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Sardari M, Mohammadpourmir F, Hosseinzadeh Sahafi O, Rezayof A. Neuronal biomarkers as potential therapeutic targets for drug addiction related to sex differences in the brain: Opportunities for personalized treatment approaches. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 134:111068. [PMID: 38944334 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex disparities manifest at various stages of drug addiction, including craving, substance abuse, abstinence, and relapse. These discrepancies are underpinned by notable distinctions in neurobiological substrates, encompassing brain structures, functions, and neurotransmitter systems implicated in drug addiction. Neuronal biomarkers, such as neurotransmitters, signaling proteins, and genes may be associated with the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcomes in both biological sexes afflicted by drug abuse. Sex differences in the neural reward system, mainly through dopaminergic transmission during drug abuse, can be attributed to modifications in neurotransmitter systems and signaling pathways. This results in distinct patterns of neural activation and responsiveness to addictive substances in males and females. Sex hormones, the estrus/menstrual cycle, and cerebral neurochemistry contribute to the progression of psychological and physiological dependence in both male and female individuals grappling with addiction. Moreover, the alteration of sex hormone balance and neurotransmitter release plays a pivotal role in substance use disorders, subsequently modulating cognitive functions pertinent to reward, including memory formation, decision-making, and locomotor activity. Comparative investigations reveal distinctions in brain region volume, gene expression, neuronal firing, and circuitry in substance use disorders affecting individuals of both biological sexes. This review examines prevalent substance use disorders to elucidate the impact of sex hormones as therapeutic biomarkers on the mesocorticolimbic neurotransmitter systems via diverse mechanisms within the addicted brain. We underscore the imperative necessity of considering these variations to gain a deeper comprehension of addiction mechanisms and potentially discern sex-specific neuronal biomarkers for tailored therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Sardari
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farina Mohammadpourmir
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Oveis Hosseinzadeh Sahafi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ameneh Rezayof
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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Kim HS, Xiao Y, Chen X, He S, Im J, Willner MJ, Finlayson MO, Xu C, Zhu H, Choi SJ, Mosharov EV, Kim H, Xu B, Leong KW. Chronic Opioid Treatment Arrests Neurodevelopment and Alters Synaptic Activity in Human Midbrain Organoids. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400847. [PMID: 38549185 PMCID: PMC11151039 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the impact of long-term opioid exposure on the embryonic brain is critical due to the surging number of pregnant mothers with opioid dependency. However, this has been limited by human brain inaccessibility and cross-species differences in animal models. Here, a human midbrain model is established that uses hiPSC-derived midbrain organoids to assess cell-type-specific responses to acute and chronic fentanyl treatment and fentanyl withdrawal. Single-cell mRNA sequencing of 25,510 cells from organoids in different treatment groups reveals that chronic fentanyl treatment arrests neuronal subtype specification during early midbrain development and alters synaptic activity and neuron projection. In contrast, acute fentanyl treatment increases dopamine release but does not significantly alter gene expression related to cell lineage development. These results provide the first examination of the effects of opioid exposure on human midbrain development at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Sung Kim
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN)Dankook UniversityCheonan31116Republic of Korea
- Mechanobiology Dental Medicine Research CenterDankook UniversityCheonan31116Republic of Korea
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative MedicineDankook UniversityCheonan31116Republic of Korea
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Xuejing Chen
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
- Department of PhysicsTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Siyu He
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Jongwon Im
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Moshe J. Willner
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Michael O. Finlayson
- Single Cell Analysis CoreJP Sulzberger Columbia Genome CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNY10032USA
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Huixiang Zhu
- Department of PsychiatryColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNY10032USA
| | - Se Joon Choi
- Department of PsychiatryColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNY10032USA
- Division of Molecular TherapeuticsNew York State Psychiatric InstituteNew YorkNY10032USA
| | - Eugene V. Mosharov
- Department of PsychiatryColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNY10032USA
- Division of Molecular TherapeuticsNew York State Psychiatric InstituteNew YorkNY10032USA
| | - Hae‐Won Kim
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN)Dankook UniversityCheonan31116Republic of Korea
- Mechanobiology Dental Medicine Research CenterDankook UniversityCheonan31116Republic of Korea
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative MedicineDankook UniversityCheonan31116Republic of Korea
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of PsychiatryColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNY10032USA
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
- Department of Systems BiologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNY10032USA
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Du H, Wei GW, Hou T. Multiscale topology in interactomic network: from transcriptome to antiaddiction drug repurposing. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae054. [PMID: 38499497 PMCID: PMC10948341 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae054] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The escalating drug addiction crisis in the United States underscores the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study embarked on an innovative and rigorous strategy to unearth potential drug repurposing candidates for opioid and cocaine addiction treatment, bridging the gap between transcriptomic data analysis and drug discovery. We initiated our approach by conducting differential gene expression analysis on addiction-related transcriptomic data to identify key genes. We propose a novel topological differentiation to identify key genes from a protein-protein interaction network derived from DEGs. This method utilizes persistent Laplacians to accurately single out pivotal nodes within the network, conducting this analysis in a multiscale manner to ensure high reliability. Through rigorous literature validation, pathway analysis and data-availability scrutiny, we identified three pivotal molecular targets, mTOR, mGluR5 and NMDAR, for drug repurposing from DrugBank. We crafted machine learning models employing two natural language processing (NLP)-based embeddings and a traditional 2D fingerprint, which demonstrated robust predictive ability in gauging binding affinities of DrugBank compounds to selected targets. Furthermore, we elucidated the interactions of promising drugs with the targets and evaluated their drug-likeness. This study delineates a multi-faceted and comprehensive analytical framework, amalgamating bioinformatics, topological data analysis and machine learning, for drug repurposing in addiction treatment, setting the stage for subsequent experimental validation. The versatility of the methods we developed allows for applications across a range of diseases and transcriptomic datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Du
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
| | - Guo-Wei Wei
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
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Wei J, Lambert TY, Valada A, Patel N, Walker K, Lenders J, Schmidt CJ, Iskhakova M, Alazizi A, Mair-Meijers H, Mash DC, Luca F, Pique-Regi R, Bannon MJ, Akbarian S. Single nucleus transcriptomics of ventral midbrain identifies glial activation associated with chronic opioid use disorder. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5610. [PMID: 37699936 PMCID: PMC10497570 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41455-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic interactions of neurons and glia in the ventral midbrain mediate reward and addiction behavior. We studied gene expression in 212,713 ventral midbrain single nuclei from 95 individuals with history of opioid misuse, and individuals without drug exposure. Chronic exposure to opioids was not associated with change in proportions of glial and neuronal subtypes, however glial transcriptomes were broadly altered, involving 9.5 - 6.2% of expressed genes within microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Genes associated with activation of the immune response including interferon, NFkB signaling, and cell motility pathways were upregulated, contrasting with down-regulated expression of synaptic signaling and plasticity genes in ventral midbrain non-dopaminergic neurons. Ventral midbrain transcriptomic reprogramming in the context of chronic opioid exposure included 325 genes that previous genome-wide studies had linked to risk of substance use traits in the broader population, thereby pointing to heritable risk architectures in the genomic organization of the brain's reward circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julong Wei
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Tova Y Lambert
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aditi Valada
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Nikhil Patel
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Kellie Walker
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jayna Lenders
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Carl J Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Marina Iskhakova
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Adnan Alazizi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Henriette Mair-Meijers
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Deborah C Mash
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Francesca Luca
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Michael J Bannon
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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Kaushik S, Ahmad F, Choudhary S, Mathkor DM, Mishra BN, Singh V, Haque S. Critical appraisal and systematic review of genes linked with cocaine addiction, depression and anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105270. [PMID: 37271299 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105270] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent lifestyle changes have resulted in tremendous peer pressure and mental stress, and increased the incidences of chronic psychological disorders; like addiction, depression and anxiety (ADA). In this context, the stress-tolerance levels vary amongst individuals and genetic factors play prominent roles. Vulnerable individuals may often be drawn towards drug-addiction to combat stress. This systematic review critically appraises the relationship of various genetic factors linked with the incidences of ADA development. For coherence, we focused solely on cocaine as a substance of abuse in this study. Online scholarly databases were used to screen pertinent literature using apt keywords; and the final retrieval included 42 primary-research articles. The major conclusion drawn from this systematic analysis states that there are 51 genes linked with the development of ADA; and 3 (BDNF, PERIOD2 and SLC6A4) of them are common to all the three aspects of ADA. Further, inter-connectivity analyses of the 51 genes further endorsed the central presence of BDNF and SLC6A4 genes in the development of ADA disorders. The conclusions derived from this systematic study pave the way for future studies for the identification of diagnostic biomarkers and drug targets; and for the development of novel and effective therapeutic regimens against ADA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shradhha Kaushik
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow 226021, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Faraz Ahmad
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio-Sciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India
| | - Sunita Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow 226021, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Darin Mansor Mathkor
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bhartendu Nath Mishra
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow 226021, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vineeta Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow 226021, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon; Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, the United Arab Emirates.
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6
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Wei J, Lambert TY, Valada A, Patel N, Walker K, Lenders J, Schmidt CJ, Iskhakova M, Alazizi A, Mair-Meijers H, Mash DC, Luca F, Pique-Regi R, Bannon MJ, Akbarian S. Single Nucleus Transcriptomics Reveals Pervasive Glial Activation in Opioid Overdose Cases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.07.531400. [PMID: 36945611 PMCID: PMC10028861 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.07.531400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic interactions of neurons and glia in the ventral midbrain (VM) mediate reward and addiction behavior. We studied gene expression in 212,713 VM single nuclei from 95 human opioid overdose cases and drug-free controls. Chronic exposure to opioids left numerical proportions of VM glial and neuronal subtypes unaltered, while broadly affecting glial transcriptomes, involving 9.5 - 6.2% of expressed genes within microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, with prominent activation of the immune response including interferon, NFkB signaling, and cell motility pathways, sharply contrasting with down-regulated expression of synaptic signaling and plasticity genes in VM non-dopaminergic neurons. VM transcriptomic reprogramming in the context of opioid exposure and overdose included 325 genes with genetic variation linked to substance use traits in the broader population, thereby pointing to heritable risk architectures in the genomic organization of the brain's reward circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julong Wei
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Tova Y. Lambert
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Aditi Valada
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Nikhil Patel
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Kellie Walker
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Jayna Lenders
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Carl J. Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Marina Iskhakova
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Adnan Alazizi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Henriette Mair-Meijers
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Deborah C. Mash
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Francesca Luca
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201
- Department of Biology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, 00133
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Michael J Bannon
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
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Ultramicronized N-Palmitoylethanolamine Regulates Mast Cell-Astrocyte Crosstalk: A New Potential Mechanism Underlying the Inhibition of Morphine Tolerance. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020233. [PMID: 36830602 PMCID: PMC9953591 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020233] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent pain can be managed with opioids, but their use is limited by the onset of tolerance. Ultramicronized N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) in vivo delays morphine tolerance with mechanisms that are still unclear. Since glial cells are involved in opioid tolerance and mast cells (MCs) are pivotal targets of PEA, we hypothesized that a potential mechanism by which PEA delays opioid tolerance might depend on the control of the crosstalk between these cells. Morphine treatment (30 μM, 30 min) significantly increased MC degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells, which was prevented by pre-treatment with PEA (100 μM, 18 h), as evaluated by β-hexosaminidase assay and histamine quantification. The impact of RBL-2H3 secretome on glial cells was studied. Six-hour incubation of astrocytes with control RBL-2H3-conditioned medium, and even more so co-incubation with morphine, enhanced CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, Serpina3n, EAAT2 and GFAP mRNA levels. The response was significantly prevented by the secretome from PEA pre-treated RBL-2H3, except for GFAP, which was further upregulated, suggesting a selective modulation of glial signaling. In conclusion, ultramicronized PEA down-modulated both morphine-induced MC degranulation and the expression of inflammatory and pain-related genes from astrocytes challenged with RBL-2H3 medium, suggesting that PEA may delay morphine tolerance, regulating MC-astrocyte crosstalk.
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Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteome Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Adult Rhesus Monkeys Exposed to Cocaine throughout Gestation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040510. [PMID: 35454099 PMCID: PMC9026784 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder has been reported to cause transgenerational effects. However, due to the lack of standardized biomarkers, the effects of cocaine use during pregnancy on postnatal development and long-term neurobiological and behavioral outcomes have not been investigated thoroughly. Therefore, in this study, we examined extracellular vesicles (EVs) in adult (~12 years old) female and male rhesus monkeys prenatally exposed to cocaine (n = 11) and controls (n = 9). EVs were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and characterized for the surface expression of specific tetraspanins, concentration (particles/mL), size distribution, and cargo proteins by mass spectrometry (MS). Transmission electron microscopy following immunogold labeling for tetraspanins (CD63, CD9, and CD81) confirmed the successful isolation of EVs. Nanoparticle tracking analyses showed that the majority of the particles were <200 nm in size, suggesting an enrichment for small EVs (sEV). Interestingly, the prenatally cocaine-exposed group showed ~54% less EV concentration in CSF compared to the control group. For each group, MS analyses identified a number of proteins loaded in CSF-EVs, many of which are commonly listed in the ExoCarta database. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) demonstrated the association of cargo EV proteins with canonical pathways, diseases and disorders, upstream regulators, and top enriched network. Lastly, significantly altered proteins between groups were similarly characterized by IPA, suggesting that prenatal cocaine exposure could be potentially associated with long-term neuroinflammation and risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, these results indicate that CSF-EVs could potentially serve as biomarkers to assess the transgenerational adverse effects due to prenatal cocaine exposure.
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Fernàndez-Castillo N, Cabana-Domínguez J, Corominas R, Cormand B. Molecular genetics of cocaine use disorders in humans. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:624-639. [PMID: 34453125 PMCID: PMC8960411 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01256-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Drug addiction, one of the major health problems worldwide, is characterized by the loss of control in drug intake, craving, and withdrawal. At the individual level, drugs of abuse produce serious consequences on health and have a negative impact on the family environment and on interpersonal and work relationships. At a wider scale, they have significant socio-economic and public health consequences and they cause delinquency and citizen insecurity. Cocaine, a psychostimulant substance, is one of the most used illicit drugs, especially in America, Western Europe, and Australia. Cocaine use disorders (CUD) are complex multifactorial conditions driven by both genetic and environmental influences. Importantly, not all people who use cocaine develop CUD, and this is due, at least in part, to biological factors that are encoded in the genome of individuals. Acute and repeated use of cocaine induces epigenetic and gene expression changes responsible for the neuronal adaptations and the remodeling of brain circuits that lead to the transition from use to abuse or dependence. The purpose of this review is to delineate such factors, which should eventually help to understand the inter-individual variability in the susceptibility to cocaine addiction. Heritability estimates for CUD are high and genetic risk factors for cocaine addiction have been investigated by candidate gene association studies (CGAS) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), reviewed here. Also, the high comorbidity that exists between CUD and several other psychiatric disorders is well known and includes phenotypes like schizophrenia, aggression, antisocial or risk-taking behaviors. Such comorbidities are associated with a worse lifetime trajectory, and here we report shared genetic factors that may contribute to them. Gene expression changes and epigenetic modifications induced by cocaine use and chronic abuse in humans are addressed by reviewing transcriptomic studies performed on neuronal cells and on postmortem brains. We report some genes which expression is altered by cocaine that also bear genetic risk variants for the disorder. Finally, we have a glance to the pharmacogenetics of CUD treatments, still in early stages. A better understanding of the genetic underpinnings of CUD will foster the search of effective treatments and help to move forward to personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.452372.50000 0004 1791 1185Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.411160.30000 0001 0663 8628Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia Spain
| | - Roser Corominas
- grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.452372.50000 0004 1791 1185Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.411160.30000 0001 0663 8628Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia Spain
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
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Huggett SB, Hatfield JS, Walters JD, McGeary JE, Welsh JW, Mackay TFC, Anholt RRH, Palmer RHC. Ibrutinib as a potential therapeutic for cocaine use disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:623. [PMID: 34880215 PMCID: PMC8654982 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01737-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine use presents a worldwide public health problem with high socioeconomic cost. No current pharmacologic treatments are available for cocaine use disorder (CUD) or cocaine toxicity. To explore pharmaceutical treatments for tthis disorder and its sequelae we analyzed gene expression data from post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with CUD who died from cocaine-related causes with matched cocaine-free controls (n = 71, Mage = 39.9, 100% male, 49% with CUD, 3 samples/brain regions). To match molecular signatures from brain pathology with potential therapeutics, we leveraged the L1000 database honing in on neuronal mRNA profiles of 825 repurposable compounds (e.g., FDA approved). We identified 16 compounds that were negatively associated with CUD gene expression patterns across all brain regions (padj < 0.05), all of which outperformed current targets undergoing clinical trials for CUD (all padj > 0.05). An additional 43 compounds were positively associated with CUD expression. We performed an in silico follow-up potential therapeutics using independent transcriptome-wide in vitro (neuronal cocaine exposure; n = 18) and in vivo (mouse cocaine self-administration; n = 12-15) datasets to prioritize candidates for experimental validation. Among these medications, ibrutinib was consistently linked with the molecular profiles of both neuronal cocaine exposure and mouse cocaine self-administration. We assessed the therapeutic efficacy of ibrutinib using the Drosophila melanogaster model. Ibrutinib reduced cocaine-induced startle response and cocaine-induced seizures (n = 61-142 per group; sex: 51% female), despite increasing cocaine consumption. Our results suggest that ibrutinib could be used for the treatment of cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Huggett
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey S Hatfield
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Joshua D Walters
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - John E McGeary
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Justine W Welsh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Trudy F C Mackay
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Robert R H Anholt
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Rohan H C Palmer
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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11
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Synaptic Zn 2+ potentiates the effects of cocaine on striatal dopamine neurotransmission and behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:570. [PMID: 34750356 PMCID: PMC8575899 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine binds to the dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) to regulate cocaine reward and seeking behavior. Zinc (Zn2+) also binds to the DAT, but the in vivo relevance of this interaction is unknown. We found that Zn2+ concentrations in postmortem brain (caudate) tissue from humans who died of cocaine overdose were significantly lower than in control subjects. Moreover, the level of striatal Zn2+ content in these subjects negatively correlated with plasma levels of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite indicative of recent use. In mice, repeated cocaine exposure increased synaptic Zn2+ concentrations in the caudate putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Cocaine-induced increases in Zn2+ were dependent on the Zn2+ transporter 3 (ZnT3), a neuronal Zn2+ transporter localized to synaptic vesicle membranes, as ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice were insensitive to cocaine-induced increases in striatal Zn2+. ZnT3 KO mice showed significantly lower electrically evoked DA release and greater DA clearance when exposed to cocaine compared to controls. ZnT3 KO mice also displayed significant reductions in cocaine locomotor sensitization, conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration, and reinstatement compared to control mice and were insensitive to cocaine-induced increases in striatal DAT binding. Finally, dietary Zn2+ deficiency in mice resulted in decreased striatal Zn2+ content, cocaine locomotor sensitization, CPP, and striatal DAT binding. These results indicate that cocaine increases synaptic Zn2+ release and turnover/metabolism in the striatum, and that synaptically released Zn2+ potentiates the effects of cocaine on striatal DA neurotransmission and behavior and is required for cocaine-primed reinstatement. In sum, these findings reveal new insights into cocaine's pharmacological mechanism of action and suggest that Zn2+ may serve as an environmentally derived regulator of DA neurotransmission, cocaine pharmacodynamics, and vulnerability to cocaine use disorders.
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12
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Zhu Y, Zhao Y, Xu X, Su H, Li X, Zhong N, Jiang H, Du J, Zhao M. Aberrant expression of BDNF might serve as a candidate target for cocaine-induced psychosis: insights from bioinformatics analysis and microarray validation. Gen Psychiatr 2021; 34:e100587. [PMID: 34723091 PMCID: PMC8506846 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2021-100587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cocaine use disorder (CUD) and associated psychosis are major public health issues worldwide, along with high relapse outcome and limited treatment options. Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying cocaine-induced psychosis (CIP) could supply integrated insights for understanding the pathogenic mechanism and potential novel therapeutic targets. Aims The aim of the study was to explore common alterations of CUD-schizophrenia-target genes and identify core risk genes contributing to CIP through data mining and network pharmacology approach. Methods Target genes of CUD were obtained from GeneCards, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, Swiss Target Prediction platform and PubChem. Schizophrenia-related target genes were derived from DisGeNET, GeneCards, MalaCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases. Then, the overlap genes of these two sets were regarded as risk genes contributing to CIP. Based on these CUD-schizophrenia-target genes, functional annotation and pathway analysis were performed using the clusterProfiler package in R. Protein–protein interaction network construction and module detection were performed based on the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and Cytoscape software. Gene expression datasets GSE54839 and GSE93577 were applied for data validation and diagnostic capacity evaluation of interested hub genes. Results A total of 165 CUD-schizophrenia-target genes were obtained. These genes were mainly contributing to chemical synaptic transmission, neuropeptide hormone activity, postsynaptic membrane and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway. Network analysis and validation analysis indicated that BDNF might serve as an important risk gene in mediating CIP. Conclusions This study generates a holistic view of CIP and provides a basis for the identification of potential CUD-schizophrenia-target genes involved in the development of CIP. The abnormal expression of BDNF would be a candidate therapeutic target underlying the pathogenesis of CUD and associated CIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwei Zhu
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomin Xu
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Su
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaotong Li
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Zhong
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haifeng Jiang
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang Du
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Psychological and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Campbell RR, Chen S, Beardwood JH, López AJ, Pham LV, Keiser AM, Childs JE, Matheos DP, Swarup V, Baldi P, Wood MA. Cocaine induces paradigm-specific changes to the transcriptome within the ventral tegmental area. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1768-1779. [PMID: 34155331 PMCID: PMC8357835 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01031-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
During the initial stages of drug use, cocaine-induced neuroadaptations within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are critical for drug-associated cue learning and drug reinforcement processes. These neuroadaptations occur, in part, from alterations to the transcriptome. Although cocaine-induced transcriptional mechanisms within the VTA have been examined, various regimens and paradigms have been employed to examine candidate target genes. In order to identify key genes and biological processes regulating cocaine-induced processes, we employed genome-wide RNA-sequencing to analyze transcriptional profiles within the VTA from male mice that underwent one of four commonly used paradigms: acute home cage injections of cocaine, chronic home cage injections of cocaine, cocaine-conditioning, or intravenous-self administration of cocaine. We found that cocaine alters distinct sets of VTA genes within each exposure paradigm. Using behavioral measures from cocaine self-administering mice, we also found several genes whose expression patterns corelate with cocaine intake. In addition to overall gene expression levels, we identified several predicted upstream regulators of cocaine-induced transcription shared across all paradigms. Although distinct gene sets were altered across cocaine exposure paradigms, we found, from Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis, that biological processes important for energy regulation and synaptic plasticity were affected across all cocaine paradigms. Coexpression analysis also identified gene networks that are altered by cocaine. These data indicate that cocaine alters networks enriched with glial cell markers of the VTA that are involved in gene regulation and synaptic processes. Our analyses demonstrate that transcriptional changes within the VTA depend on the route, dose and context of cocaine exposure, and highlight several biological processes affected by cocaine. Overall, these findings provide a unique resource of gene expression data for future studies examining novel cocaine gene targets that regulate drug-associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne R Campbell
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- UC Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Siwei Chen
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joy H Beardwood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- UC Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alberto J López
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lilyana V Pham
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- UC Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ashley M Keiser
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jessica E Childs
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- UC Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Dina P Matheos
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- UC Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Pierre Baldi
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Marcelo A Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- UC Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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14
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Cocaine-related DNA methylation in caudate neurons alters 3D chromatin structure of the IRXA gene cluster. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3134-3151. [PMID: 33046833 PMCID: PMC8039060 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00909-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, like those involving DNA methylation, are thought to mediate the relationship between chronic cocaine dependence and molecular changes in addiction-related neurocircuitry, but have been understudied in human brain. We initially used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to generate a methylome-wide profile of cocaine dependence in human post-mortem caudate tissue. We focused on the Iroquois Homeobox A (IRXA) gene cluster, where hypomethylation in exon 3 of IRX2 in neuronal nuclei was associated with cocaine dependence. We replicated this finding in an independent cohort and found similar results in the dorsal striatum from cocaine self-administering mice. Using epigenome editing and 3C assays, we demonstrated a causal relationship between methylation within the IRX2 gene body, CTCF protein binding, three-dimensional (3D) chromatin interaction, and gene expression. Together, these findings suggest that cocaine-related hypomethylation of IRX2 contributes to the development and maintenance of cocaine dependence through alterations in 3D chromatin structure in the caudate nucleus.
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15
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Mukherjee D, Gonzales BJ, Ashwal-Fluss R, Turm H, Groysman M, Citri A. Egr2 induction in spiny projection neurons of the ventrolateral striatum contributes to cocaine place preference in mice. eLife 2021; 10:65228. [PMID: 33724178 PMCID: PMC8057818 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction develops due to brain-wide plasticity within neuronal ensembles, mediated by dynamic gene expression. Though the most common approach to identify such ensembles relies on immediate early gene expression, little is known of how the activity of these genes is linked to modified behavior observed following repeated drug exposure. To address this gap, we present a broad-to-specific approach, beginning with a comprehensive investigation of brain-wide cocaine-driven gene expression, through the description of dynamic spatial patterns of gene induction in subregions of the striatum, and finally address functionality of region-specific gene induction in the development of cocaine preference. Our findings reveal differential cell-type specific dynamic transcriptional recruitment patterns within two subdomains of the dorsal striatum following repeated cocaine exposure. Furthermore, we demonstrate that induction of the IEG Egr2 in the ventrolateral striatum, as well as the cells within which it is expressed, are required for the development of cocaine seeking. The human brain is ever changing, constantly rewiring itself in response to new experiences, knowledge or information from the environment. Addictive drugs such as cocaine can hijack the genetic mechanisms responsible for this plasticity, creating dangerous, obsessive drug-seeking and consuming behaviors. Cocaine-induced plasticity is difficult to apprehend, however, as brain regions or even cell populations can react differently to the compound. For instance, sub-regions in the striatum – the brain area that responds to rewards and helps to plan movement – show distinct responses during progressive exposure to cocaine. And while researchers know that the drug immediately changes how neurons switch certain genes on and off, it is still unclear how these genetic modifications later affect behavior. Mukherjee, Gonzales et al. explored these questions at different scales, first focusing on how progressive cocaine exposure changed the way various gene programs were activated across the entire brain. This revealed that programs in the striatum were the most affected by the drug. Examining this region more closely showed that cocaine switches on genes in specific ‘spiny projection’ neuron populations, depending on where these cells are located and the drug history of the mouse. Finally, Mukherjee, Gonzales et al. used genetically modified mice to piece together cocaine exposure, genetic changes and modifications in behavior. These experiments revealed that the drive to seek cocaine depended on activation of the Egr2 gene in populations of spiny projection neurons in a specific sub-region of the striatum. The gene, which codes for a protein that regulates how genes are switched on and off, was itself strongly activated by cocaine intake. Cocaine addiction can have devastating consequences for individuals. Grasping how this drug alters the brain could pave the way for new treatments, while also providing information on the basic mechanisms underlying brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diptendu Mukherjee
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ben Jerry Gonzales
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Reut Ashwal-Fluss
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hagit Turm
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maya Groysman
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ami Citri
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Program in Child and Brain Development, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, MaRS Centre, Toronto, Canada
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16
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Luo X, Guo X, Luo X, Tan Y, Zhang P, Yang K, Xie T, Shi J, Zhang Y, Xu J, Zuo L, Li CSR. Significant, replicable, and functional associations between KTN1 variants and alcohol and drug codependence. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12888. [PMID: 32115811 PMCID: PMC7641293 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The gray matter volume (GMV) of the putamen has been reported to be regulated by kinectin 1 gene (KTN1). As a hub of the dopaminergic circuit, the putamen is widely implicated in the etiological processes of substance use disorders (SUD). Here, we aimed to identify robust and reliable associations between KTN1 SNPs and SUD across multiple samples. We examined the associations between SUD and KTN1 SNPs in four independent population-based or family-based samples (n = 10,209). The potential regulatory effects of the risk alleles on the putamen GMVs, the effects of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and cocaine on KTN1 mRNA expression, and the relationship between KTN1 mRNA expression and SUD were explored. We found that a total of 23 SNPs were associated with SUD across at least two independent samples (1.4 × 10-4 ≤ p ≤ 0.049), including one SNP (rs12895072) across three samples (8.8 × 10-3 ≤ p ≤ 0.049). Four other SNPs were significantly or suggestively associated with SUD only in European-Australians (4.8 × 10-4 ≤ p ≤ 0.058). All of the SUD-risk alleles of these 27 SNPs increased (β > 0) the putamen GMVs and represented major alleles (f > 0.5) in Europeans. Twenty-two SNPs were potentially biologically functional. Alcohol, nicotine and cocaine significantly affected the KTN1 mRNA expression, and the KTN1 mRNA was differentially expressed between nicotine or cocaine dependent and control subjects. We concluded that there was a replicable and robust relationship among the KTN1 variants, KTN1 mRNA expression, putamen GMVs, molecular effects of substances, and SUD, suggesting that some risk KTN1 alleles might increase kinectin 1 expression in the putamen, altering putamen structures and functions, and leading to SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingguang Luo
- Biological Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Xiaoyun Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200030, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Xingqun Luo
- Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, China
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Biological Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Biological Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Kebing Yang
- Biological Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Ting Xie
- Biological Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Jing Shi
- Biological Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Mental Health Center, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Jianying Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhuhai Municipal Maternal and Children’s Health Hospital, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Lingjun Zuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R. Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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17
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Huggett SB, Bubier JA, Chesler EJ, Palmer RHC. Do gene expression findings from mouse models of cocaine use recapitulate human cocaine use disorder in reward circuitry? GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12689. [PMID: 32720468 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Animal models of drug use have investigated possible mechanisms governing human substance use traits for over 100 years. Most cross-species research on drug use/addiction examines behavioral overlap, but studies assessing neuromolecular (e.g. RNA) correspondence are lacking. Our study utilized transcriptome-wide data from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA)/midbrain from a total of 35 human males with cocaine use disorder/controls and 49 male C57BL/6J cocaine/saline administering/exposed mice. We hypothesized differential expressed genes and systems of co-expressed genes (gene networks) would show appreciable overlap across mouse cocaine self-administration and human cocaine use disorder. We found modest, but significant relationships between differentially expressed genes associated with cocaine self-administration (short access) and cocaine use disorder within reward circuitry. Differentially expressed genes underlying models of acute cocaine exposure (cocaine), context re-exposure and cocaine + context re-exposure were not consistently associated with human CUD across brain regions. Investigating systems of co-expressed genes, we found several validated gene networks with weak to moderate conservation between cocaine/saline self-administering mice and disordered cocaine users/controls. The most conserved hippocampal and VTA gene networks demonstrated substantial overlap (2029 common genes) and included both novel and previously implicated targets for cocaine use/addiction. Lastly, we conducted (expression-based) phenome-wide association studies of the nine common hub genes across conserved gene networks. Common hub genes were associated with dopamine/serotonin function, cocaine self-administration and other relevant mouse traits. Overall, our study pinpointed and characterized conserved brain-related RNA patterns across mouse cocaine self-administration and human cocaine use disorder. We offer recommendations for future research and add to the dialogue surrounding pre-clinical animal research for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Huggett
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jason A Bubier
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | - Elissa J Chesler
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | - Rohan H C Palmer
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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18
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Huggett SB, Stallings MC. Genetic Architecture and Molecular Neuropathology of Human Cocaine Addiction. J Neurosci 2020; 40:5300-5313. [PMID: 32457073 PMCID: PMC7329314 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2879-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We integrated genomic and bioinformatic analyses, using data from the largest genome-wide association study of cocaine dependence (CD; n = 6546; 82.37% with CD; 57.39% male) and the largest postmortem gene-expression sample of individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD; n = 36; 51.35% with CUD; 100% male). Our genome-wide analyses identified one novel gene (NDUFB9) associated with the genetic predisposition to CD in African-Americans. The genetic architecture of CD was similar across ancestries. Individual genes associated with CD demonstrated modest overlap across European-Americans and African-Americans, but the genetic liability for CD converged on many similar tissue types (brain, heart, blood, liver) across ancestries. In a separate sample, we investigated the neuronal gene expression associated with CUD by using RNA sequencing of dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex neurons. We identified 133 genes differentially expressed between CUD case patients and cocaine-free control subjects, including previously implicated candidates for cocaine use/addiction (FOSB, ARC, KCNJ9/GIRK3, NR4A2, JUNB, and MECP2). Differential expression analyses significantly correlated across European-Americans and African-Americans. While genes significantly associated with CD via genome-wide methods were not differentially expressed, two of these genes (NDUFB9 and C1qL2) were part of a robust gene coexpression network associated with CUD involved in neurotransmission (GABA, acetylcholine, serotonin, and dopamine) and drug addiction. We then used a "guilt-by-association" approach to unravel the biological relevance of NDUFB9 and C1qL2 in the context of CD. In sum, our study furthers the understanding of the genetic architecture and molecular neuropathology of human cocaine addiction and provides a framework for translating biological meaning into otherwise obscure genome-wide associations.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our study further clarifies the genetic and neurobiological contributions to cocaine addiction, provides a rapid approach for generating testable hypotheses for specific candidates identified by genome-wide research, and investigates the cross-ancestral biological contributions to cocaine use disorder/dependence for individuals of European-American and African-American ancestries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Huggett
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0345
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0447
| | - Michael C Stallings
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0345
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0447
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19
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Shafquat A, Crystal RG, Mezey JG. Identifying novel associations in GWAS by hierarchical Bayesian latent variable detection of differentially misclassified phenotypes. BMC Bioinformatics 2020; 21:178. [PMID: 32381021 PMCID: PMC7204256 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-020-3387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Heterogeneity in the definition and measurement of complex diseases in Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) may lead to misdiagnoses and misclassification errors that can significantly impact discovery of disease loci. While well appreciated, almost all analyses of GWAS data consider reported disease phenotype values as is without accounting for potential misclassification. Results Here, we introduce Phenotype Latent variable Extraction of disease misdiagnosis (PheLEx), a GWAS analysis framework that learns and corrects misclassified phenotypes using structured genotype associations within a dataset. PheLEx consists of a hierarchical Bayesian latent variable model, where inference of differential misclassification is accomplished using filtered genotypes while implementing a full mixed model to account for population structure and genetic relatedness in study populations. Through simulations, we show that the PheLEx framework dramatically improves recovery of the correct disease state when considering realistic allele effect sizes compared to existing methodologies designed for Bayesian recovery of disease phenotypes. We also demonstrate the potential of PheLEx for extracting new potential loci from existing GWAS data by analyzing bipolar disorder and epilepsy phenotypes available from the UK Biobank. From the PheLEx analysis of these data, we identified new candidate disease loci not previously reported for these datasets that have value for supplemental hypothesis generation. Conclusion PheLEx shows promise in reanalyzing GWAS datasets to provide supplemental candidate loci that are ignored by traditional GWAS analysis methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afrah Shafquat
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason G Mezey
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. .,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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20
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Datta U, Schoenrock SE, Bubier JA, Bogue MA, Jentsch JD, Logan RW, Tarantino LM, Chesler EJ. Prospects for finding the mechanisms of sex differences in addiction with human and model organism genetic analysis. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12645. [PMID: 32012419 PMCID: PMC7060801 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial evidence for sex differences in addiction epidemiology, addiction-relevant behaviors and associated neurobiological phenomena, the mechanisms and implications of these differences remain unknown. Genetic analysis in model organism is a potentially powerful and effective means of discovering the mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction. Human genetic studies are beginning to show precise risk variants that influence the mechanisms of addiction but typically lack sufficient power or neurobiological mechanistic access, particularly for the discovery of the mechanisms that underlie sex differences. Our thesis in this review is that genetic variation in model organisms are a promising approach that can complement these investigations to show the biological mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udita Datta
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
| | - Sarah E. Schoenrock
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, Department of GeneticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Jason A. Bubier
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
| | - Molly A. Bogue
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
| | - James D. Jentsch
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, PsychologyState University of New York at BinghamtonBinghamtonNew York
| | - Ryan W. Logan
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, PsychiatryUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvania
| | - Lisa M. Tarantino
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, Department of GeneticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Elissa J. Chesler
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
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21
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Park HM, Satta R, Davis RG, Goo YA, LeDuc RD, Fellers RT, Greer JB, Romanova EV, Rubakhin SS, Tai R, Thomas PM, Sweedler JV, Kelleher NL, Patrie SM, Lasek AW. Multidimensional Top-Down Proteomics of Brain-Region-Specific Mouse Brain Proteoforms Responsive to Cocaine and Estradiol. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:3999-4012. [PMID: 31550894 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction afflicts nearly 1 million adults in the United States, and to date, there are no known treatments approved for this psychiatric condition. Women are particularly vulnerable to developing a cocaine use disorder and suffer from more serious cardiac consequences than men when using cocaine. Estrogen is one biological factor contributing to the increased risk for females to develop problematic cocaine use. Animal studies have demonstrated that estrogen (17β-estradiol or E2) enhances the rewarding properties of cocaine. Although E2 affects the dopamine system, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of E2-enhanced cocaine reward have not been characterized. In this study, quantitative top-down proteomics was used to measure intact proteins in specific regions of the female mouse brain after mice were trained for cocaine-conditioned place preference, a behavioral test of cocaine reward. Several proteoform changes occurred in the ventral tegmental area after combined cocaine and E2 treatments, with the most numerous proteoform alterations on myelin basic protein, indicating possible changes in white matter structure. There were also changes in histone H4, protein phosphatase inhibitors, cholecystokinin, and calmodulin proteoforms. These observations provide insight into estrogen signaling in the brain and may guide new approaches to treating women with cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae-Min Park
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Rosalba Satta
- Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , 1601 West Taylor Street , Chicago , Illinois 60612 , United States
| | - Roderick G Davis
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Young Ah Goo
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Richard D LeDuc
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Ryan T Fellers
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Joseph B Greer
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Elena V Romanova
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Stanislav S Rubakhin
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Rex Tai
- Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , 1601 West Taylor Street , Chicago , Illinois 60612 , United States
| | - Paul M Thomas
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Neil L Kelleher
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Steven M Patrie
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and The Proteomics Center of Excellence , Northwestern University , 2145 North Sheridan Road , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Amy W Lasek
- Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , 1601 West Taylor Street , Chicago , Illinois 60612 , United States
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22
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Forero DA, González-Giraldo Y. Convergent functional genomics of cocaine misuse in humans and animal models. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2019; 46:22-30. [DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1636384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Forero
- Laboratory of NeuroPsychiatric Genetics, Biomedical Sciences Research Group, School of Medicine, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Bogotá, Colombia
- Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yeimy González-Giraldo
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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23
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Egervari G, Kozlenkov A, Dracheva S, Hurd YL. Molecular windows into the human brain for psychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:653-673. [PMID: 29955163 PMCID: PMC6310674 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0125-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Delineating the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders has been extremely challenging but technological advances in recent decades have facilitated a deeper interrogation of molecular processes in the human brain. Initial candidate gene expression studies of the postmortem brain have evolved into genome wide profiling of the transcriptome and the epigenome, a critical regulator of gene expression. Here, we review the potential and challenges of direct molecular characterization of the postmortem human brain, and provide a brief overview of recent transcriptional and epigenetic studies with respect to neuropsychiatric disorders. Such information can now be leveraged and integrated with the growing number of genome-wide association databases to provide a functional context of trait-associated genetic variants linked to psychiatric illnesses and related phenotypes. While it is clear that the field is still developing and challenges remain to be surmounted, these recent advances nevertheless hold tremendous promise for delineating the neurobiological underpinnings of mental diseases and accelerating the development of novel medication strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Egervari
- 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
- Addiction Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alexey Kozlenkov
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stella Dracheva
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yasmin L Hurd
- 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.
- Addiction Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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24
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Saad MH, Rumschlag M, Guerra MH, Savonen CL, Jaster AM, Olson PD, Alazizi A, Luca F, Pique-Regi R, Schmidt CJ, Bannon MJ. Differentially expressed gene networks, biomarkers, long noncoding RNAs, and shared responses with cocaine identified in the midbrains of human opioid abusers. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1534. [PMID: 30733491 PMCID: PMC6367337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38209-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid abuse is now the most common cause of accidental death in the US. Although opioids and most other drugs of abuse acutely increase signaling mediated by midbrain dopamine (DA)-synthesizing neurons, little is known about long-lasting changes in DA cells that may contribute to continued opioid abuse, craving, and relapse. A better understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of opioid abuse could lead to advancements in therapeutics. This study comprises, to our knowledge, the first unbiased examination of genome-wide changes in midbrain gene expression associated with human opioid abuse. Our analyses identified differentially expressed genes and distinct gene networks associated with opioid abuse, specific genes with predictive capability for subject assignment to the opioid abuse cohort, and genes most similarly affected in chronic opioid and cocaine abusers. We also identified differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs capable of regulating known drug-responsive protein-coding genes. Opioid-regulated genes identified in this study warrant further investigation as potential biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for human substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal H Saad
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Matthew Rumschlag
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Michael H Guerra
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Candace L Savonen
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Alaina M Jaster
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Philip D Olson
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Adnan Alazizi
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine & Genetics, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Francesca Luca
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine & Genetics, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine & Genetics, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Carl J Schmidt
- University of Michigan School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Detroit, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Michael J Bannon
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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25
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Cabana-Domínguez J, Arenas C, Cormand B, Fernàndez-Castillo N. MiR-9, miR-153 and miR-124 are down-regulated by acute exposure to cocaine in a dopaminergic cell model and may contribute to cocaine dependence. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:173. [PMID: 30166527 PMCID: PMC6117282 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0224-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most used psychostimulant drugs worldwide. MicroRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that are highly expressed in brain, and several studies have shown that cocaine can alter their expression. In a previous study, we identified several protein-coding genes that are differentially expressed in a dopaminergic neuron-like model after an acute exposure to cocaine. Now, we used the prediction tool WebGestalt to identify miRNA molecules potentially involved in the regulation of these genes. Using the same cellular model, we found that seven of these miRNAs are down-regulated by cocaine: miR-124-3p, miR-124-5p, miR-137, miR-101-3p, miR-9-5p, miR-369-3p and miR-153-3p, the last three not previously related to cocaine. Furthermore, we found that three of the miRNA genes that are differentially expressed in our model (hsa-miR-9-1, hsa-miR-153-1 and hsa-miR-124-3) are nominally associated with cocaine dependence in a case-control study (2,085 cases and 4,293 controls). In summary, we highlighted novel miRNAs that may be involved in those cocaine-induced changes of gene expression that underlie addiction. Moreover, we identified genetic variants that contribute to cocaine dependence in three of these miRNA genes, supporting the idea that genes differentially expressed under cocaine may play an important role in the susceptibility to cocaine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Concepció Arenas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
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26
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Substance use disorders are a group of chronic relapsing disorders of the brain, which have massive public health and societal impact. In some disorders (e.g., heroin/prescription opioid addictions) approved medications have a major long-term benefit. For other substances (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis) there are no approved medications, and for alcohol there are approved treatments, which are not in wide usage. Approved treatments for tobacco use disorders are available, and novel medications are also under study. Areas covered: Medication-based approaches which are in advanced preclinical stages, or which have reached proof-of concept clinical laboratory studies, as well as clinical trials. Expert opinion: Current challenges involve optimizing translation between preclinical and clinical development, and between clinical laboratory studies to therapeutic clinical trials. Comorbidities including depression or anxiety are challenges for study design and analysis. Improved pharmacogenomics, biomarker and phenotyping approaches are areas of interest. Pharmacological mechanisms currently under investigation include modulation of glutamatergic, GABA, vasopressin and κ-receptor function, as well as inhibition of monoamine re-uptake. Other factors that affect potential market size for emerging medications include stigma, availability of treatment settings, adoption by clinicians, and the prevalence of persons with SUD who are not actively treatment-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R Butelman
- a Laboratory in the Biology of Addictive Diseases , The Rockefeller University , New York , NY , USA
| | - Mary Jeanne Kreek
- a Laboratory in the Biology of Addictive Diseases , The Rockefeller University , New York , NY , USA
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27
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Mills L, Dar-Nimrod I, Colagiuri B. Effect of Genetic Information and Information About Caffeine Content on Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8407. [PMID: 28827535 PMCID: PMC5566379 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08678-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This study sought to test the effect of genetic information and information about the caffeine content of a beverage on caffeine withdrawal, specifically if: (1) being informed that one has tested positive for a gene related to caffeine withdrawal can produce an exaggerated caffeine withdrawal response during abstinence; (2) belief that one has consumed caffeine leads to a reduction in withdrawal symptoms when no caffeine is consumed. Regular coffee drinkers were given a bogus genetic test and were told either that they had tested positive or negative for a gene related to withdrawal. After 24-hour caffeine abstinence withdrawal symptoms were measured using a self-report caffeine withdrawal scale, and then again after a cup of decaffeinated coffee. Half the participants were told their coffee was caffeinated and half were told truthfully that it was decaffeinated. Participants told the coffee was caffeinated reported a greater reduction in withdrawal symptoms than those told it was decaffeinated. Differing genetic test result information produced no difference in reported withdrawal symptoms. These results indicate that information about the dose of caffeine administered can influence withdrawal symptoms, but that genetic information does not have a universal ability to produce nocebo effects across all sensory and cognitive domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Llewellyn Mills
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ilan Dar-Nimrod
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ben Colagiuri
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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28
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Canli T, Wen R, Wang X, Mikhailik A, Yu L, Fleischman D, Wilson RS, Bennett DA. Differential transcriptome expression in human nucleus accumbens as a function of loneliness. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1069-1078. [PMID: 27801889 PMCID: PMC5411331 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is associated with impaired mental and physical health. Studies of lonely individuals reported differential expression of inflammatory genes in peripheral leukocytes and diminished activation in brain reward regions such as nucleus accumbens, but could not address gene expression in the human brain. Here, we examined genome-wide RNA expression in post-mortem nucleus accumbens from donors (N=26) with known loneliness measures. Loneliness was associated with 1710 differentially expressed transcripts and genes from 1599 genes (DEGs; false discovery rate P<0.05, fold change ⩾|2|, controlling for confounds) previously associated with behavioral processes, neurological disease, psychological disorders, cancer, organismal injury and skeletal and muscular disorders, as well as networks of upstream RNA regulators. Furthermore, a number of DEGs were associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) genes (that was correlated with loneliness in this sample, although gene expression analyses controlled for AD diagnosis). These results identify novel targets for future mechanistic studies of gene networks in nucleus accumbens and gene regulatory mechanisms across a variety of diseases exacerbated by loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Canli
- Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - R Wen
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - X Wang
- Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - A Mikhailik
- Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - L Yu
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - D Fleischman
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - R S Wilson
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - D A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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29
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Vallender EJ, Goswami DB, Shinday NM, Westmoreland SV, Yao WD, Rowlett JK. Transcriptomic profiling of the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens in rhesus macaques following long-term cocaine self-administration. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 175:9-23. [PMID: 28376414 PMCID: PMC5693237 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The behavioral consequences associated with addiction are thought to arise from drug-induced neuroadaptation. The mesolimbic system plays an important initial role in this process, and while the dopaminergic system specifically has been strongly interrogated, a complete understanding of the broad transcriptomic effects associated with cocaine use remains elusive. METHODS Using next generation sequencing approaches, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of gene expression differences in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens of rhesus macaques that had self-administered cocaine for roughly 100days and saline-yoked controls. During self-administration, the monkeys increased daily consumption of cocaine until almost the maximum number of injections were taken within the first 15min of the one hour session for a total intake of 3mg/kg/day. RESULTS We confirm the centrality of dopaminergic differences in the ventral tegmental area, but in the nucleus accumbens we see the strongest evidence for an inflammatory response and large scale chromatin remodeling. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest an expanded understanding of the pathology of cocaine addiction with the potential to lead to the development of alternative treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J. Vallender
- Harvard Medical School, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, MA 01772,University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216,Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433
| | - Dharmendra B. Goswami
- Harvard Medical School, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, MA 01772,Boston University, Boston, MA 02118
| | - Nina M. Shinday
- Harvard Medical School, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, MA 01772,University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | | | - Wei-Dong Yao
- Harvard Medical School, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, MA 01772,SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - James K. Rowlett
- Harvard Medical School, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, MA 01772,University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216,Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433,University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
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30
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Blum K, Febo M, Badgaiyan RD, Demetrovics Z, Simpatico T, Fahlke C, Li M, Dushaj K, Gold MS. Common Neurogenetic Diagnosis and Meso-Limbic Manipulation of Hypodopaminergic Function in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS): Changing the Recovery Landscape. Curr Neuropharmacol 2017; 15:184-194. [PMID: 27174576 PMCID: PMC5327445 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x13666160512150918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 1990, Blum and associates provided the first confirmed genetic link between the DRD2 polymorphisms and alcoholism. This finding was based on an earlier conceptual framework, which served as a blueprint for their seminal genetic association discovery they termed "Brain Reward Cascade." These findings were followed by a new way of understanding all addictive behaviors (substance and non-substance) termed "Reward Deficiency Syndrome" (RDS). RDS incorporates a complex multifaceted array of inheritable behaviors that are polygenic. OBJECTIVE In this review article, we attempt to clarify these terms and provide a working model to accurately diagnose and treat these unwanted behaviors. METHOD We are hereby proposing the development of a translational model we term "Reward Deficiency Solution System™" that incorporates neurogenetic testing and meso-limbic manipulation of a "hypodopaminergic" trait/state, which provides dopamine agonistic therapy (DAT) as well as reduced "dopamine resistance," while embracing "dopamine homeostasis." RESULT The result is better recovery and relapse prevention, despite DNA antecedents, which could impact the recovery process and relapse. Understanding the commonality of mental illness will transform erroneous labeling based on symptomatology, into a genetic and anatomical etiology. WC: 184.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Blum
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Nutrigenomics, RDSolutions, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
- PATH Foundation NY, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Neuroscience Research and Addiction Therapy, The Shores Treatment and Recovery, Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rajendra D. Badgaiyan
- Division of Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota College of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA;
| | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Department of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Thomas Simpatico
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Claudia Fahlke
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden;
| | - Oscar-Berman M
- Departments of Psychiatry and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mona Li
- PATH Foundation NY, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract
Heroin addiction is a complex psychiatric disorder with a chronic course and a high relapse rate, which results from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Heroin addiction has a substantial heritability in its etiology; hence, identification of individuals with a high genetic propensity to heroin addiction may help prevent the occurrence and relapse of heroin addiction and its complications. The study aimed to identify a small set of genetic signatures that may reliably predict the individuals with a high genetic propensity to heroin addiction. We first measured the transcript level of 13 genes (RASA1, PRKCB, PDK1, JUN, CEBPG, CD74, CEBPB, AUTS2, ENO2, IMPDH2, HAT1, MBD1, and RGS3) in lymphoblastoid cell lines in a sample of 124 male heroin addicts and 124 male control subjects using real-time quantitative PCR. Seven genes (PRKCB, PDK1, JUN, CEBPG, CEBPB, ENO2, and HAT1) showed significant differential expression between the 2 groups. Further analysis using 3 statistical methods including logistic regression analysis, support vector machine learning analysis, and a computer software BIASLESS revealed that a set of 4 genes (JUN, CEBPB, PRKCB, ENO2, or CEBPG) could predict the diagnosis of heroin addiction with the accuracy rate around 85% in our dataset. Our findings support the idea that it is possible to identify genetic signatures of heroin addiction using a small set of expressed genes. However, the study can only be considered as a proof-of-concept study. As the establishment of lymphoblastoid cell line is a laborious and lengthy process, it would be more practical in clinical settings to identify genetic signatures for heroin addiction directly from peripheral blood cells in the future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Ji Chen
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien
- Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch
| | - Ding-Lieh Liao
- Department of Health Executive Yuan, Bali Psychiatric Center
| | - Tsu-Wang Shen
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien
| | - Hsin-Chou Yang
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei
| | - Kuang-Chi Chen
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien
| | - Chia-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou
- Department and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Correspondence: Chia-Hsiang Chen, Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, No. 5 Fusing Street, Kueishan, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan (e-mail: )
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Bannon MJ, Savonen CL, Jia H, Dachet F, Halter SD, Schmidt CJ, Lipovich L, Kapatos G. Identification of long noncoding RNAs dysregulated in the midbrain of human cocaine abusers. J Neurochem 2015. [PMID: 26222413 PMCID: PMC4830632 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of the drug‐addicted state is thought to involve changes in gene expression in different neuronal cell types and neural circuits. Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in particular mediate numerous responses to drugs of abuse. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate CNS gene expression through a variety of mechanisms, but next to nothing is known about their role in drug abuse. The proportion of lncRNAs that are primate‐specific provides a strong rationale for their study in human drug abusers. In this study, we determined a profile of dysregulated putative lncRNAs through the analysis of postmortem human midbrain specimens from chronic cocaine abusers and well‐matched control subjects (n = 11 in each group) using a custom lncRNA microarray. A dataset comprising 32 well‐annotated lncRNAs with independent evidence of brain expression and robust differential expression in cocaine abusers is presented. For a subset of these lncRNAs, differential expression was validated by quantitative real‐time PCR and cellular localization determined by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Examples of lncRNAs exhibiting DA cell‐specific expression, different subcellular distributions, and covariance of expression with known cocaine‐regulated protein‐coding genes were identified. These findings implicate lncRNAs in the cellular responses of human DA neurons to chronic cocaine abuse.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate the expression of protein‐coding genes, but little is known about their potential role in drug abuse. In this study, we identified lncRNAs differentially expressed in human cocaine abusers' midbrains. One up‐regulated antisense lncRNA, tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 3‐interacting protein 2‐antisense 1 (TRAF3IP2‐AS1), was found predominantly in the nucleus of human dopamine (DA) neurons, whereas the related TRAF3IP2 protein‐coding transcript was distributed throughout these cells. The abundances of these transcripts were significantly correlated (left) suggesting that TRAF3IP2‐AS1 may regulate TRAF3IP2 gene expression, perhaps through local chromatin changes at this locus (right).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Bannon
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Candace L Savonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Hui Jia
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Fabien Dachet
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Steven D Halter
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Carl J Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Leonard Lipovich
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.,Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Gregory Kapatos
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Wright KN, Hollis F, Duclot F, Dossat AM, Strong CE, Francis TC, Mercer R, Feng J, Dietz DM, Lobo MK, Nestler EJ, Kabbaj M. Methyl supplementation attenuates cocaine-seeking behaviors and cocaine-induced c-Fos activation in a DNA methylation-dependent manner. J Neurosci 2015; 35:8948-58. [PMID: 26063926 PMCID: PMC4461693 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5227-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone modifications, regulate responsiveness to drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, but relatively little is known about the regulation of addictive-like behaviors by DNA methylation. To investigate the influence of DNA methylation on the locomotor-activating effects of cocaine and on drug-seeking behavior, rats receiving methyl supplementation via chronic l-methionine (MET) underwent either a sensitization regimen of intermittent cocaine injections or intravenous self-administration of cocaine, followed by cue-induced and drug-primed reinstatement. MET blocked sensitization to the locomotor-activating effects of cocaine and attenuated drug-primed reinstatement, with no effect on cue-induced reinstatement or sucrose self-administration and reinstatement. Furthermore, upregulation of DNA methyltransferase 3a and 3b and global DNA hypomethylation were observed in the nucleus accumbens core (NAc), but not in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), of cocaine-pretreated rats. Glutamatergic projections from the mPFC to the NAc are critically involved in the regulation of cocaine-primed reinstatement, and activation of both brain regions is seen in human addicts when reexposed to the drug. When compared with vehicle-pretreated rats, the immediate early gene c-Fos (a marker of neuronal activation) was upregulated in the NAc and mPFC of cocaine-pretreated rats after cocaine-primed reinstatement, and chronic MET treatment blocked its induction in both regions. Cocaine-induced c-Fos expression in the NAc was associated with reduced methylation at CpG dinucleotides in the c-Fos gene promoter, effects reversed by MET treatment. Overall, these data suggest that drug-seeking behaviors are, in part, attributable to a DNA methylation-dependent process, likely occurring at specific gene loci (e.g., c-Fos) in the reward pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine N Wright
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306
| | - Fiona Hollis
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florian Duclot
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306
| | - Amanda M Dossat
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306
| | - Caroline E Strong
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306
| | - T Chase Francis
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Roger Mercer
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306
| | - Jian Feng
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, and
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, and
| | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306,
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Bannon MJ, Savonen CL, Hartley ZJ, Johnson MM, Schmidt CJ. Investigating the potential influence of cause of death and cocaine levels on the differential expression of genes associated with cocaine abuse. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117580. [PMID: 25658879 PMCID: PMC4319936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of complex brain disorders such as drug addiction is likely to be advanced by a more complete understanding of the underlying molecular pathophysiology. Although the study of postmortem human brain represents a unique resource in this regard, it can be challenging to disentangle the relative contribution of chronic pathological processes versus perimortem events to the observed changes in gene expression. To begin to unravel this issue, we analyzed by quantitative PCR the midbrain expression of numerous candidate genes previously associated with cocaine abuse. Data obtained from chronic cocaine abusers (and matched control subjects) dying of gunshot wounds were compared with a prior study of subjects with deaths directly attributable to cocaine abuse. Most of the genes studied (i.e., tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine transporter, forkhead box A2, histone variant H3 family 3B, nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha, growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible beta) were found to be differentially expressed in chronic cocaine abusers irrespective of immediate cause of death or perimortem levels of cocaine, suggesting that these may represent core pathophysiological changes arising with chronic drug abuse. On the other hand, chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 and jun proto-oncogene expression were unaffected in cocaine-abusing subjects dying of gunshot wounds, in contrast to the differential expression previously reported in cocaine-related fatalities. The possible influence of cause of death and other factors on the cocaine-responsiveness of these genes is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Bannon
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Candace L. Savonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Zachary J. Hartley
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Magen M. Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Carl J. Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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