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Qiu Q, Yang M, Gong D, Liang H, Chen T. Potassium and calcium channels in different nerve cells act as therapeutic targets in neurological disorders. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:1258-1276. [PMID: 38845230 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system, information integration center of the body, is mainly composed of neurons and glial cells. The neuron is one of the most basic and important structural and functional units of the central nervous system, with sensory stimulation and excitation conduction functions. Astrocytes and microglia belong to the glial cell family, which is the main source of cytokines and represents the main defense system of the central nervous system. Nerve cells undergo neurotransmission or gliotransmission, which regulates neuronal activity via the ion channels, receptors, or transporters expressed on nerve cell membranes. Ion channels, composed of large transmembrane proteins, play crucial roles in maintaining nerve cell homeostasis. These channels are also important for control of the membrane potential and in the secretion of neurotransmitters. A variety of cellular functions and life activities, including functional regulation of the central nervous system, the generation and conduction of nerve excitation, the occurrence of receptor potential, heart pulsation, smooth muscle peristalsis, skeletal muscle contraction, and hormone secretion, are closely related to ion channels associated with passive transmembrane transport. Two types of ion channels in the central nervous system, potassium channels and calcium channels, are closely related to various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Accordingly, various drugs that can affect these ion channels have been explored deeply to provide new directions for the treatment of these neurological disorders. In this review, we focus on the functions of potassium and calcium ion channels in different nerve cells and their involvement in neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, epilepsy, autism, and rare disorders. We also describe several clinical drugs that target potassium or calcium channels in nerve cells and could be used to treat these disorders. We concluded that there are few clinical drugs that can improve the pathology these diseases by acting on potassium or calcium ions. Although a few novel ion-channel-specific modulators have been discovered, meaningful therapies have largely not yet been realized. The lack of target-specific drugs, their requirement to cross the blood-brain barrier, and their exact underlying mechanisms all need further attention. This review aims to explain the urgent problems that need research progress and provide comprehensive information aiming to arouse the research community's interest in the development of ion channel-targeting drugs and the identification of new therapeutic targets for that can increase the cure rate of nervous system diseases and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Mengting Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Danfeng Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Haiying Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
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Bialer M, Johannessen SI, Koepp MJ, Perucca E, Perucca P, Tomson T, White HS. Progress report on new medications for seizures and epilepsy: A summary of the 17th Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices (EILAT XVII). II. Drugs in more advanced clinical development. Epilepsia 2024. [PMID: 39171993 DOI: 10.1111/epi.18075] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
The 17th Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices took place in Madrid, Spain on May 5-8, 2024. As usual, the core part of the conference consisted of presentations on investigational drugs at various stages of development for epilepsy-related indications. Summaries of information on compounds in preclinical or early clinical development are included in an accompanying publication (Part I). In this article, we provide summaries for five compounds in more advanced clinical development, i.e. compounds for which some information on antiseizure activity in individuals with epilepsy is available. These investigational treatments include azetukalner (XEN1101), a potent, KV7.2/7.3-specific potassium channel opener in development for the treatment of focal seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and major depressive disorder; bexicaserin (LP352), a selective 5-HT2C receptor superagonist in development for the treatment of seizures associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies; radiprodil, a selective negative allosteric modulator of NR2B subunit-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors, in development for the treatment of seizures and behavior manifestations associated with disorders caused by gain-of-function mutations in the GRIN1, -2A, -2B, or -2D genes; soticlestat (TAK-935), a selective inhibitor of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase in development for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; and STK-001, an antisense oligonucleotide designed to upregulate Nav1.1 protein expression and improve outcomes in individuals with Dravet syndrome. The diversity in mechanisms of action of these agents illustrates different approaches being pursued in the discovery of novel treatments for seizures and epilepsy. For two of the compounds discussed in this report (azetukalner and soticlestat), clinical evidence of efficacy has already been obtained in a randomized placebo-controlled adjunctive-therapy trial. For the other compounds, adequately powered placebo-controlled efficacy trials have not been completed to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine and David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Svein I Johannessen
- National Center for Epilepsy, Sandvika, Norway
- Oslo University Hospital, member of the European Reference Network EpiCare, Oslo, Norway
- Section for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Matthias J Koepp
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Emilio Perucca
- Department of Medicine (Austin Health), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Piero Perucca
- Department of Medicine (Austin Health), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Bladin-Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Torbjörn Tomson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - H Steve White
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Epilepsy Drug Discovery, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Meshkat S, Kwan ATH, Le GH, Wong S, Rhee TG, Ho R, Teopiz KM, Cao B, McIntyre RS. The role of KCNQ channel activators in management of major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2024; 359:364-372. [PMID: 38772507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.067] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Depression, a complex disorder with significant treatment challenges, necessitates innovative therapeutic approaches to address its multifaceted nature and enhance treatment outcomes. The modulation of KCNQ potassium (K+) channels, pivotal regulators of neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release, is a promising innovative therapeutic target in psychiatry. Widely expressed across various tissues, including the nervous and cardiovascular systems, KCNQ channels play a crucial role in modulating membrane potential and regulating neuronal activity. Recent preclinical evidence suggests that KCNQ channels, particularly KCNQ3, contribute to the regulation of neuronal excitability within the reward circuitry, offering a potential target for alleviating depressive symptoms, notably anhedonia. Studies using animal models demonstrate that interventions targeting KCNQ channels can restore dopaminergic firing balance and mitigate depressive symptoms. Human studies investigating the effects of KCNQ channel activators, such as ezogabine, have shown promising results in alleviating depressive symptoms and anhedonia. The aforementioned observations underscore the therapeutic potential of KCNQ channel modulation in depression management and highlight the need and justification for phase 2 and phase 3 dose-finding studies as well as studies prespecifying symptomatic targets in depression including anhedonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakila Meshkat
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Angela T H Kwan
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Gia Han Le
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Sabrina Wong
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Taeho Greg Rhee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, Farmington, CT, USA.
| | - Roger Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Kayla M Teopiz
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Bing Cao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, PR China.
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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4
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Urena ES, Diezel CC, Serna M, Hala'ufia G, Majuta L, Barber KR, Vanderah TW, Riegel AC. K v7 channel opener retigabine reduces self-administration of cocaine but not sucrose in rats. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13428. [PMID: 39087789 PMCID: PMC11292668 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The increasing rates of drug misuse highlight the urgency of identifying improved therapeutics for treatment. Most drug-seeking behaviours that can be modelled in rodents utilize the repeated intravenous self-administration (SA) of drugs. Recent studies examining the mesolimbic pathway suggest that Kv7/KCNQ channels may contribute to the transition from recreational to chronic drug use. However, to date, all such studies used noncontingent, experimenter-delivered drug model systems, and the extent to which this effect generalizes to rats trained to self-administer drugs is not known. Here, we tested the ability of retigabine (ezogabine), a Kv7 channel opener, to regulate instrumental behaviour in male Sprague Dawley rats. We first validated the ability of retigabine to target experimenter-delivered cocaine in a conditioned place preference (CPP) assay and found that retigabine reduced the acquisition of place preference. Next, we trained rats for cocaine-SA under a fixed-ratio or progressive-ratio reinforcement schedule and found that retigabine pretreatment attenuated the SA of low to moderate doses of cocaine. This was not observed in parallel experiments, with rats self-administering sucrose, a natural reward. Compared with sucrose-SA, cocaine-SA was associated with reductions in the expression of the Kv7.5 subunit in the nucleus accumbens, without alterations in Kv7.2 and Kv7.3. Therefore, these studies reveal a reward-specific reduction in SA behaviour and support the notion that Kv7 is a potential therapeutic target for human psychiatric diseases with dysfunctional reward circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban S. Urena
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Cody C. Diezel
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Mauricio Serna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Grace Hala'ufia
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Lisa Majuta
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Kara R. Barber
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Todd W. Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary ProgramUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Comprehensive Pain and Addiction‐Center (CPA‐C)University of Arizona Health SciencesTucsonArizonaUSA
- The Center of Excellence in Addiction Studies (CEAS)University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Arthur C. Riegel
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary ProgramUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Comprehensive Pain and Addiction‐Center (CPA‐C)University of Arizona Health SciencesTucsonArizonaUSA
- The Center of Excellence in Addiction Studies (CEAS)University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of ScienceUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- James C. Wyant College of Optical SciencesUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
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Zhou X, Zhao C, Xu H, Xu Y, Zhan L, Wang P, He J, Lu T, Gu Y, Yang Y, Xu C, Chen Y, Liu Y, Zeng Y, Tian F, Chen Q, Xie X, Liu J, Hu H, Li J, Zheng Y, Guo J, Gao Z. Pharmacological inhibition of Kir4.1 evokes rapid-onset antidepressant responses. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:857-866. [PMID: 38355723 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01555-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder, a prevalent and severe psychiatric condition, necessitates development of new and fast-acting antidepressants. Genetic suppression of astrocytic inwardly rectifying potassium channel 4.1 (Kir4.1) in the lateral habenula ameliorates depression-like phenotypes in mice. However, Kir4.1 remains an elusive drug target for depression. Here, we discovered a series of Kir4.1 inhibitors through high-throughput screening. Lys05, the most potent one thus far, effectively suppressed native Kir4.1 channels while displaying high selectivity against established targets for rapid-onset antidepressants. Cryogenic-electron microscopy structures combined with electrophysiological characterizations revealed Lys05 directly binds in the central cavity of Kir4.1. Notably, a single dose of Lys05 reversed the Kir4.1-driven depression-like phenotype and exerted rapid-onset (as early as 1 hour) antidepressant actions in multiple canonical depression rodent models with efficacy comparable to that of (S)-ketamine. Overall, we provided a proof of concept that Kir4.1 is a promising target for rapid-onset antidepressant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- College of Pharmacy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yixiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi He
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Taotao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yueling Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chanjuan Xu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiyang Chen
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yue Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuyun Tian
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hailan Hu
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yueming Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jiangtao Guo
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Zhaobing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- College of Pharmacy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China.
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6
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Nestler EJ, Russo SJ. Neurobiological basis of stress resilience. Neuron 2024; 112:1911-1929. [PMID: 38795707 PMCID: PMC11189737 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
A majority of humans faced with severe stress maintain normal physiological and behavioral function, a process referred to as resilience. Such stress resilience has been modeled in laboratory animals and, over the past 15 years, has transformed our understanding of stress responses and how to approach the treatment of human stress disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. Work in rodents has demonstrated that resilience to chronic stress is an active process that involves much more than simply avoiding the deleterious effects of the stress. Rather, resilience is mediated largely by the induction of adaptations that are associated uniquely with resilience. Such mechanisms of natural resilience in rodents are being characterized at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels, with an increasing number being validated in human investigations. Such discoveries raise the novel possibility that treatments for human stress disorders, in addition to being geared toward reversing the damaging effects of stress, can also be based on inducing mechanisms of natural resilience in individuals who are inherently more susceptible. This review provides a progress report on this evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Scott J Russo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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7
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Han Y, Ai L, Song L, Zhou Y, Chen D, Sha S, Ji R, Li Q, Bu Q, Pan X, Zhai X, Cui M, Duan J, Yang J, Chaudhury D, Hu A, Liu H, Han MH, Cao JL, Zhang H. Midbrain glutamatergic circuit mechanism of resilience to socially transferred allodynia in male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4947. [PMID: 38858350 PMCID: PMC11164890 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49340-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The potential brain mechanism underlying resilience to socially transferred allodynia remains unknown. Here, we utilize a well-established socially transferred allodynia paradigm to segregate male mice into pain-susceptible and pain-resilient subgroups. Brain screening results show that ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons are selectively activated in pain-resilient mice as compared to control and pain-susceptible mice. Chemogenetic manipulations demonstrate that activation and inhibition of ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons bi-directionally regulate resilience to socially transferred allodynia. Moreover, ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons that project specifically to the nucleus accumbens shell and lateral habenula regulate the development and maintenance of the pain-resilient phenotype, respectively. Together, we establish an approach to explore individual variations in pain response and identify ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons and related downstream circuits as critical targets for resilience to socially transferred allodynia and the development of conceptually innovative analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Han
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Lin Ai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Lingzhen Song
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Dandan Chen
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Sha Sha
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Ran Ji
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Qize Li
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Qingyang Bu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Pan
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Xiaojing Zhai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Mengqiao Cui
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Jiawen Duan
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, PR China
| | - Junxia Yang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Dipesh Chaudhury
- Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Saadiyat Island, 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ankang Hu
- The Animal Facility of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - He Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313000, PR China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, PR China.
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
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8
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Okada M, Tran TTT. Effect of chronic administration of ostruthin on depression-like behavior in chronically stressed mice. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 16:622-628. [PMID: 38832088 PMCID: PMC11144753 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.05.009] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that a single dose of a TREK-1 channel activator, ostruthin, exhibited antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in acute behavioral test models in mice. To assess the potential clinical application, it is essential to evaluate the effects of long-term administration of ostruthin in a chronically stressed mouse model, which is considered to be similar to the clinical condition of major depression in humans. Here, we tested the effects of a single and a 7-day administration of ostruthin on mice that were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). A single administration of ostruthin showed antidepressive effects in the tail suspension and forced swim tests of CUMS-treated mice. Unexpectedly, the 7-day administration exhibited only insignificant antidepressive and anxiolytic effects. The 7-day regimen did not affect food intake or body-weight gain, suggesting the absence of apparent cytotoxicity. The mice receiving the 7-day administration had significantly lower blood concentrations of ostruthin compared to those receiving a single dose, suggesting an upregulation of drug-metabolizing activities. These findings suggest that there is a need for stable TREK-1 channel activators that are not affected by drug metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayoshi Okada
- Department of Medical LifeScience, College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Kurashiki, Okayama 712-8505, Japan
| | - Thi Thu Thuy Tran
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
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9
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Montgomery SE, Li L, Russo SJ, Calipari ES, Nestler EJ, Morel C, Han MH. Mesolimbic Neural Response Dynamics Predict Future Individual Alcohol Drinking in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:951-962. [PMID: 38061466 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.11.019] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual variability in response to rewarding stimuli is a striking but understudied phenomenon. The mesolimbic dopamine system is critical in encoding the reinforcing properties of both natural reward and alcohol; however, how innate or baseline differences in the response dynamics of this circuit define individual behavior and shape future vulnerability to alcohol remain unknown. METHODS Using naturalistic behavioral assays, a voluntary alcohol drinking paradigm, in vivo fiber photometry, in vivo electrophysiology, and chemogenetics, we investigated how differences in mesolimbic neural circuit activity contribute to the individual variability seen in reward processing and, by proxy, alcohol drinking. RESULTS We first characterized heterogeneous behavioral and neural responses to natural reward and defined how these baseline responses predicted future individual alcohol-drinking phenotypes in male mice. We then determined spontaneous ventral tegmental area dopamine neuron firing profiles associated with responses to natural reward that predicted alcohol drinking. Using a dual chemogenetic approach, we mimicked specific mesolimbic dopamine neuron firing activity before or during voluntary alcohol drinking to link unique neurophysiological profiles to individual phenotype. We show that hyperdopaminergic individuals exhibit a lower neuronal response to both natural reward and alcohol that predicts lower levels of alcohol consumption in the future. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal unique, circuit-specific neural signatures that predict future individual vulnerability or resistance to alcohol and expand the current knowledge base on how some individuals are able to titrate their alcohol consumption whereas others go on to engage in unhealthy alcohol-drinking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Montgomery
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute and the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Long Li
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute and the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Scott J Russo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute and the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute and the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Departments of Pharmacology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute and the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Carole Morel
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute and the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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10
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Lattanzi S, Trinka E, Meletti S, Striano P, Matricardi S, Silvestrini M, Brigo F. A profile of azetukalner for the treatment of epilepsy: from pharmacology to potential for therapy. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2024; 17:423-432. [PMID: 38571335 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2024.2337012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epilepsies are a group of heterogeneous brain disorder, and antiseizure medications (ASMs) are the mainstay of treatment. Despite the availability of more than 30 drugs, at least one third of individuals with epilepsy are drug-resistant. This emphasizes the need for novel compounds that combine efficacy with improved tolerability. AREAS COVERED A literature review on the pharmacology, efficacy, tolerability, and safety of azetukalner (XEN1101), a second-generation opener of neuronal potassium channels currently in Phase 3 development as ASM. EXPERT OPINION Results from the phase 2b clinical trial strongly support the ongoing clinical development of azetukalner as a new ASM. Its pharmacokinetic properties support convenient once-daily dosing, eliminating the need for titration at initiation or tapering at the conclusion of treatment. CYP3A4 is the main enzyme involved in its metabolism and drug-drug interactions can affect the drug exposure. Preliminary analysis of an ongoing open-label study reveals no reported pigmentary abnormalities. The upcoming Phase 3 clinical trials are expected to provide further insight into the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of azetukalner in treating focal-onset and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Structurally distinct from currently marketed ASMs, azetukalner has the potential to be the only-in-class Kv7.2/7.3 opener on the market upon regulatory approval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Lattanzi
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Eugen Trinka
- Department of Neurology, Neurointensive Care, and Neurorehabilitation, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Salzburg, Austria
- Neuroscience Institute, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Christian Doppler University Hospital Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Public Health, Health Services Research and HTA, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall, Austria
| | - Stefano Meletti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Science, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, "G. Gaslini" Institute, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Sara Matricardi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Mauro Silvestrini
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Innovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Bolzano, Italy
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11
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Hou G, Hao M, Duan J, Han MH. The Formation and Function of the VTA Dopamine System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3875. [PMID: 38612683 PMCID: PMC11011984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The midbrain dopamine system is a sophisticated hub that integrates diverse inputs to control multiple physiological functions, including locomotion, motivation, cognition, reward, as well as maternal and reproductive behaviors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that binds to G-protein-coupled receptors. Dopamine also works together with other neurotransmitters and various neuropeptides to maintain the balance of synaptic functions. The dysfunction of the dopamine system leads to several conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, major depression, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been identified as an important relay nucleus that modulates homeostatic plasticity in the midbrain dopamine system. Due to the complexity of synaptic transmissions and input-output connections in the VTA, the structure and function of this crucial brain region are still not fully understood. In this review article, we mainly focus on the cell types, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, ion channels, receptors, and neural circuits of the VTA dopamine system, with the hope of obtaining new insight into the formation and function of this vital brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Hou
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Mei Hao
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiawen Duan
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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12
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Zhai X, Ai L, Chen D, Zhou D, Han Y, Ji R, Hu M, Wang Q, Zhang M, Wang Y, Zhang C, Yang JX, Hu A, Liu H, Cao JL, Zhang H. Multiple integrated social stress induces depressive-like behavioral and neural adaptations in female C57BL/6J mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 190:106374. [PMID: 38097092 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite women representing most of those affected by major depression, preclinical studies have focused almost exclusively on male subjects, partially due to a lack of ideal animal paradigms. As the persistent need regarding the sex balance of neuroscience research and female-specific pathology of mental disorders surges, the establishment of natural etiology-based and systematically validated animal paradigms for depression with female subjects becomes an urgent scientific problem. This study aims to establish, characterize, and validate a "Multiple Integrated Social Stress (MISS)" model of depression in female C57BL/6J mice by manipulating and integrating daily social stressors that females are experiencing. Female C57BL/6J mice randomly experienced social competition failure in tube test, modified vicarious social defeat stress, unescapable overcrowding stress followed by social isolation on each day, for ten consecutive days. Compared with their controls, female MISS mice exhibited a relatively decreased preference for social interaction and sucrose, along with increased immobility in the tail suspension test, which could last for at least one month. These MISS mice also exhibited increased levels of blood serum corticosterone, interleukin-6 L and 1β. In the pharmacological experiment, MISS-induced dysfunctions in social interaction, sucrose preference, and tail suspension tests were amended by systematically administrating a single dose of sub-anesthetic ketamine, a rapid-onset antidepressant. Compared with controls, MISS females exhibited decreased c-Fos activation in their anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and some other depression-related brain regions. Furthermore, 24 h after the last exposure to the paradigm, MISS mice demonstrated a decreased center zone time in the open field test and decreased open arm time in the elevated plus-maze test, indicating anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes. Interestingly, MISS mice developed an excessive nesting ability, suggesting a likely behavioral phenotype of obsessive-compulsive disorder. These data showed that the MISS paradigm was sufficient to generate pathological profiles in female mice to mimic core symptoms, serum biochemistry and neural adaptations of depression in clinical patients. The present study offers a multiple integrated natural etiology-based animal model tool for studying female stress susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Zhai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Lin Ai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Dandan Chen
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Dongyu Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Yi Han
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Ran Ji
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Mengfan Hu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Moruo Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Jun-Xia Yang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Ankang Hu
- Laboratory Animal Center of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, PR China
| | - He Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology & Clinical Research Center for Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou 313003, China; The Affiliated Huzhou Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Huzhou 313003, China; The Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Huzhou 313003, China; The Affiliated Central Hospital, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313003, China.
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Department of Anesthesiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
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13
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Liu E, Pang K, Liu M, Tan X, Hang Z, Mu S, Han W, Yue Q, Comai S, Sun J. Activation of Kv7 channels normalizes hyperactivity of the VTA-NAcLat circuit and attenuates methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference and sensitization in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:5183-5194. [PMID: 37604975 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02218-5] [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: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The brain circuit projecting from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens lateral shell (NAcLat) has a key role in methamphetamine (MA) addiction. As different dopamine (DA) neuron subpopulations in the VTA participate in different neuronal circuits, it is a challenge to isolate these DA neuron subtypes. Using retrograde tracing and Patch-seq, we isolated DA neurons in the VTA-NAcLat circuit in MA-treated mice and performed gene expression profiling. Among the differentially expressed genes, KCNQ genes were dramatically downregulated. KCNQ genes encode Kv7 channel proteins, which modulate neuronal excitability. Injection of both the Kv7.2/3 agonist ICA069673 and the Kv7.4 agonist fasudil into the VTA attenuated MA-induced conditioned place preference and locomotor sensitization and decreased neuronal excitability. Increasing Kv7.2/3 activity decreased neural oscillations, synaptic plasticity and DA release in the VTA-NacLat circuit in MA-treated mice. Furthermore, overexpression of only Kv7.3 channels in the VTA-NacLat circuit was sufficient to attenuate MA-induced reward behavior and decrease VTA neuron excitability. Activation of Kv7 channels in the VTA may become a novel treatment strategy for MA abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Kunkun Pang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Ultrasound, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xu Tan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaofang Hang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shouhong Mu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Weikai Han
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qingwei Yue
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Stefano Comai
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Jinhao Sun
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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14
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Cai M, Zhu Y, Shanley MR, Morel C, Ku SM, Zhang H, Shen Y, Friedman AK, Han MH. HCN channel inhibitor induces ketamine-like rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in chronic social defeat stress model. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 26:100565. [PMID: 37664876 PMCID: PMC10468802 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100565] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Repeated, long-term (weeks to months) exposure to standard antidepressant medications is required to achieve treatment efficacy. In contrast, acute ketamine quickly improves mood for an extended time. Recent work implicates that hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are involved in mediating ketamine's antidepressant effects. In this study, we directly targeted HCN channels and achieved ketamine-like rapid and sustained antidepressant efficacy. Our in vitro electrophysiological recordings first showed that HCN inhibitor DK-AH 269 (also called cilobradine) decreased the pathological HCN-mediated current (Ih) and abnormal hyperactivity of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons in a depressive-like model produced by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). Our in vivo studies further showed that acute intra-VTA or acute systemic administration of DK-AH 269 normalized social behavior and rescued sucrose preference in CSDS-susceptible mice. The single-dose of DK-AH 269, both by intra-VTA microinfusion and intraperitoneal (ip) approaches, could produce an extended 13-day duration of antidepressant-like efficacy. Animals treated with acute DK-AH 269 spent less time immobile than vehicle-treated mice during forced swim test. A social behavioral reversal lasted up to 13 days following the acute DK-AH 269 ip injection, and this rapid and sustained antidepressant-like response is paralleled with a single-dose treatment of ketamine. This study provides a novel ion channel target for acutely acting, long-lasting antidepressant-like effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Cai
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yingbo Zhu
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- China Shenzhen Naowunao Network Technology Co.,Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mary Regis Shanley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, Biology and Biochemistry PhD Program, Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carole Morel
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stacy M. Ku
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuan Shen
- Anesthesia and Brain Research Institute, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Allyson K. Friedman
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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15
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Qin Y, Li H, Zhang Y, Cao JL, Zhang W, Zhang H. Retigabine promotes ketamine's antidepressant effect in the forced swim test in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 230:173590. [PMID: 37336427 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173590] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Ketamine has been increasingly used as a rapid-onset antidepressant in specific clinical settings. However, as a psychedelic reagent, the potential of physical and psychological dependence limits its clinical use. Here, we added retigabine, a KCNQ channel opener, as an adjunctive treatment to observe its effect on ketamine's antidepressant property in a forced swim test in both male and female C57BL/6 J mice. Behavioral data demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of ketamine exhibited a dose-dependent effect on animals' immobility performance in the forced swim test. Adding retigabine was sufficient to induce a remarkable antidepressant effect in mice treated with a relatively lower dose of ketamine which failed to be antidepressant when administrated separately. When simultaneously gave retigabine, ketamine's antidepressant effect in the forced swim test was significantly enhanced with a prolonged effective duration. Together, these results from both male and female mice indicated that adjunctive treatment with retigabine was an alternative to promote the antidepressant effect of ketamine, thus holding the possibility of encountering its possible physical and psychological dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixue Qin
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; The Second Clinical School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Haoxuan Li
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; The Second Clinical School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Wenxin Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
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16
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Urena ES, Diezel CC, Serna M, Hala'ufia G, Majuta L, Barber KR, Vanderah TW, Riegel AC. K v 7 Channel Opener Retigabine Reduces Self-Administration of Cocaine but Not Sucrose in Rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.18.541208. [PMID: 37292619 PMCID: PMC10245780 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.18.541208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The increasing rates of drug misuse highlight the urgency of identifying improved therapeutics for treatment. Most drug-seeking behaviors that can be modeled in rodents utilize the repeated intravenous self-administration (SA) of drugs. Recent studies examining the mesolimbic pathway suggest that K v 7/KCNQ channels may contribute in the transition from recreational to chronic drug use. However, to date, all such studies used noncontingent, experimenter-delivered drug model systems, and the extent to which this effect generalizes to rats trained to self-administer drug is not known. Here, we tested the ability of retigabine (ezogabine), a K v 7 channel opener, to regulate instrumental behavior in male Sprague Dawley rats. We first validated the ability of retigabine to target experimenter-delivered cocaine in a CPP assay and found that retigabine reduced the acquisition of place preference. Next, we trained rats for cocaine-SA under a fixed-ratio or progressive-ratio reinforcement schedule and found that retigabine-pretreatment attenuated the self-administration of low to moderate doses of cocaine. This was not observed in parallel experiments, with rats self-administering sucrose, a natural reward. Compared to sucrose-SA, cocaine-SA was associated with reductions in the expression of the K v 7.5 subunit in the nucleus accumbens, without alterations in K v 7.2 and K v 7.3. Therefore, these studies reveal a reward specific reduction in SA behavior considered relevant for the study of long-term compulsive-like behavior and supports the notion that K v 7 is a potential therapeutic target for human psychiatric diseases with dysfunctional reward circuitry.
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17
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Hassamal S. Chronic stress, neuroinflammation, and depression: an overview of pathophysiological mechanisms and emerging anti-inflammatories. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1130989. [PMID: 37252156 PMCID: PMC10213648 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1130989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In a subset of patients, chronic exposure to stress is an etiological risk factor for neuroinflammation and depression. Neuroinflammation affects up to 27% of patients with MDD and is associated with a more severe, chronic, and treatment-resistant trajectory. Inflammation is not unique to depression and has transdiagnostic effects suggesting a shared etiological risk factor underlying psychopathologies and metabolic disorders. Research supports an association but not necessarily a causation with depression. Putative mechanisms link chronic stress to dysregulation of the HPA axis and immune cell glucocorticoid resistance resulting in hyperactivation of the peripheral immune system. The chronic extracellular release of DAMPs and immune cell DAMP-PRR signaling creates a feed forward loop that accelerates peripheral and central inflammation. Higher plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, most consistently interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, are correlated with greater depressive symptomatology. Cytokines sensitize the HPA axis, disrupt the negative feedback loop, and further propagate inflammatory reactions. Peripheral inflammation exacerbates central inflammation (neuroinflammation) through several mechanisms including disruption of the blood-brain barrier, immune cellular trafficking, and activation of glial cells. Activated glial cells release cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species into the extra-synaptic space dysregulating neurotransmitter systems, imbalancing the excitatory to inhibitory ratio, and disrupting neural circuitry plasticity and adaptation. In particular, microglial activation and toxicity plays a central role in the pathophysiology of neuroinflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies most consistently show reduced hippocampal volumes. Neural circuitry dysfunction such as hypoactivation between the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex underlies the melancholic phenotype of depression. Chronic administration of monoamine-based antidepressants counters the inflammatory response, but with a delayed therapeutic onset. Therapeutics targeting cell mediated immunity, generalized and specific inflammatory signaling pathways, and nitro-oxidative stress have enormous potential to advance the treatment landscape. Future clinical trials will need to include immune system perturbations as biomarker outcome measures to facilitate novel antidepressant development. In this overview, we explore the inflammatory correlates of depression and elucidate pathomechanisms to facilitate the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Hassamal
- California University of Sciences and Medicine, Colton, CA, United States
- Clinicaltriallink, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- California Neuropsychiatric Institute, Ontario, CA, United States
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18
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The laterodorsal tegmentum-ventral tegmental area circuit controls depression-like behaviors by activating ErbB4 in DA neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1027-1045. [PMID: 33990773 PMCID: PMC8590712 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01137-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are critical to coping with stress. However, molecular mechanisms regulating their activity and stress-induced depression were not well understood. We found that the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB4 in VTA was activated in stress-susceptible mice. Deleting ErbB4 in VTA or in DA neurons, or chemical genetic inhibition of ErbB4 kinase activity in VTA suppressed the development of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS)-induced depression-like behaviors. ErbB4 activation required the expression of NRG1 in the laterodorsal tegmentum (LDTg); LDTg-specific deletion of NRG1 inhibited depression-like behaviors. NRG1 and ErbB4 suppressed potassium currents of VTA DA neurons and increased their firing activity. Finally, we showed that acute inhibition of ErbB4 after stress attenuated DA neuron hyperactivity and expression of depression-like behaviors. Together, these observations demonstrate a critical role of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in regulating depression-like behaviors and identify an unexpected mechanism by which the LDTg-VTA circuit regulates the activity of DA neurons.
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19
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Estrous Cycle Mediates Midbrain Neuron Excitability Altering Social Behavior upon Stress. J Neurosci 2023; 43:736-748. [PMID: 36549906 PMCID: PMC9899085 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1504-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The estrous cycle is a potent modulator of neuron physiology. In rodents, in vivo ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) activity has been shown to fluctuate across the estrous cycle. Although the behavioral effect of fluctuating sex steroids on the reward circuit is well studied in response to drugs of abuse, few studies have focused on the molecular adaptations in the context of stress and motivated social behaviors. We hypothesized that estradiol fluctuations across the estrous cycle acts on the dopaminergic activity of the VTA to alter excitability and stress response. We used whole-cell slice electrophysiology of VTA DA neurons in naturally cycling, adult female C57BL/6J mice to characterize the effects of the estrous cycle and the role of 17β-estradiol on neuronal activity. We show that the estrous phase alters the effect of 17β-estradiol on excitability in the VTA. Behaviorally, the estrous phase during a series of acute variable social stressors modulates subsequent reward-related behaviors. Pharmacological inhibition of estrogen receptors in the VTA before stress during diestrus mimics the stress susceptibility found during estrus, whereas increased potassium channel activity in the VTA before stress reverses stress susceptibility found during estrus as assessed by social interaction behavior. This study identifies one possible potassium channel mechanism underlying the increased DA activity during estrus and reveals estrogen-dependent changes in neuronal function. Our findings demonstrate that the estrous cycle and estrogen signaling changes the physiology of DA neurons resulting in behavioral differences when the reward circuit is challenged with stress.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The activity of the ventral tegmental area encodes signals of stress and reward. Dopaminergic activity has been found to be regulated by both local synaptic inputs as well as inputs from other brain regions. Here, we provide evidence that cycling sex steroids also play a role in modulating stress sensitivity of dopaminergic reward behavior. Specifically, we reveal a correlation of ionic activity with estrous phase, which influences the behavioral response to stress. These findings shed new light on how estrous cycle may influence dopaminergic activity primarily during times of stress perturbation.
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20
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Dattilo V, Ulivi S, Minelli A, La Bianca M, Giacopuzzi E, Bortolomasi M, Bignotti S, Gennarelli M, Gasparini P, Concas MP. Genome-wide association studies on Northern Italy isolated populations provide further support concerning genetic susceptibility for major depressive disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023; 24:135-148. [PMID: 35615967 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2082523] [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] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric disorder with pathogenesis influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. To date, the molecular-level understanding of its aetiology remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to identify genetic variants and susceptibility genes for MDD with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach. METHODS We performed a meta-analysis of GWASs and a gene-based analysis on two Northern Italy isolated populations (cases/controls n = 166/472 and 33/320), followed by replication and polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses in Italian independent samples (cases n = 464, controls n = 339). RESULTS We identified two novel MDD-associated genes, KCNQ5 (lead SNP rs867262, p = 3.82 × 10-9) and CTNNA2 (rs6729523, p = 1.25 × 10-8). The gene-based analysis revealed another six genes (p < 2.703 × 10-6): GRM7, CTNT4, SNRK, SRGAP3, TRAPPC9, and FHIT. No replication of the genome-wide significant SNPs was found in the independent cohort, even if 14 SNPs around CTNNA2 showed association with MDD and related phenotypes at the nominal level of p (<0.05). Furthermore, the PRS model developed in the discovery cohort discriminated cases and controls in the replication cohort. CONCLUSIONS Our work suggests new possible genes associated with MDD, and the PRS analysis confirms the polygenic nature of this disorder. Future studies are required to better understand the role of these findings in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Dattilo
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sheila Ulivi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Martina La Bianca
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
| | - Edoardo Giacopuzzi
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Stefano Bignotti
- Unit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Gasparini
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.,Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria Pina Concas
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
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21
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Lin D, Li L, Chen WB, Chen J, Ren D, Zheng ZH, Zhao C, Zhong Y, Luo B, Jing H, Chen P, Zou S, Lai X, Zhou T, Ding N, Li L, Pan BX, Fei E. LHPP, a risk factor for major depressive disorder, regulates stress-induced depression-like behaviors through its histidine phosphatase activity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:908-918. [PMID: 36460727 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01893-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Histidine phosphorylation (pHis), occurring on the histidine of substrate proteins, is a hidden phosphoproteome that is poorly characterized in mammals. LHPP (phospholysine phosphohistidine inorganic pyrophosphate phosphatase) is one of the histidine phosphatases and its encoding gene was recently identified as a susceptibility gene for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about how LHPP or pHis contributes to depression. Here, by using integrative approaches of genetics, behavior and electrophysiology, we observed that LHPP in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was essential in preventing stress-induced depression-like behaviors. While genetic deletion of LHPP per se failed to affect the mice's depression-like behaviors, it markedly augmented the behaviors upon chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). This augmentation could be recapitulated by the local deletion of LHPP in mPFC. By contrast, overexpressing LHPP in mPFC increased the mice's resilience against CSDS, suggesting a critical role of mPFC LHPP in stress-induced depression. We further found that LHPP deficiency increased the levels of histidine kinases (NME1/2) and global pHis in the cortex, and decreased glutamatergic transmission in mPFC upon CSDS. NME1/2 served as substrates of LHPP, with the Aspartic acid 17 (D17), Threonine 54 (T54), or D214 residue within LHPP being critical for its phosphatase activity. Finally, reintroducing LHPP, but not LHPP phosphatase-dead mutants, into the mPFC of LHPP-deficient mice reversed their behavioral and synaptic deficits upon CSDS. Together, these results demonstrate a critical role of LHPP in regulating stress-related depression and provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Luhui Li
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Wen-Bing Chen
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Jiang Chen
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Dongyan Ren
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Changqin Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yanzi Zhong
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Hongyang Jing
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Suqi Zou
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xinsheng Lai
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Tian Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ning Ding
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Lei Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China. .,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Erkang Fei
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China. .,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
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22
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Miura Y, Shanley MR, Urbaez A, Friedman AK. Electrophysiologically distinct bed nucleus of the stria terminalis projections to the ventral tegmental area in mice. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 16:1081099. [PMID: 36698552 PMCID: PMC9870318 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.1081099] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a highly heterogeneous limbic forebrain structure that serves as a relay connecting autonomic, neuroendocrine and behavioral function. It can be divided into over 16 individual subregions with distinct neuronal subpopulations based on receptors, transmitters, and neuropeptides. Specifically, the BNST projection to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the dopamine hub of the brain, has been shown to have a crucial role in the stress response. However, in mice there is a lack of unbiased data on the functional diversity of this sub-population which serves as an upstream input to the VTA. The dopaminergic neurons in the VTA modify their ion channel activity and intrinsic membrane properties to adapt to stress in part from inputs from BNST projections. Therefore, we aimed to perform a multi-component characterization of the functional diversity of the BNST-VTA pathway. We studied the passive and active electrophysiological properties of virally identified population of BNST neurons that project to the VTA. We used a comprehensive series of in vitro recordings of electrophysiological variables and performed hierarchical clustering to determine the functional diversity of the projection neurons in the BNST-VTA pathway. Our study revealed four subpopulations in the BNST-VTA pathway, all of which differ in their activation profiles and likely have distinct inputs and function in the VTA. Our results will help resolve the discord in interpretation of the various roles of this electrophysiologically diverse projection and builds a foundation for understanding how the different neuronal types integrate signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Miura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mary Regis Shanley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ashley Urbaez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Allyson K. Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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23
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Zhai X, Zhou D, Han Y, Han MH, Zhang H. Noradrenergic modulation of stress resilience. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106598. [PMID: 36481260 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Resilience represents an active adaption process in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. Investigations of neurobiological mechanisms of resilience opens an innovative direction for preclinical research and drug development for various stress-related disorders. The locus coeruleus norepinephrine system has been implicated in mediating stress susceptibility versus resilience. It has attracted increasing attention over the past decades with the revolution of modern neuroscience technologies. In this review article, we first briefly go over resilience-related concepts and introduce rodent paradigms for segregation of susceptibility and resilience, then highlight recent literature that identifies the neuronal and molecular substrates of active resilience in the locus coeruleus, and discuss possible future directions for resilience investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Zhai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Dongyu Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Yi Han
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong 518055, China; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
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24
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Morris LS, Mehta M, Ahn C, Corniquel M, Verma G, Delman B, Hof PR, Jacob Y, Balchandani P, Murrough JW. Ventral tegmental area integrity measured with high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI relates to motivation across depression and anxiety diagnoses. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119704. [PMID: 36349598 PMCID: PMC9801251 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one of the major sources of dopamine in the brain and has been associated with reward prediction, error-based reward learning, volitional drive and anhedonia. However, precise anatomical investigations of the VTA have been prevented by the use of standard-resolution MRI, reliance on subjective manual tracings, and lack of quantitative measures of dopamine-related signal. Here, we combine ultra-high field 400 µm3 quantitative MRI with dopamine-related signal mapping, and a mixture of machine learning and supervised computational techniques to delineate the VTA in a transdiagnostic sample of subjects with and without depression and anxiety disorders. Subjects also underwent cognitive testing to measure intrinsic and extrinsic motivational tone. Fifty-one subjects were scanned in total, including healthy control (HC) and mood/anxiety (MA) disorder subjects. MA subjects had significantly larger VTA volumes compared to HC but significantly lower signal intensity within VTA compared to HC, indicating reduced structural integrity of the dopaminergic VTA. Interestingly, while VTA integrity did not significantly correlate with self-reported depression or anxiety symptoms, it was correlated with an objective cognitive measure of extrinsic motivation, whereby lower VTA integrity was associated with lower motivation. This is the first study to demonstrate a computational pipeline for detecting and delineating the VTA in human subjects with 400 μm3 resolution. We highlight the use of objective transdiagnostic measures of cognitive function that link neural integrity to behavior across clinical and non-clinical groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel S Morris
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
| | - Marishka Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Christopher Ahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Morgan Corniquel
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Gaurav Verma
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Bradley Delman
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Yael Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Priti Balchandani
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - James W Murrough
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
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25
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Sung CW, Chang WT, Chan MH, Kuo TH, Chen HH. L-4-Fluorophenylglycine produces antidepressant-like effects and enhances resilience to stress in mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113726. [PMID: 36166962 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113726] [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] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
D-serine has attracted increasing attention for its possible role in depression. L-4-Fluorophenylglycine (L-4FPG), an inhibitor of the neutral amino acid transporter ASCT1/2, has been shown to regulate extracellular D-serine levels. The present study aimed to explore the potential antidepressant effects of L-4FPG. First, the acute effects of L-4FPG on the forced swimming test, elevated plus maze test, and novelty-suppressed feeding test were examined. L-4FPG showed antidepressant-like effects, which could be reversed by rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist. The phosphorylation levels of mTOR and GluR1 in the hippocampus were also increased after L-4FPG treatment. Next, the therapeutic effects of L-4FPG were examined in a chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model of depression. L-4FPG ameliorated depression-like behaviors in mice subjected to CSDS. Furthermore, treatment with L-4FPG prior to each social defeat stress session not only decreased defensive behaviors but also prevented CSDS-induced social avoidance and anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors. These findings suggest that L-4FPG may be useful not only in alleviating depression but also in protecting against chronic stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Wei Sung
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing-Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan; Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Tang Chang
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Huan Chan
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Chengchi University, 64, Section 2, Zhinan Road, Taipei 11605, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Han Kuo
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing-Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan.
| | - Hwei-Hsien Chen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; Institute of Neuroscience, National Chengchi University, 64, Section 2, Zhinan Road, Taipei 11605, Taiwan.
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26
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Zhang H, Cui M, Cao JL, Han MH. The Role of Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in Depression and Resilience. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2378. [PMID: 36289638 PMCID: PMC9598882 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Norepinephrine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter that has been extensively implicated in the neurobiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). An accumulating body of evidence indicates that investigations into the action of norepinephrine at the synaptic/receptor level hold high potential for a better understanding of MDD neuropathology and introduce possibilities for developing novel treatments for depression. In this review article, we discuss recent advances in depression neuropathology and the effects of antidepressant medications based on preclinical and clinical studies related to beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes. We also highlight a beta-3 adrenergic receptor-involved mechanism that promotes stress resilience, through which antidepressant efficacy is achieved in both rodent models for depression and patients with major depression-an alternative therapeutic strategy that is conceptually different from the typical therapeutic approach in which treatment efficacy is achieved by reversing pathological alterations rather than by enhancing a good mechanism such as natural resilience. Altogether, in this review, we systematically describe the role of beta-adrenergic receptors in depression and stress resilience and provide a new avenue for developing a conceptually innovative treatment for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Mengqiao Cui
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Disease, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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27
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Viral vector-mediated expressions of venom peptides as novel gene therapy for anxiety and depression. Med Hypotheses 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2022.110910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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28
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Segi-Nishida E, Suzuki K. Regulation of adult-born and mature neurons in stress response and antidepressant action in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Neurosci Res 2022:S0168-0102(22)00233-4. [PMID: 36030966 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.08.010] [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: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus has been implicated in the regulation of stress responses, and in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. This review discusses the cellular changes caused by chronic stress and the cellular role of the DG in stress-induced behavioral changes and its antidepressant-like effects. Regarding adult-born neurogenic processes in the DG, chronic stress, such as repeated social defeat, suppresses cell proliferation during and immediately after stress; however, this effect is transient. The subsequent differentiation and survival processes are differentially regulated depending on the timing and sensitivity of stress. The activation of young adult-born neurons during stress contributes to stress resilience, while the transient increase in the survival of adult-born neurons after the cessation of stress seems to promote stress susceptibility. In mature granule neurons, the predominant cells in the DG, synaptic plasticity is suppressed by chronic stress. However, a group of mature granule neurons is activated by chronic stress. Chronic antidepressant treatment can transform mature granule neurons to a phenotype resembling that of immature neurons, characterized as "dematuration". Adult-born neurons suppress the activation of mature granule neurons during stress, indicating that local neural interactions within the DG are important for the stress response. Elucidating the stress-associated context- and timing-dependent cellular changes and functions in the DG will provide insights into stress-related psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eri Segi-Nishida
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kanzo Suzuki
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Noradrenaline activation of hippocampal dopamine D 1 receptors promotes antidepressant effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117903119. [PMID: 35939697 PMCID: PMC9388128 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117903119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) are essential for antidepressant effects. However, the midbrain dopaminergic neurons, the major source of dopamine in the brain, only sparsely project to DG, suggesting possible activation of DG D1Rs by endogenous substances other than dopamine. We have examined this possibility using electrophysiological and biochemical techniques and found robust activation of D1Rs in mouse DG neurons by noradrenaline. Noradrenaline at the micromolar range potentiated synaptic transmission at the DG output and increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase A substrates in DG via activation of D1Rs and β adrenergic receptors. Neuronal excitation preferentially enhanced noradrenaline-induced synaptic potentiation mediated by D1Rs with minor effects on β-receptor-dependent potentiation. Increased voluntary exercise by wheel running also enhanced noradrenaline-induced, D1R-mediated synaptic potentiation, suggesting a distinct functional role of the noradrenaline-D1R signaling. We then examined the role of this signaling in antidepressant effects using mice exposed to chronic restraint stress. In the stressed mice, an antidepressant acting on the noradrenergic system induced a mature-to-immature change in the DG neuron phenotype, a previously proposed cellular substrate for antidepressant action. This effect was evident only in mice subjected to wheel running and blocked by a D1R antagonist. These results suggest a critical role of noradrenaline-induced activation of D1Rs in antidepressant effects in DG. Experience-dependent regulation of noradrenaline-D1R signaling may determine responsiveness to antidepressant drugs in depressive disorders.
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30
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Petković A, Chaudhury D. Encore: Behavioural animal models of stress, depression and mood disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:931964. [PMID: 36004305 PMCID: PMC9395206 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.931964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal studies over the past two decades have led to extensive advances in our understanding of pathogenesis of depressive and mood disorders. Among these, rodent behavioural models proved to be of highest informative value. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the most popular behavioural models with respect to physiological, circuit, and molecular biological correlates. Behavioural stress paradigms and behavioural tests are assessed in terms of outcomes, strengths, weaknesses, and translational value, especially in the domain of pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dipesh Chaudhury
- Laboratory of Neural Systems and Behaviour, Department of Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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31
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Pizzagalli DA. Toward a Better Understanding of the Mechanisms and Pathophysiology of Anhedonia: Are We Ready for Translation? Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:458-469. [PMID: 35775159 PMCID: PMC9308971 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Anhedonia-the loss of pleasure or lack of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli-remains a formidable treatment challenge across neuropsychiatric disorders. In major depressive disorder, anhedonia has been linked to poor disease course, worse response to psychological, pharmacological, and neurostimulation treatments, and increased suicide risk. Moreover, although some neural abnormalities linked to anhedonia normalize after successful treatment, several persist-for example, blunted activation of the ventral striatum to reward-related cues and reduced functional connectivity involving the ventral striatum. Critically, some of these abnormalities have also been identified in unaffected, never-depressed children of parents with major depressive disorder and have been found to prospectively predict the first onset of major depression. Thus, neural abnormalities linked to anhedonia may be promising targets for prevention. Despite increased appreciation of the clinical importance of anhedonia and its underlying neural mechanisms, important gaps remain. In this overview, the author first summarizes the extant knowledge about the pathophysiology of anhedonia, which may provide a road map toward novel treatment and prevention strategies, and then highlights several priorities to facilitate clinically meaningful breakthroughs. These include a need for 1) appropriately controlled clinical trials, especially those embracing an experimental therapeutics approach to probe target engagement; 2) novel preclinical models relevant to anhedonia, with stronger translational value; and 3) clinical scales that incorporate neuroscientific advances in our understanding of anhedonia. The author concludes by highlighting important future directions, emphasizing the need for an integrated, collaborative, cross-species, and multilevel approach to tackling anhedonic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Pizzagalli
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass
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32
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Ketamine exerts its sustained antidepressant effects via cell-type-specific regulation of Kcnq2. Neuron 2022; 110:2283-2298.e9. [PMID: 35649415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A single sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine produces a rapid and sustained antidepressant response, yet the molecular mechanisms responsible for this remain unclear. Here, we identified cell-type-specific transcriptional signatures associated with a sustained ketamine response in mice. Most interestingly, we identified the Kcnq2 gene as an important downstream regulator of ketamine action in glutamatergic neurons of the ventral hippocampus. We validated these findings through a series of complementary molecular, electrophysiological, cellular, pharmacological, behavioral, and functional experiments. We demonstrated that adjunctive treatment with retigabine, a KCNQ activator, augments ketamine's antidepressant-like effects in mice. Intriguingly, these effects are ketamine specific, as they do not modulate a response to classical antidepressants, such as escitalopram. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine, with important clinical implications.
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33
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Bracht T, Mertse N, Walther S, Lüdi K, Breit S, Federspiel A, Wiest R, Denier N. Link between structural connectivity of the medial forebrain bundle, functional connectivity of the ventral tegmental area, and anhedonia in unipolar depression. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:102961. [PMID: 35152053 PMCID: PMC8844724 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tract volume and number of tracts are reduced in the left slMFB. Those microstructural alterations are related to depression severity and anhedonia. There is increased VTA-PFC functional connectivity in depression. Those increases are more pronounced in patients with severe anhedonia. Our results extend pathophysiological models of anhedonia in depression.
The ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are essential for experiencing pleasure and initiating motivated behaviour. The VTA, NAcc, and PFC are connected through the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). In humans, two branches have been described: an infero-medial branch (imMFB) and a supero-lateral branch (slMFB). This study aimed to explore the associations between structural connectivity of the MFB, functional connectivity (FC) of the VTA, anhedonia, and depression severity in patients with depression. Fifty-six patients with unipolar depression and 22 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and handedness were recruited at the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Bern, Switzerland. Diffusion-weighted imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired. Using manual tractography, the imMFB and slMFB were reconstructed bilaterally for each participant. Seed-based resting-state FC was computed from the VTA to the PFC. Hedonic tone was assessed using the Fawcett-Clark Pleasure Scale. We identified reduced tract volume and reduced number of tracts in the left slMFB. There was an increase in FC between the VTA and right medial PFC in patients with depression. Depression severity was associated with reduced tract volume and fewer tracts in the left slMFB. Reduced hedonic tone was associated with reduced tract volume. Conversely, reduced hedonic tone was associated with increased FC between the VTA and the PFC. In conclusion, our results suggest reduced structural connectivity of the slMFB in patients with depression. Increases in FC between the VTA and PFC may be associated with anhedonia or compensatory hyperactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Bracht
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Nicolas Mertse
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Walther
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karin Lüdi
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sigrid Breit
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Niklaus Denier
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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34
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Morel C, Montgomery SE, Li L, Durand-de Cuttoli R, Teichman EM, Juarez B, Tzavaras N, Ku SM, Flanigan ME, Cai M, Walsh JJ, Russo SJ, Nestler EJ, Calipari ES, Friedman AK, Han MH. Midbrain projection to the basolateral amygdala encodes anxiety-like but not depression-like behaviors. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1532. [PMID: 35318315 PMCID: PMC8940900 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29155-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are complex diseases, and often co-occur with depression. It is as yet unclear if a common neural circuit controls anxiety-related behaviors in both anxiety-alone and comorbid conditions. Here, utilizing the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) paradigm that induces singular or combined anxiety- and depressive-like phenotypes in mice, we show that a ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine circuit projecting to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) selectively controls anxiety- but not depression-like behaviors. Using circuit-dissecting ex vivo electrophysiology and in vivo fiber photometry approaches, we establish that expression of anxiety-like, but not depressive-like, phenotypes are negatively correlated with VTA → BLA dopamine neuron activity. Further, our optogenetic studies demonstrate a causal link between such neuronal activity and anxiety-like behaviors. Overall, these data establish a functional role for VTA → BLA dopamine neurons in bi-directionally controlling anxiety-related behaviors not only in anxiety-alone, but also in anxiety-depressive comorbid conditions in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Morel
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Sarah E. Montgomery
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Long Li
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Romain Durand-de Cuttoli
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Emily M. Teichman
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Barbara Juarez
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.412623.00000 0000 8535 6057Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA USA ,grid.412623.00000 0000 8535 6057Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Nikos Tzavaras
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Microscopy Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Stacy M. Ku
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Meghan E. Flanigan
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Min Cai
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Jessica J. Walsh
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Scott J. Russo
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Erin S. Calipari
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Allyson K. Friedman
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.257167.00000 0001 2183 6649Department of Biological Science, Hunter College at the City University of New York, New York, NY USA
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Friedman Brain Institute, Center for Affective Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.458489.c0000 0001 0483 7922Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong China
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35
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Faure P, Fayad SL, Solié C, Reynolds LM. Social Determinants of Inter-Individual Variability and Vulnerability: The Role of Dopamine. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:836343. [PMID: 35386723 PMCID: PMC8979673 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.836343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals differ in their traits and preferences, which shape their interactions, their prospects for survival and their susceptibility to diseases. These correlations are well documented, yet the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the emergence of distinct personalities and their relation to vulnerability to diseases are poorly understood. Social ties, in particular, are thought to be major modulators of personality traits and psychiatric vulnerability, yet the majority of neuroscience studies are performed on rodents in socially impoverished conditions. Rodent micro-society paradigms are therefore key experimental paradigms to understand how social life generates diversity by shaping individual traits. Dopamine circuitry is implicated at the interface between social life experiences, the expression of essential traits, and the emergence of pathologies, thus proving a possible mechanism to link these three concepts at a neuromodulatory level. Evaluating inter-individual variability in automated social testing environments shows great promise for improving our understanding of the link between social life, personality, and precision psychiatry – as well as elucidating the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.
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Costi S, Han MH, Murrough JW. The Potential of KCNQ Potassium Channel Openers as Novel Antidepressants. CNS Drugs 2022; 36:207-216. [PMID: 35258812 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-021-00885-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and less than one-third of patients with MDD achieve stable remission of symptoms, despite currently available treatments. Although MDD represents a serious health problem, a complete understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this condition continues to be elusive. Accumulating evidence from preclinical and animal studies provides support for the antidepressant potential of modulators of KCNQ voltage-gated potassium (K+) channels. KCNQ K+ channels, through regulation of neuronal excitability and activity, contribute to neurophysiological mechanisms underlying stress resilience, and represent potential targets of drug discovery for depression. The present article focuses on the pharmacology and efficacy of KCNQ2/3 K+ channel openers as novel therapeutic agents for depressive disorders from initial studies conducted on animal models showing depressive-like behaviors to recent work in humans that examines the potential for KCNQ2/3 channel modulators as novel antidepressants. Data from preclinical work suggest that KCNQ-type K+ channels are an active mediator of stress resilience and KCNQ2/3 K+ channel openers show antidepressant efficacy. Similarly, evidence from clinical trials conducted in patients with MDD using the KCNQ2/3 channel opener ezogabine (retigabine) showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms and anhedonia. Overall, KCNQ channel openers appear a promising target for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and specifically for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Costi
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Affective Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - James W Murrough
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA. .,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Abstract
Since prehistory, human species have depended on plants for both food and medicine. Even in countries with ready access to modern medicines, alternative treatments are still highly regarded and commonly used. Unlike modern pharmaceuticals, many botanical medicines are in widespread use despite a lack of safety and efficacy data derived from controlled clinical trials and often unclear mechanisms of action. Contributing to this are the complex and undefined composition and likely multifactorial mechanisms of action and multiple targets of many botanical medicines. Here, we review the newfound importance of the ubiquitous KCNQ subfamily of voltage-gated potassium channels as targets for botanical medicines, including basil, capers, cilantro, lavender, fennel, chamomile, ginger, and Camellia, Sophora, and Mallotus species. We discuss the implications for the traditional use of these plants for disorders such as seizures, hypertension, and diabetes and the molecular mechanisms of plant secondary metabolite effects on KCNQ channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn E Redford
- Bioelectricity Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA;
| | - Geoffrey W Abbott
- Bioelectricity Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA;
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38
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Klein ME, Grice AB, Sheth S, Go M, Murrough JW. Pharmacological Treatments for Anhedonia. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 58:467-489. [PMID: 35507281 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_357] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Anhedonia - the reduced ability to experience or respond to pleasure - is an important symptom domain for many psychiatric disorders. It is particularly relevant to depression and other mood disorders and it is a diagnostic criterion of a major depressive episode. Developing safe and effective pharmacological interventions for anhedonia is a critical public health need. The current chapter will review the state of the field with respect to both the efficacy of currently available pharmacotherapies for anhedonia and the recent clinical research focusing on new brain targets, including the kappa-opioid receptor and the KCNQ2/3 receptors. The evidence for anti-anhedonic effects of ketamine and psychedelic agents will be reviewed, as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Klein
- Depression and Anxiety Center, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ariela Buxbaum Grice
- Depression and Anxiety Center, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sahil Sheth
- Depression and Anxiety Center, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan Go
- Depression and Anxiety Center, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - James W Murrough
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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The Editors. 2021 Articles of Import and Impact. Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:17-20. [PMID: 34974759 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21111087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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40
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Eren-Koçak E, Dalkara T. Ion Channel Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation in Migraine and Depression. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:777607. [PMID: 34858192 PMCID: PMC8631474 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.777607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Migraine and major depression are debilitating disorders with high lifetime prevalence rates. Interestingly these disorders are highly comorbid and show significant heritability, suggesting shared pathophysiological mechanisms. Non-homeostatic function of ion channels and neuroinflammation may be common mechanisms underlying both disorders: The excitation-inhibition balance of microcircuits and their modulation by monoaminergic systems, which depend on the expression and function of membrane located K+, Na+, and Ca+2 channels, have been reported to be disturbed in both depression and migraine. Ion channels and energy supply to synapses not only change excitability of neurons but can also mediate the induction and maintenance of inflammatory signaling implicated in the pathophysiology of both disorders. In this respect, Pannexin-1 and P2X7 large-pore ion channel receptors can induce inflammasome formation that triggers release of pro-inflammatory mediators from the cell. Here, the role of ion channels involved in the regulation of excitation-inhibition balance, synaptic energy homeostasis as well as inflammatory signaling in migraine and depression will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emine Eren-Koçak
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Turgay Dalkara
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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41
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Progression of KCNQ4 related genetic hearing loss: a narrative review. JOURNAL OF BIO-X RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1097/jbr.0000000000000112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Autism-associated mutations in K V7 channels induce gating pore current. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2112666118. [PMID: 34728568 PMCID: PMC8609342 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112666118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) adversely impacts >1% of children in the United States, causing social interaction deficits, repetitive behaviors, and communication disorders. Genetic analysis of ASD has advanced dramatically through genome sequencing, which has identified >500 genes with mutations in ASD. Mutations that alter arginine gating charges in the voltage sensor of the voltage-gated potassium (KV) channel KV7 (KCNQ) are among those frequently associated with ASD. We hypothesized that these gating charge mutations would induce gating pore current (also termed ω-current) by causing an ionic leak through the mutant voltage sensor. Unexpectedly, we found that wild-type KV7 conducts outward gating pore current through its native voltage sensor at positive membrane potentials, owing to a glutamine in the third gating charge position. In bacterial and human KV7 channels, gating charge mutations at the R1 and R2 positions cause inward gating pore current through the resting voltage sensor at negative membrane potentials, whereas mutation at R4 causes outward gating pore current through the activated voltage sensor at positive potentials. Remarkably, expression of the KV7.3/R2C ASD-associated mutation in vivo in midbrain dopamine neurons of mice disrupts action potential generation and repetitive firing. Overall, our results reveal native and mutant gating pore current in KV7 channels and implicate altered control of action potential generation by gating pore current through mutant KV7 channels as a potential pathogenic mechanism in autism.
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Zhang L, Wang J, Niu C, Zhang Y, Zhu T, Huang D, Ma J, Sun H, Gamper N, Du X, Zhang H. Activation of parabrachial nucleus - ventral tegmental area pathway underlies the comorbid depression in chronic neuropathic pain in mice. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109936. [PMID: 34731609 PMCID: PMC8578703 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression symptoms are often found in patients suffering from chronic pain, a phenomenon that is yet to be understood mechanistically. Here, we systematically investigate the cellular mechanisms and circuits underlying the chronic-pain-induced depression behavior. We show that the development of chronic pain is accompanied by depressive-like behaviors in a mouse model of trigeminal neuralgia. In parallel, we observe increased activity of the dopaminergic (DA) neuron in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA), and inhibition of this elevated VTA DA neuron activity reverses the behavioral manifestations of depression. Further studies establish a pathway of glutamatergic projections from the spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Sp5C) to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) and then to the VTA. These glutamatergic projections form a direct circuit that controls the development of the depression-like behavior under the state of the chronic neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China; Department of Pharmacochemistry, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050091, China
| | - Chenxu Niu
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Tiantian Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Dongyang Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China; Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, YanTai, Shandong 264003, China
| | - Nikita Gamper
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Xiaona Du
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Hailin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China.
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44
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He Z, Jiang Y, Gu S, Wu D, Qin D, Feng G, Ma X, Huang JH, Wang F. The Aversion Function of the Limbic Dopaminergic Neurons and Their Roles in Functional Neurological Disorders. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:713762. [PMID: 34616730 PMCID: PMC8488171 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.713762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Freudian theory of conversion suggested that the major symptoms of functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are due to internal conflicts at motivation, especially at the sex drive or libido. FND patients might behave properly at rewarding situations, but they do not know how to behave at aversive situations. Sex drive is the major source of dopamine (DA) release in the limbic area; however, the neural mechanism involved in FND is not clear. Dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons have been shown to play a key role in processing motivation-related information. Recently, DAergic neurons are found to be involved in reward-related prediction error, as well as the prediction of aversive information. Therefore, it is suggested that DA might change the rewarding reactions to aversive reactions at internal conflicts of FND. So DAergic neurons in the limbic areas might induce two major motivational functions: reward and aversion at internal conflicts. This article reviewed the recent advances on studies about DAergic neurons involved in aversive stimulus processing at internal conflicts and summarizes several neural pathways, including four limbic system brain regions, which are involved in the processing of aversion. Then the article discussed the vital function of these neural circuits in addictive behavior, depression treatment, and FNDs. In all, this review provided a prospect for future research on the aversion function of limbic system DA neurons and the therapy of FNDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengming He
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Jiang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Simeng Gu
- Department of Psychology, Jiangsu University Medical School, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Dandan Wu
- Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Duo Qin
- School of Foreign Languages, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangkui Feng
- Department of Neurology, Lianyungang Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianjun Ma
- Department of Neurology, Lianyungang Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jason H Huang
- Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Fushun Wang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Neurology, Lianyungang Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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45
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Wu PF, Han QQ, Chen FF, Shen TT, Li YH, Cao Y, Chen JG, Wang F. Erasing m 6A-dependent transcription signature of stress-sensitive genes triggers antidepressant actions. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100390. [PMID: 34527794 PMCID: PMC8430387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence has shown that stress responsivity and psychiatric diseases are associated with alterations in N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA epigenetic modifications. Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an m6A demethylase that has been linked to increased body mass and obesity. Here, we show that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) with weight-gain side effects, such as imipramine and amitriptyline, directly increased FTO expression and activated its epigenetic function in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). VTA-specific genetic disruption of FTO increased stress vulnerability and abolished the antidepressant activity of TCAs, whereas erasing m6A modification in the VTA by FTO overexpression or cycloleucine led to significant antidepressant activity. Mechanistically, both transcriptome sequencing and quantitative PCR revealed that overexpression of FTO in the VTA decreased the transcription of stress-related neuropeptides, such as cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and urocortin, in the social defeat model, which was mimicked by imipramine, suggesting an m6A-dependent transcription mechanism of stress-related neuropeptides may underlie the responses to antidepressant. Collectively, our results demonstrate that inhibiting m6A-dependent transcription of stress-related genes may work as a novel antidepressant strategy and highlight a previously unrecognized activator of FTO-dependent epigenetic function that may be used for the treatment of other neurological diseases. TCAs erase m6A epigenetic modification by activating FTO. FTO mediates the antidepressant activity of TCAs. FTO in the VTA confers stress resistance. FTO in the VTA limits m6A-dependent transcription of stress-sensitive genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qian-Qian Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Fu-Feng Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Tian-Tian Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi-Heng Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian-Guo Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, 430030, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430030, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
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Dwivedi D, Bhalla US. Physiology and Therapeutic Potential of SK, H, and M Medium AfterHyperPolarization Ion Channels. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:658435. [PMID: 34149352 PMCID: PMC8209339 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.658435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
SK, HCN, and M channels are medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP)-mediating ion channels. The three channels co-express in various brain regions, and their collective action strongly influences cellular excitability. However, significant diversity exists in the expression of channel isoforms in distinct brain regions and various subcellular compartments, which contributes to an equally diverse set of specific neuronal functions. The current review emphasizes the collective behavior of the three classes of mAHP channels and discusses how these channels function together although they play specialized roles. We discuss the biophysical properties of these channels, signaling pathways that influence the activity of the three mAHP channels, various chemical modulators that alter channel activity and their therapeutic potential in treating various neurological anomalies. Additionally, we discuss the role of mAHP channels in the pathophysiology of various neurological diseases and how their modulation can alleviate some of the symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepanjali Dwivedi
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, India.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Stanley Center at the Broad, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Upinder S Bhalla
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, India
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47
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Costi S, Morris LS, Kirkwood KA, Hoch M, Corniquel M, Vo-Le B, Iqbal T, Chadha N, Pizzagalli DA, Whitton A, Bevilacqua L, Jha MK, Ursu S, Swann AC, Collins KA, Salas R, Bagiella E, Parides MK, Stern ER, Iosifescu DV, Han MH, Mathew SJ, Murrough JW. Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry 2021; 178:437-446. [PMID: 33653118 PMCID: PMC8791195 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Preclinical studies point to the KCNQ2/3 potassium channel as a novel target for the treatment of depression and anhedonia, a reduced ability to experience pleasure. The authors conducted the first randomized placebo-controlled trial testing the effect of the KCNQ2/3 positive modulator ezogabine on reward circuit activity and clinical outcomes in patients with depression. METHODS Depressed individuals (N=45) with elevated levels of anhedonia were assigned to a 5-week treatment period with ezogabine (900 mg/day; N=21) or placebo (N=24). Participants underwent functional MRI during a reward flanker task at baseline and following treatment. Clinical measures of depression and anhedonia were collected at weekly visits. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to week 5 in ventral striatum activation during reward anticipation. Secondary endpoints included depression and anhedonia severity as measured using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), respectively. RESULTS The study did not meet its primary neuroimaging endpoint. Participants in the ezogabine group showed a numerical increase in ventral striatum response to reward anticipation following treatment compared with participants in the placebo group from baseline to week 5. Compared with placebo, ezogabine was associated with a significantly larger improvement in MADRS and SHAPS scores and other clinical endpoints. Ezogabine was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS The study did not meet its primary neuroimaging endpoint, although the effect of treatment was significant on several secondary clinical endpoints. In aggregate, the findings may suggest that future studies of the KCNQ2/3 channel as a novel treatment target for depression and anhedonia are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Costi
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laurel S. Morris
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine A. Kirkwood
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan Hoch
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Morgan Corniquel
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brittany Vo-Le
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tabish Iqbal
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nisha Chadha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Diego A. Pizzagalli
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School & McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Alexis Whitton
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School & McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA,School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laura Bevilacqua
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manish K. Jha
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefan Ursu
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alan C Swann
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katherine A. Collins
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Ramiro Salas
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emilia Bagiella
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael K. Parides
- Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Emily R. Stern
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Dan V. Iosifescu
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA,Center for Affective Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sanjay J. Mathew
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James W. Murrough
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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48
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Borgini M, Mondal P, Liu R, Wipf P. Chemical modulation of Kv7 potassium channels. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:483-537. [PMID: 34046626 PMCID: PMC8128042 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00328j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising interest in Kv7 modulators originates from their ability to evoke fundamental electrophysiological perturbations in a tissue-specific manner. A large number of therapeutic applications are, in part, based on the clinical experience with two broad-spectrum Kv7 agonists, flupirtine and retigabine. Since precise molecular structures of human Kv7 channel subtypes in closed and open states have only very recently started to emerge, computational studies have traditionally been used to analyze binding modes and direct the development of more potent and selective Kv7 modulators with improved safety profiles. Herein, the synthetic and medicinal chemistry of small molecule modulators and the representative biological properties are summarized. Furthermore, new therapeutic applications supported by in vitro and in vivo assay data are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Borgini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Pravat Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Ruiting Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
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49
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KCNQ Channels in the Mesolimbic Reward Circuit Regulate Nociception in Chronic Pain in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:597-610. [PMID: 33900570 PMCID: PMC8099961 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic (DA) neurons have been implicated in regulating nociception in chronic pain, yet the mechanisms are barely understood. Here, we found that chronic constructive injury (CCI) in mice increased the firing activity and decreased the KCNQ channel-mediated M-currents in ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Chemogenetic inhibition of the VTA-to-NAc DA neurons alleviated CCI-induced thermal nociception. Opposite changes in the firing activity and M-currents were recorded in VTA DA neurons projecting to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) but did not affect nociception. In addition, intra-VTA injection of retigabine, a KCNQ opener, while reversing the changes of the VTA-to-NAc DA neurons, alleviated CCI-induced nociception, and this was abolished by injecting exogenous BDNF into the NAc. Taken together, these findings highlight a vital role of KCNQ channel-mediated modulation of mesolimbic DA activity in regulating thermal nociception in the chronic pain state.
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50
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D'Addario SL, Di Segni M, Ledonne A, Piscitelli R, Babicola L, Martini A, Spoleti E, Mancini C, Ielpo D, D'Amato FR, Andolina D, Ragozzino D, Mercuri NB, Cifani C, Renzi M, Guatteo E, Ventura R. Resilience to anhedonia-passive coping induced by early life experience is linked to a long-lasting reduction of I h current in VTA dopaminergic neurons. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100324. [PMID: 33937445 PMCID: PMC8079665 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to aversive events during sensitive developmental periods can affect the preferential coping strategy adopted by individuals later in life, leading to either stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression, or to well-adaptation to future adversity and sources of stress, a behavior phenotype termed “resilience”. We have previously shown that interfering with the development of mother-pups bond with the Repeated Cross Fostering (RCF) stress protocol can induce resilience to depression-like phenotype in adult C57BL/6J female mice. Here, we used patch-clamp recording in midbrain slice combined with both in vivo and ex vivo pharmacology to test our hypothesis of a link between electrophysiological modifications of dopaminergic neurons in the intermediate Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of RCF animals and behavioral resilience. We found reduced hyperpolarization-activated (Ih) cation current amplitude and evoked firing in VTA dopaminergic neurons from both young and adult RCF female mice. In vivo, VTA-specific pharmacological manipulation of the Ih current reverted the pro-resilient phenotype in adult early-stressed mice or mimicked behavioral resilience in adult control animals. This is the first evidence showing how pro-resilience behavior induced by early events is linked to a long-lasting reduction of Ih current and excitability in VTA dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 00184, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Rosamaria Piscitelli
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Dept. of Motor Science and Wellness, 'Parthenope' University, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Lucy Babicola
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Elena Spoleti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Camilla Mancini
- University of Camerino School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products, Camerino, Italy
| | - Donald Ielpo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca R D'Amato
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Institute, National Research Council, Via E Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo, Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Andolina
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Nicola B Mercuri
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Dept. of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- University of Camerino School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products, Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Renzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Ezia Guatteo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Dept. of Motor Science and Wellness, 'Parthenope' University, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Rossella Ventura
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
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