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Tao Q, Dang J, Guo H, Zhang M, Niu X, Kang Y, Sun J, Ma L, Wei Y, Wang W, Wen B, Cheng J, Han S, Zhang Y. Abnormalities in static and dynamic intrinsic neural activity and neurotransmitters in first-episode OCD. J Affect Disord 2024; 363:609-618. [PMID: 39029696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling disorder in which the temporal variability of regional brain connectivity is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in static and dynamic intrinsic neural activity (INA) in first-episode OCD and whether these changes have the potential to reflect neurotransmitters. METHODS A total of 95 first-episode OCD patients and 106 matched healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), the static and dynamic local connectivity coherence (calculated by static and dynamic regional homogeneity, sReHo and dReHo) were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, correlations between abnormal INA and PET- and SPECT-derived maps were performed to examine specific neurotransmitter system changes underlying INA abnormalities in OCD. RESULTS Compared with HCs, OCD showed decreased sReHo and dReHo values in left superior, middle temporal gyrus (STG/MTG), left Heschl gyrus (HES), left putamen, left insula, bilateral paracentral lobular (PCL), right postcentral gyrus (PoCG), right precentral gyrus (PreCG), left precuneus and right supplementary motor area (SMA). Decreased dReHo values were also found in left PoCG, left PreCG, left SMA and left middle cingulate cortex (MCC). Meanwhile, alterations in INA present in brain regions were correlated with dopamine system (D2, FDOPA), norepinephrine transporter (NAT) and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) maps. CONCLUSION Static and dynamic INA abnormalities exist in first-episode OCD, having the potential to reveal the molecular characteristics. The results help to further understand the pathophysiological mechanism and provide alternative therapeutic targets of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuying Tao
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Jinghan Dang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Huirong Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Mengzhe Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Xiaoyu Niu
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Yimeng Kang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Jieping Sun
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Longyao Ma
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Yarui Wei
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Weijian Wang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Baohong Wen
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China.
| | - Shaoqiang Han
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of brain function and cognitive magnetic resonance imaging, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for detection and application of brain function, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of medical imaging intelligent diagnosis and treatment, China; Henan key laboratory of imaging intelligence research, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Brain Function Development and Application, China.
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2
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Zhang YD, Shi DD, Wang Z. Neurobiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from Genes to Circuits: Insights from Animal Models. Neurosci Bull 2024:10.1007/s12264-024-01252-9. [PMID: 38982026 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01252-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, severe psychiatric disorder that has been ranked by the World Health Organization as one of the leading causes of illness-related disability, and first-line interventions are limited in efficacy and have side-effect issues. However, the exact pathophysiology underlying this complex, heterogeneous disorder remains unknown. This scenario is now rapidly changing due to the advancement of powerful technologies that can be used to verify the function of the specific gene and dissect the neural circuits underlying the neurobiology of OCD in rodents. Genetic and circuit-specific manipulation in rodents has provided important insights into the neurobiology of OCD by identifying the molecular, cellular, and circuit events that induce OCD-like behaviors. This review will highlight recent progress specifically toward classic genetic animal models and advanced neural circuit findings, which provide theoretical evidence for targeted intervention on specific molecular, cellular, and neural circuit events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Dan Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Dong-Dong Shi
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201108, China.
| | - Zhen Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201108, China.
- Shanghai Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention Engineering Technology Research Center, Shanghai, 200030, China.
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Yount ST, Wang S, Allen AT, Shapiro LP, Butkovich LM, Gourley SL. A molecularly defined orbitofrontal cortical neuron population controls compulsive-like behavior, but not inflexible choice or habit. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 238:102632. [PMID: 38821345 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Habits are familiar behaviors triggered by cues, not outcome predictability, and are insensitive to changes in the environment. They are adaptive under many circumstances but can be considered antecedent to compulsions and intrusive thoughts that drive persistent, potentially maladaptive behavior. Whether compulsive-like and habit-like behaviors share neural substrates is still being determined. Here, we investigated mice bred to display inflexible reward-seeking behaviors that are insensitive to action consequences. We found that these mice demonstrate habitual response biases and compulsive-like grooming behavior that was reversible by fluoxetine and ketamine. They also suffer dendritic spine attrition on excitatory neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Nevertheless, synaptic melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), a factor implicated in compulsive behavior, is preserved, leading to the hypothesis that Mc4r+ OFC neurons may drive aberrant behaviors. Repeated chemogenetic stimulation of Mc4r+ OFC neurons triggered compulsive and not inflexible or habitual response biases in otherwise typical mice. Thus, Mc4r+ neurons within the OFC appear to drive compulsive-like behavior that is dissociable from habitual behavior. Understanding which neuron populations trigger distinct behaviors may advance efforts to mitigate harmful compulsions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie T Yount
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, USA; Emory National Primate Research Center, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Silu Wang
- Emory National Primate Research Center, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aylet T Allen
- Emory National Primate Research Center, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, USA; Emory National Primate Research Center, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Laura M Butkovich
- Emory National Primate Research Center, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, USA; Emory National Primate Research Center, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Xiao Q, Hou J, Xiao L, Zhou M, He Z, Dong H, Hu S. Lower synaptic density and its association with cognitive dysfunction in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Gen Psychiatr 2024; 37:e101208. [PMID: 38894874 PMCID: PMC11184172 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2023-101208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding synaptic alteration in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is crucial for elucidating its pathological mechanisms, but in vivo research on this topic remains limited. Aims This study aimed to identify the synaptic density indicators in OCD and explore the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and synaptic density changes in OCD. Methods This study enrolled 28 drug-naive adults with OCD aged 18-40 years and 16 healthy controls (HCs). Three-dimensional T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging and 18F-SynVesT-1 positron emission tomography were conducted. Cognitive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Cart Sorting Test (WCST) in patients with OCD and HCs. Correlative analysis was performed to examine the association between synaptic density reduction and cognitive dysfunction. Results Compared with HCs, patients with OCD showed reduced synaptic density in regions of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit such as the bilateral putamen, left caudate, left parahippocampal gyrus, left insula, left parahippocampal gyrus and left middle occipital lobe (voxel p<0.001, uncorrected, with cluster level above 50 contiguous voxels). The per cent conceptual-level responses of WCST were positively associated with the synaptic density reduction in the left middle occipital gyrus (R2=0.1690, p=0.030), left parahippocampal gyrus (R2=0.1464, p=0.045) and left putamen (R2=0.1967, p=0.018) in patients with OCD. Conclusions Adults with OCD demonstrated lower 18F-labelled difluoro analogue of 18F-SynVesT-1 compared with HCs, indicating potentially lower synaptic density. This is the first study to explore the synaptic density in patients with OCD and provides insights into potential biological targets for cognitive dysfunctions in OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xiao
- Mental Health Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiale Hou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiyou He
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huixi Dong
- Mental Health Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuo Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology, National Health Commission, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center, Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya), Changsha, Hunan, China
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5
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Chohan MO, Fein H, Mirro S, O'Reilly KC, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Repeated chemogenetic activation of dopaminergic neurons induces reversible changes in baseline and amphetamine-induced behaviors. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:2545-2560. [PMID: 37594501 PMCID: PMC10872888 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06448-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Repeated chemogenetic stimulation is often employed to study circuit function and behavior. Chronic or repeated agonist administration can result in homeostatic changes, but this has not been extensively studied with designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the impact of repeated DREADD activation of dopaminergic (DA) neurons on basal behavior, amphetamine response, and spike firing. We hypothesized that repeated DREADD activation would mimic compensatory effects that we observed with genetic manipulations of DA neurons. METHODS Excitatory hM3D(Gq) DREADDs were virally expressed in adult TH-Cre and WT mice. In a longitudinal design, clozapine N-oxide (CNO, 1.0 mg/kg) was administered repeatedly. We evaluated basal and CNO- or amphetamine (AMPH)-induced locomotion and stereotypy. DA neuronal activity was assessed using in vivo single-unit recordings. RESULTS Acute CNO administration increased locomotion, but basal locomotion decreased after repeated CNO exposure in TH-CrehM3Dq mice relative to littermate controls. Further, after repeated CNO administration, AMPH-induced hyperlocomotion and stereotypy were diminished in TH-CrehM3Dq mice relative to controls. Repeated CNO administration reduced DA neuronal firing in TH-CrehM3Dq mice relative to controls. A two-month CNO washout period rescued the decreases in basal locomotion and AMPH response. CONCLUSIONS We found that repeated DREADD activation of DA neurons evokes homeostatic changes that should be factored into the interpretation of chronic DREADD applications and their impact on circuit function and behavior. These effects are likely to also be seen in other neuronal systems and underscore the importance of studying neuroadaptive changes with chronic or repeated DREADD activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad O Chohan
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Halli Fein
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Sarah Mirro
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Kally C O'Reilly
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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Gattuso JJ, Wilson C, Hannan AJ, Renoir T. Acute administration of the NMDA receptor antagonists ketamine and MK-801 reveals dysregulation of glutamatergic signalling and sensorimotor gating in the Sapap3 knockout mouse model of compulsive-like behaviour. Neuropharmacology 2023; 239:109689. [PMID: 37597609 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109689] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by excessive intrusive thoughts that may cause an individual to engage in compulsive behaviours. Frontline pharmacological treatments (i.e., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)) leave approximately 40% of patients refractory to treatment. To investigate the possibility of novel pharmacological therapies for OCD, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying its pathology, we used the Sapap3 knockout (KO) mouse model of OCD, which exhibits increased anxiety and compulsive grooming behaviours. Firstly, we investigated whether administration of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine (30 mg/kg), would reduce anxiety and grooming behaviour in Sapap3 KO mice. Anxiety-like behaviour was measured via time spent in the light component of the light-dark box test. Grooming behaviour was recorded and scored in freely moving mice. In line with previous works conducted in older animals (i.e. typically between 6 and 9 months of age), we confirmed here that Sapap3 KO mice exhibit an anxious, compulsive grooming, hypolocomotive and reduced body weight phenotype even at a younger age (i.e., 2-3 months of age). However, we found that acute administration of ketamine did not cause a reduction in anxiety or grooming behaviour. We then investigated in vivo glutamatergic function via the administration of a different NMDAR antagonist, MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg), prior to locomotion and prepulse inhibition assays. We found evidence of altered functional NMDAR activity, as well as sexually dimorphic prepulse inhibition, a measure of sensorimotor gating, in Sapap3 KO mice. These results are suggestive of in vivo glutamatergic dysfunction and their functional consequences, enabling future research to further investigate novel treatments for OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Gattuso
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Carey Wilson
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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D'Acquisto F, D'Addario C, Cooper D, Pallanti S, Blacksell I. Peripheral control of psychiatric disorders: Focus on OCD. Are we there yet? Compr Psychiatry 2023; 123:152388. [PMID: 37060625 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
"We are all in this together" - we often hear this phrase when we want to flag up a problem that is not for a single individual but concerns us all. A similar reflection has been recently made in the field of mental disorders where brain-centric scientists have started to zoom out their brain-focused graphical representations of the mechanisms regulating psychiatric diseases to include other organs or mediators that did not belong historically to the world of neuroscience. The brain itself - that has long been seen as a master in command secluded in its fortress (the blood brain barrier), has now become a collection of Airbnb(s) where all sorts of cells come in and out and sometimes even rearrange the furniture! Under this new framework of reference, mental disorders have become multisystem pathologies where different biological systems - not just the CNS -contribute 'all together' to the development and severity of the disease. In this narrative review article, we will focus on one of the most popular biological systems that has been shown to influence the functioning of the CNS: the immune system. We will specifically highlight the two main features of the immune system and the CNS that we think are important in the context of mental disorders: plasticity and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulvio D'Acquisto
- School of Life and Health Science, University of Roehampton, London, UK.
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dianne Cooper
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Stefano Pallanti
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine,New York, USA; Istituto di Neuroscienze, Florence, Italy
| | - Isobel Blacksell
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Sherif MA, Fotros A, Greenberg BD, McLaughlin NCR. Understanding cingulotomy's therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 16:889831. [PMID: 36704759 PMCID: PMC9871832 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.889831] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cingulotomy is therapeutic in OCD, but what are the possible mechanisms? Computer models that formalize cortical OCD abnormalities and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function can help answer this. At the neural dynamics level, cortical dynamics in OCD have been modeled using attractor networks, where activity patterns resistant to change denote the inability to switch to new patterns, which can reflect inflexible thinking patterns or behaviors. From that perspective, cingulotomy might reduce the influence of difficult-to-escape ACC attractor dynamics on other cortical areas. At the functional level, computer formulations based on model-free reinforcement learning (RL) have been used to describe the multitude of phenomena ACC is involved in, such as tracking the timing of expected outcomes and estimating the cost of exerting cognitive control and effort. Different elements of model-free RL models of ACC could be affected by the inflexible cortical dynamics, making it challenging to update their values. An agent can also use a world model, a representation of how the states of the world change, to plan its actions, through model-based RL. OCD has been hypothesized to be driven by reduced certainty of how the brain's world model describes changes. Cingulotomy might improve such uncertainties about the world and one's actions, making it possible to trust the outcomes of these actions more and thus reduce the urge to collect more sensory information in the form of compulsions. Connecting the neural dynamics models with the functional formulations can provide new ways of understanding the role of ACC in OCD, with potential therapeutic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A. Sherif
- Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Department of Psychiatry Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI, United States,*Correspondence: Mohamed A. Sherif,
| | - Aryandokht Fotros
- Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Department of Psychiatry Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Benjamin D. Greenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States,United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Nicole C. R. McLaughlin
- Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
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García-Rodríguez AM, Sánchez-Velasco MJ, Lobo-Valentín RM, Vargas-Aragón MA. «Doctora, yo como pelo». Tricotilomanía con tricofagia. REVISTA CLÍNICA DE MEDICINA DE FAMILIA 2022. [DOI: 10.55783/rcmf.150310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Se presenta caso de mujer que dice que se come el pelo desde la infancia para lograr alivio momentáneo en situaciones estresantes.
En la anamnesis, refiere antecedentes familiares con otros comportamientos compulsivos, incluyendo un familiar que también come pelo.
Conclusiones: es clave una anamnesis bien estructurada que explore trastornos neurológicos y psiquiátricos bien definidos, así como el diseño de un árbol genealógico lo más exhaustivo posible para descartar implicaciones genéticas.
Descartar trastornos dermatológicos con la dermatoscopia.
Es fundamental concienciar a la paciente de posibles complicaciones y comorbilidades como las obstrucciones digestivas y avanzar la pobre eficacia de los tratamientos con psicofármacos.
Palabras clave: tricotilomanía, tricofagia, compulsión.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M.ª García-Rodríguez
- Especialista en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria y en Análisis Clínicos MDPhD. Centro de Salud Delicias I. Valladolid (España). Grupo de Trabajo de Genética y Enfermedades Raras de la semFYC
| | - Miguel J. Sánchez-Velasco
- Especialista en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria y en Medicina Legal y Forense MD. Servicio de Inspección y Evaluación de Centros. Gerencia Regional de Salud. Valladolid (España)
| | - Rosa M.ª Lobo-Valentín
- Farmacéutica PhD. Servicio de Análisis Clínicos. Unidad de Citogenética. Hospital Río Hortega. Valladolid (España)
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Chohan MO, Kopelman JM, Yueh H, Fazlali Z, Greene N, Harris AZ, Balsam PD, Leonardo ED, Kramer ER, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Ahmari SE. Developmental impact of glutamate transporter overexpression on dopaminergic neuron activity and stereotypic behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1515-1526. [PMID: 35058566 PMCID: PMC9106836 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01424-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling condition that often begins in childhood. Genetic studies in OCD have pointed to SLC1A1, which encodes the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAT3, with evidence suggesting that increased expression contributes to risk. In mice, midbrain Slc1a1 expression supports repetitive behavior in response to dopaminergic agonists, aligning with neuroimaging and pharmacologic challenge studies that have implicated the dopaminergic system in OCD. These findings suggest that Slc1a1 may contribute to compulsive behavior through altered dopaminergic transmission; however, this theory has not been mechanistically tested. To examine the developmental impact of Slc1a1 overexpression on compulsive-like behaviors, we, therefore, generated a novel mouse model to perform targeted, reversible overexpression of Slc1a1 in dopaminergic neurons. Mice with life-long overexpression of Slc1a1 showed a significant increase in amphetamine (AMPH)-induced stereotypy and hyperlocomotion. Single-unit recordings demonstrated that Slc1a1 overexpression was associated with increased firing of dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, dLight1.1 fiber photometry showed that these behavioral abnormalities were associated with increased dorsal striatum dopamine release. In contrast, no impact of overexpression was observed on anxiety-like behaviors or SKF-38393-induced grooming. Importantly, overexpression solely in adulthood failed to recapitulate these behavioral phenotypes, suggesting that overexpression during development is necessary to generate AMPH-induced phenotypes. However, doxycycline-induced reversal of Slc1a1/EAAT3 overexpression in adulthood normalized both the increased dopaminergic firing and AMPH-induced responses. These data indicate that the pathologic effects of Slc1a1/EAAT3 overexpression on dopaminergic neurotransmission and AMPH-induced stereotyped behavior are developmentally mediated, and support normalization of EAAT3 activity as a potential treatment target for basal ganglia-mediated repetitive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad O. Chohan
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jared M. Kopelman
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hannah Yueh
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zeinab Fazlali
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natasha Greene
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Psychology, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Z. Harris
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter D. Balsam
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Psychology, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - E. David Leonardo
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edgar R. Kramer
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. .,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Susanne E. Ahmari
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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11
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Li X, Li H, Jiang X, Li J, Cao L, Liu J, Xing H, Huang X, Gong Q. Characterizing multiscale modular structures in medication-free obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with no comorbidity. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2391-2399. [PMID: 35170143 PMCID: PMC8996347 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain networks exhibit signatures of modular structure, which maintains a fine trade‐off between wiring cost and efficiency of information transmission. Alterations in modular structure have been found in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). However, previous studies were focused on a single scale (i.e., modularity or intra/intermodular connectivity) for investigation. Here, we recruited 92 OCD patients and 90 healthy controls. A comprehensive analysis was performed on modular architecture alterations in the voxelwise functional connectome at the “global” (modularity), “meso” (modular segregation and within‐ and between‐module connections), and “local” (participation coefficients, PC) scales. We also examined the correlation between modular structure metrics and clinical symptoms. The findings revealed that (1) there was no significant group difference in global modularity; (2) both primary modules (visual network, sensorimotor network) and high‐order modules (dorsal attention network, frontoparietal network) exhibited lower modular segregation in OCD patients, which was mainly driven by increased numbers of between‐module connections; and (3) OCD patients showed higher PC in several connectors including the bilateral middle occipital gyri, left medial orbital frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus, and lower PC in the right lingual gyrus. Moreover, these alterations in modular structure were associated with clinical symptoms in patients. Our findings provide further insights into the involvement of different modules in functional network dysfunction in OCD from a connectomic perspective and suggest a synergetic mechanism of module interactions that may be related to the pathophysiology of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- College of Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hailong Li
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xi Jiang
- College of Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingxiao Cao
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Haoyang Xing
- College of Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
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12
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Ahmari SE, Rauch SL. The prefrontal cortex and OCD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:211-224. [PMID: 34400778 PMCID: PMC8617188 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent and severe neuropsychiatric disorder, with an incidence of 1.5-3% worldwide. However, despite the clear public health burden of OCD and relatively well-defined symptom criteria, effective treatments are still limited, spotlighting the need for investigation of the neural substrates of the disorder. Human neuroimaging studies have consistently highlighted abnormal activity patterns in prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions and connected circuits in OCD during both symptom provocation and performance of neurocognitive tasks. Because of recent technical advances, these findings can now be leveraged to develop novel targeted interventions. Here we will highlight current theories regarding the role of the prefrontal cortex in the generation of OCD symptoms, discuss ways in which this knowledge can be used to improve treatments for this often disabling illness, and lay out challenges in the field for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne E Ahmari
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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13
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Manning EE, Geramita MA, Piantadosi SC, Pierson JL, Ahmari SE. Distinct Patterns of Abnormal Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex Activity During Compulsive Grooming and Reversal Learning Normalize After Fluoxetine. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 93:989-999. [PMID: 35094880 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) display disrupted performance and abnormal lateral orbitofrontal cortex (LOFC) activity during reversal learning tasks. However, it is unknown whether compulsions and reversal learning deficits share a common neural substrate. To answer this question, we measured neural activity with in vivo calcium imaging in LOFC during compulsive grooming and reversal learning before and after fluoxetine treatment. METHODS Sapap3 knockout (KO) mice were used as a model for OCD-relevant behaviors. Sapap3 KOs and control littermates were injected with a virus encoding GCaMP6f and implanted with gradient-index lenses to visualize LOFC activity using miniature microscopes. Grooming, reversal learning, and neural activity were measured pre- and post-fluoxetine treatment (18 mg/kg, 4 weeks). RESULTS Baseline compulsive grooming and reversal learning impairments in KOs improved after fluoxetine treatment. In addition, KOs displayed distinct patterns of abnormal LOFC activity during grooming and reversal learning, both of which normalized after fluoxetine. Finally, reversal learning-associated neurons were distributed randomly among grooming-associated neurons (i.e., overlap is what would be expected by chance). CONCLUSIONS In OCD, LOFC is disrupted during both compulsive behaviors and reversal learning, but whether these behaviors share common neural underpinnings is unknown. We found that LOFC plays distinct roles in compulsive grooming and impaired reversal learning and their improvement with fluoxetine. These findings suggest that LOFC plays separate roles in pathophysiology and treatment of different perseverative behaviors in OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Manning
- School of the Biological Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew A Geramita
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sean C Piantadosi
- Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle
| | - Jamie L Pierson
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Susanne E Ahmari
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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14
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Ketamine increases activity of a fronto-striatal projection that regulates compulsive behavior in SAPAP3 knockout mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6040. [PMID: 34654803 PMCID: PMC8519915 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26247-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions), is associated with dysfunction in fronto-striatal circuits. There are currently no fast-acting pharmacological treatments for OCD. However, recent clinical studies demonstrated that an intravenous infusion of ketamine rapidly reduces OCD symptoms. To probe mechanisms underlying ketamine’s therapeutic effect on OCD-like behaviors, we used the SAPAP3 knockout (KO) mouse model of compulsive grooming. Here we recapitulate the fast-acting therapeutic effect of ketamine on compulsive behavior, and show that ketamine increases activity of dorsomedial prefrontal neurons projecting to the dorsomedial striatum in KO mice. Optogenetically mimicking this increase in fronto-striatal activity reduced compulsive grooming behavior in KO mice. Conversely, inhibiting this circuit in wild-type mice increased grooming. Finally, we demonstrate that ketamine blocks the exacerbation of grooming in KO mice caused by optogenetically inhibiting fronto-striatal activity. These studies demonstrate that ketamine increases activity in a fronto-striatal circuit that causally controls compulsive grooming behavior, suggesting this circuit may be important for ketamine’s therapeutic effects in OCD. Intravenous infusion of ketamine rapidly reduces obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. Here, the authors show in mice that ketamine acts by increasing activity in a fronto-striatal circuit that causally controls compulsive grooming behaviour.
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15
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Disruption of prepulse inhibition is associated with compulsive behavior severity and nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor changes in Sapap3 knockout mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9442. [PMID: 33941812 PMCID: PMC8093235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88769-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with disruption of sensorimotor gating, which may contribute to difficulties inhibiting intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals. Neural mechanisms underlying these disturbances are unclear; however, striatal dopamine is implicated in regulation of sensorimotor gating and OCD pathophysiology. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships between sensorimotor gating, compulsive behavior, and striatal dopamine receptor levels in Sapap3 knockout mice (KOs), a widely used preclinical model system for OCD research. We found a trend for disruption of sensorimotor gating in Sapap3-KOs using the translational measure prepulse inhibition (PPI); however, there was significant heterogeneity in both PPI and compulsive grooming in KOs. Disruption of PPI was significantly correlated with a more severe compulsive phenotype. In addition, PPI disruption and compulsive grooming severity were associated with reduced dopamine D1 and D2/3 receptor density in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcC). Compulsive grooming progressively worsened in Sapap3-KOs tested longitudinally, but PPI disruption was first detected in high-grooming KOs at 7 months of age. Through detailed characterization of individual differences in OCD-relevant behavioral and neurochemical measures, our findings suggest that NAcC dopamine receptor changes may be involved in disruption of sensorimotor gating and compulsive behavior relevant to OCD.
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16
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Transcriptome alterations are enriched for synapse-associated genes in the striatum of subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:171. [PMID: 33723209 PMCID: PMC7961029 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01290-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and severe psychiatric disorder for which effective treatment options are limited. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies have consistently implicated the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and striatum in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Recent genetic evidence points to involvement of components of the excitatory synapse in the etiology of OCD. However, the transcriptional alterations that could link genetic risk to known structural and functional abnormalities remain mostly unknown. To assess potential transcriptional changes in the OFC and two striatal regions (caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens) of OCD subjects relative to unaffected comparison subjects, we sequenced messenger RNA transcripts from these brain regions. In a joint analysis of all three regions, 904 transcripts were differentially expressed between 7 OCD versus 8 unaffected comparison subjects. Region-specific analyses highlighted a smaller number of differences, which concentrated in caudate and nucleus accumbens. Pathway analyses of the 904 differentially expressed transcripts showed enrichment for genes involved in synaptic signaling, with these synapse-associated genes displaying lower expression in OCD subjects relative to unaffected comparison subjects. Finally, we estimated that cell type fractions of medium spiny neurons were lower whereas vascular cells and astrocyte fractions were higher in tissue of OCD subjects. Together, these data provide the first unbiased examination of differentially expressed transcripts in both OFC and striatum of OCD subjects. These transcripts encoded synaptic proteins more often than expected by chance, and thus implicate the synapse as a vulnerable molecular compartment for OCD.
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17
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Cao X, Liu WP, Cheng LG, Li HJ, Wu H, Liu YH, Chen C, Xiao X, Li M, Wang GD, Zhang YP. Whole genome analyses reveal significant convergence in obsessive-compulsive disorder between humans and dogs. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2021; 66:187-196. [PMID: 36654227 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) represents a heterogeneous collection of diseases with diverse levels of phenotypic, genetic, and etiologic variability, making it difficult to identify the underlying genetic and biological mechanisms in humans. Domestic dogs exhibit several OCD-like behaviors. Using continuous circling as a representative phenotype for OCD, we screened two independent dog breeds, the Belgian Malinois and Kunming Dog and subsequently sequenced ten circling dogs and ten unaffected dogs for each breed. Using population differentiation analyses, we identified 11 candidate genes in the extreme tail of the differentiated regions between cases and controls. These genes overlap significantly with genes identified in a genome wide association study (GWAS) of human OCD, indicating strong convergence between humans and dogs. Through gene expressional analysis and functional exploration, we found that two candidate OCD risk genes, PPP2R2B and ADAMTSL3, affected the density and morphology of dendritic spines. Therefore, changes in dendritic spine may underlie some common biological and physiological pathways shared between humans and dogs. Our study revealed an unprecedented level of convergence in OCD shared between humans and dogs, and highlighted the importance of using domestic dogs as a model species for many human diseases including OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wei-Peng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Lu-Guang Cheng
- Kunming Police Dog Base, Ministry of Public Security, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Hui-Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yan-Hu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Kunming Police Dog Base, Ministry of Public Security, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
| | - Guo-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
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18
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Abstract
Effective pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments are well established for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are first-line treatment and are of benefit to about half of patients. Augmentation of SRI treatment with low-dose neuroleptics is an evidence-based second-line strategy. Specialty psychotherapy is also used as both first-line and second-line treatment and can benefit many. However, a substantial number of patients do not respond to these treatments. New alternatives are urgently needed. This review summarizes evidence for these established pharmacotherapeutic strategies, and for others that have been investigated in refractory disease but are not supported by the same level of evidence. We focus on three neurotransmitter systems in the brain: serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. We summarize evidence from genetic, neuroimaging, animal model, and other lines of investigation that probe these three systems in patients with OCD. We also review recent work on predictors of response to current treatments. While many studies suggest abnormalities that may provide insight into the pathophysiology of the disorder, most studies have been small, and non-replication of reported findings has been common. Nevertheless, the gradual accrual of evidence for neurotransmitter dysregulation may in time lead the way to new pharmacological strategies.
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19
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Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and oftentimes disabling disorder. The only established first-line treatments for OCD are exposure and response prevention, and serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications (SRIs). However, a subset of patients fails to respond to either modality, and few experience complete remission. Beyond SRI monotherapy, antipsychotic augmentation is the only medication approach for OCD with substantial empirical support. Our incomplete understanding of the neurobiology of OCD has hampered efforts to develop new treatments or enhance extant interventions. This review focuses on several promising areas of research that may help elucidate the pathophysiology of OCD and advance treatment. Multiple studies support a significant genetic contribution to OCD, but pinpointing the specific genetic determinants requires additional investigation. The preferential efficacy of SRIs in OCD has neither led to discovery of serotonergic abnormalities in OCD nor to development of new serotonergic medications for OCD. Several lines of preclinical and clinical evidence suggest dysfunction of the glutamatergic system in OCD, prompting testing of several promising glutamate modulating agents. Functional imaging studies in OCD show consistent evidence for increased activity in brain regions that form a cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loop. Neuromodulation treatments with either noninvasive devices (e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation) or invasive procedures (e.g., deep brain stimulation) provide further support for the CSTC model of OCD. A common substrate for various interventions (whether drug, behavioral, or device) may be modulation (at different nodes or connections) of the CSTC circuit that mediates the symptoms of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne K. Goodman
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (all authors) and Department of Neurosurgery (Sheth), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Eric A. Storch
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (all authors) and Department of Neurosurgery (Sheth), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Sameer A. Sheth
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (all authors) and Department of Neurosurgery (Sheth), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
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20
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Saraiva LC, Cappi C, Simpson HB, Stein DJ, Viswanath B, van den Heuvel OA, Reddy YCJ, Miguel EC, Shavitt RG. Cutting-edge genetics in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fac Rev 2020; 9:30. [PMID: 33659962 PMCID: PMC7886082 DOI: 10.12703/r/9-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This article reviews recent advances in the genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We cover work on the following: genome-wide association studies, whole-exome sequencing studies, copy number variation studies, gene expression, polygenic risk scores, gene–environment interaction, experimental animal systems, human cell models, imaging genetics, pharmacogenetics, and studies of endophenotypes. Findings from this work underscore the notion that the genetic architecture of OCD is highly complex and shared with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Also, the latest evidence points to the participation of gene networks involved in synaptic transmission, neurodevelopment, and the immune and inflammatory systems in this disorder. We conclude by highlighting that further study of the genetic architecture of OCD, a great part of which remains to be elucidated, could benefit the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on the biological basis of the disorder. Studies to date revealed that OCD is not a simple homogeneous entity, but rather that the underlying biological pathways are variable and heterogenous. We can expect that translation from bench to bedside, through continuous effort and collaborative work, will ultimately transform our understanding of what causes OCD and thus how best to treat it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Cardoso Saraiva
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina Cappi
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Helen Blair Simpson
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Dan J Stein
- SA MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Biju Viswanath
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS); Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells (ADBS) Laboratory, NIMHANS, Bangalore, India
| | - Odile A van den Heuvel
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - YC Janardhan Reddy
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore, India
| | - Euripedes C Miguel
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Roseli G Shavitt
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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21
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Yoo T, Kim SG, Yang SH, Kim H, Kim E, Kim SY. A DLG2 deficiency in mice leads to reduced sociability and increased repetitive behavior accompanied by aberrant synaptic transmission in the dorsal striatum. Mol Autism 2020; 11:19. [PMID: 32164788 PMCID: PMC7069029 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00324-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background DLG2, also known as postsynaptic density protein-93 (PSD-93) or chapsyn-110, is an excitatory postsynaptic scaffolding protein that interacts with synaptic surface receptors and signaling molecules. A recent study has demonstrated that mutations in the DLG2 promoter region are significantly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although DLG2 is well known as a schizophrenia-susceptibility gene, the mechanisms that link DLG2 gene disruption with ASD-like behaviors remain unclear. Methods Mice lacking exon 14 of the Dlg2 gene (Dlg2–/– mice) were used to investigate whether Dlg2 deletion leads to ASD-like behavioral abnormalities. To this end, we performed a battery of behavioral tests assessing locomotion, anxiety, sociability, and repetitive behaviors. In situ hybridization was performed to determine expression levels of Dlg2 mRNA in different mouse brain regions during embryonic and postnatal brain development. We also measured excitatory and inhibitory synaptic currents to determine the impacts of Dlg2 deletion on synaptic transmission in the dorsolateral striatum. Results Dlg2–/– mice showed hypoactivity in a novel environment. They also exhibited decreased social approach, but normal social novelty recognition, compared with wild-type animals. In addition, Dlg2–/– mice displayed strong self-grooming, both in home cages and novel environments. Dlg2 mRNA levels in the striatum were heightened until postnatal day 7 in mice, implying potential roles of DLG2 in the development of striatal connectivity. In addition, the frequency of excitatory, but not inhibitory, spontaneous postsynaptic currents in the Dlg2–/– dorsolateral striatum was significantly reduced. Conclusion These results suggest that homozygous Dlg2 deletion in mice leads to ASD-like behavioral phenotypes, including social deficits and increased repetitive behaviors, as well as reductions in excitatory synaptic input onto dorsolateral spiny projection neurons, implying that the dorsal striatum is one of the brain regions vulnerable to the developmental dysregulation of DLG2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taesun Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Sun-Gyun Kim
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Yang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Hyun Kim
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea.,Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Soo Young Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Korea.
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