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Lucerne KE, Dean CR, Osman A, Meckel KR, Dave YA, Shipman AL, Cazarez DR, Cathomas F, Hofford RS, Kiraly DD. Colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) as a gut microbiome dependent immune factor that alters molecular and behavioral responses to cocaine in male mice. Brain Behav Immun 2024:S0889-1591(24)00525-7. [PMID: 39098439 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder is a condition that leads to tremendous morbidity and mortality for which there are currently no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies. Previous research has demonstrated an important role for the resident population of bacteria of the large intestine, collectively dubbed the gut microbiome, in modulating brain and behavior in models of cocaine and other substance use disorders. Importantly, previous work has repeatedly shown that depletion of the gut microbiome leads to increased cocaine taking and seeking behaviors in multiple models. While the precise mechanism of these gut-brain signaling pathways in models of cocaine use is not fully clear, and intriguing possibility is through gut microbiome influences on innate immune system function. In this manuscript we identify the cytokine colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) as an immune factor that is increased by cocaine in a gut microbiome dependent manner. Peripherally injected CSF2 crosses the blood-brain barrier into the nucleus accumbens, a brain region central to behavioral responses to cocaine. Treatment with peripheral CSF2 reduces acute and sensitized locomotor responses to cocaine as well as reducing cocaine place preference at high doses. On a molecular level, we find that peripheral injections of CSF2 alter the transcriptional response to both acute and repeated cocaine in the nucleus accumbens. Finally, treatment of microbiome depleted mice with CSF2 reverses the behavioral effects of microbiome depletion on the conditioned place preference assay. Taken together, this work identifies an innate immune factor that represents a novel gut-brain signaling cascade in models of cocaine use and lays the foundations for further translational work targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Lucerne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Calista R Dean
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Aya Osman
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Katherine R Meckel
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Yesha A Dave
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Ava L Shipman
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Dannis R Cazarez
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Flurin Cathomas
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Rebecca S Hofford
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States.
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Peart DR, Claridge EV, Karlovcec JM, El Azali R, LaDouceur KE, Sikic A, Thomas A, Stone AP, Murray JE. Generalization of a positive-feature interoceptive morphine occasion setter across the rat estrous cycle. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105541. [PMID: 38583235 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Interoceptive stimuli elicited by drug administration acquire conditioned modulatory properties of the induction of conditioned appetitive behaviours by exteroceptive cues. This effect may be modeled using a drug discrimination task in which the drug stimulus is trained as a positive-feature (FP) occasion setter (OS) that disambiguates the relation between an exteroceptive light conditioned stimulus (CS) and a sucrose unconditioned stimulus (US). We previously reported that females are less sensitive to generalization of a FP morphine OS than males, so we investigated the role of endogenous ovarian hormones in this difference. METHODS Male and female rats received intermixed injections of 3.2 mg/kg morphine or saline before each daily training session. Training consisted of 8 presentations of the CS, each followed by access to sucrose on morphine, but not saline sessions. Following acquisiton, rats were tested for generalization of the morphine stimulus to 0, 1.0, 3.2, and 5.4 mg/kg morphine. Female rats were monitored for estrous cyclicity using vaginal cytology throughout the study. RESULTS Both sexes acquired stable drug discrimination. A gradient of generalization was measured across morphine doses and this behaviour did not differ by sex, nor did it differ across the estrous cycle in females. CONCLUSIONS Morphine generalization is independent of fluctuations in levels of sex and endogenous gonadal hormones in females under these experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davin R Peart
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ella V Claridge
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica M Karlovcec
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Rita El Azali
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kathleen E LaDouceur
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Anita Sikic
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Abina Thomas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Adiia P Stone
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer E Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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Barker J, Buck L, Xie Q, Willis M, Side C, Giacometti L, Gaskill P, Park K, Shaheen F, Guo L, Gorantla S. Impaired extinction of cocaine seeking in HIV-infected mice is accompanied by peripheral and central immune dysregulation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3276379. [PMID: 37841842 PMCID: PMC10571607 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3276379/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly comorbid with HIV infection, necessitating an understanding of the interactive effects of drug exposure and HIV. The relationship between HIV infection and cocaine use disorder is likely bidirectional, with cocaine use directly impacting immune function while HIV infection alters addiction-related behavior. To better characterize the neurobehavioral and immune consequences of HIV infection and cocaine exposure, this study utilized a humanized mouse model to investigate the outcomes of HIV-1 infection on cocaine-related behaviors in a conditioned place preference (CPP) model, and the interactive effects of cocaine and HIV infection on peripheral and central nervous system inflammation. HIV infection selectively impaired cocaine CPP extinction without effecting reinstatement or cocaine seeking under conflict were observed. Behavioral alterations were accompanied by immune changes in HIV infected mice, including increased prefrontal cortex astrocyte immunoreactivity and brain-region specific effects on microglia number and reactivity. Peripheral immune system changes were observed in both mouse and human cytokines, including HIV-induced reductions in mouse IL-1α and G-CSF and human TNFα, and cocaine induced alterations in mouse GM-CSF. Together these data provide new insights into the unique neurobehavioral outcomes of HIV infection and cocaine exposure and how they interact to effect immune responses.
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Buck LA, Xie Q, Willis M, Side CM, Giacometti LL, Gaskill PJ, Park K, Shaheen F, Guo L, Gorantla S, Barker JM. Impaired extinction of cocaine seeking in HIV-infected mice is accompanied by peripheral and central immune dysregulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.11.552858. [PMID: 37645889 PMCID: PMC10462035 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.552858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly comorbid with HIV infection, necessitating an understanding of the interactive effects of drug exposure and HIV. The relationship between progressive HIV infection and cocaine use disorder is likely bidirectional, with cocaine use having direct effects on immune function while HIV infection can alter addiction-related behavior. To better characterized the neurobehavioral and immune consequences of HIV infection and cocaine exposure, this study utilized a humanized mouse model to investigate the outcomes of progressive HIV infection on cocaine-related behaviors in a cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) model, and the interactive effects of cocaine and HIV infection on peripheral and central nervous system inflammation. HIV infection did not impact the formation of a cocaine CPP, but did result in resistance to extinction of the CPP. No effects of HIV on yohimbine-primed reinstatement or cocaine seeking under conflict were observed. These behavioral alterations were accompanied by immune changes in HIV infected mice, including increased prefrontal cortex astrocyte immunoreactivity and brain-region specific effects on microglia number and reactivity. Peripheral immune system changes were observed in both mouse and human markers. Among other targets, this included HIV-induced reductions in mouse IL-1α and G-CSF and human TNFα and cocaine-induced alterations in human TNFα and mouse GM-CSF such that cocaine exposure increases both cytokines only in the absence of HIV infection. Together these data provide new insights into the unique neurobehavioral processes underlying HIV infection and cocaine use disorders, and further how they interact to effect immune responses.
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Hinds NM, Wojtas ID, Gallagher CA, Corbett CM, Manvich DF. Effects of sex and estrous cycle on intravenous oxycodone self-administration and the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior in rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1143373. [PMID: 37465001 PMCID: PMC10350507 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1143373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The increasing misuse of both prescription and illicit opioids has culminated in a national healthcare crisis in the United States. Oxycodone is among the most widely prescribed and misused opioid pain relievers and has been associated with a high risk for transition to compulsive opioid use. Here, we sought to examine potential sex differences and estrous cycle-dependent effects on the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone, as well as on stress-induced or cue-induced oxycodone-seeking behavior, using intravenous (IV) oxycodone self-administration and reinstatement procedures. Methods In experiment 1, adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone according to a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement in daily 2-h sessions, and a dose-response function was subsequently determined (0.003-0.03 mg/kg/inf). In experiment 2, a separate group of adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 8 sessions, followed by 0.01 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 10 sessions. Responding was then extinguished, followed by sequential footshock-induced and cue-induced reinstatement tests. Results In the dose-response experiment, oxycodone produced a typical inverted U-shape function with 0.01 mg/kg/inf representing the maximally effective dose in both sexes. No sex differences were detected in the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone. In the second experiment, the reinforcing effects of 0.01-0.03 mg//kg/inf oxycodone were significantly attenuated in females during proestrus/estrus as compared to metestrus/diestrus phases of the estrous cycle. Neither males nor females displayed significant footshock-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking, but both sexes exhibited significant cue-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking at magnitudes that did not differ either by sex or by estrous cycle phase. Discussion These results confirm and extend previous work suggesting that sex does not robustly influence the primary reinforcing effects of oxycodone nor the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior. However, our findings reveal for the first time that the reinforcing efficacy of IV oxycodone varies across the estrous cycle in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Hinds
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Ireneusz D. Wojtas
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Corinne A. Gallagher
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Claire M. Corbett
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Daniel F. Manvich
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
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6
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Hinds NM, Wojtas ID, Gallagher CA, Corbett CM, Manvich DF. Effects of sex and estrous cycle on intravenous oxycodone self-administration and the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior in rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.02.543393. [PMID: 37333293 PMCID: PMC10274722 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The increasing misuse of both prescription and illicit opioids has culminated in a national healthcare crisis in the United States. Oxycodone is among the most widely prescribed and misused opioid pain relievers and has been associated with a high risk for transition to compulsive opioid use. Here, we sought to examine potential sex differences and estrous cycle-dependent effects on the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone, as well as on stress-induced or cue-induced oxycodone-seeking behavior, using intravenous (IV) oxycodone self-administration and reinstatement procedures. In experiment 1, adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone according to a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement in daily 2-hr sessions, and a dose-response function was subsequently determined (0.003-0.03 mg/kg/inf). In experiment 2, a separate group of adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 8 sessions, followed by 0.01 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 10 sessions. Responding was then extinguished, followed by sequential footshock-induced and cue-induced reinstatement tests. In the dose-response experiment, oxycodone produced a typical inverted U-shape function with 0.01 mg/kg/inf representing the maximally effective dose in both sexes. No sex differences were detected in the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone. In the second experiment, the reinforcing effects of 0.01-0.03 mg//kg/inf oxycodone were significantly attenuated in females during proestrus/estrus as compared to metestrus/diestrus phases of the estrous cycle. Neither males nor females displayed significant footshock-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking, but both sexes exhibited significant cue-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking at magnitudes that did not differ either by sex or by estrous cycle phase. These results confirm and extend previous work suggesting that sex does not robustly influence the primary reinforcing effects of oxycodone nor the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior. However, our findings reveal for the first time that the reinforcing efficacy of IV oxycodone varies across the estrous cycle in female rats.
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7
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Karimi-Haghighi S, Chavoshinezhad S, Mozafari R, Noorbakhsh F, Borhani-Haghighi A, Haghparast A. Neuroinflammatory Response in Reward-Associated Psychostimulants and Opioids: A Review. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:649-682. [PMID: 35461410 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01223-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Substance abuse is one of the significant problems in social and public health worldwide. Vast numbers of evidence illustrate that motivational and reinforcing impacts of addictive drugs are primarily attributed to their ability to change dopamine signaling in the reward circuit. However, the roles of classic neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and neuromodulators, monoamines, and neuropeptides, in reinforcing characteristics of abused drugs have been extensively investigated. It has recently been revealed that central immune signaling includes cascades of chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines released by neurons and glia via downstream intracellular signaling pathways that play a crucial role in mediating rewarding behavioral effects of drugs. More interestingly, inflammatory responses in the central nervous system modulate the mesolimbic dopamine signaling and glutamate-dependent currents induced by addictive drugs. This review summarized researches in the alterations of inflammatory responses accompanied by rewarding and reinforcing properties of addictive drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids that were evaluated by conditioned place preference and self-administration procedures as highly common behavioral tests to investigate the motivational and reinforcing impacts of addictive drugs. The neuroinflammatory responses affect the rewarding properties of psychostimulants and opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeideh Karimi-Haghighi
- Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Chavoshinezhad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Roghayeh Mozafari
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farshid Noorbakhsh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran.
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Grillo W, Boateng CA, Brady LJ, Gaudier-Diaz MM, Mitchell KA, Ruffin VA, Tejdeda HA, Marshall SA. Reflections of six neuroscientists: The influences of training at minority serving institutions. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1529-1537. [PMID: 33527411 PMCID: PMC9942539 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Grillo
- Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Comfort A. Boateng
- Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, High Point University, NC, USA
| | - Lillian J. Brady
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Monica M. Gaudier-Diaz
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kerry-Ann Mitchell
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vernon A. Ruffin
- Department of Natural Sciences, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Hugo A. Tejdeda
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - S. Alex Marshall
- Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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9
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Peart DR, Andrade AK, Logan CN, Knackstedt LA, Murray JE. Regulation of Cocaine-related Behaviors by Estrogen and Progesterone. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104584. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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Brady LJ, Erickson KR, Lucerne KE, Osman A, Kiraly DD, Calipari ES. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhances cocaine effects in the nucleus accumbens via a dopamine release-based mechanism. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3499-3509. [PMID: 34487190 PMCID: PMC9056006 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05967-9] [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: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder is associated with alterations in immune function including altered expression of multiple peripheral cytokines in humans-several of which correlate with drug use. Individuals suffering from cocaine use disorder show altered immune system responses to drug-associated cues, highlighting the interaction between the brain and immune system as a critical factor in the development and expression of cocaine use disorder. We have previously demonstrated in animal models that cocaine use upregulates the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-a pleiotropic cytokine-in the serum and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). G-CSF signaling has been causally linked to behavioral responses to cocaine across multiple behavioral domains. The goal of this study was to define whether increases in G-CSF alter the pharmacodynamic effects of cocaine on the dopamine system and whether this occurs via direct mechanisms within local NAc microcircuits. We find that systemic G-CSF injection increases cocaine effects on dopamine terminals. The enhanced dopamine levels in the presence of cocaine occur through a release-based mechanism, rather than through effects on the dopamine transporter-as uptake rates were unchanged following G-CSF treatment. Critically, this effect could be recapitulated by acute bath application of G-CSF to dopamine terminals, an effect that was occluded by prior G-CSF treatment, suggesting a similar mechanistic basis for direct and systemic exposures. This work highlights the critical interaction between the immune system and psychostimulant effects that can alter drug responses and may play a role in vulnerability to cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian J Brady
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, TN, 37232, Nashville, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Kirsty R Erickson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, TN, 37232, Nashville, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Kelsey E Lucerne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aya Osman
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl - Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl - Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, TN, 37232, Nashville, USA.
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 865F Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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11
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Lo Iacono L, Mancini C, Babicola L, Pietrosanto M, Di Segni M, D'Addario SL, Municchi D, Ielpo D, Pascucci T, Cabib S, Ferlazzo F, D'Amato FR, Andolina D, Helmer-Citterich M, Cifani C, Ventura R. Early life adversity affecting the attachment bond alters ventral tegmental area transcriptomic patterning and behavior almost exclusively in female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100406. [PMID: 34660854 PMCID: PMC8503667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life experiences that affect the attachment bond formation can alter developmental trajectories and result in pathological outcomes in a sex-related manner. However, the molecular basis of sex differences is quite unknown. The dopaminergic system originating from the ventral tegmental area has been proposed to be a key mediator of this process. Here we exploited a murine model of early adversity (Repeated Cross Fostering, RCF) to test how interfering with the attachment bond formation affects the VTA-related functions in a sex-specific manner. Through a comprehensive behavioral screening, within the NiH RDoC framework, and by next-generation RNA-Seq experiments, we analyzed the long-lasting effect of RCF on behavioral and transcriptional profiles related to the VTA, across two different inbred strains of mouse in both sexes. We found that RCF impacted to an extremely greater extent VTA-related behaviors in females than in males and this result mirrored the transcriptional alterations in the VTA that were almost exclusively observed in females. The sexual dimorphism was conserved across two different inbred strains in spite of their divergent long lasting consequences of RCF exposure. Our data suggest that to be female primes a sub-set of genes to respond to early environmental perturbations. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence of an almost exclusive effect of early life experiences on females, thus mirroring the extremely stronger impact of precocious aversive events reported in clinical studies in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Lo Iacono
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Lucy Babicola
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Pietrosanto
- Centre for Molecular Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Diana Municchi
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Donald Ielpo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pascucci
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Cabib
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Ferlazzo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca R D'Amato
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Institute, National Research Council, Via E Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo, Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Andolina
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Manuela Helmer-Citterich
- Centre for Molecular Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- University of Camerino School of Pharmacy, Camerino, Italy
| | - Rossella Ventura
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
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12
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López AJ, Johnson AR, Euston TJ, Wilson R, Nolan SO, Brady LJ, Thibeault KC, Kelly SJ, Kondev V, Melugin P, Kutlu MG, Chuang E, Lam TT, Kiraly DD, Calipari ES. Cocaine self-administration induces sex-dependent protein expression in the nucleus accumbens. Commun Biol 2021; 4:883. [PMID: 34272455 PMCID: PMC8285523 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02358-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition characterized by long-lasting alterations in the neural circuitry regulating reward and motivation. Substantial work has focused on characterizing the molecular substrates that underlie these persistent changes in neural function and behavior. However, this work has overwhelmingly focused on male subjects, despite mounting clinical and preclinical evidence that females demonstrate dissimilar progression to SUD and responsivity to stimulant drugs of abuse, such as cocaine. Here, we show that sex is a critical biological variable that defines drug-induced plasticity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we assessed the protein expression patterns induced by cocaine self-administration and demonstrated unique molecular profiles between males and females. We show that 1. Cocaine self-administration induces non-overlapping protein expression patterns in significantly regulated proteins in males and females and 2. Critically, cocaine-induced protein regulation differentially interacts with sex to eliminate basal sexual dimorphisms in the proteome. Finally, eliminating these baseline differences in the proteome is concomitant with the elimination of sex differences in behavior for non-drug rewards. Together, these data suggest that cocaine administration is capable of rewriting basal proteomic function and reward-associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J López
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amy R Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Tanner J Euston
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rashaun Wilson
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- WM Keck Biotechnology Resource Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Suzanne O Nolan
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lillian J Brady
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kimberly C Thibeault
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shannon J Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Veronika Kondev
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Patrick Melugin
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - M Gunes Kutlu
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Emily Chuang
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - TuKiet T Lam
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- WM Keck Biotechnology Resource Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale/NIDA Neuroproteomics Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Seaver Center for Autism, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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13
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Lucerne KE, Osman A, Meckel KR, Kiraly DD. Contributions of neuroimmune and gut-brain signaling to vulnerability of developing substance use disorders. Neuropharmacology 2021; 192:108598. [PMID: 33965398 PMCID: PMC8220934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiology and clinical research indicate that only a subset of people who are exposed to drugs of abuse will go on to develop a substance use disorder. Numerous factors impact individual susceptibility to developing a substance use disorder, including intrinsic biological factors, environmental factors, and interpersonal/social factors. Given the extensive morbidity and mortality that is wrought as a consequence of substance use disorders, a substantial body of research has focused on understanding the risk factors that mediate the shift from initial drug use to pathological drug use. Understanding these risk factors provides a clear path for the development of risk mitigation strategies to help reduce the burden of substance use disorders in the population. Here we will review the rapidly growing body of literature that examines the importance of interactions between the peripheral immune system, the gut microbiome, and the central nervous system (CNS) in mediating the transition to pathological drug use. While these systems had long been viewed as distinct, there is growing evidence that there is bidirectional communication between both the immune system and the gut microbiome that drive changes in neural and behavioral plasticity relevant to substance use disorders. Further, both of these systems are highly sensitive to environmental perturbations and are implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric conditions. While the field of study examining these interactions in substance use disorders is in its relative infancy, clarifying the relationship between gut-immune-brain signaling and substance use disorders has potential to improve our understanding of individual propensity to developing addiction and yield important insight into potential treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Lucerne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aya Osman
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine R Meckel
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Namba MD, Leyrer-Jackson JM, Nagy EK, Olive MF, Neisewander JL. Neuroimmune Mechanisms as Novel Treatment Targets for Substance Use Disorders and Associated Comorbidities. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:650785. [PMID: 33935636 PMCID: PMC8082184 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.650785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies examining the neurobiology of substance abuse have revealed a significant role of neuroimmune signaling as a mechanism through which drugs of abuse induce aberrant changes in synaptic plasticity and contribute to substance abuse-related behaviors. Immune signaling within the brain and the periphery critically regulates homeostasis of the nervous system. Perturbations in immune signaling can induce neuroinflammation or immunosuppression, which dysregulate nervous system function including neural processes associated with substance use disorders (SUDs). In this review, we discuss the literature that demonstrates a role of neuroimmune signaling in regulating learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity, emphasizing specific cytokine signaling within the central nervous system. We then highlight recent preclinical studies, within the last 5 years when possible, that have identified immune mechanisms within the brain and the periphery associated with addiction-related behaviors. Findings thus far underscore the need for future investigations into the clinical potential of immunopharmacology as a novel approach toward treating SUDs. Considering the high prevalence rate of comorbidities among those with SUDs, we also discuss neuroimmune mechanisms of common comorbidities associated with SUDs and highlight potentially novel treatment targets for these comorbid conditions. We argue that immunopharmacology represents a novel frontier in the development of new pharmacotherapies that promote long-term abstinence from drug use and minimize the detrimental impact of SUD comorbidities on patient health and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Namba
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | | | - Erin K. Nagy
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - M. Foster Olive
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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15
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Bakhti-Suroosh A, Towers EB, Lynch WJ. A buprenorphine-validated rat model of opioid use disorder optimized to study sex differences in vulnerability to relapse. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:1029-1046. [PMID: 33404740 PMCID: PMC7786148 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05750-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major epidemic in the USA. Despite evidence indicating that OUD may be particularly severe for women, preclinical models have yet to establish sex as a major factor in OUD. OBJECTIVES Here, we examined sex differences in vulnerability to relapse following intermittent access fentanyl self-administration and protracted abstinence and used buprenorphine, the FDA-approved treatment for OUD, to test the validity of our model. METHODS Following acquisition of fentanyl self-administration under one of two training conditions, male and female rats were given extended, 24-h/day access to fentanyl (0.25 μg/kg/infusion, 10 days) using an intermittent access procedure. Vulnerability to relapse was assessed using an extinction/cue-induced reinstatement procedure following 14 days of abstinence; buprenorphine (0 or 3 mg/kg/day) was administered throughout abstinence. RESULTS Levels of drug-seeking were high following extended-access fentanyl self-administration and abstinence; buprenorphine markedly decreased drug-seeking supporting the validity of our relapse model. Females self-administered more fentanyl and responded at higher levels during subsequent extinction testing. Buprenorphine was effective in both sexes and eliminated sex and estrous phase differences in drug-seeking. Interestingly, the inclusion of a time-out during training had a major impact on later fentanyl self-administration in females, but not males, indicating that the initial exposure conditions can persistently impact vulnerability in females. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the utility of this rat model for determining sex and hormonal influences on the development and treatment of OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anousheh Bakhti-Suroosh
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 801402, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA
| | - Eleanor Blair Towers
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 801402, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA
| | - Wendy J. Lynch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 801402, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA
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16
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Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Reduces Cocaine-Seeking and Downregulates Glutamatergic Synaptic Proteins in Medial Prefrontal Cortex. J Neurosci 2020; 41:1553-1565. [PMID: 33361463 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1452-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychostimulant use disorder is a major public health issue, and despite the scope of the problem there are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments. There would be tremendous utility in development of a treatment that could help patients both achieve and maintain abstinence. Previous work from our group has identified granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a neuroactive cytokine that alters behavioral response to cocaine, increases synaptic dopamine release, and enhances cognitive flexibility. Here, we investigate the role of G-CSF in affecting extinction and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking and perform detailed characterization of its proteomic effects in multiple limbic substructures. Male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with PBS or G-CSF during (1) extinction or (2) abstinence from cocaine self-administration, and drug seeking behavior was measured. Quantitative assessment of changes in the proteomic landscape in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were performed via data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry analysis. Administration of G-CSF during extinction accelerated the rate of extinction, and administration during abstinence attenuated cue-induced cocaine-seeking. Analysis of global protein expression demonstrated that G-CSF regulated proteins primarily in mPFC that are critical to glutamate signaling and synapse maintenance. Taken together, these findings support G-CSF as a viable translational research target with the potential to reduce drug craving or seeking behaviors. Importantly, recombinant G-CSF exists as an FDA-approved medication which may facilitate rapid clinical translation. Additionally, using cutting-edge multiregion discovery proteomics analyses, these studies identify a novel mechanism underlying G-CSF effects on behavioral plasticity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Pharmacological treatments for psychostimulant use disorder are desperately needed, especially given the disease's chronic, relapsing nature. However, there are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting the immune system may be a viable translational research strategy; preclinical studies have found that the neuroactive cytokine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) alters cocaine reward and reinforcement and can enhance cognitive flexibility. Given this basis of evidence we studied the effects of G-CSF treatment on extinction and reinstatement of cocaine seeking. We find that administration of G-CSF accelerates extinction and reduces cue-induced drug seeking after cocaine self-administration. In addition, G-CSF leads to downregulation of synaptic glutamatergic proteins in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggesting that G-CSF influences drug seeking via glutamatergic mechanisms.
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17
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Lucerne KE, Kiraly DD. The role of gut-immune-brain signaling in substance use disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 157:311-370. [PMID: 33648673 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are debilitating neuropsychiatric conditions that exact enormous costs in terms of loss of life and individual suffering. While much progress has been made defining the neurocircuitry and intracellular signaling cascades that contribute to SUDs, these studies have yielded limited effective treatment options. This has prompted greater exploration of non-traditional targets in addiction. Emerging data suggest inputs from peripheral systems, such as the immune system and the gut microbiome, impact multiple neuropsychiatric diseases, including SUDs. Until recently the gut microbiome, peripheral immune system, and the CNS have been studied independently; however, current work shows the gut microbiome and immune system critically interact to modulate brain function. Additionally, the gut microbiome and immune system intimately regulate one another via extensive bidirectional communication. Accumulating evidence suggests an important role for gut-immune-brain communication in the pathogenesis of substance use disorders. Thus, a better understanding of gut-immune-brain signaling could yield important insight to addiction pathology and potential treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Lucerne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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