1
|
Fu Z, Wang L, Li S, Chen F, Au-Yeung KKW, Shi C. MicroRNA as an Important Target for Anticancer Drug Development. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:736323. [PMID: 34512363 PMCID: PMC8425594 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.736323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has become the second greatest cause of death worldwide. Although there are several different classes of anticancer drugs that are available in clinic, some tough issues like side-effects and low efficacy still need to dissolve. Therefore, there remains an urgent need to discover and develop more effective anticancer drugs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting mRNA translation or reducing the stability of mRNA. An abnormal miRNA expression profile was found to exist widely in cancer cell, which induces limitless replicative potential and evading apoptosis. MiRNAs function as oncogenes (oncomiRs) or tumor suppressors during tumor development and progression. It was shown that regulation of specific miRNA alterations using miRNA mimics or antagomirs can normalize the gene regulatory network and signaling pathways, and reverse the phenotypes in cancer cells. The miRNA hence provides an attractive target for anticancer drug development. In this review, we will summarize the latest publications on the role of miRNA in anticancer therapeutics and briefly describe the relationship between abnormal miRNAs and tumorigenesis. The potential of miRNA-based therapeutics for anticancer treatment has been critically discussed. And the current strategies in designing miRNA targeting therapeutics are described in detail. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of miRNA-based therapy are conferred.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Fu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | - Liu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | - Shijun Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | - Fen Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Chen Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Interaction of maternal immune activation and genetic interneuronal inhibition. Brain Res 2021; 1759:147370. [PMID: 33600830 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Genes and environment interact during intrauterine life, and potentially alter the developmental trajectory of the brain. This can result in life-long consequences on brain function. We have previously developed two transgenic mouse lines that suppress Gad1 expression in parvalbumin (PVALB) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressing interneuron populations using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-driven miRNA-based silencing technology. We were interested to assess if maternal immune activation (MIA), genetic interneuronal inhibition, and the combination of these two factors disrupt and result in long-term changes in neuroinflammatory gene expression, sterol biosynthesis, and acylcarnitine levels in the brain of maternally exposed offspring. Pregnant female WT mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection of saline or polyinosinic-polycytidilic acid [poly(I:C)] at E12.5. Brains of offspring were analyzed at postnatal day 90. We identified complex and persistent neuroinflammatory gene expression changes in the hippocampi of MIA-exposed offspring, as well in the hippocampi of Npy/Gad1 and Pvalb/Gad1 mice. In addition, both MIA and genetic inhibition altered the post-lanosterol sterol biosynthesis in the neocortex and disrupted the typical acylcarnitine profile. In conclusion, our findings suggest that both MIA and inhibition of interneuronal function have long-term consequences on critical homeostatic mechanisms of the brain, including immune function, sterol levels, and energy metabolism.
Collapse
|
3
|
Prefrontal cortex-dependent innate behaviors are altered by selective knockdown of Gad1 in neuropeptide Y interneurons. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200809. [PMID: 30024942 PMCID: PMC6053188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAergic dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorder during adolescence. There is a deficiency of GABAergic transmission in anxiety, and enhancement of GABA transmission through pharmacological means reduces anxiety behaviors. GAD67—the enzyme responsible for GABA production–has been linked to anxiety disorders. One class of GABAergic interneurons, Neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressing cells, is abundantly found in brain regions associated with anxiety and fear learning, including prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Additionally, NPY itself has been shown to have anxiolytic effects, and loss of NPY+ interneurons enhances anxiety behaviors. A previous study showed that knockdown of Gad1 from NPY+ cells led to reduced anxiety behaviors in adult mice. However, the role of GABA release from NPY+ interneurons in adolescent anxiety is unclear. Here we used a transgenic mouse that reduces GAD67 in NPY+ cells (NPYGAD1-TG) through Gad1 knockdown and tested for effects on behavior in adolescent mice. Adolescent NPYGAD1-TG mice showed enhanced anxiety-like behavior and sex-dependent changes in locomotor activity. We also found enhancement in two other innate behavioral tasks, nesting construction and social dominance. In contrast, fear learning was unchanged. Because we saw changes in behavioral tasks dependent upon prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, we investigated the extent of GAD67 knockdown in these regions. Immunohistochemistry revealed a 40% decrease in GAD67 in NPY+ cells in prefrontal cortex, indicating a significant but incomplete knockdown of GAD67. In contrast, there was no decrease in GAD67 in NPY+ cells in hippocampus. Consistent with this, there was no change in inhibitory synaptic transmission in hippocampus. Our results show the behavioral impact of cell-specific interneuron dysfunction and suggest that GABA release by NPY+ cells is important for regulating innate prefrontal cortex-dependent behavior in adolescents.
Collapse
|
4
|
Chung YCE, Chen SC, Chuang LC, Shih WL, Chiu YH, Lu ML, Chen HC, Kuo PH. Evaluation of the interaction between genetic variants of GAD1 and miRNA in bipolar disorders. J Affect Disord 2017; 223:1-7. [PMID: 28710909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamic acid dehydrogenase 1 (GAD1) serves as the rate-limiting enzyme for synthesizing GABA, and is reported to be associated with several psychiatric disorders. The present study examined the effects of GAD1 genetic variants on bipolar disorder (BD) and its subtypes. Moreover, we investigated functional interactions between genetic variants and miRNAs via algorithm prediction and experimental validation. METHODS A case-control study was conducted with 280 BD patients and 200 healthy controls. Eight tag SNPs in GAD1 were genotyped. For associated markers, we performed in silico prediction for their potential functions through SNP-miRNA interactions by establishing a scoring system to combine information from several miRNA predictive algorithms. We then tested allelic expression differences using Dual-Glo luciferase reporter assays for the selected SNP-miRNA pair. Lastly, we examined the associations of the GAD1 gene and BD in two additional independent datasets with a few thousand samples for replication. RESULTS Marker rs3749034 was associated with BD, in particular the BD-II subtype. According to our scoring system, several candidate miRNAs were predicted to interact with rs3749034, and hsa-miR-504 had the highest score. Findings from an in vitro experiment revealed a non-statistically significant trend for lower gene expression level with the A allele of rs3749034 compared with the G allele. The association between rs3749034 and BD was not replicated in either of the independent datasets. Instead, other rarer genetic variants in GAD1 showed suggestive signals (e.g. rs575441409, p-value = 3.8*10-4, D' = 1 with rs3749034) with BD in the Taiwanese dataset. LIMITATIONS The present study considered common genetic variants only. In addition, we only used a 293T cell-line in conducting luciferase reporter assays, as no primary cell-lines from patient samples were available to differentiate the effects between BD subtypes. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate a weak effect of the GAD1 gene on the risk of bipolar illness, and the associated marker might represent a proxy for real signals of rare variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chu Ella Chung
- Department of Public Health & Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Chien Chen
- Department of Psychology and Language Sciences, College of Brain Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Li-Chung Chuang
- Department of Nursing, Cardinal Tien Junior College of Healthcare & Management, Yilan 266, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Liang Shih
- Department of Public Health & Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hang Chiu
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Mong-Liang Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Chung Chen
- Department of Psychiatry & Center of Sleep Disorders, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsiu Kuo
- Department of Public Health & Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Georgiev D, Yoshihara T, Kawabata R, Matsubara T, Tsubomoto M, Minabe Y, Lewis DA, Hashimoto T. Cortical Gene Expression After a Conditional Knockout of 67 kDa Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase in Parvalbumin Neurons. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:992-1002. [PMID: 26980143 PMCID: PMC4903066 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbw022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the cortex of subjects with schizophrenia, expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), the enzyme primarily responsible for cortical GABA synthesis, is reduced in the subset of GABA neurons that express parvalbumin (PV). This GAD67 deficit is accompanied by lower cortical levels of other GABA-associated transcripts, including GABA transporter-1, PV, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B, somatostatin, GABAA receptor α1 subunit, and KCNS3 potassium channel subunit mRNAs. In contrast, messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), another enzyme for GABA synthesis, are not altered. We tested the hypothesis that this pattern of GABA-associated transcript levels is secondary to the GAD67 deficit in PV neurons by analyzing cortical levels of these GABA-associated mRNAs in mice with a PV neuron-specific GAD67 knockout. Using in situ hybridization, we found that none of the examined GABA-associated transcripts had lower cortical expression in the knockout mice. In contrast, PV, BDNF, KCNS3, and GAD65 mRNA levels were higher in the homozygous mice. In addition, our behavioral test battery failed to detect a change in sensorimotor gating or working memory, although the homozygous mice exhibited increased spontaneous activities. These findings suggest that reduced GAD67 expression in PV neurons is not an upstream cause of the lower levels of GABA-associated transcripts, or of the characteristic behaviors, in schizophrenia. In PV neuron-specific GAD67 knockout mice, increased levels of PV, BDNF, and KCNS3 mRNAs might be the consequence of increased neuronal activity secondary to lower GABA synthesis, whereas increased GAD65 mRNA might represent a compensatory response to increase GABA synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danko Georgiev
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Toru Yoshihara
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Rika Kawabata
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takurou Matsubara
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Makoto Tsubomoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yoshio Minabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan;,Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - David A. Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA;,Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Takanori Hashimoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
NPY+-, but not PV+- GABAergic neurons mediated long-range inhibition from infra- to prelimbic cortex. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e736. [PMID: 26882036 PMCID: PMC4872436 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are thought to reflect deficits in the regulation of fear memories. While the amygdala has long been considered a site of storage of fear memories, newer findings suggest that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential in the regulation of amygdala-dependent memories and fear expression. Here, activation of the prelimbic cortex (PrL) enhances the expression of fear, while an elevated activity in the infralimbic cortex (IL) enhances fear extinction. Despite the presence of these facts, we still know very little about the synaptic interconnectivity within the PFC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory circuits between prelimbic and IL using morphological and electrophysiological methods. Our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the distribution of PV(+)- and NPY(+)-GABAergic neurons was strikingly different within the PFC. In addition, we provided the first experimental evidence that the pyramidal neurons in the PrL received a direct inhibitory input mediated by bipolar NPY(+)-GABAergic projection neurons in the IL. Deletion of the anxiety-related neuroligin 2 gene caused a decrease of this direct synaptic inhibition that originated from the IL. Thus, our data suggested that activation of the IL might not only directly activate the corresponding downstream anxiolytic pathway, but also suppress the PrL-related anxiogenic pathway and thus could differentially bias the regulation of fear expression and extinction.
Collapse
|
7
|
Brown JA, Ramikie TS, Schmidt MJ, Báldi R, Garbett K, Everheart MG, Warren LE, Gellért L, Horváth S, Patel S, Mirnics K. Inhibition of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons results in complex behavioral changes. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1499-507. [PMID: 25623945 PMCID: PMC4516717 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Reduced expression of the Gad1 gene-encoded 67-kDa protein isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) is a hallmark of schizophrenia. GAD67 downregulation occurs in multiple interneuronal sub-populations, including the parvalbumin-positive (PVALB+) cells. To investigate the role of the PV-positive GABAergic interneurons in behavioral and molecular processes, we knocked down the Gad1 transcript using a microRNA engineered to target specifically Gad1 mRNA under the control of Pvalb bacterial artificial chromosome. Verification of construct expression was performed by immunohistochemistry. Follow-up electrophysiological studies revealed a significant reduction in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release probability without alterations in postsynaptic membrane properties or changes in glutamatergic release probability in the prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons. Behavioral characterization of our transgenic (Tg) mice uncovered that the Pvalb/Gad1 Tg mice have pronounced sensorimotor gating deficits, increased novelty-seeking and reduced fear extinction. Furthermore, NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptor antagonism by ketamine had an opposing dose-dependent effect, suggesting that the differential dosage of ketamine might have divergent effects on behavioral processes. All behavioral studies were validated using a second cohort of animals. Our results suggest that reduction of GABAergic transmission from PVALB+ interneurons primarily impacts behavioral domains related to fear and novelty seeking and that these alterations might be related to the behavioral phenotype observed in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn A. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Teniel S. Ramikie
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Martin J. Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Rita Báldi
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Krassimira Garbett
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | | | - Lambert E. Warren
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Levente Gellért
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Szatmár Horváth
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Correspondence: Karoly Mirnics, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, 8130A MRB III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville TN 37232, USA, , Office phone: 615-936-1074, www.mirnicslab.org
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Schmidt MJ, Mirnics K. Neurodevelopment, GABA system dysfunction, and schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:190-206. [PMID: 24759129 PMCID: PMC4262918 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The origins of schizophrenia have eluded clinicians and researchers since Kraepelin and Bleuler began documenting their findings. However, large clinical research efforts in recent decades have identified numerous genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia. The combined data strongly support the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and underscore the importance of the common converging effects of diverse insults. In this review, we discuss the evidence that genetic and environmental risk factors that predispose to schizophrenia disrupt the development and normal functioning of the GABAergic system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Karoly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Modulation of behavioral networks by selective interneuronal inactivation. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:580-7. [PMID: 24322205 PMCID: PMC4179403 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic disturbances are hallmark features of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders and encompass multiple interneuronal cell types. Using bacterial artificial chromosome-driven, miRNA silencing technology we generated transgenic mouse lines that suppress glutamic acid decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) in either cholecystokinin (CCK)- or neuropeptide Y (NPY)-expressing interneurons. In situ lipidomic and proteomic analyses on brain tissue sections revealed distinct, brain region-specific profiles in each transgenic line. Behavioral analyses revealed that suppression of GAD1 in CCK+ interneurons resulted in locomotor and olfactory sensory changes, whereas suppression in NPY+ interneurons affected anxiety-related behaviors and social interaction. Both transgenic mouse lines had altered sensitivity to amphetamine albeit in opposite directions. Together, these data argue that reduced GAD1 expression leads to altered molecular and behavioral profiles in a cell type-dependent manner, and that these subpopulations of interneurons are strong and opposing modulators of dopamine system function. Furthermore, our findings also support the hypothesis that neuronal networks are differentially controlled by diverse inhibitory subnetworks.
Collapse
|
10
|
Desbonnet L, O’Tuathaigh CMP, Waddington JL. Modeling schizophrenia: uncovering novel therapeutic targets. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2014; 5:667-76. [DOI: 10.1586/ecp.12.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
11
|
Kálmán S, Garbett KA, Vereczkei A, Shelton RC, Korade Z, Mirnics K. Metabolic stress-induced microRNA and mRNA expression profiles of human fibroblasts. Exp Cell Res 2013; 320:343-53. [PMID: 24246224 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic and oxidative stresses induce physiological adaptation processes, disrupting a finely tuned, coordinated network of gene expression. To better understand the interplay between the mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes, we examined how two distinct metabolic stressors alter the expression profile of human dermal fibroblasts. Primary fibroblast cultures were obtained from skin biopsies of 17 healthy subjects. Metabolic stress was evoked by growing subcultured cells in glucose deprived, galactose enriched (GAL) or lipid reduced, cholesterol deficient (RL) media, and compared to parallel-cultured fibroblasts grown in standard (STD) medium. This was followed by mRNA expression profiling and assessment of >1000 miRNAs levels across all three conditions. The miRNA expression levels were subsequently correlated to the mRNA expression profile. Metabolic stress by RL and GAL both produced significant, strongly correlated mRNA/miRNA changes. At the single gene level four miRNAs (miR-129-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-543 and miR-550a) showed significant and comparable expression changes in both experimental conditions. These miRNAs appeared to have a significant physiological effect on the transcriptome, as nearly 10% of the predicted targets reported changes at mRNA level. The two distinct metabolic stressors induced comparable changes in the miRNome profile, suggesting a common defensive response of the fibroblasts to altered homeostasis. The differentially expressed miR-129-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-543 and miR-550a regulated multiple genes (e.g. NGEF, NOVA1, PDE5A) with region- and age-specific transcription in the human brain, suggesting that deregulation of these miRNAs might have significant consequences on CNS function. The overall findings suggest that analysis of stress-induced responses of peripheral fibroblasts, obtained from patients with psychiatric disorders is a promising avenue for future research endeavors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sára Kálmán
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Andrea Vereczkei
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Institute for Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Richard C Shelton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Zeljka Korade
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Brown JA, Horváth S, Garbett KA, Schmidt MJ, Everheart M, Gellért L, Ebert P, Mirnics K. The role of cannabinoid 1 receptor expressing interneurons in behavior. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 63:210-21. [PMID: 24239560 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population. Reduced expression of the 67-kDa protein isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) is a hallmark of the disease and is encoded by the GAD1 gene. In schizophrenia, GAD67 downregulation occurs in multiple interneuronal subpopulations, including the cannabinoid receptor type 1 positive (CNR1+) cells, but the functional consequences of these disturbances are not well understood. To investigate the role of the CNR1-positive GABA-ergic interneurons in behavioral and molecular processes, we employed a novel, miRNA-mediated transgenic mouse approach. We silenced the Gad1 transcript using a miRNA engineered to specifically target Gad1 mRNA under the control of Cnr1 bacterial artificial chromosome. Behavioral characterization of our transgenic mice showed elevated and persistent conditioned fear associated with an auditory cue and a significantly altered response to an amphetamine challenge. These deficits could not be attributed to sensory deficits or changes in baseline learning and memory. Furthermore, HPLC analyses revealed that Cnr1/Gad1 mice have enhanced serotonin levels, but not dopamine levels in response to amphetamine. Our findings demonstrate that dysfunction of a small subset of interneurons can have a profound effect on behavior and that the GABA-ergic, monoamine, and cannabinoid systems are functionally interconnected. The results also suggest that understanding the function of various interneuronal subclasses might be essential to develop knowledge-based treatment strategies for various mental disorders including schizophrenia and substance abuse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn A Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Szatmár Horváth
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Martin J Schmidt
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Monika Everheart
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Levente Gellért
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Philip Ebert
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population and imposing a significant burden on society. One of the most replicated and well-established postmortem findings is a deficit in the expression of the gene encoding the 67-kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67), the primary GABA-producing enzyme in the brain. GAD67 is expressed in various classes of interneurons, with vastly different morphological, molecular, and physiological properties. Importantly, GABA system deficits in schizophrenia encompass multiple interneuronal subtypes, raising several important questions. First, do different classes of interneurons regulate different aspects of behavior? Second, can we model cell-type-specific GABAergic deficits in mice, and will the rodent findings translate to human physiology? Finally, will this knowledge open the door to knowledge-based approaches to treat schizophrenia?
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lin CY, Sawa A, Jaaro-Peled H. Better understanding of mechanisms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: from human gene expression profiles to mouse models. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 45:48-56. [PMID: 21914480 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Revised: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are unclear. To address this fundamental question, many groups have studied molecular expression profiles in postmortem brains and other tissues from patients compared with those from normal controls. Development of unbiased high-throughput approaches, such as microarray, RNA-seq, and proteomics, have supported and facilitated this endeavor. In addition to genes directly involved in neuron/glia signaling, especially those encoding for synaptic proteins, genes for metabolic cascades are differentially expressed in the brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, compared with those from normal controls in DNA microarray studies. Here we propose the importance and usefulness of genetic mouse models in which such differentially expressed molecules are modulated. These animal models allow us to dissect the mechanisms of how such molecular changes in patient brains may play a role in neuronal circuitries and overall behavioral phenotypes. We also point out that models in which the metabolic genes are modified are obviously untested from mental illness viewpoints, suggesting the potential to re-address these models with behavioral assays and neurochemical assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Ying Lin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Harrison PJ, Pritchett D, Stumpenhorst K, Betts JF, Nissen W, Schweimer J, Lane T, Burnet PWJ, Lamsa KP, Sharp T, Bannerman DM, Tunbridge EM. Genetic mouse models relevant to schizophrenia: taking stock and looking forward. Neuropharmacology 2011; 62:1164-7. [PMID: 21864547 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Genetic mouse models relevant to schizophrenia complement, and have to a large extent supplanted, pharmacological and lesion-based rat models. The main attraction is that they potentially have greater construct validity; however, they share the fundamental limitations of all animal models of psychiatric disorder, and must also be viewed in the context of the uncertain and complex genetic architecture of psychosis. Some of the key issues, including the choice of gene to target, the manner of its manipulation, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, and phenotypic characterization, are briefly considered in this commentary, illustrated by the relevant papers reported in this special issue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
|
17
|
|
18
|
White MD, Milne RVJ, Nolan MF. A Molecular Toolbox for Rapid Generation of Viral Vectors to Up- or Down-Regulate Neuronal Gene Expression in vivo. Front Mol Neurosci 2011; 4:8. [PMID: 21772812 PMCID: PMC3131526 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2011.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a molecular toolbox for manipulation of neuronal gene expression in vivo. The toolbox includes promoters, ion channels, optogenetic tools, fluorescent proteins, and intronic artificial microRNAs. The components are easily assembled into adeno-associated virus (AAV) or lentivirus vectors using recombination cloning. We demonstrate assembly of toolbox components into lentivirus and AAV vectors and use these vectors for in vivo expression of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir2.1, Kir3.1, and Kir3.2) and an artificial microRNA targeted against the ion channel HCN1 (HCN1 miRNA). We show that AAV assembled to express HCN1 miRNA produces efficacious and specific in vivo knockdown of HCN1 channels. Comparison of in vivo viral transduction using HCN1 miRNA with mice containing a germ line deletion of HCN1 reveals similar physiological phenotypes in cerebellar Purkinje cells. The easy assembly and re-usability of the toolbox components, together with the ability to up- or down-regulate neuronal gene expression in vivo, may be useful for applications in many areas of neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie D White
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Horváth S, Janka Z, Mirnics K. Analyzing schizophrenia by DNA microarrays. Biol Psychiatry 2011; 69:157-62. [PMID: 20801428 PMCID: PMC2994975 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Revised: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
To understand the pathological processes of schizophrenia, we must embrace the analysis of the diseased human brain: we will never be able to recapitulate the pathology of uniquely human disorders in an animal model. Based on the outcome of the transcriptome profiling experiments performed to date, it appears that schizophrenia is associated with a global gene expression disturbance across many cortical regions. In addition, transcriptome changes are present in multiple cell types, including specific subclasses of principal neurons, interneurons, and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, transcripts related to synaptic transmission, energy metabolism, and inhibitory neurotransmission are routinely found underexpressed in the postmortem brain tissue of subjects with schizophrenia. To put these transcriptome data in biological context, we must make our data publicly available and report our findings in a proper, expanded Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment format. Cell-type specific expression profiling and sequencing-based transcript assessments should be expanded, with particular attention to understanding splice-variant changes in various mental disorders. Deciphering the pathophysiology of mental disorders depends on integrating data from across many research fields and techniques. Leads from postmortem transcriptome profiling will be essential to generate model animals, perform tissue culture experiments, and develop or evaluate novel drugs to treat this devastating disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Szatmár Horváth
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Janka
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Correspondence: Karoly Mirnics, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, 8130A MRB III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville TN 37232, USA, , Office phone: 615-936-1074, http://mirnicslab.vanderbilt.edu/mirnicslab/
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
O'Tuathaigh CMP, Desbonnet L, Moran PM, Waddington JL. Susceptibility genes for schizophrenia: mutant models, endophenotypes and psychobiology. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2011; 12:209-50. [PMID: 22367925 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2011_194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterised by a multifactorial aetiology that involves genetic liability interacting with epigenetic and environmental factors to increase risk for developing the disorder. A consensus view is that the genetic component involves several common risk alleles of small effect and/or rare but penetrant copy number variations. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence for broader, overlapping genetic-phenotypic relationships in psychosis; for example, the same susceptibility genes also confer risk for bipolar disorder. Phenotypic characterisation of genetic models of candidate risk genes and/or putative pathophysiological processes implicated in schizophrenia, as well as examination of epidemiologically relevant gene × environment interactions in these models, can illuminate molecular and pathobiological mechanisms involved in schizophrenia. The present chapter outlines both the evidence from phenotypic studies in mutant mouse models related to schizophrenia and recently described mutant models addressing such gene × environment interactions. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the extent to which mutant phenotypes recapitulate the totality of the disease phenotype or model selective endophenotypes. We also discuss new developments and trends in relation to the functional genomics of psychosis which might help to inform on the construct validity of mutant models of schizophrenia and highlight methodological challenges in phenotypic evaluation that relate to such models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colm M P O'Tuathaigh
- Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Incentive learning underlying cocaine-seeking requires mGluR5 receptors located on dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons. J Neurosci 2010; 30:11973-82. [PMID: 20826661 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2550-10.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the psychobiological basis of relapse remains a challenge in developing therapies for drug addiction. Relapse in cocaine addiction often occurs following exposure to environmental stimuli previously associated with drug taking. The metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR5, is potentially important in this respect; it plays a central role in several forms of striatal synaptic plasticity proposed to underpin associative learning and memory processes that enable drug-paired stimuli to acquire incentive motivational properties and trigger relapse. Using cell type-specific RNA interference, we have generated a novel mouse line with a selective knock-down of mGluR5 in dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons. Although mutant mice self-administer cocaine, we show that reinstatement of cocaine-seeking induced by a cocaine-paired stimulus is impaired. By examining different aspects of associative learning in the mutant mice, we identify deficits in specific incentive learning processes that enable a reward-paired stimulus to directly reinforce behavior and to become attractive, thus eliciting approach toward it. Our findings show that glutamate signaling through mGluR5 located on dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons is necessary for incentive learning processes that contribute to cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking and which may underpin relapse in drug addiction.
Collapse
|