SA) in prenatal VPA-treated rats through behavioral, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitters, neuronal integrity, and apoptotic marker. Single dose of VPA was administered 600 mg/kg, i.p. on a gestational day (GD) 12th and SA was administrated from PnD 26th to 54th at the dose of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, p.o. On PnD 56th behavioral parameters (Pain sensitivity, open field test, narrow beam walks test and social impairment test) were performed and all animals were sacrificed, and brain tissue was isolated for oxidative stress (GSH, CAT, and LPO), neuroinflammation (TNF-α and IL-6) and neurotransmitters (GABA and Glutamate), histopathology (H&E, Nissl), immunohistochemistry (p38 MAPK) analysis. Rat treated with SA dose-dependently prevented behavioral alteration, restored antioxidant enzymes, neurotransmitters level, decreased neuroinflammatory markers, and improved neuronal integrity. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry confirmed the reduced p38 MAPK marker expression by SA in VPA induced autistic behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudhanshu Mallan
- Neuropharmacology division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | - Shamsher Singh
- Neuropharmacology division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Viana CE, Bortolotto VC, Araujo SM, Dahleh MMM, Machado FR, de Souza Pereira A, Moreira de Oliveira BP, Leimann FV, Gonçalves OH, Prigol M, Guerra GP. Lutein-loaded nanoparticles reverse oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autism spectrum disorder-like behaviors induced by prenatal valproic acid exposure in female rats. Neurotoxicology 2023; 94:223-234. [PMID: 36528186 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. In this study, we assessed the effect of lutein-loaded nanoparticles on ASD-like behaviors induced by prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure in female offspring rats and the possible involvement of oxidative stress and apoptosis. Pregnant female Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of VPA (600 mg/kg), on the gestational day 12.5. The VPA-exposed female offspring rats were divided into two subgroups and received either lutein-loaded nanoparticles (5 mg/kg) or saline by oral gavage, for 14 days. The animals were submitted to the three-chamber test and open field to evaluate ASD-like behaviors. The hippocampus was removed for the determination of oxidative stress indicators (ROS; TBARS; SOD and Nrf2) and apoptosis biomarkers (Hsp-70; p38-MAPK; Bax and Bcl-2). The exposure to lutein-loaded nanoparticles reversed sociability deficit, social memory deficit, and anxiety-like and repetitive behaviors induced by VPA, and restored the oxidative stress indicators and apoptosis biomarkers in the hippocampus. This neurochemical effect must be associated with the reversal of ASD-like behaviors. These results provide evidence that lutein-loaded nanoparticles are an alternative treatment for VPA-induced behavioral damage in female rats and suggest the involvement of oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristini Escobar Viana
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Vandreza Cardoso Bortolotto
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Stífani Machado Araujo
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Mustafa Munir Mustafa Dahleh
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil
| | - Franciéle Romero Machado
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Adson de Souza Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Byanca Pereira Moreira de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Campo Mourão, 87301-006 Campo Mourão, PR, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Vitória Leimann
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Campo Mourão, 87301-006 Campo Mourão, PR, Brazil; Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Odinei Hess Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Campo Mourão, 87301-006 Campo Mourão, PR, Brazil; Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Marina Prigol
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Petri Guerra
- Laboratório de Avaliações Farmacológicas e Toxicológicas Aplicadas às Moléculas Bioativas - LaftamBio, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Itaqui, 97650-000 Itaqui, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, 97508-000 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mishra A, Singla R, Kumar R, Sharma A, Joshi R, Sarma P, Kaur G, Prajapat M, Bhatia A, Medhi B. Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Improved Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder via Modulating Glutamatergic Receptors in the Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of Rat Brains. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2942-2961. [PMID: 36166499 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic neuroinflammation-induced anomalous glutamate receptor activation has been identified as one of the important factors in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thus, the current study was designed to elucidate the neuroprotective effect of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a haemopoietic growth factor, an anti-inflammatory, and a neuroprotectant to decipher the underlying mechanism(s) in the valproic acid (VPA)-induced experimental model of ASD. Experimentally, the ASD rat model was induced by a single dose of VPA (600 mg/kg; i.p.) on gestation day 12.5 to the pregnant female rats. After birth, pups were treated with vehicle, normal saline 0.9% i.p., risperidone (2.5 mg/kg; i.p.), and G-CSF (10, 35, and 70 μg/kg; i.p.) from postnatal day (PND) 23 to 43. All the groups were subjected to various developmental and behavior tests from birth. The rats were sacrificed on PND 55, and their brain was excised and processed for biochemical parameters (oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, BDNF), histological examination (H&E, Nissl staining), NMDA, and AMPA receptor expression by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction evaluation. Also, the possible interaction of the G-CSF with NMDA and AMPA receptors was evaluated using the in-silico method. The results of the study showed that in VPA-exposed rats, postnatal treatment of G-CSF rescued all the behavioral abnormalities, oxidative stress, and inflammatory parameters in a dose-dependent manner while risperidone did not show any significant results. The in-silico analysis showed the direct interaction of G-CSF with NMDA and AMPA receptors. The upregulated expression of NMDA and AMPA both in the prefrontal cortex as well as hippocampus was alleviated by G-CSF thereby validating its anti-inflammatory and excitoprotective properties. Thus, G-CSF demonstrated neuroprotection against the core symptoms of autism in the VPA-induced rodent model, making it a potential candidate for the treatment of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Rubal Singla
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Rohit Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - AmitRaj Sharma
- Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Rupa Joshi
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Phulen Sarma
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Gurjeet Kaur
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Manisha Prajapat
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Alka Bhatia
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| | - Bikash Medhi
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh160012, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rubal S, Abhishek M, Rupa J, Phulen S, Kumar R, Kaur G, AmitRaj S, Jain A, Prakash A, Alka B, Bikash M. Homotaurine ameriolates the core ASD symptomatology in VPA rats through GABAergic signalling: Role of GAD67. Brain Res Bull 2022; 190:122-133. [PMID: 36113682 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulated GABAergic signaling is reported in Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). In the present study, we evaluated a GABA structural mimicker homotaurine (HT) via in-silico docking and investigated the therapeutic efficacy of this drug to ameliorate ASD symptoms in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD. For the in-vivo study, animals were divided into two groups [Normal control (NC, 0.9% saline; i.p) and disease control (VPA 600mg/kg; i.p)] on gestational day (GD) 12.5. Male pups from VPA-exposed mothers were further divided into five groups (n=6 in each group): disease control (DC, no-further treatment), standard treatment (risperidone (RES) 2.5mg/kg; i.p, consecutively from PND 23-43), HT (10, 25 and 50mg/kg; i.p, consecutively from PND 23-43). In in-silico studies, the binding pattern of homotaurine to GABA-A receptor was found similar to GABA with Tyr205, Glu155, Tyr157, Arg6, and Thr 130 as shared residues. In the in-vivo phase, the early developmental parameters (from PND 7-23) and behavioral parameters (from PND 43-54) were assessed. The offspring of the VPA exposed group exhibited significant (p<0.05) developmental delays, behavioral deficits [decreased sociability and social novelty (three-chamber sociability test), spatial memory (Morris water maze), increased stereotypy (self-grooming)], increased oxidative stress (decreased GSH, SOD, Catalase, and increased MDA), increased pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, 6, TNF-α) and decreased anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines, Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum and pyknosis in PFC (H/E, Nissil staining) and decreased GAD67 expression in the cerebellum (RT-PCR & immunohistochemistry). Compared to the DC, HT treatment (50mg/kg) was able to ameliorate the aberrant core behavioral deficits, decreased oxidative stress, decreased pro-inflammatory and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine profile with preservation of the Purkinje cell density in the cerebellum, decreased pyknosis in the prefrontal cortex and normalised the expression of GAD67. Thus, HT can be a useful therapeutic agent in ASD and requires further clinical evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Singla Rubal
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Mishra Abhishek
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Joshi Rupa
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Sarma Phulen
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Rajput Kumar
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Gurjeet Kaur
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Sarma AmitRaj
- Dept. of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Ashish Jain
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Ajay Prakash
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Bhatia Alka
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Medhi Bikash
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abhishek M, Rubal S, Rohit K, Rupa J, Phulen S, Gurjeet K, Raj SA, Manisha P, Alka B, Ramprasad P, Bikash M. Neuroprotective effect of the standardised extract of Bacopa monnieri (BacoMind) in valproic acid model of autism spectrum disorder in rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 293:115199. [PMID: 35346813 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bacopa monnieri (BM) is commonly employed in the Indian traditional system of medicines, i.e. Ayurveda as a memory booster, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, sedative and anti-epileptic for decades. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Bacopa monnieri (BM) in experimental model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Wistar rats and explore its mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS BacoMind, was evaluated for its neuroprotective effect in valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD. For in-vivo study, the pregnant female Wistar rats were divided in two groups; normal control (NC) and VPA group who received single dose of normal saline (0.9%) or 600 mg/kg dose of VPA respectively on gestation day (G.D) 12.5. After the birth, all pups were segregated according to the sex. All the male pups from the dams were divided into six groups: Group 1 (NC, treated with only 0.9% normal saline, group 2 (VPA, treated 600 mg/kg on G.D12.5 and normal saline from post natal day (PND) 23 to 43), group 3 (risperidone 2.5 mg/kg, PND 23 to 43) and groups 4, 5 and 6 (BM 20, 40, 80 mg/kg, PND 23 to 43). All experimental groups were subjected to batteries of behavior parameters (three chamber sociability test, Morris Water Maze, elevated plus maze, open field and rota rod test), biochemical parameters such as oxidative stress (GSH, SOD, Catalase, MDA), inflammatory cytokines (Il-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), histopathological examination (cresyl violet staining) of hippocampus (HC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions. Further, the mRNA as well as protein expression of AMPA receptor was evaluated using RT-PCR and western blot respectively to study the mechanism of neuroprotective effect of BM. The in-silico analysis followed evaluating the binding profile of different constituents of BacoMind with AMPA receptor. RESULTS The results of the in-vivo study indicated BM at 80 mg/kg ameliorated abnormal behavioral paradigms such as social deficits, repetitive behavior, learning and memory impairments, and motor coordination exhibited by the VPA model of ASD in rats. Furthermore, BM was found to have a significant anti-oxidant (increasing GSH, SOD, and catalase and decreasing MDA levels) and anti-inflammatory properties (decreasing IL-1β, 6, TNF- α). The histopathological score was also found to be significantly improved by BM in a dose dependent manner in both HC and PFC. In addition to this, the up-regulated mRNA as well as protein expression of AMPA receptor was significantly reduced by 80 mg/kg dose of BM in both HC and PFC. Further, the in-silico analysis of different constituents of BacoMind with AMPA receptor demonstrated that luteolin and apigenin showed good binding to both the competitive antagonist binding site, non-competitive antagonist binding site and allosteric modulator site while Bacosaponin C showed good binding to the non-competitive antagonist binding site. CONCLUSION The present study concluded that BM can be a potential candidate for ameliorating the ASD symptoms in rats and acts via modulating the up-regulated AMPA receptor expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mishra Abhishek
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Singla Rubal
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Kumar Rohit
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Joshi Rupa
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Sarma Phulen
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Kaur Gurjeet
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Sharma Amit Raj
- Dept. of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Prajapat Manisha
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Bhatia Alka
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | | | - Medhi Bikash
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Singla R, Mishra A, Lin H, Lorsung E, Le N, Tin S, Jin VX, Cao R. Haploinsufficiency of a Circadian Clock Gene Bmal1 ( Arntl or Mop3) Causes Brain-Wide mTOR Hyperactivation and Autism-like Behavioral Phenotypes in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6317. [PMID: 35682995 PMCID: PMC9181331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50-80% of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) exhibit sleep problems, but the contribution of circadian clock dysfunction to the development of ASDs remains largely unknown. The essential clock gene Bmal1 (Arntl or Mop3) has been associated with human sociability, and its missense mutation is found in ASD. Our recent study found that Bmal1-null mice exhibit a variety of autism-like phenotypes. Here, we further investigated whether an incomplete loss of Bmal1 function could cause significant autism-like behavioral changes in mice. Our results demonstrated that heterozygous Bmal1 deletion (Bmal1+/-) reduced the Bmal1 protein levels by ~50-75%. Reduced Bmal1 expression led to decreased levels of clock proteins, including Per1, Per2, Cry 1, and Clock but increased mTOR activities in the brain. Accordingly, Bmal1+/- mice exhibited aberrant ultrasonic vocalizations during maternal separation, deficits in sociability and social novelty, excessive repetitive behaviors, impairments in motor coordination, as well as increased anxiety-like behavior. The novel object recognition memory remained intact. Together, these results demonstrate that haploinsufficiency of Bmal1 can cause autism-like behavioral changes in mice, akin to those identified in Bmal1-null mice. This study provides further experimental evidence supporting a potential role for disrupted clock gene expression in the development of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rubal Singla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Ethan Lorsung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Nam Le
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Su Tin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Victor X. Jin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mishra A, Prabha PK, Singla R, Kaur G, Sharma AR, Joshi R, Suroy B, Medhi B. Epigenetic Interface of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs): Implications of Chromosome 15q11-q13 Segment. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1684-1696. [PMID: 35635007 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are multifactorial in nature and include both genetic and environmental factors. The increasing evidence advocates an important role of epigenetics in ASD etiology. One of the most common forms of epigenetic changes observed in the case of neurodevelopmental disorders is imprinting which is tightly regulated by developmental and tissue-specific mechanisms. Interestingly, many of these disorders that demonstrate autism-like phenotypes at varying degrees have found involvement of chromosome 15q11-q13 segment. Numerous studies demonstrate occurrence of ASD in the presence of chromosomal abnormalities located mainly in Chr15q11-q13 region. Several plausible candidate genes associated with ASD are in this chromosomal segment, including gamma aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor genes GABRB3, GABRA5 and GABRG3, UBE3A, ATP 10A, MKRN3, ZNF, MAGEL2, Necdin (NDN), and SNRPN. The main objective of this review is to highlight the contribution of epigenetic modulations in chromosome 15q11-q13 segment toward the genetic etiology and pathophysiology of ASD. The present review reports the abnormalities in epigenetic regulation on genes and genomic regions located on chromosome 15 in relation to either syndromic (15q11-q13 maternal duplication) or nonsyndromic forms of ASD. Furthermore, studies reviewed in this article demonstrate conditions in which epigenetic dysregulation has been found to be a pathological factor for ASD development, thereby supporting a role for epigenetics in the multifactorial etiologies of ASD. Also, on the basis of the evidence found so far, we strongly emphasize the need to develop future therapeutic strategies as well as screening procedures for ASD that target mechanisms involving genes located on the chromosomal 15q11-q13 segment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Mishra
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Praisy K Prabha
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Rubal Singla
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Gurjeet Kaur
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Amit Raj Sharma
- Dept. of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Rupa Joshi
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Benjamin Suroy
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Bikash Medhi
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jiang S, Bai L, Zhang X, Zhou X, Liu Y. Preexposure to heat stress attenuates sepsis-associated inflammation and cognitive decline in rats. Neurosci Lett 2022; 780:136647. [PMID: 35460838 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to an infection, leading to cognitive impairments. Studies have shown that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) exhibited a neuroprotective effect. In this study we used mild heat stress to induce expression of HSP70, aimimg to detect the effect of HSP70 on neurocognitive deficits associated with sepsis and explored the underlying mechanisms. Male rats were exposed to 42℃ for 15 min. After 12 hours, they were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). HSP70 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, nuclear level of NF-level of NF-trophic factor (BDNF)ed by western blot. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in circulation and hippocampus were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR. Neuronal morphology and damage of hippocampal neurons were assessed by Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) and Nissl stainings. Microglial activation was determined by immunohistochemistry. Finally, neurologic and cognitive functions were evaluated using neurobehavioral scoring and morris water maze (MWM) test. Mild heat stress increased survival rate of sepsis rats. Mild heat stress upregulated HSP70, inhibited nuclear level of NF-κB p65 in hippocampus. Mild heat stress could diminish IL-1β and TNF-α levels in circulation and hippocampus. Furthermore, mild heat stress was able to enhance expression of BDNF and alleviate cognitive impairment after sepsis. Overall, these results indicated that mild heat stress showed protective effects on sepsis-associated encephalopathy rat model, which may be associated with upregulation of HSP70 and inhibition of NF-κB pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sufang Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 215 Heping west road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Long Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 215 Heping west road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 215 Heping west road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 215 Heping west road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ya Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 215 Heping west road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tian J, Gao X, Yang L. Repetitive Restricted Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Mechanism to Development of Therapeutics. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:780407. [PMID: 35310097 PMCID: PMC8924045 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.780407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, social interaction, and repetitive restricted behaviors (RRBs). It is usually detected in early childhood. RRBs are behavioral patterns characterized by repetition, inflexibility, invariance, inappropriateness, and frequent lack of obvious function or specific purpose. To date, the classification of RRBs is contentious. Understanding the potential mechanisms of RRBs in children with ASD, such as neural connectivity disorders and abnormal immune functions, will contribute to finding new therapeutic targets. Although behavioral intervention remains the most effective and safe strategy for RRBs treatment, some promising drugs and new treatment options (e.g., supplementary and cell therapy) have shown positive effects on RRBs in recent studies. In this review, we summarize the latest advances of RRBs from mechanistic to therapeutic approaches and propose potential future directions in research on RRBs.
Collapse
|
13
|
Sato A, Kotajima-Murakami H, Tanaka M, Katoh Y, Ikeda K. Influence of Prenatal Drug Exposure, Maternal Inflammation, and Parental Aging on the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:821455. [PMID: 35222122 PMCID: PMC8863673 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.821455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects reciprocal social interaction and produces abnormal repetitive, restrictive behaviors and interests. The diverse causes of ASD are divided into genetic alterations and environmental risks. The prevalence of ASD has been rising for several decades, which might be related to environmental risks as it is difficult to consider that the prevalence of genetic disorders related to ASD would increase suddenly. The latter includes (1) exposure to medications, such as valproic acid (VPA) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (2), maternal complications during pregnancy, including infection and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and (3) high parental age. Epidemiological studies have indicated a pathogenetic role of prenatal exposure to VPA and maternal inflammation in the development of ASD. VPA is considered to exert its deleterious effects on the fetal brain through several distinct mechanisms, such as alterations of γ-aminobutyric acid signaling, the inhibition of histone deacetylase, the disruption of folic acid metabolism, and the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin. Maternal inflammation that is caused by different stimuli converges on a higher load of proinflammatory cytokines in the fetal brain. Rodent models of maternal exposure to SSRIs generate ASD-like behavior in offspring, but clinical correlations with these preclinical findings are inconclusive. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and advanced parental age increase the risk of ASD in humans, but the mechanisms have been poorly investigated in animal models. Evidence of the mechanisms by which environmental factors are related to ASD is discussed, which may contribute to the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions for ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Miho Tanaka
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Katoh
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|