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Szakats S, McAtamney A, Cross H, Wilson MJ. Sex-biased gene and microRNA expression in the developing mouse brain is associated with neurodevelopmental functions and neurological phenotypes. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:57. [PMID: 37679839 PMCID: PMC10486049 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00538-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences pose a challenge and an opportunity in biomedical research. Understanding how sex chromosomes and hormones affect disease-causing mechanisms will shed light on the mechanisms underlying predominantly idiopathic sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism. Gene expression is a crucial conduit for the influence of sex on developmental processes; therefore, this study focused on sex differences in gene expression and the regulation of gene expression. The increasing interest in microRNAs (miRNAs), small, non-coding RNAs, for their contribution to normal and pathological neurodevelopment prompted us to test how miRNA expression differs between the sexes in the developing brain. METHODS High-throughput sequencing approaches were used to identify transcripts, including miRNAs, that showed significantly different expression between male and female brains on day 15.5 of development (E15.5). RESULTS Robust sex differences were identified for some genes and miRNAs, confirming the influence of biological sex on RNA. Many miRNAs that exhibit the greatest differences between males and females have established roles in neurodevelopment, implying that sex-biased expression may drive sex differences in developmental processes. In addition to highlighting sex differences for individual miRNAs, gene ontology analysis suggested several broad categories in which sex-biased RNAs might act to establish sex differences in the embryonic mouse brain. Finally, mining publicly available SNP data indicated that some sex-biased miRNAs reside near the genomic regions associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings reinforce the importance of cataloguing sex differences in molecular biology research and highlight genes, miRNAs, and pathways of interest that may be important for sexual differentiation in the mouse and possibly the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Szakats
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Alice McAtamney
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hugh Cross
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Megan J Wilson
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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Zeid D, Gould TJ. Chronic nicotine exposure alters sperm small RNA content in C57BL/6J mouse model. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22367. [PMID: 36811365 PMCID: PMC9978956 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22367] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Multigenerational inheritance is a nongenomic form of heritability characterized by altered phenotypes in the first generation born from the exposed parent. Multigenerational factors may account for inconsistencies and gaps in heritable nicotine addiction vulnerability. Our lab previously found that F1 offspring of male C57BL/6J mice chronically exposed to nicotine exhibited altered hippocampus functioning and related learning, nicotine-seeking, nicotine metabolism, and basal stress hormones. In an effort to identify germline mechanisms underlying these multigenerational phenotypes, the current study sequenced small RNA extracted from sperm of males chronically administered nicotine using our previously established exposure model. We identified 16 miRNAs whose expression in sperm was dysregulated by nicotine exposure. A literature review of previous research on these transcripts suggested an enrichment for regulation of psychological stress and learning. mRNAs predicted to be regulated by differentially expressed sperm small RNAs were further analyzed using exploratory enrichment analysis, which suggested potential modulation of pathways related to learning, estrogen signaling, and hepatic disease, among other findings. Overall, our findings point to links between nicotine-exposed F0 sperm miRNA and altered F1 phenotypes in this multigenerational inheritance model, particularly F1 memory, stress, and nicotine metabolism. These findings provide a valuable foundation for future functional validation of these hypotheses and characterization of mechanisms underlying male-line multigenerational inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Zeid
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Thomas J. Gould
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park PA, USA
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Wang Z, Cheng YT, Lu Y, Sun GQ, Pei L. Baicalin Ameliorates Corticosterone-Induced Depression by Promoting Neurodevelopment of Hippocampal via mTOR/GSK3 β Pathway. Chin J Integr Med 2023; 29:405-412. [PMID: 36607586 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-022-3590-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of hippocampal neurodevelopment in the antidepressant effect of baicalin. METHODS Forty male Institute of Cancer Research mice were divided into control, corticosterone (CORT, 40 mg/kg), CORT+baicalin-L (25 mg/kg), CORT+baicalin-H (50 mg/kg), and CORT+fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) groups according to a random number table. An animal model of depression was established by chronic CORT exposure. Behavioral tests were used to assess the reliability of depression model and the antidepressant effect of baicalin. In addition, Nissl staining and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the effect of baicalin on hippocampal neurodevelopment in mice. The protein and mRNA expression levels of neurodevelopment-related factors were detected by Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS Baicalin significantly ameliorated the depressive-like behavior of mice resulting from CORT exposure and promoted the development of dentate gyrus in hippocampus, thereby reversing the depressive-like pathological changes in hippocampal neurons caused by CORT neurotoxicity. Moreover, baicalin significantly decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3 β), and upregulated the expression levels of cell cycle protein D1, p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), doublecortin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (all P<0.01). There were no significant differences between baicalin and fluoxetine groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Baicalin can promote the development of hippocampal neurons via mTOR/GSK3 β signaling pathway, thus protect mice against CORT-induced neurotoxicity and play an antidepressant role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
| | - Ya-Ting Cheng
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
| | - Ye Lu
- Hebei Province Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Sun
- Hebei Province Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China
| | - Lin Pei
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China. .,Hebei Province Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China.
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Helman TJ, Headrick JP, Stapelberg NJC, Braidy N. The sex-dependent response to psychosocial stress and ischaemic heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1072042. [PMID: 37153459 PMCID: PMC10160413 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for modern chronic diseases, with distinct influences in males and females. The sex specificity of the mammalian stress response contributes to the sex-dependent development and impacts of coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared to men, women appear to have greater susceptibility to chronic forms of psychosocial stress, extending beyond an increased incidence of mood disorders to include a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stress-dependent myocardial infarction in women, and up to 10-fold higher risk of Takotsubo syndrome-a stress-dependent coronary-myocardial disorder most prevalent in post-menopausal women. Sex differences arise at all levels of the stress response: from initial perception of stress to behavioural, cognitive, and affective responses and longer-term disease outcomes. These fundamental differences involve interactions between chromosomal and gonadal determinants, (mal)adaptive epigenetic modulation across the lifespan (particularly in early life), and the extrinsic influences of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Pre-clinical investigations of biological mechanisms support distinct early life programming and a heightened corticolimbic-noradrenaline-neuroinflammatory reactivity in females vs. males, among implicated determinants of the chronic stress response. Unravelling the intrinsic molecular, cellular and systems biological basis of these differences, and their interactions with external lifestyle/socio-cultural determinants, can guide preventative and therapeutic strategies to better target coronary heart disease in a tailored sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J. Helman
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: Tessa J. Helman
| | - John P. Headrick
- Schoolof Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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Wang Z, Cheng Y, Lu Y, Sun G, Pei L. Baicalin coadministration with lithium chloride enhanced neurogenesis via GSK3β pathway in corticosterone induced PC-12 cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2022; 45:605-613. [PMID: 35296580 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-01046] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating studies suggest that hippocampal neurogenesis plays a crucial role in the pathological mechanism of depression. As a classic antidepressant, lithium chloride can play an antidepressant role by inhibiting GSK3β and promoting neurogenesis. Correspondingly, baicalin is a compound extracted from natural plants, which shows potential antidepressant effect, however, whether baicalin exerts antidepressant effects by promoting neurogenesis still needs further investigation. In the current study, we established an in vitro depression model through corticosterone induced PC-12 cells, and explored the potential mechanism of baicalin's antidepressant effect by comparing it with lithium chloride alone and the coadministration with lithium chloride. We used CCK-8 assay, EdU staining and cell cycle analysis to evaluate the state of cell survival and cell proliferation. The protein expression levels of neurodevelopmental related factors DCX, BDNF, and the GSK3β pathway-related proteins and mRNA were detected by Western blot and Real-time PCR. The results showed that baicalin could decrease the expression level of GSK3β, while upregulate the expression level of DCX, BDNF, Cyclin D1-CDK4/6, thus promoted cell proliferation and survival in CORT induced PC-12 cells. Moreover, this effect was enhanced when baicalin and lithium chloride were coadministration. Taking the above results together, we conclude that baicalin can promote the proliferation and development of PC-12 cells by regulating GSK3β pathway, so as to reverse the depressive-like pathological changes induced by corticosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Hebei University of Chinese Medicine
| | | | - Ye Lu
- Hebei Province Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences
| | - Guoqiang Sun
- Hebei Province Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences
| | - Lin Pei
- Hebei University of Chinese Medicine.,Hebei Province Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences
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You D, Cohen JD, Pustovalova O, Lewis L, Shen L. OUP accepted manuscript. Toxicol Sci 2022; 186:221-241. [PMID: 35134991 PMCID: PMC8963304 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer D Cohen
- Jennifer D. Cohen, Drug Safety Research & Evaluation, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-1964, USA. E-mail:
| | | | - Lauren Lewis
- Drug Safety Research & Evaluation, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Lei Shen
- Data Science Institute, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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