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Tillmann KE, Schaer R, Mueller FS, Mueller K, Voelkl B, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Pollak DD. Differential effects of purified low molecular weight Poly(I:C) in the maternal immune activation model depend on the laboratory environment. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:300. [PMID: 39033141 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03014-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Poly (I:C) (polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid) paradigm of maternal immune activation (MIA) is most widely used as experimental model for the evaluation of the effects of gestational infection on the brain and behavior of the progeny. We have previously reported significant batch-to-batch variability in the effects of Poly (I:C), purchased from the same supplier (Sigma-Aldrich), on maternal and fetal immune responses and found these differences to be dependent on the relative amount of synthetic double-stranded RNA fragments in the high versus low molecular weight (LMW) range contained in the compound. We here resorted to Poly (I:C) purified for LMW dsRNA fragments to establish a MIA paradigm with increased reproducibility and enhanced standardization in an effort to refine the MIA paradigm and characterize its effect on offspring behavior. We found that the parallel application of LMW Poly (I:C) in two different MIA-experienced laboratories (Vienna and Zurich) yielded differential outcomes in terms of maternal immune responses and behavioral phenotypes in the offspring generation. In both experimental sites, administration of LMW Poly (I:C) induced a significant sickness response and cytokine induction in the pregnant dam and fetal brains, while the expected deficit in sociability as one main behavioral outcome parameter in the MIA progeny, was only present in the Zurich, but not the Vienna cohort. We conclude that although using Poly (I:C) purified for a defined molecular weight range reduces batch-to-batch variability, it does not make the MIA model more reliable and robust. The differential response in behavioral phenotypes of the MIA offspring between the two laboratories illustrates the highly complex interaction between prenatal and postnatal milieus - including the laboratory environment - that determine offspring phenotypic outcomes after MIA. Consequently, establishing a new MIA protocol or implementing the MIA model firstly under new or changed environmental conditions must include the assessment of offspring behavior to ensure solid and reproducible experimental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina E Tillmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin Mueller
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Voelkl
- Animal Welfare Division, Veterinary Public Health Institute University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Daniela D Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Schneider Gasser EM, Schaer R, Mueller FS, Bernhardt AC, Lin HY, Arias-Reyes C, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Prenatal immune activation in mice induces long-term alterations in brain mitochondrial function. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:289. [PMID: 39009558 PMCID: PMC11251165 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03010-x] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infections is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, and alterations in mitochondrial function are discussed as a potential underlying factor. Here, using a mouse model of viral-like maternal immune activation (MIA) based on poly(I:C) (POL) treatment at gestational day (GD) 12, we show that adult offspring exhibit behavioral deficits, such as reduced levels of social interaction. In addition, we found increased nicotinamidadenindinucleotid (NADH)- and succinate-linked mitochondrial respiration and maximal electron transfer capacity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and in the amygdala (AMY) of males and females. The increase in respiratory capacity resulted from an increase in mitochondrial mass in neurons (as measured by complex IV activity and transcript expression), presumably to compensate for a reduction in mitochondrion-specific respiration. Moreover, in the PFC of control (CON) male offspring a higher excess capacity compared to females was observed, which was significantly reduced in the POL-exposed male offspring, and, along with a higher leak respiration, resulted in a lower mitochondrial coupling efficiency. Transcript expression of the uncoupling proteins (UCP4 and UCP5) showed a reduction in the PFC of POL male mice, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, in the PFC of CON females, a higher expression of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was observed, suggesting a higher antioxidant capacity as compared to males. Finally, transcripts analysis of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics showed reduced expression of fission/fusion transcripts in PFC of POL offspring of both sexes. In conclusion, we show that MIA causes alterations in neuronal mitochondrial function and mass in the PFC and AMY of adult offspring with some effects differing between males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith M Schneider Gasser
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Han-Yu Lin
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
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Schaer R, Mueller FS, Notter T, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U. Intrauterine position effects in a mouse model of maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 120:391-402. [PMID: 38897330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of maternal immune activation (MIA) are increasingly used as experimental tools in preclinical research of immune-mediated neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Using a viral-like MIA model that is based on prenatal poly(I:C) exposure in mice, we have recently identified the existence of subgroups of MIA-exposed offspring that show dissociable behavioral, transcriptional, brain network and inflammatory profiles even under conditions of genetic homogeneity and identical MIA. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the intrauterine positions of fetuses, which are known to shape individual variability in litter-bearing mammals through variations in fetal hormone exposure, may contribute to the variable outcomes of MIA in mice. MIA was induced by maternal administration of poly(I:C) on gestation day 12 in C57BL/6N mice. Determining intrauterine positions using delivery by Cesarean section (C-section), we found that MIA-exposed offspring developing between female fetuses only (0M-MIA offspring) displayed significant deficits in sociability and sensorimotor gating at adult age, whereas MIA-exposed offspring developing between one or two males in utero (1/2M-MIA offspring) did not show the same deficits. These intrauterine position effects similarly emerged in male and female offspring. Furthermore, while MIA elevated fetal brain levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines independently of the precise intrauterine position and sex of adjacent fetuses during the acute phase, fetal brain levels of TNF-α remained elevated in 0M-MIA but not 1/2M-MIA offspring until the post-acute phase in late gestation. As expected, 1/2M offspring generally showed higher testosterone levels in the fetal brain during late gestation as compared to 0M offspring, confirming the transfer of testosterone from male fetuses to adjacent male or female fetuses. Taken together, our findings identify a novel source of within-litter variability contributing to heterogeneous outcomes of short- and long-term effects in a mouse model of MIA. In broader context, our findings highlight that individual differences in fetal exposure to hormonal and inflammatory signals may be a perinatal factor that shapes risk and resilience to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Schaer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Hope H, Pierce M, Gabr H, Radojčić MR, Swift E, Taxiarchi VP, Abel KM. The causal association between maternal depression, anxiety, and infection in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders among 410 461 children: a population study using quasi-negative control cohorts and sibling analysis. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1693-1701. [PMID: 38205522 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723003604] [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] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To address if the long-standing association between maternal infection, depression/anxiety in pregnancy, and offspring neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is causal, we conducted two negative-control studies. METHODS Four primary care cohorts of UK children (pregnancy, 1 and 2 years prior to pregnancy, and siblings) born between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2017 were constructed. NDD included autism/autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Maternal exposures included depression/anxiety and/or infection. Maternal (age, smoking status, comorbidities, body mass index, NDD); child (gender, ethnicity, birth year); and area-level (region and level of deprivation) confounders were captured. The NDD incidence rate among (1) children exposed during or outside of pregnancy and (2) siblings discordant for exposure in pregnancy was compared using Cox-regression models, unadjusted and adjusted for confounders. RESULTS The analysis included 410 461 children of 297 426 mothers and 2 793 018 person-years of follow-up with 8900 NDD cases (incidence rate = 3.2/1000 person years). After adjustments, depression and anxiety consistently associated with NDD (pregnancy-adjusted HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.46-1.72; 1-year adj. HR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.39-1.60; 2-year adj. HR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.50-1.74); and to a lesser extent, of infection (pregnancy adj. HR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22; 1-year adj. HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.14-1.27; 2-year adj. HR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.12-1.25). NDD risk did not differ among siblings discordant for pregnancy exposure to mental illness HR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.77-1.21 or infection HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.90-1.08. CONCLUSIONS Maternal risk appears to be unspecific to pregnancy: our study provided no evidence of a specific, and therefore causal, link between in-utero exposure to infection, common mental illness, and later development of NDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Hope
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Matthias Pierce
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hend Gabr
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Mathematics, Insurance, and Statistics, Faculty of Commerce, Menoufia University, Shebeen El-Kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Maja R Radojčić
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Eleanor Swift
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Vicky P Taxiarchi
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kathryn M Abel
- Centre for Women's Mental Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Sharafeddin F, Sierra J, Ghaly M, Simon TB, Ontiveros‐Ángel P, Edelbach B, Febo M, Labus J, Figueroa JD. Role of the prefrontal cortical protease TACE/ADAM17 in neurobehavioral responses to chronic stress during adolescence. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3482. [PMID: 38715397 PMCID: PMC11077197 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic adolescent stress profoundly affects prefrontal cortical networks regulating top-down behavior control. However, the neurobiological pathways contributing to stress-induced alterations in the brain and behavior remain largely unknown. Chronic stress influences brain growth factors and immune responses, which may, in turn, disrupt the maturation and function of prefrontal cortical networks. The tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme/a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (TACE/ADAM17) is a sheddase with essential functions in brain maturation, behavior, and inflammatory responses. This study aimed to determine the impact of stress on the prefrontal cortex and whether TACE/ADAM17 plays a role in these responses. METHODS We used a Lewis rat model that incorporates critical elements of chronic psychosocial stress, such as uncontrollability, unpredictability, lack of social support, and re-experiencing of trauma. RESULTS Chronic stress during adolescence reduced the acoustic startle reflex and social interactions while increasing extracellular free water content and TACE/ADAM17 mRNA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex. Chronic stress altered various ethological behavioral domains in the observation home cages (decreased ingestive behaviors and increased walking, grooming, and rearing behaviors). A group of rats was injected intracerebrally either with a novel Accell™ SMARTpool TACE/ADAM17 siRNA or a corresponding siRNA vehicle (control). The RNAscope Multiplex Fluorescent v2 Assay was used to visualize mRNA expression. Automated puncta quantification and analyses demonstrated that TACE/ADAM17 siRNA administration reduced TACE/ADAM17 mRNA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (59% reduction relative to control). We found that the rats that received prefrontal cortical TACE/ADAM17 siRNA administration exhibited altered eating patterns (e.g., increased food intake and time in the feeding zone during the light cycle). CONCLUSION This study supports that the prefrontal cortex is sensitive to adolescent chronic stress and suggests that TACE/ADAM17 may be involved in the brain responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fransua Sharafeddin
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular MedicineLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Julio Sierra
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular MedicineLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Mina Ghaly
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular MedicineLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Timothy B. Simon
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular MedicineLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Perla Ontiveros‐Ángel
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular MedicineLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brandon Edelbach
- Department of NeurosurgeryLoma Linda University School of Medicine Loma LindaCAUSA
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Translational Research Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Florida HealthGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Jennifer Labus
- Graduate Program in Bioscience, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesUSA
| | - Johnny D. Figueroa
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular MedicineLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
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Palmisano A, Pandit S, Smeralda CL, Demchenko I, Rossi S, Battelli L, Rivolta D, Bhat V, Santarnecchi E. The Pathophysiological Underpinnings of Gamma-Band Alterations in Psychiatric Disorders. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:578. [PMID: 38792599 PMCID: PMC11122172 DOI: 10.3390/life14050578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigating the biophysiological substrates of psychiatric illnesses is of great interest to our understanding of disorders' etiology, the identification of reliable biomarkers, and potential new therapeutic avenues. Schizophrenia represents a consolidated model of γ alterations arising from the aberrant activity of parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons, whose dysfunction is associated with perineuronal net impairment and neuroinflammation. This model of pathogenesis is supported by molecular, cellular, and functional evidence. Proof for alterations of γ oscillations and their underlying mechanisms has also been reported in bipolar disorder and represents an emerging topic for major depressive disorder. Although evidence from animal models needs to be further elucidated in humans, the pathophysiology of γ-band alteration represents a common denominator for different neuropsychiatric disorders. The purpose of this narrative review is to outline a framework of converging results in psychiatric conditions characterized by γ abnormality, from neurochemical dysfunction to alterations in brain rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Palmisano
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA (E.S.)
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Siddhartha Pandit
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA (E.S.)
| | - Carmelo L. Smeralda
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA (E.S.)
- Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation (SI-BIN) Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Section, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Ilya Demchenko
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital—Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (I.D.)
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Simone Rossi
- Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation (SI-BIN) Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Section, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Lorella Battelli
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Venkat Bhat
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital—Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (I.D.)
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA (E.S.)
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Zambon A, Rico LC, Herman M, Gundacker A, Telalovic A, Hartenberger LM, Kuehn R, Romanov RA, Hussaini SA, Harkany T, Pollak DD. Gestational immune activation disrupts hypothalamic neurocircuits of maternal care behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:859-873. [PMID: 35581295 PMCID: PMC9112243 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01602-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Immune activation is one of the most common complications during pregnancy, predominantly evoked by viral infections. Nevertheless, how immune activation affects mother-offspring relationships postpartum remains unknown. Here, by using the polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) model of gestational infection we show that viral-like immune activation at mid-gestation persistently changes hypothalamic neurocircuit parameters in mouse dams and, consequently, is adverse to parenting behavior. Poly I:C-exposed dams favor non-pup-directed exploratory behavior at the expense of pup retrieval. These behavioral deficits are underlain by dendrite pruning and lesser immediate early gene activation in Galanin (Gal)+ neurons with dam-specific transcriptional signatures that reside in the medial preoptic area (mPOA). Reduced activation of an exclusively inhibitory contingent of these distal-projecting Gal+ neurons allows for increased feed-forward inhibition onto putative dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in Poly I:C-exposed dams. Notably, destabilized VTA output specifically accompanies post-pup retrieval epochs. We suggest that gestational immunogenic insults bias both threat processing and reward perception, manifesting as disfavored infant caregiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Zambon
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Cuenca Rico
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathieu Herman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Gundacker
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Amina Telalovic
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa-Marie Hartenberger
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rebekka Kuehn
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman A Romanov
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Abid Hussaini
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tibor Harkany
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela D Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Scarborough J, Iachizzi M, Schalbetter SM, Müller FS, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Richetto J. Prenatal and postnatal influences on behavioral development in a mouse model of preconceptional stress. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100614. [PMID: 38357099 PMCID: PMC10865047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression during pregnancy is detrimental for the wellbeing of the expectant mother and can exert long-term consequences on the offspring's development and mental health. In this context, both the gestational environment and the postpartum milieu may be negatively affected by the depressive pathology. It is, however, challenging to assess whether the contributions of prenatal and postnatal depression exposure are distinct, interactive, or cumulative, as it is unclear whether antenatal effects are due to direct effects on fetal development or because antenatal symptoms continue postnatally. Preclinical models have sought to answer this question by implementing stressors that induce a depressive-like state in the dams during pregnancy and studying the effects on the offspring. The aim of our present study was to disentangle the contribution of direct stress in utero from possible changes in maternal behavior in a novel model of preconceptional stress based on social isolation rearing (SIR). Using a cross-fostering paradigm in this model, we show that while SIR leads to subtle changes in maternal behavior, the behavioral changes observed in the offspring are driven by a complex interaction between sex, and prenatal and postnatal maternal factors. Indeed, male offspring are more sensitive to the prenatal environment, as demonstrated by behavioral and transcriptional changes driven by their birth mother, while females are likely affected by more complex interactions between the pre and the postpartum milieu, as suggested by the important impact of their surrogate foster mother. Taken together, our findings suggest that male and female offspring have different time-windows and behavioral domains of susceptibility to maternal preconceptional stress, and thus underscore the importance of including both sexes when investigating the mechanisms that mediate the negative consequences of exposure to such stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Scarborough
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monica Iachizzi
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M. Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S. Müller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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9
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Cai H, Zheng N, Tang C, Zhang Y, Zuo Z, He C. Tributyltin causes generational neurodevelopmental toxicity and the protective effect of folic acid in zebrafish. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 137:615-625. [PMID: 37980044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Tributyltin (TBT), a common organotin environmental pollutant, may pose a threat to human development during critical early-life periods. We aimed to assess the neurodevelopmental intergenerational toxicity of early-life exposure to TBT and the protective effect of DNA methyl donor folic acid (FA). Specifically, after early-life exposure (1-21 days post-fertilization, dpf) to TBT (0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/L), zebrafish (Danio rerio) were cultured in clean medium until sexual maturity. The exposed females were mated with unexposed males to produce embryos (F1). The F1 generation were cultured (4-120 hours post-fertilization, hpf) with and without 1 mmol/L FA. The neurotoxic effects of early-life TBT exposure for zebrafish and their offspring (F1) were significantly enhanced anxiety and reduced aggression, decreased gene expression of DNA methyltransferase in the brain and increased serotonin levels in the body. Moreover, the intergenerational neurodevelopmental toxicity, as manifested in the F1 generation, was attenuated by FA supplementation. In summary, early-life TBT exposure led to intergenerational neurodevelopmental deficits in zebrafish, and DNA methyl donors had a protective effect on F1 neurodevelopment, which can inform the prevention and treatment of intergenerational neurotoxicity due to organotin pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoxing Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Naying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Chen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yuxuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zhenghong Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Chengyong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
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10
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Kleeman EA, Reisinger SN, Adithya P, Houston B, Stathatos G, Garnham AL, McLaughlin S, O'Bryan MK, Gubert C, Hannan AJ. Paternal immune activation by Poly I:C modulates sperm noncoding RNA profiles and causes transgenerational changes in offspring behavior. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:258-279. [PMID: 37820975 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.10.005] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Paternal pre-conceptual environmental experiences, such as stress and diet, can affect offspring brain and behavioral phenotypes via epigenetic modifications in sperm. Furthermore, maternal immune activation due to infection during gestation can reprogram offspring behavior and brain functioning in adulthood. However, the effects of paternal pre-conceptual exposure to immune activation on the behavior and physiology of offspring (F1) and grand-offspring (F2) are not currently known. We explored effects of paternal pre-conceptual exposure to viral-like immune activation on F1 and F2 behavioral and physiological phenotypes using a C57BL/6J mouse model. Males were treated with a single injection (intraperitoneal) of the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C: 12 mg/kg) then bred with naïve female mice four weeks after the Poly I:C (or 0.9% saline control) injection. The F1 offspring of Poly I:C treated fathers displayed increased depression-like behavior in the Porsolt swim test, an altered stress response in the novelty-suppressed feeding test, and significant transcriptomic changes in their hippocampus. Additionally, the F1 male offspring of Poly I:C treated F0 males showed significantly increased immune responsivity after a Poly I:C immune challenge (12 mg/kg). Furthermore, the F2 male grand-offspring took longer to enter and travelled significantly shorter distances in the light zone of the light/dark box. An analysis of the small noncoding RNA profiles in sperm from Poly I:C treated males and their male offspring revealed significant effects of Poly I:C on the sperm microRNA content at the time of conception and on the sperm PIWI-interacting RNA content of the male offspring. Notably, eight miRNAs with an FDR < 0.05 (miR-141-3p, miR-126b-5p, miR-669o-5p, miR-10b-3p, miR-471-5p, miR-463-5p, miR-148b-3p, and miR-181c-5p) were found to be significantly downregulated in the sperm of Poly I:C treated males. Collectively, we demonstrate that paternal pre-conceptual exposure to a viral immune challenge results in both intergenerational and transgenerational effects on brain and behavior that may be mediated by alterations in the sperm small noncoding RNA content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Kleeman
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sonali N Reisinger
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pranav Adithya
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan Houston
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gemma Stathatos
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alexandra L Garnham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shae McLaughlin
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carolina Gubert
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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11
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Gundacker A, Cuenca Rico L, Stoehrmann P, Tillmann KE, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Pollak DD. Interaction of the pre- and postnatal environment in the maternal immune activation model. DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 3:15. [PMID: 37622027 PMCID: PMC10444676 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-023-00042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Adverse influences during pregnancy are associated with a range of unfavorable outcomes for the developing offspring. Maternal psychosocial stress, exposure to infections and nutritional imbalances are known risk factors for neurodevelopmental derangements and according psychiatric and neurological manifestations later in offspring life. In this context, the maternal immune activation (MIA) model has been extensively used in preclinical research to study how stimulation of the maternal immune system during gestation derails the tightly coordinated sequence of fetal neurodevelopment. The ensuing consequence of MIA for offspring brain structure and function are majorly manifested in behavioral and cognitive abnormalities, phenotypically presenting during the periods of adolescence and adulthood. These observations have been interpreted within the framework of the "double-hit-hypothesis" suggesting that an elevated risk for neurodevelopmental disorders results from an individual being subjected to two adverse environmental influences at distinct periods of life, jointly leading to the emergence of pathology. The early postnatal period, during which the caregiving parent is the major determinant of the newborn´s environment, constitutes a window of vulnerability to external stimuli. Considering that MIA not only affects the developing fetus, but also impinges on the mother´s brain, which is in a state of heightened malleability during pregnancy, the impact of MIA on maternal brain function and behavior postpartum may importantly contribute to the detrimental consequences for her progeny. Here we review current information on the interaction between the prenatal and postnatal maternal environments in the modulation of offspring development and their relevance for the pathophysiology of the MIA model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gundacker
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Cuenca Rico
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Stoehrmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina E. Tillmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniela D. Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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12
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von Arx AS, Dawson K, Lin HY, Mattei D, Notter T, Meyer U, Schalbetter SM. Prefrontal microglia deficiency during adolescence disrupts adult cognitive functions and synaptic structures: A follow-up study in female mice. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 111:230-246. [PMID: 37100210 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.04.007] [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: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) provides executive top-down control of a variety of cognitive processes. A distinctive feature of the PFC is its protracted structural and functional maturation throughout adolescence to early adulthood, which is necessary for acquiring mature cognitive abilities. Using a mouse model of cell-specific, transient and local depletion of microglia, which is based on intracerebral injection of clodronate disodium salt (CDS) into the PFC of adolescent male mice, we recently demonstrated that microglia contribute to the functional and structural maturation of the PFC in males. Because microglia biology and cortical maturation are partly sexually dimorphic, the main objective of the present study was to examine whether microglia similarly regulate this maturational process in female mice as well. Here, we show that a single, bilateral intra-PFC injection of CDS in adolescent (6-week-old) female mice induces a local and transient depletion (70 to 80% decrease from controls) of prefrontal microglia during a restricted window of adolescence without affecting neuronal or astrocytic cell populations. This transient microglia deficiency was sufficient to disrupt PFC-associated cognitive functions and synaptic structures at adult age. Inducing transient prefrontal microglia depletion in adult female mice did not cause these deficits, demonstrating that the adult PFC, unlike the adolescent PFC, is resilient to transient microglia deficiency in terms of lasting cognitive and synaptic maladaptations. Together with our previous findings in males, the present findings suggest that microglia contribute to the maturation of the female PFC in a similar way as to the prefrontal maturation occurring in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anina S von Arx
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kara Dawson
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Han-Yu Lin
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Mattei
- MSSM Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Zappala C, Barrios CD, Depino AM. Social deficits in mice prenatally exposed to valproic acid are intergenerationally inherited and rescued by social enrichment. Neurotoxicology 2023; 97:89-100. [PMID: 37207798 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Intergenerational transmission of the effects of environmental factors on brain function and behavior can occur through epigenetic mechanisms. Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant drug that, when administered during pregnancy, causes various birth defects. The mechanisms of action are largely unclear: VPA can reduce neuronal excitability, but it also inhibits the histone deacetylases, affecting gene expression. Here we evaluated whether the effects of valproic acid prenatal exposure on autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related behavioral phenotypes can be transmitted to the second generation (F2) through the paternal or the maternal lineage. Indeed, we found that F2 males of the VPA pedigree show reduced sociability, which can be rescued by exposing the animals to social enrichment. Moreover, as is the case for F1 males, F2 VPA males show increased c-Fos expression in the piriform cortex. However, F3 males show normal sociability, indicating that VPA's effects on this behavior are not transgenerationally inherited. Female behavior is not affected by VPA exposure, and we found no evidence of maternal transmission of the consequences of this pharmacological treatment. Finally, all animals exposed to VPA and their descendants show reduced body weight, highlighting an intriguing effect of this compound on metabolism. We propose the VPA model of ASD as a valuable mouse model to study the role of epigenetic inheritance and its underlying mechanisms affecting behavior and neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Zappala
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Dario Barrios
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amaicha Mara Depino
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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14
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Haddad FL, De Oliveira C, Schmid S. Investigating behavioral phenotypes related to autism spectrum disorder in a gene-environment interaction model of Cntnap2 deficiency and Poly I:C maternal immune activation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1160243. [PMID: 36998729 PMCID: PMC10043204 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1160243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been associated with a wide variety of genetic and environmental risk factors in both human and preclinical studies. Together, findings support a gene-environment interaction hypothesis whereby different risk factors independently and synergistically impair neurodevelopment and lead to the core symptoms of ASD. To date, this hypothesis has not been commonly investigated in preclinical ASD models. Mutations in the Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) gene and exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy have both been linked to ASD in humans, and preclinical rodent models have shown that both MIA and Cntnap2 deficiency lead to similar behavioral deficits.MethodsIn this study, we tested the interaction between these two risk factors by exposing Wildtype, Cntnap2+/–, and Cntnap2–/– rats to Polyinosinic: Polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) MIA at gestation day 9.5.ResultsOur findings showed that Cntnap2 deficiency and Poly I:C MIA independently and synergistically altered ASD-related behaviors like open field exploration, social behavior, and sensory processing as measured through reactivity, sensitization, and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response. In support of the double-hit hypothesis, Poly I:C MIA acted synergistically with the Cntnap2–/– genotype to decrease PPI in adolescent offspring. In addition, Poly I:C MIA also interacted with the Cntnap2+/– genotype to produce subtle changes in locomotor hyperactivity and social behavior. On the other hand, Cntnap2 knockout and Poly I:C MIA showed independent effects on acoustic startle reactivity and sensitization.DiscussionTogether, our findings support the gene-environment interaction hypothesis of ASD by showing that different genetic and environmental risk factors could act synergistically to exacerbate behavioral changes. In addition, by showing the independent effects of each risk factor, our findings suggest that ASD phenotypes could be caused by different underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L. Haddad
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Cleusa De Oliveira
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Susanne Schmid,
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15
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Dong Y, Weng J, Zhu Y, Sun D, He W, Chen Q, Cheng J, Zhu Y, Jiang Y. Transcriptomic profiling of the developing brain revealed cell-type and brain-region specificity in a mouse model of prenatal stress. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:86. [PMID: 36829105 PMCID: PMC9951484 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09186-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal stress (PS) is considered as a risk factor for many mental disorders. PS-induced transcriptomic alterations may contribute to the functional dysregulation during brain development. Here, we used RNA-seq to explore changes of gene expression in the mouse fetal brain after prenatal exposure to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). RESULTS We compared the stressed brains to the controls and identified groups of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO analysis on up-regulated DEGs revealed enrichment for the cell cycle pathways, while down-regulated DEGs were mostly enriched in the neuronal pathways related to synaptic transmission. We further performed cell-type enrichment analysis using published scRNA-seq data from the fetal mouse brain and revealed cell-type-specificity for up- and down-regulated DEGs, respectively. The up-regulated DEGs were highly enriched in the radial glia, while down-regulated DEGs were enriched in different types of neurons. Cell deconvolution analysis further showed altered cell fractions in the stressed brain, indicating accumulation of neuroblast and impaired neurogenesis. Moreover, we also observed distinct brain-region expression pattern when mapping DEGs onto the developing Allen brain atlas. The up-regulated DEGs were primarily enriched in the dorsal forebrain regions including the cortical plate and hippocampal formation. Surprisingly, down-regulated DEGs were found excluded from the cortical region, but highly expressed on various regions in the ventral forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. CONCLUSION Taken together, we provided an unbiased data source for transcriptomic alterations of the whole fetal brain after chronic PS, and reported differential cell-type and brain-region vulnerability of the developing brain in response to environmental insults during the pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Dong
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Weng
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Yueyan Zhu
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Daijing Sun
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Wei He
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Chen
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Cheng
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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16
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Raymann S, Schalbetter SM, Schaer R, Bernhardt AC, Mueller FS, Meyer U, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Late prenatal immune activation in mice induces transgenerational effects via the maternal and paternal lineages. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2273-2286. [PMID: 36857721 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infectious or noninfectious immune activation is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Recent research using animal models suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) during early to middle stages of pregnancy can induce transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, likely via inducing stable epigenetic modifications across generations. Using a mouse model of viral-like MIA, which is based on gestational treatment with poly(I:C), the present study explored whether transgenerational effects can also emerge when MIA occurs in late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate that the direct descendants born to poly(I:C)-treated mothers display deficits in temporal order memory, which are similarly present in second- and third-generation offspring. These transgenerational effects were mediated via both the maternal and paternal lineages and were accompanied by transient changes in maternal care. In addition to the cognitive effects, late prenatal immune activation induced generation-spanning effects on the prefrontal expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic genes, including parvalbumin and distinct alpha-subunits of the GABAA receptor. Together, our results suggest that MIA in late pregnancy has the potential to affect cognitive functions and prefrontal gene expression patterns in multiple generations, highlighting its role in shaping disease risk across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Raymann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Sharafeddin F, Ghaly M, Simon TB, Ontiveros-Ángel P, Figueroa JD. Prefrontal cortical protease TACE/ADAM17 is involved in neuroinflammation and stress-related eating alterations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.23.525269. [PMID: 36747666 PMCID: PMC9900811 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.23.525269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Childhood traumatic stress profoundly affects prefrontal cortical networks regulating top-down control of eating and body weight. However, the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to trauma-induced aberrant eating behaviors remain largely unknown. Traumatic stress influences brain immune responses, which may, in turn, disrupt prefrontal cortical networks and behaviors. The tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme / a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (TACE/ADAM17) is a sheddase with essential functions in brain maturation, behavior, and neuroinflammation. This study aimed to determine the role of TACE/ADAM17 on traumatic stress-induced disruption of eating patterns. We demonstrate a novel mechanistic connection between prefrontal cortical TACE/ADAM17 and trauma-induced eating behaviors. Fifty-two (52) adolescent Lewis rats (postnatal day, PND, 15) were injected intracerebrally either with a novel Accell™ SMARTpool ADAM17 siRNA or a corresponding siRNA vehicle. The RNAscope Multiplex Fluorescent v2 Assay was used to visualize mRNA expression. Observation cages were used to monitor ethological behaviors in a more naturalistic environment over long periods. We found that traumatic stress blunts startle reactivity and alter eating behaviors (increased intake and disrupted eating patterns). We also found that the rats that received prefrontal cortical TACE/ADAM17 siRNA administration exhibited decreased eating and increased grooming behaviors compared to controls. These changes were associated with decreased AIF-1 expression (a typical marker of microglia and neuroinflammation). This study demonstrates that prefrontal cortical TACE/ADAM17 is involved in neuroinflammation and may play essential roles in regulating feeding patterns under stress conditions. TACE/ADAM17 represents a promising target to ameliorate inflammation-induced brain and behavior alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fransua Sharafeddin
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Mina Ghaly
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Timothy B Simon
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Perla Ontiveros-Ángel
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Johnny D Figueroa
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
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18
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Herrero F, Mueller FS, Gruchot J, Küry P, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U. Susceptibility and resilience to maternal immune activation are associated with differential expression of endogenous retroviral elements. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:201-214. [PMID: 36243285 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are ancestorial retroviral elements that were integrated into the mammalian genome through germline infections and insertions during evolution. While increased ERV expression has been repeatedly implicated in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, recent evidence suggests that aberrant endogenous retroviral activity may contribute to biologically defined subgroups of psychotic disorders with persisting immunological dysfunctions. Here, we explored whether ERV expression is altered in a mouse model of maternal immune activation (MIA), a transdiagnostic environmental risk factor of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. MIA was induced by maternal administration of poly(I:C) on gestation day 12 in C57BL/6N mice. Murine ERV transcripts were quantified in the placentae and fetal brains shortly after poly(I:C)-induced MIA, as well as in adult offspring that were stratified according to their behavioral profiles. We found that MIA increased and reduced levels of class II ERVs and syncytins, respectively, in placentae and fetal brain tissue. We also revealed abnormal ERV expression in MIA-exposed offspring depending on whether they displayed overt behavioral anomalies or not. Taken together, our findings provide a proof of concept that an inflammatory stimulus, even when initiated in prenatal life, has the potential of altering ERV expression across fetal to adult stages of development. Moreover, our data highlight that susceptibility and resilience to MIA are associated with differential ERV expression, suggesting that early-life exposure to inflammatory factors may play a role in determining disease susceptibility by inducing persistent alterations in the expression of endogenous retroviral elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felisa Herrero
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joel Gruchot
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Patrick Küry
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Liu L, Wang D, Fu Y, Duan Z, Adetula AA, Liu H, Yu Y, Chu Q. Transcriptional analyses provide novel insights into the transgenerational effects of Poly (I:C) on chickens. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 247:114216. [PMID: 36288637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic microorganisms that are ubiquitous in the environment threaten human health and food safety. Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly (I:C)) is a macromolecule with a double-stranded RNA structure, which is often used to simulate viruses. Our previous study found that Poly (I:C) maternal stimulation could affect the reproduction of laying hens and their offspring, but the underlying mechanism needed to be explored. In the present study, splenic transcriptomes were sequenced and analyzed from two groups (Poly (I:C) treatment as the challenged group and saline treatment as the control) and in three generations (maternal stimulated F0 hens, unchallenged F1 and F2 generations). The results showed that Poly (I:C) maternal stimulation affected gene expression patterns in laying hens and their offspring. A total of 27 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with the same regulating trend were discovered in the F0 and F1 generations, indicating an influence of the intergenerational transmission effect. Functional enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) showed that lymphocyte differentiation, positive regulation of leukocyte differentiation, positive regulation of MAPK cascade, and T cell differentiation were the common biological processes between F0 and F1 generations, revealing Poly (I:C) could affect the immunity of the treated F0 hens and the unchallenged subsequent generations. Further study showed that pathways associated with growth, development, biosynthesis, and metabolism of F2 chicks were also affected by Poly (I:C) maternal stimulation. Correlation analysis between DEGs and reproductive traits revealed that PHLDA2 (pleckstrin homology-like domain family A member 2) and PODN (podocan) with inheritable effect were highly correlated with egg-laying rate and egg weight in F1 hens, suggesting their potential long-term role in regulating reproductive traits. ARHGAP40, FGB, HRH4, PHLDA2, PODN, NTSR1, and NMU were supposed to play important roles in regulating chickens' immunity and reproductive traits. This study reveals the far-reaching effect on transcriptome induced by Poly (I:C), reflecting the influence of the mother's living environment on the offspring. It is an important reference for future research into the multi-generational transmission of maternal stimulation and harmful environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Di Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yang Fu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Zhongyi Duan
- National Animal Husbandry Service, Beijing 100125, China
| | - Adeyinka Abiola Adetula
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Huagui Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Qin Chu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China.
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20
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Mapping, clustering, and analysis of research in psychiatric genomics. Psychiatr Genet 2022; 32:221-237. [PMID: 36302202 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The distribution pattern and knowledge structure of psychiatric genomics were surveyed based on literature dealing with both psychiatry and genomics/genetics. Coword analysis and bibliographic coupling of the records retrieved from Scopus and PubMed for 2016-2020 revealed the subsurface research aspects. METHOD The data were analyzed using coword analysis and clustering methods using Sci2 and VOSviewer. RESULT Analysis of ~3800 records showed that psychiatric genomics is, as expectedly, covered largely under biomedical subjects with a visible interest in other disciplines such as humanities and ethics. A coword analysis was done for all the years, followed by a year-wise analysis based on the keywords, and then a bibliographic coupling based on the cited references. This led to the generation of different clusters of prevalent research areas. The centrality values described the position of each component. DISCUSSION 'Schizophrenia', 'depression', 'pharmacogenomics', and 'immunopathogenesis' were the research topics of overarching interest. 'Gut-brain axis' and 'gene-environment interaction' were the emerging topics, whereas certain topics such as 'child and adolescent psychiatry' remained priorities when compared to earlier studies. The keywords and research focus were diverse. They ranged from genetics to transcriptomics and epigenetics to proteomics of psychiatric disorders. We found a stagnation of science communication in the field with only 0.2% of the articles from the entire corpus relevant to it. The research categories identified in this study reflect the current publication and research trends in psychiatric genomics.
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Meyer U. Sources and Translational Relevance of Heterogeneity in Maternal Immune Activation Models. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 61:71-91. [PMID: 36306055 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The epidemiological literature reporting increased risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders after prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) is still evolving, and so are the attempts to model this association in animals. Epidemiological studies of MIA offer the advantage of directly evaluating human populations but are often limited in their ability to uncover pathogenic mechanisms. Animal models, on the other hand, are limited in their generalizability to psychiatric disorders but have made significant strides toward discovering causal relationships and biological pathways between MIA and neurobiological phenotypes. Like in any other model system, both planned and unplanned sources of variability exist in animal models of MIA. Therefore, the design, implementation, and interpretation of MIA models warrant a careful consideration of these sources, so that appropriate strategies can be developed to handle them satisfactorily. While every research group may have its own strategy to this aim, it is essential to report the methodological details of the chosen MIA model in order to enhance the transparency and comparability of models across research laboratories. Even though it poses a challenge for attempts to compare experimental findings across laboratories, variability does not undermine the utility of MIA models for translational research. In fact, variability and heterogenous outcomes in MIA models offer unique opportunities for new discoveries and developments in this field, including the identification of disease pathways and molecular mechanisms determining susceptibility and resilience to MIA. This review summarizes the most important sources of variability in animal models of MIA and discusses how model variability can be used to investigate neurobiological and immunological factors causing phenotypic heterogeneity in offspring exposed to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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22
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Chen J, Zhang ZZ, Luo BL, Yang QG, Ni MZ, Wu QT, Li Y, Li XW, Chen GH. Prenatal exposure to inflammation increases anxiety-like behaviors in F1 and F2 generations: possible links to decreased FABP7 in hippocampus. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:973069. [PMID: 36299292 PMCID: PMC9588974 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.973069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorder has a high prevalence, and the risk of anxiety increases with age. Prenatal inflammation during key developmental timepoints can result in long-term changes in anxiety phenotype, even over a lifetime and across generations. However, whether maternal inflammation exposure during late gestation has intergenerational transmission effects on age-related anxiety-like behaviors and the possible underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7) is critical in hippocampal neurogenesis and is closely related to neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety disorder. The current study investigated the effects of maternal (F0 generation) lipopolysaccharide administration (50 μg/kg, i.p.) during late gestation on anxiety-like behaviors and FABP7 expression in F1 and F2 offspring, as well as the potential sex-specificity of intergenerational effects. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using open field (OF), elevated plus maze, and black–white alley (BWA) tests at 3 and 13 months of age. The protein and messenger RNA levels of FABP7 in the hippocampus were measured using Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Overall, gestational LPS exposure in the F0 generation increased anxiety levels and decreased FABP7 expression levels in the F1 generation, which carried over to the F2 generation, and the intergenerational effects were mainly transferred via the maternal lineage. Moreover, hippocampal FABP7 expression was significantly correlated with performance in the battery of anxiety tests. The present study suggested that prenatal inflammation could increase age-related anxiety-like behaviors both in F1 and F2 offspring, and these effects possibly link to the FABP7 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhe-Zhe Zhang
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Bao-Ling Luo
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qi-Gang Yang
- Department of Neurology or Department of Critical Care, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ming-Zhu Ni
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qi-Tao Wu
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xue-Wei Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- *Correspondence: Gui-Hai Chen Xue-Wei Li
| | - Gui-Hai Chen
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Gui-Hai Chen Xue-Wei Li
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Cell-Free Filtrates (CFF) as Vectors of a Transmissible Pathologic Tissue Memory Code: A Hypothetical and Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911575. [PMID: 36232877 PMCID: PMC9570059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular memory is a controversial concept representing the ability of cells to "write and memorize" stressful experiences via epigenetic operators. The progressive course of chronic, non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and arteriosclerosis, is likely driven through an abnormal epigenetic reprogramming, fostering the hypothesis of a cellular pathologic memory. Accordingly, cultured diabetic and cancer patient-derived cells recall behavioral traits as when in the donor's organism irrespective to culture time and conditions. Here, we analyze the data of studies conducted by our group and led by a cascade of hypothesis, in which we aimed to validate the hypothetical existence and transmissibility of a cellular pathologic memory in diabetes, arteriosclerotic peripheral arterial disease, and cancer. These experiments were based on the administration to otherwise healthy animals of cell-free filtrates prepared from human pathologic tissue samples representative of each disease condition. The administration of each pathologic tissue homogenate consistently induced the faithful recapitulation of: (1) Diabetic archetypical changes in cutaneous arterioles and nerves. (2) Non-thrombotic arteriosclerotic thickening, collagenous arterial encroachment, aberrant angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. (3) Pre-malignant and malignant epithelial and mesenchymal tumors in different organs; all evocative of the donor's tissue histopathology and with no barriers for interspecies transmission. We hypothesize that homogenates contain pathologic tissue memory codes represented in soluble drivers that "infiltrate" host's animal cells, and ultimately impose their phenotypic signatures. The identification and validation of the actors in behind may pave the way for future therapies.
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Hanson KL, Grant SE, Funk LH, Schumann CM, Bauman MD. Impact of Maternal Immune Activation on Nonhuman Primate Prefrontal Cortex Development: Insights for Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:460-469. [PMID: 35773097 PMCID: PMC9888668 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Late adolescence is a period of dynamic change in the brain as humans learn to navigate increasingly complex environments. In particular, prefrontal cortical (PFC) regions undergo extensive remodeling as the brain is fine-tuned to orchestrate cognitive control over attention, reasoning, and emotions. Late adolescence also presents a uniquely vulnerable period as neurodevelopmental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, become evident and worsen into young adulthood. Challenges in early development, including prenatal exposure to infection, may set the stage for a cascade of maladaptive events that ultimately result in aberrant PFC connectivity and function before symptoms emerge. A growing body of research suggests that activation of the mother's immune system during pregnancy may act as a disease primer, in combination with other environmental and genetic factors, contributing to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia. Animal models provide an invaluable opportunity to examine the course of brain and behavioral changes in offspring exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA). Although the vast majority of MIA research has been carried out in rodents, here we highlight the translational utility of the nonhuman primate (NHP) as a model species more closely related to humans in PFC structure and function. In this review, we consider the protracted period of brain and behavioral maturation in the NHP, describe emerging findings from MIA NHP offspring in the context of rodent preclinical models, and lastly explore the translational relevance of the NHP MIA model to expand understanding of the etiology and developmental course of PFC pathology in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Hanson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Simone E Grant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Lucy H Funk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
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25
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Haddad FL, Patel SV, Doornaert EE, De Oliveira C, Allman BL, Baines KJ, Renaud SJ, Schmid S. Interleukin 15 modulates the effects of poly I:C maternal immune activation on offspring behaviour. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 23:100473. [PMID: 35668725 PMCID: PMC9166394 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal infections during pregnancy are linked with an increased risk for disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder and schizophrenia in the offspring. Although precise mechanisms are still unclear, clinical and preclinical evidence suggest a strong role for maternal immune activation (MIA) in the neurodevelopmental disruptions caused by maternal infection. Previously, studies using the Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic (Poly I:C) MIA preclinical model showed that cytokines like Interleukin 6 (Il6) are important mediators of MIA's effects. In this study, we hypothesized that Il15 may similarly act as a mediator of Poly I:C MIA, given its role in the antiviral immune response. To test this hypothesis, we induced Poly I:C MIA at gestational day 9.5 in wildtype (WT) and Il15−/− rat dams and tested their offspring in adolescence and adulthood. Poly I:C MIA and Il15 knockout produced both independent and synergistic effects on offspring behaviour. Poly I:C MIA decreased startle reactivity in adult WT offspring but resulted in increased adolescent anxiety and decreased adult locomotor activity in Il15−/− offspring. In addition, Poly I:C MIA led to genotype-independent effects on locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition. Finally, we showed that Il15−/− offspring exhibit distinct phenotypes that were unrelated to Poly I:C MIA including altered startle reactivity, locomotion and signal transduction in the auditory brainstem. Overall, our findings indicate that the lack of Il15 can leave offspring either more or less susceptible to Poly I:C MIA, depending on the phenotype in question. Future studies should examine the contribution of fetal versus maternal Il15 in MIA to determine the precise developmental mechanisms underlying these changes. Poly I:C MIA decreases startle reactivity in adult WT but not Il15−/− offspring. Il15−/− offspring exposed to Poly I:C MIA show altered PPI and open field exploration. Il15−/− rats exhibit distinct behavioural phenotypes independent from MIA.
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26
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Mueller FS, Amport R, Notter T, Schalbetter SM, Lin HY, Garajova Z, Amini P, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Markkanen E. Deficient DNA base-excision repair in the forebrain leads to a sex-specific anxiety-like phenotype in mice. BMC Biol 2022; 20:170. [PMID: 35907861 PMCID: PMC9339204 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01377-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are common, multi-factorial and multi-symptomatic disorders. Ample evidence implicates oxidative stress, deficient repair of oxidative DNA lesions and DNA damage in the development of these disorders. However, it remains unclear whether insufficient DNA repair and resulting DNA damage are causally connected to their aetiopathology, or if increased levels of DNA damage observed in patient tissues merely accumulate as a consequence of cellular dysfunction. To assess a potential causal role for deficient DNA repair in the development of these disorders, we behaviourally characterized a mouse model in which CaMKIIa-Cre-driven postnatal conditional knockout (KO) of the core base-excision repair (BER) protein XRCC1 leads to accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage in the forebrain. Results CaMKIIa-Cre expression caused specific deletion of XRCC1 in the dorsal dentate gyrus (DG), CA1 and CA2 and the amygdala and led to increased DNA damage therein. While motor coordination, cognition and social behaviour remained unchanged, XRCC1 KO in the forebrain caused increased anxiety-like behaviour in males, but not females, as assessed by the light–dark box and open field tests. Conversely, in females but not males, XRCC1 KO caused an increase in learned fear-related behaviour in a cued (Pavlovian) fear conditioning test and a contextual fear extinction test. The relative density of the GABA(A) receptor alpha 5 subunit (GABRA5) was reduced in the amygdala and the dorsal CA1 in XRCC1 KO females, whereas male XRCC1 KO animals exhibited a significant reduction of GABRA5 density in the CA3. Finally, assessment of fast-spiking, parvalbumin-positive (PV) GABAergic interneurons revealed a significant increase in the density of PV+ cells in the DG of male XRCC1 KO mice, while females remained unchanged. Conclusions Our results suggest that accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage in the forebrain alters the GABAergic neurotransmitter system and causes behavioural deficits in relation to innate and learned anxiety in a sex-dependent manner. Moreover, the data uncover a previously unappreciated connection between BER deficiency, unrepaired DNA damage in the hippocampus and a sex-specific anxiety-like phenotype with implications for the aetiology and therapy of neuropsychiatric disorders. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01377-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - René Amport
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Han-Yu Lin
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zuzana Garajova
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Parisa Amini
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Enni Markkanen
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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27
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Chu MC, Wu HF, Lee CW, Chung YJ, Chi H, Chen PS, Lin HC. Generational synaptic functions of GABA A receptor β3 subunit deteriorations in an animal model of social deficit. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:51. [PMID: 35821032 PMCID: PMC9277936 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00835-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruption of normal brain development is implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders with neurodevelopmental origins, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Widespread abnormalities in brain structure and functions caused by dysregulations of neurodevelopmental processes has been recently shown to exert adverse effects across generations. An imbalance between excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) transmission is the putative hypothesis of ASD pathogenesis, supporting by the specific implications of inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system in autistic individuals and animal models of ASD. However, the contribution of GABAergic system in the neuropathophysiology across generations of ASD is still unknown. Here, we uncover profound alterations in the expression and function of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in the amygdala across generations of the VPA-induced animal model of ASD. METHODS The F2 generation was produced by mating an F1 VPA-induced male offspring with naïve females after a single injection of VPA on embryonic day (E12.5) in F0. Autism-like behaviors were assessed by animal behavior tests. Expression and functional properties of GABAARs and related proteins were examined by using western blotting and electrophysiological techniques. RESULTS Social deficit, repetitive behavior, and emotional comorbidities were demonstrated across two generations of the VPA-induced offspring. Decreased synaptic GABAAR and gephyrin levels, and inhibitory transmission were found in the amygdala from two generations of the VPA-induced offspring with greater reductions in the F2 generation. Weaker association of gephyrin with GABAAR was shown in the F2 generation than the F1 generation. Moreover, dysregulated NMDA-induced enhancements of gephyrin and GABAAR at the synapse in the VPA-induced offspring was worsened in the F2 generation than the F1 generation. Elevated glutamatergic modifications were additionally shown across generations of the VPA-induced offspring without generation difference. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings revealed the E/I synaptic abnormalities in the amygdala from two generations of the VPA-induced offspring with GABAergic deteriorations in the F2 generation, suggesting a potential therapeutic role of the GABAergic system to generational pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Chia Chu
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan, 112 Taiwan
| | - Han-Fang Wu
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan, 112 Taiwan
| | - Chi-Wei Lee
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan, 112 Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Jung Chung
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan, 112 Taiwan
| | - Hsiang Chi
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan, 112 Taiwan
| | - Po See Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 704, Taiwan. .,Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Ching Lin
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan. .,Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, 110, Taiwan. .,Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
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Liu L, Wang D, Li X, Adetula AA, Khan A, Zhang B, Liu H, Yu Y, Chu Q. Long-lasting effects of lipopolysaccharide on the reproduction and splenic transcriptome of hens and their offspring. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 237:113527. [PMID: 35453024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is ubiquitous in the environment and is released after the death of gram-negative bacteria, which may be related to inflammation and immunosuppression. However, its impact on the reproduction of animals and their offspring, especially the underlying mechanism need further elucidation. Here, we used laying hens as a model organism to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to LPS (LPS maternal stimulation) on animal and their offspring's immunity and reproductive performance, as well as the regulatory role of the transcriptome. We found that the LPS maternal stimulation could reduce the egg-laying rate of hens and their offspring, especially during the early and late laying stages. The transcriptome study of the spleen in F0, F1 and F2 generations showed that the maternal stimulation of the LPS affects the patterns of gene expression in laying hens, and this change has a long-lasting effect. Further analysis of DEGs and their enrichment pathways found that the LPS maternal stimulation mainly affects the reproduction and immunity of laying hens and their offspring. The DEGs such as AVD, HPS5, CATHL2, S100A12, EXFABP, RSFR, LY86, PKD4, XCL1, FOS, TREM2 and MST1 may play an essential role in the regulation of the immunity and egg-laying rate of hens. Furthermore, the MMR1L3, C3, F13A1, LY86 and GDPD2 genes with heritable effects are highly correlated with the egg-laying rate, may have an important reference value for further research. Our study reveals the profound implications of LPS exposure on immunity and reproduction of offspring, elaborating the impact of immune alteration on the egg-laying rate, emphasizing the regulatory role of intergenerational transmission of the transcriptome, implying that the environment parents being exposed to has an important impact on offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Di Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xingzheng Li
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Adeyinka Abiola Adetula
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Adnan Khan
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Huagui Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Qin Chu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100094, China.
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Cattane N, Vernon AC, Borsini A, Scassellati C, Endres D, Capuron L, Tamouza R, Benros ME, Leza JC, Pariante CM, Riva MA, Cattaneo A. Preclinical animal models of mental illnesses to translate findings from the bench to the bedside: Molecular brain mechanisms and peripheral biomarkers associated to early life stress or immune challenges. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 58:55-79. [PMID: 35235897 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Animal models are useful preclinical tools for studying the pathogenesis of mental disorders and the effectiveness of their treatment. While it is not possible to mimic all symptoms occurring in humans, it is however possible to investigate the behavioral, physiological and neuroanatomical alterations relevant for these complex disorders in controlled conditions and in genetically homogeneous populations. Stressful and infection-related exposures represent the most employed environmental risk factors able to trigger or to unmask a psychopathological phenotype in animals. Indeed, when occurring during sensitive periods of brain maturation, including pre, postnatal life and adolescence, they can affect the offspring's neurodevelopmental trajectories, increasing the risk for mental disorders. Not all stressed or immune challenged animals, however, develop behavioral alterations and preclinical animal models can explain differences between vulnerable or resilient phenotypes. Our review focuses on different paradigms of stress (prenatal stress, maternal separation, social isolation and social defeat stress) and immune challenges (immune activation in pregnancy) and investigates the subsequent alterations in several biological and behavioral domains at different time points of animals' life. It also discusses the "double-hit" hypothesis where an initial early adverse event can prime the response to a second negative challenge. Interestingly, stress and infections early in life induce the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, alter the levels of neurotransmitters, neurotrophins and pro-inflammatory cytokines and affect the functions of microglia and oxidative stress. In conclusion, animal models allow shedding light on the pathophysiology of human mental illnesses and discovering novel molecular drug targets for personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Cattane
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anthony C Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Borsini
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Catia Scassellati
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Dominique Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lucile Capuron
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Département Medico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU ADAPT), Laboratoire Neuro-psychiatrie translationnelle, AP-HP, UniversitéParis Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Fondation FondaMental, F-94010 Créteil, France
| | - Michael Eriksen Benros
- Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte Hospitalsvej 15, 4th floor, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Juan C Leza
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12), IUIN-UCM. Spain
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Marco A Riva
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
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30
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Transgenerational epigenetic impacts of parental infection on offspring health and disease susceptibility. Trends Genet 2022; 38:662-675. [PMID: 35410793 PMCID: PMC8992946 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) and infection during pregnancy are known to reprogramme offspring phenotypes. However, the epigenetic effects of preconceptual paternal infection and paternal immune activation (PIA) are not currently well understood. Recent reports show that paternal infection and immune activation can affect offspring phenotypes, particularly brain function, behaviour, and immune system functioning, across multiple generations without re-exposure to infection. Evidence from other environmental exposures indicates that epigenetic inheritance also occurs in humans. Given the growing impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is imperative that we investigate all of the potential epigenetic mechanisms and multigenerational phenotypes that may arise from both maternal and paternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, as well as associated MIA, PIA, and inflammation. This will allow us to understand and, if necessary, mitigate any potential changes in disease susceptibility in the children, and grandchildren, of affected parents.
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Schalbetter SM, von Arx AS, Cruz-Ochoa N, Dawson K, Ivanov A, Mueller FS, Lin HY, Amport R, Mildenberger W, Mattei D, Beule D, Földy C, Greter M, Notter T, Meyer U. Adolescence is a sensitive period for prefrontal microglia to act on cognitive development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabi6672. [PMID: 35235358 PMCID: PMC8890703 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a cortical brain region that regulates various cognitive functions. One distinctive feature of the PFC is its protracted adolescent maturation, which is necessary for acquiring mature cognitive abilities in adulthood. Here, we show that microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, contribute to this maturational process. We find that transient and cell-specific deficiency of prefrontal microglia in adolescence is sufficient to induce an adult emergence of PFC-associated impairments in cognitive functions, dendritic complexity, and synaptic structures. While prefrontal microglia deficiency in adolescence also altered the excitatory-inhibitory balance in adult prefrontal circuits, there were no cognitive sequelae when prefrontal microglia were depleted in adulthood. Thus, our findings identify adolescence as a sensitive period for prefrontal microglia to act on cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina M. Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anina S. von Arx
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Cruz-Ochoa
- Laboratory of Neural Connectivity, Faculties of Medicine and Natural Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kara Dawson
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andranik Ivanov
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Flavia S. Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Han-Yu Lin
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - René Amport
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Wiebke Mildenberger
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Mattei
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dieter Beule
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Csaba Földy
- Laboratory of Neural Connectivity, Faculties of Medicine and Natural Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Greter
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Corresponding author.
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32
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Sanches APV, de Oliveira JL, Ferreira MS, Lima BDS, Miyamoto JÉ, Simino LADP, Torsoni MA, Torsoni AS, Milanski M, Ignácio-Souza LM. Obesity phenotype induced by high-fat diet leads to maternal-fetal constraint, placental inefficiency, and fetal growth restriction in mice. J Nutr Biochem 2022; 104:108977. [PMID: 35248701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.108977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate certain parameters regarding the maternal-fetal outcomes in a diet-induced obesity model. Obese, glucose-intolerant females who were exposed to a high-fat diet prior to pregnancy had lower placental efficiency and lower birth weight pups compared to the controls. Simple linear regression analyses showed that maternal obesity disrupts the proportionality between maternal and fetal outcomes during pregnancy. Maternal obesity is correlated with fetal outcomes, perhaps because of problems with hormonal signaling and exacerbation of inflammation in the maternal metabolic environment. The maternal obese phenotype altered the thickness of the placental layer, the transport of fatty acids, and the expression of growth factors. For example, lower expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA in the obesity-prone group may have contributed to the rupture of the placental layers, leading to adverse fetal outcomes. Furthermore, maintenance of maternal glucose homeostasis and overexpression of placental growth factor (PGF) in the obesity-resistant group likely protected the placenta and fetuses from morphological and functional damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Varela Sanches
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Josilene Lopes de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maíra Schuchter Ferreira
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna de Souza Lima
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Josiane Érica Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laís Angélica de Paula Simino
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Márcio Alberto Torsoni
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil; Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Adriana Souza Torsoni
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil; Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marciane Milanski
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil; Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Letícia Martins Ignácio-Souza
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil; Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
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33
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Santoni M, Frau R, Pistis M. Transgenerational Sex-dependent Disruption of Dopamine Function Induced by Maternal Immune Activation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:821498. [PMID: 35211019 PMCID: PMC8861303 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.821498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Several epidemiological studies suggest an association between maternal infections during pregnancy and the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring, such as autism and schizophrenia. Animal models broadened the knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms that develop from prenatal infection to the onset of psychopathological phenotype. Mounting evidence supports the hypothesis that detrimental effects of maternal immune activation might be transmitted across generations. Here, we explored the transgenerational effects on the dopamine system of a maternal immune activation model based on the viral mimetic polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid. We assessed dopamine neurons activity in the ventral tegmental area by in vivo electrophysiology. Furthermore, we studied two behavioral tests strictly modulated by the mesolimbic dopamine system, i.e., the open field in response to amphetamine and the prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex in response to the D2 agonist apomorphine. Second-generation adult male rats did not display any deficit in sensorimotor gating; however, they displayed an altered activity of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons, indexed by a reduced spontaneous firing rate and a heightened motor activation in response to amphetamine administration in the open field. On the other hand, second-generation female rats were protected from ancestors’ polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid treatment, as they did not show any alteration in dopamine cell activity or in behavioral tests. These results confirm that maternal immune activation negatively influences, in a sex-dependent manner, neurodevelopmental trajectories of the dopamine system across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Santoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,"Guy Everett" Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy.,Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
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34
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Al Dera H. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders and associated comorbidities: A pathophysiological review. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 148:112688. [PMID: 35149383 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that develop in early life due to interaction between several genetic and environmental factors and lead to alterations in brain function and structure. During the last decades, several mechanisms have been placed to explain the pathogenesis of autism. Unfortunately, these are reported in several studies and reviews which make it difficult to follow by the reader. In addition, some recent molecular mechanisms related to ASD have been unrevealed. This paper revises and highlights the major common molecular mechanisms responsible for the clinical symptoms seen in people with ASD, including the roles of common genetic factors and disorders, neuroinflammation, GABAergic signaling, and alterations in Ca+2 signaling. Besides, it covers the major molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in initiating the epileptic seizure, including the alterations in the GABAergic and glutamate signaling, vitamin and mineral deficiency, disorders of metabolism, and autoimmunity. Finally, this review also discusses sleep disorder patterns and the molecular mechanisms underlying them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Al Dera
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine at King Saud, Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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35
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Varela RB, Cararo JH, Tye SJ, Carvalho AF, Valvassori SS, Fries GR, Quevedo J. Contributions of epigenetic inheritance to the predisposition of major psychiatric disorders: theoretical framework, evidence, and implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104579. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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36
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Stollenwerk TM, Hillard CJ. Adolescent THC Treatment Does Not Potentiate the Behavioral Effects in Adulthood of Maternal Immune Activation. Cells 2021; 10:3503. [PMID: 34944011 PMCID: PMC8700174 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Both in utero exposure to maternal immune activation and cannabis use during adolescence have been associated with increased risk for the development of schizophrenia; however, whether these exposures exert synergistic effects on brain function is not known. In the present study, mild maternal immune activation (MIA) was elicited in mice with prenatal exposure to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), and ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was provided throughout adolescence in cereal (3 mg/kg/day for 5 days). Neither THC nor MIA pretreatments altered activity in assays used to characterize hyperdopaminergic states in adulthood: amphetamine hyperlocomotion and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex. Adolescent THC treatment elicited deficits in spatial memory and enhanced spatial reversal learning in adult female mice in the Morris water maze, while exposure to MIA elicited female-specific deficits in fear extinction learning in adulthood. There were no effects in these assays in adult males, nor were there interactions between THC and MIA in adult females. While doses of poly(I:C) and THC were sufficient to elicit behavioral effects, particularly relating to cognitive performance in females, there was no evidence that adolescent THC exposure synergized with the risk imposed by MIA to worsen behavioral outcomes in adult mice of either sex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cecilia J. Hillard
- Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, USA;
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37
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Carloni E, Ramos A, Hayes LN. Developmental Stressors Induce Innate Immune Memory in Microglia and Contribute to Disease Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13035. [PMID: 34884841 PMCID: PMC8657756 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many types of stressors have an impact on brain development, function, and disease susceptibility including immune stressors, psychosocial stressors, and exposure to drugs of abuse. We propose that these diverse developmental stressors may utilize a common mechanism that underlies impaired cognitive function and neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and mood disorders that can develop in later life as a result of developmental stressors. While these stressors are directed at critical developmental windows, their impacts are long-lasting. Immune activation is a shared pathophysiology across several different developmental stressors and may thus be a targetable treatment to mitigate the later behavioral deficits. In this review, we explore different types of prenatal and perinatal stressors and their contribution to disease risk and underlying molecular mechanisms. We highlight the impact of developmental stressors on microglia biology because of their early infiltration into the brain, their critical role in brain development and function, and their long-lived status in the brain throughout life. Furthermore, we introduce innate immune memory as a potential underlying mechanism for developmental stressors' impact on disease. Finally, we highlight the molecular and epigenetic reprogramming that is known to underlie innate immune memory and explain how similar molecular mechanisms may be at work for cells to retain a long-term perturbation after exposure to developmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Carloni
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
| | - Adriana Ramos
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Lindsay N. Hayes
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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38
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Fesser EA, Gianatiempo O, Berardino BG, Alberca CD, Urrutia L, Falasco G, Sonzogni SV, Chertoff M, Cánepa ET. Impaired social cognition caused by perinatal protein malnutrition evokes neurodevelopmental disorder symptoms and is intergenerationally transmitted. Exp Neurol 2021; 347:113911. [PMID: 34767796 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Nutritional inadequacy before birth and during postnatal life can seriously interfere with brain development and lead to persistent deficits in learning and behavior. In this work, we asked if protein malnutrition affects domains of social cognition and if these phenotypes can be transmitted to the next generation. Female mice were fed with a normal or hypoproteic diet during pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, offspring were fed with a standard chow. Social interaction, social recognition memory, and dominance were evaluated in both sexes of F1 offspring and in the subsequent F2 generation. Glucose metabolism in the whole brain was analyzed through preclinical positron emission tomography. Genome-wide transcriptional analysis was performed in the medial prefrontal cortex followed by gene-ontology enrichment analysis. Compared with control animals, malnourished mice exhibited a deficit in social motivation and recognition memory and displayed a dominant phenotype. These altered behaviors, except for dominance, were transmitted to the next generation. Positron emission tomography analysis revealed lower glucose metabolism in the medial prefrontal cortex of F1 malnourished offspring. This brain region showed genome-wide transcriptional dysregulation, including 21 transcripts that overlapped with autism-associated genes. Our study cannot exclude that the lower maternal care provided by mothers exposed to a low-protein diet caused an additional impact on social cognition. Our results showed that maternal protein malnutrition dysregulates gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex, promoting altered offspring behavior that was intergenerationally transmitted. These results support the hypothesis that early nutritional deficiency represents a risk factor for the emergence of symptoms associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía A Fesser
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Octavio Gianatiempo
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bruno G Berardino
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina D Alberca
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Urrutia
- Centro de Imágenes Moleculares, Fleni, Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Germán Falasco
- Centro de Imágenes Moleculares, Fleni, Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina V Sonzogni
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariela Chertoff
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eduardo T Cánepa
- Grupo Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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39
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Transmission of trained immunity and heterologous resistance to infections across generations. Nat Immunol 2021; 22:1382-1390. [PMID: 34663978 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-021-01052-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Intergenerational inheritance of immune traits linked to epigenetic modifications has been demonstrated in plants and invertebrates. Here we provide evidence for transmission of trained immunity across generations to murine progeny that survived a sublethal systemic infection with Candida albicans or a zymosan challenge. The progeny of trained mice exhibited cellular, developmental, transcriptional and epigenetic changes associated with the bone marrow-resident myeloid effector and progenitor cell compartment. Moreover, the progeny of trained mice showed enhanced responsiveness to endotoxin challenge, alongside improved protection against systemic heterologous Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes infections. Sperm DNA of parental male mice intravenously infected with the fungus C. albicans showed DNA methylation differences linked to immune gene loci. These results provide evidence for inheritance of trained immunity in mammals, enhancing protection against infections.
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40
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Haddad FL, Lu L, Baines KJ, Schmid S. Sensory filtering disruption caused by poly I:C - Timing of exposure and other experimental considerations. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 9:100156. [PMID: 34589898 PMCID: PMC8474281 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) in response to infection during pregnancy has been linked through various epidemiological and preclinical studies to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia in exposed offspring. Sensory filtering disruptions occur in both of these disorders and are typically measured using the acoustic startle response in both humans and rodents. Our study focuses on characterizing the baseline reactivity, habituation and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response following exposure to MIA. We induced MIA using polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) at gestational day (GD) 9.5 or 14.5, and we tested sensory filtering phenotypes in adolescent and adult offspring. Our results show that startle reactivity was robustly increased in adult GD9.5 but not GD14.5 poly I:C offspring. In contrast to some previous studies, we found no consistent changes in short-term habituation, long-term habituation or prepulse inhibition of startle. Our study highlights the importance of MIA exposure timing and discusses sensory filtering phenotypes as they relate to ASD, schizophrenia and the poly I:C MIA model. Moreover, we analyze and discuss the potential impact of between- and within-litter variability on behavioural findings in poly I:C studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L Haddad
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Lu Lu
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kelly J Baines
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
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41
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Han VX, Patel S, Jones HF, Dale RC. Maternal immune activation and neuroinflammation in human neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:564-579. [PMID: 34341569 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal health during pregnancy plays a major role in shaping health and disease risks in the offspring. The maternal immune activation hypothesis proposes that inflammatory perturbations in utero can affect fetal neurodevelopment, and evidence from human epidemiological studies supports an association between maternal inflammation during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Diverse maternal inflammatory factors, including obesity, asthma, autoimmune disease, infection and psychosocial stress, are associated with an increased risk of NDDs in the offspring. In addition to inflammation, epigenetic factors are increasingly recognized to operate at the gene-environment interface during NDD pathogenesis. For example, integrated brain transcriptome and epigenetic analyses of individuals with NDDs demonstrate convergent dysregulated immune pathways. In this Review, we focus on the emerging human evidence for an association between maternal immune activation and childhood NDDs, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Tourette syndrome. We refer to established pathophysiological concepts in animal models, including immune signalling across the placenta, epigenetic 'priming' of offspring microglia and postnatal immune-brain crosstalk. The increasing incidence of NDDs has created an urgent need to mitigate the risk and severity of these conditions through both preventive strategies in pregnancy and novel postnatal therapies targeting disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velda X Han
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shrujna Patel
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hannah F Jones
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Neuroservices, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Russell C Dale
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. .,The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. .,The Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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42
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Laighneach A, Desbonnet L, Kelly JP, Donohoe G, Morris DW. Meta-Analysis of Brain Gene Expression Data from Mouse Model Studies of Maternal Immune Activation Using Poly(I:C). Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091363. [PMID: 34573345 PMCID: PMC8471627 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a known risk factor for schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is often modelled in animal studies in order to study the effect of prenatal infection on brain function including behaviour and gene expression. Although the effect of MIA on gene expression are highly heterogeneous, combining data from multiple gene expression studies in a robust method may shed light on the true underlying biological effects caused by MIA and this could inform studies of SCZ and ASD. This study combined four RNA-seq and microarray datasets in an overlap analysis and ranked meta-analysis in order to investigate genes, pathways and cell types dysregulated in the MIA mouse models. Genes linked to SCZ and ASD and crucial in neurodevelopmental processes including neural tube folding, regulation of cellular stress and neuronal/glial cell differentiation were among the most consistently dysregulated in these ranked analyses. Gene ontologies including K+ ion channel function, neuron and glial cell differentiation, synaptic structure, axonal outgrowth, cilia function and lipid metabolism were also strongly implicated. Single-cell analysis identified excitatory and inhibitory cell types in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum that may be affected by MIA and are also enriched for genes associated with SCZ, ASD and cognitive phenotypes. This points to the cellular location of molecular mechanisms that may be consistent between the MIA model and neurodevelopmental disease, improving our understanding of its utility to study prenatal infection as an environmental stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aodán Laighneach
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics, Discipline of Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (A.L.); (G.D.)
| | - Lieve Desbonnet
- Discipline of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (L.D.); (J.P.K.)
| | - John P. Kelly
- Discipline of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (L.D.); (J.P.K.)
| | - Gary Donohoe
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics, Discipline of Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (A.L.); (G.D.)
| | - Derek W. Morris
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics, Discipline of Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (A.L.); (G.D.)
- Correspondence:
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43
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Woods RM, Lorusso JM, Potter HG, Neill JC, Glazier JD, Hager R. Maternal immune activation in rodent models: A systematic review of neurodevelopmental changes in gene expression and epigenetic modulation in the offspring brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 129:389-421. [PMID: 34280428 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (mIA) during pregnancy is hypothesised to disrupt offspring neurodevelopment and predispose offspring to neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia. Rodent models of mIA have explored possible mechanisms underlying this paradigm and provide a vital tool for preclinical research. However, a comprehensive analysis of the molecular changes that occur in mIA-models is lacking, hindering identification of robust clinical targets. This systematic review assesses mIA-driven transcriptomic and epigenomic alterations in specific offspring brain regions. Across 118 studies, we focus on 88 candidate genes and show replicated changes in expression in critical functional areas, including elevated inflammatory markers, and reduced myelin and GABAergic signalling proteins. Further, disturbed epigenetic markers at nine of these genes support mIA-driven epigenetic modulation of transcription. Overall, our results demonstrate that current outcome measures have direct relevance for the hypothesised pathology of schizophrenia and emphasise the importance of mIA-models in contributing to the understanding of biological pathways impacted by mIA and the discovery of new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Woods
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Jarred M Lorusso
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Harry G Potter
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna C Neill
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Jocelyn D Glazier
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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44
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Fesser EA, Gianatiempo O, Berardino BG, Ferroni NM, Cambiasso M, Fontana VA, Calvo JC, Sonzogni SV, Cánepa ET. Limited contextual memory and transcriptional dysregulation in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice exposed to early protein malnutrition are intergenerationally transmitted. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 139:139-149. [PMID: 34058653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Memory contextualization is vital for the subsequent retrieval of relevant memories in specific situations and is a critical dimension of social cognition. The inability to properly contextualize information has been described as characteristic of psychiatric disorders like autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The exposure to early-life adversities, such as nutritional deficiency, increases the risk to trigger alterations in different domains of cognition related to those observed in mental diseases. In this work, we explored the consequences of exposure to perinatal protein malnutrition on contextual memory in a mouse model and assessed whether these consequences are transmitted to the next generation. Female mice were fed with a normal or hypoproteic diet during pregnancy and lactation. To evaluate contextual memory, the object-context mismatch test was performed in both sexes of F1 offspring and in the subsequent F2 generation. We observed that contextual memory was altered in mice of both sexes that had been subjected to maternal protein malnutrition and that the deficit in contextual memory was transmitted to the next generation. The basis of this alteration seems to be a transcriptional dysregulation of genes involved in the excitatory and inhibitory balance and immediate-early genes within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of both generations. The expression of genes encoding enzymes that regulate H3K27me3 levels was altered in the mPFC and partially in sperm of F1 malnourished mice. These results support the hypothesis that early nutritional deficiency represents a risk factor for the emergence of symptoms associated with mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía A Fesser
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Octavio Gianatiempo
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bruno G Berardino
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nadina M Ferroni
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maite Cambiasso
- Laboratorio de Matriz Extracelular, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina A Fontana
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Matriz Extracelular, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan C Calvo
- Laboratorio de Matriz Extracelular, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina V Sonzogni
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eduardo T Cánepa
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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45
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Scarborough J, Mattei D, Dorner-Ciossek C, Sand M, Arban R, Rosenbrock H, Richetto J, Meyer U. Symptomatic and preventive effects of the novel phosphodiesterase-9 inhibitor BI 409306 in an immune-mediated model of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1526-1534. [PMID: 33941860 PMCID: PMC8209175 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01016-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BI 409306, a phosphodiesterase-9 inhibitor under development for treatment of schizophrenia and attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS), promotes synaptic plasticity and cognition. Here, we explored the effects of BI 409306 treatment in the polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (poly[I:C])-based mouse model of maternal immune activation (MIA), which is relevant to schizophrenia and APS. In Study 1, adult offspring received BI 409306 0.2, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg or vehicle to establish an active dose. In Study 2, adult offspring received BI 409306 1 mg/kg and/or risperidone 0.025 mg/kg, risperidone 0.05 mg/kg, or vehicle, to evaluate BI 409306 as add-on to standard therapy for schizophrenia. In Study 3, offspring received BI 409306 1 mg/kg during adolescence only, or continually into adulthood to evaluate preventive effects of BI 409306. We found that BI 409306 significantly mitigated MIA-induced social interaction deficits and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, but not prepulse inhibition impairments, in a dose-dependent manner (Study 1). Furthermore, BI 409306 1 mg/kg alone or in combination with risperidone 0.025 mg/kg significantly reversed social interaction deficits and attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in MIA offspring (Study 2). Finally, we revealed that BI 409306 1 mg/kg treatment restricted to adolescence prevented adult deficits in social interaction, whereas continued treatment into adulthood also significantly reduced amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion (Study 3). Taken together, our findings suggest that symptomatic treatment with BI 409306 can restore social interaction deficits and dopaminergic dysfunctions in a MIA model of neurodevelopmental disruption, lending preclinical support to current clinical trials of BI 409306 in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, BI 409306 given during adolescence has preventive effects on adult social interaction deficits in this model, supporting its use in people with APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Scarborough
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Mattei
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Dorner-Ciossek
- Department of CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Michael Sand
- Department of Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Roberto Arban
- Department of CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Holger Rosenbrock
- Department of CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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46
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Page NF, Gandal MJ, Estes ML, Cameron S, Buth J, Parhami S, Ramaswami G, Murray K, Amaral DG, Van de Water JA, Schumann CM, Carter CS, Bauman MD, McAllister AK, Geschwind DH. Alterations in Retrotransposition, Synaptic Connectivity, and Myelination Implicated by Transcriptomic Changes Following Maternal Immune Activation in Nonhuman Primates. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:896-910. [PMID: 33386132 PMCID: PMC8052273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a proposed risk factor for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. However, the molecular mechanisms through which MIA imparts risk remain poorly understood. A recently developed nonhuman primate model of exposure to the viral mimic poly:ICLC during pregnancy shows abnormal social and repetitive behaviors and elevated striatal dopamine, a molecular hallmark of human psychosis, providing an unprecedented opportunity for studying underlying molecular correlates. METHODS We performed RNA sequencing across psychiatrically relevant brain regions (prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, hippocampus) and primary visual cortex for comparison from 3.5- to 4-year-old male MIA-exposed and control offspring-an age comparable to mid adolescence in humans. RESULTS We identify 266 unique genes differentially expressed in at least one brain region, with the greatest number observed in hippocampus. Co-expression networks identified region-specific alterations in synaptic signaling and oligodendrocytes. Although we observed temporal and regional differences, transcriptomic changes were shared across first- and second-trimester exposures, including for the top differentially expressed genes-PIWIL2 and MGARP. In addition to PIWIL2, several other regulators of retrotransposition and endogenous transposable elements were dysregulated following MIA, potentially connecting MIA to retrotransposition. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results begin to elucidate the brain-level molecular processes through which MIA may impart risk for psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F Page
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Myka L Estes
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Scott Cameron
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Jessie Buth
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sepideh Parhami
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Gokul Ramaswami
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Karl Murray
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - David G Amaral
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Judy A Van de Water
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - A Kimberley McAllister
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Department of Human Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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47
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Schalbetter SM, Mueller FS, Scarborough J, Richetto J, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U, Notter T. Oral application of clozapine-N-oxide using the micropipette-guided drug administration (MDA) method in mouse DREADD systems. Lab Anim (NY) 2021; 50:69-75. [PMID: 33619409 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-021-00723-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) system is one of the most widely used chemogenetic techniques to modulate the activity of cell populations in the brains of behaving animals. DREADDs are activated by acute or chronic administration of their ligand, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). There is, however, a current lack of a non-invasive CNO administration technique that can control for drug timing and dosing without inducing substantial distress for the animals. Here, we evaluated whether the recently developed micropipette-guided drug administration (MDA) method, which has been used as a non-invasive and minimally stressful alternative to oral gavages, may be applied to administer CNO orally to activate DREADDs in a dosing- and timing-controlled manner. Unlike standard intraperitoneal injections, administration of vehicle substances via MDA did not elevate plasma levels of the major stress hormone, corticosterone, and did not attenuate exploratory activity in the open field test. At the same time, however, administration of CNO via MDA or intraperitoneally was equally efficient in activating hM3DGq-expressing neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex, as evident by time-dependent increases in mRNA levels of neuronal immediate early genes (cFos, Arc and Zif268) and cFos-immunoreactive neurons. Compared to vehicle given via MDA, oral administration of CNO via MDA was also found to potently increase locomotor activity in mice that express hM3DGq in prefrontal neurons. Taken together, our study confirms the effectiveness of CNO given orally via MDA and provides a novel method for non-stressful, yet well controllable CNO treatments in mouse DREADD systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Scarborough
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
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48
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Paquin V, Lapierre M, Veru F, King S. Early Environmental Upheaval and the Risk for Schizophrenia. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2021; 17:285-311. [PMID: 33544627 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-103805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Why does prenatal exposure to wars, natural disasters, urbanicity, or winter increase the risk for schizophrenia? Research from the last two decades has provided rich insight about the underlying chains of causation at play during environmental upheaval, from conception to early infancy. In this review, we appraise the evidence linking schizophrenia spectrum disorder to prenatal maternal stress, obstetric complications, early infections, and maternal nutrition and other lifestyle factors. We discuss putative mechanisms, including the maternal stress system, perinatal hypoxia, and maternal-offspring immune activation. We propose that gene-environment interactions, timing during development, and sex differentiate the neuropsychiatric outcomes. Future research should pursue the translation of animal studies to humans and the longitudinal associations between early exposures, intermediate phenotypes, and psychiatric disorders. Finally, to paint a comprehensive model of risk and to harness targets for prevention, we argue that risk factors should be situated within the individual's personal ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Mylène Lapierre
- Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
| | - Franz Veru
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Suzanne King
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
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49
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Transgenerational modification of dopaminergic dysfunctions induced by maternal immune activation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:404-412. [PMID: 32919409 PMCID: PMC7852665 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00855-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infectious and/or inflammatory insults is increasingly recognized to contribute to the etiology of psychiatric disorders with neurodevelopmental components. Recent research using animal models suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) can induce transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, possibly through epigenetic mechanisms. Using a mouse model of MIA that is based on gestational treatment with the viral mimeticpoly(I:C) (= polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid), the present study explored whether the transgenerational effects of MIA are extendable to dopaminergic dysfunctions. We show that the direct descendants born to poly(I:C)-treated mothers display signs of hyperdopaminergia, as manifested by a potentiated sensitivity to the locomotor-stimulating effects of amphetamine (Amph) and increased expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) in the adult ventral midbrain. In stark contrast, second- and third-generation offspring of MIA-exposed ancestors displayed blunted locomotor responses to Amph and reduced expression of Th. Furthermore, we found increased DNA methylation at the promoter region of the dopamine-specifying factor, nuclear receptor-related 1 protein (Nurr1), in the sperm of first-generation MIA offspring and in the ventral midbrain of second-generation offspring of MIA-exposed ancestors. The latter effect was further accompanied by reduced mRNA levels of Nurr1 in this brain region. Together, our results suggest that MIA has the potential to modify dopaminergic functions across multiple generations with opposite effects in the direct descendants and their progeny. The presence of altered DNA methylation in the sperm of MIA-exposed offspring highlights the possibility that epigenetic processes in the male germline play a role in the transgenerational effects of MIA.
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50
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Neuronal activity increases translocator protein (TSPO) levels. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2025-2037. [PMID: 32398717 PMCID: PMC8440208 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0745-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The mitochondrial protein, translocator protein (TSPO), is a widely used biomarker of neuroinflammation, but its non-selective cellular expression pattern implies roles beyond inflammatory processes. In the present study, we investigated whether neuronal activity modifies TSPO levels in the adult central nervous system. First, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to generate a cellular landscape of basal TSPO gene expression in the hippocampus of adult (12 weeks old) C57BL6/N mice, followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy to verify TSPO protein in neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations. We then quantified TSPO mRNA and protein levels after stimulating neuronal activity with distinct stimuli, including designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), exposure to a novel environment and acute treatment with the psychostimulant drug, amphetamine. Single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrated a non-selective and multi-cellular gene expression pattern of TSPO at basal conditions in the adult mouse hippocampus. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that TSPO protein is present in neuronal and non-neuronal (astrocytes, microglia, vascular endothelial cells) cells of cortical (medial prefrontal cortex) and subcortical (hippocampus) brain regions. Stimulating neuronal activity through chemogenetic (DREADDs), physiological (novel environment exposure) or psychopharmacological (amphetamine treatment) approaches led to consistent increases in TSPO gene and protein levels in neurons, but not in microglia or astrocytes. Taken together, our findings show that neuronal activity has the potential to modify TSPO levels in the adult central nervous system. These findings challenge the general assumption that altered TSPO expression or binding unequivocally mirrors ongoing neuroinflammation and emphasize the need to consider non-inflammatory interpretations in some physiological or pathological contexts.
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