1
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Tan X, Neslund EM, Fentis K, Ding ZM. Fluorocitrate inhibition of astrocytes reduces nicotine self-administration and alters extracellular levels of glutamate and dopamine within the nucleus accumbens in male wistar rats. Neuropharmacology 2024; 255:110001. [PMID: 38750804 PMCID: PMC11156530 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests an important role of astrocytes in mediating behavioral and molecular effects of commonly misused drugs. Passive exposure to nicotine alters molecular, morphological, and functional properties of astrocytes. However, a potential involvement of astrocytes in nicotine reinforcement remains largely unexplored. The overall hypothesis tested in the current study is that astrocytes play a critical role in nicotine reinforcement. Protein levels of the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were examined in key mesocorticolimbic regions following chronic nicotine intravenous self-administration. Fluorocitrate, a metabolic inhibitor of astrocytes, was tested for its effects on behaviors related to nicotine reinforcement and relapse. Effects of fluorocitrate on extracellular neurotransmitter levels, including glutamate, GABA, and dopamine, were determined with microdialysis. Chronic nicotine intravenous self-administration increased GFAP expression in the nucleus accumbens core (NACcr), but not other key mesocorticolimbic regions, compared to saline intravenous self-administration. Both intra-ventricular and intra-NACcr microinjection of fluorocitrate decreased nicotine self-administration. Intra-NACcr fluorocitrate microinjection also inhibited cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. Local perfusion of fluorocitrate decreased extracellular glutamate levels, elevated extracellular dopamine levels, but did not alter extracellular GABA levels in the NACcr. Fluorocitrate did not alter basal locomotor activity. These results indicate that nicotine reinforcement upregulates the astrocyte marker GFAP expression in the NACcr, metabolic inhibition of astrocytes attenuates nicotine reinforcement and relapse, and metabolic inhibition of astrocytes disrupts extracellular dopamine and glutamate transmission. Overall, these findings suggest that astrocytes play an important role in nicotine reinforcement and relapse, potentially through regulation of extracellular glutamate and dopamine neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Tan
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Neslund
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Khawla Fentis
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Zheng-Ming Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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2
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Jodłowski PJ, Dymek K, Kurowski G, Hyjek K, Boguszewska-Czubara A, Budzyńska B, Mrozek W, Skoczylas N, Kuterasiński Ł, Piskorz W, Białoruski M, Jędrzejczyk RJ, Jeleń P, Sitarz M. Crystal Clear: Metal-Organic Frameworks Pioneering the Path to Future Drug Detox. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:29657-29671. [PMID: 38815127 PMCID: PMC11181303 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02450] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The growing number of acute drug abuse overdoses demands the development of innovative detoxification strategies for emergency purposes. In this study, an innovative approach for the application of porous Zr-based metal-organic frameworks for the treatment of acute overdoses of popular drugs of abuse including amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA is presented. A comprehensive approach determining the efficacy and the kinetics of drug removal, considering dosage, adsorption time, and adsorption mechanisms, was tested and corroborated with density functional theory (DFT) modeling. The experimental results showed high removal efficiency reaching up to 90% in the case of the application of the NU-1000 metal-organic framework. The difference Raman spectroscopy method presented in this study corroborated with DFT-based vibrational analysis allows the detection of drug adsorbed in the MOF framework even with as low a concentration as 5 mg/g. Additionally, the drug adsorption mechanisms were modeled with DFT, showing the π-π stacking in a vast majority of considered cases. The performance and influence on the living organisms were evaluated throughout the in vitro and in vivo experiments, indicating that Zr-based MOFs could serve as efficient, organic, safe drug adsorbents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław J. Jodłowski
- Faculty
of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Kraków 31-155, Poland
| | - Klaudia Dymek
- Faculty
of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Kraków 31-155, Poland
- Lukasiewicz
Research Network − Krakow Institute of Technology, Zakopiańska 73, Kraków 30-418, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Kurowski
- Faculty
of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Kraków 31-155, Poland
| | - Kornelia Hyjek
- Faculty
of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Kraków 31-155, Poland
| | - Anna Boguszewska-Czubara
- Department
of Medical Chemistry, Medical University
of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, Lublin 20-093, Poland
| | - Barbara Budzyńska
- Independent
Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Medical
University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, Lublin 20-093, Poland
| | - Weronika Mrozek
- Independent
Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Medical
University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, Lublin 20-093, Poland
| | - Norbert Skoczylas
- Faculty
of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Krakow, Mickiewicza 30, Kraków 30-059, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kuterasiński
- Jerzy
Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, Kraków 30-239, Poland
| | - Witold Piskorz
- Faculty
of
Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 2, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Marek Białoruski
- Faculty
of
Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 2, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Roman J. Jędrzejczyk
- Małopolska
Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University
in Kraków, Gronostajowa
7A, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Piotr Jeleń
- Faculty
of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University
of Krakow, Mickiewicza
30, Kraków 30-059, Poland
| | - Maciej Sitarz
- Faculty
of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University
of Krakow, Mickiewicza
30, Kraków 30-059, Poland
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3
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Jenkins AK, Ketchesin KD, Becker-Krail DD, McClung CA. Molecular Rhythmicity in Glia: Importance for Brain Health and Relevance to Psychiatric Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01298-8. [PMID: 38735357 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.05.007] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are approximate 24-hour rhythms present in nearly all aspects of human physiology, including proper brain function. These rhythms are produced at the cellular level through a transcriptional-translational feedback loop known as the molecular clock. Diurnal variation in gene expression has been demonstrated in brain tissue from multiple species, including humans, in both cortical and subcortical regions. Interestingly, these rhythms in gene expression have been shown to be disrupted across psychiatric disorders and may be implicated in their underlying pathophysiology. However, little is known regarding molecular rhythms in specific cell types in the brain and how they might be involved in psychiatric disease. Although glial cells (e.g., astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) have been historically understudied compared to neurons, evidence of the molecular clock is found within each of these cell subtypes. Here, we review the current literature, which suggests that molecular rhythmicity is essential to functional physiologic outputs from each glial subtype. Furthermore, disrupted molecular rhythms within these cells and the resultant functional deficits may be relevant to specific phenotypes across psychiatric illnesses. Given that circadian rhythm disruptions have been so integrally tied to psychiatric disease, the molecular mechanisms governing these associations could represent exciting new avenues for future research and potential novel pharmacologic targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron K Jenkins
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219
| | - Kyle D Ketchesin
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219
| | - Darius D Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219
| | - Colleen A McClung
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219.
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4
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Sun L, Wang H. Acupuncture in the treatment of cocaine addiction: how does it work? Acupunct Med 2024:9645284241248473. [PMID: 38706189 DOI: 10.1177/09645284241248473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Cocaine is a frequently abused and highly addictive drug that damages brain health and imposes substantial social and economic costs. Acupuncture has been used in the treatment of cocaine addiction and has been shown to improve abnormal mental and motor states. This article mainly focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms involving the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) that underlie the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of cocaine addiction. The central dopamine system is a key player in acupuncture treatment of cocaine addiction; the ventral tegmental area (VTA)-nucleus accumbens (NAc) signaling pathway, which has a modulatory influence on behavior and psychology after chronic use of cocaine, is a significant target of acupuncture action. Moreover, acupuncture alleviates cocaine-induced seizures or acute psychomotor responses through the paraventricular thalamus and the lateral habenula (LHb)-rostromedial tegmental (RMTg) nucleus circuits. The data suggest that acupuncture can impact various cocaine-induced issues via stimulation of diverse brain areas; nevertheless, the interconnection of these brain regions and the PNS mechanisms involved remain unknown. In this review, we also discuss the effects of specific acupuncture protocols on cocaine addiction and note that variations in needling modalities, current intensities and traditional acupuncture point locations have led to different experimental results. Therefore, standardized acupuncture protocols (with respect to stimulation methods, point locations and number of sessions) may become particularly important in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luqiang Sun
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Haichuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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5
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Darcq E, Kieffer BL. Neuroscience and addiction research: current advances and perspectives. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:405-408. [PMID: 38492013 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Darcq
- Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), INSERM UMR-S 1329, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), INSERM UMR-S 1329, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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6
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Valentino RJ, Nair SG, Volkow ND. Neuroscience in addiction research. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:453-459. [PMID: 37947883 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02713-7] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The prevention and treatment of addiction (moderate to severe substance use disorder-SUD) have remained challenging because of the dynamic and complex interactions between multiple biological and social determinants that shape SUD. The pharmacological landscape is ever changing and the use of multiple drugs is increasingly common, requiring an unraveling of pharmacological interactions to understand the effects. There are different stages in the trajectory from drug use to addiction that are characterized by distinct cognitive and emotional features. These are directed by different neurobiological processes that require identification and characterization including those that underlie the high co-morbidity with other disorders. Finally, there is substantial individual variability in the susceptibility to develop SUD because there are multiple determinants, including genetics, sex, developmental trajectories and times of drug exposures, and psychosocial and environmental factors including commercial determinants that influence drug availability. Elucidating how these factors interact to determine risk is essential for identifying the biobehavioral basis of addiction and developing prevention and treatment strategies. Basic research is tasked with addressing each of these challenges. The recent proliferation of technological advances that allow for genetic manipulation, visualization of molecular reactions and cellular activity in vivo, multiscale whole brain mapping across the life span, and the mining of massive data sets including multimodality human brain imaging are accelerating our ability to understand how the brain functions and how drugs influence it. Here, we highlight how the application of these tools to the study of addiction promises to illuminate its neurobiological basis and guide strategies for prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita J Valentino
- National Institute On Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Sunila G Nair
- National Institute On Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nora D Volkow
- National Institute On Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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7
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Holt LM, Nestler EJ. Astrocytic transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of drug addiction. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:409-424. [PMID: 37940687 PMCID: PMC11066772 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02716-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide and remains a challenge in current neuroscience research. Drug-induced lasting changes in gene expression are mediated by transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in the brain and are thought to underlie behavioral adaptations. Emerging evidence implicates astrocytes in regulating drug-seeking behaviors and demonstrates robust transcriptional response to several substances of abuse. This review focuses on the astrocytic transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of drug action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne M Holt
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Gao R, Schneider AM, Mulloy SM, Lee AM. Expression pattern of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit transcripts in neurons and astrocytes in the ventral tegmental area and locus coeruleus. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2225-2239. [PMID: 37539749 PMCID: PMC10838369 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16109] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Acetylcholine is the endogenous agonist for the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) system, which is involved in attention, memory, affective behaviours and substance use disorders. Brain nAChRs are highly diverse with 11 different subunits that can form multiple receptor subtypes, each with distinct receptor and pharmacological properties. Different neuronal cell types can also express different nAChR subtypes, resulting in highly complex cholinergic signalling. Identifying which nAChR subunit transcripts are expressed in cell types can provide an indication of which nAChR combinations are possible and which receptor subtypes may be most pharmacologically relevant to target. In addition to differences in expression across cell types, nAChRs also undergo changes in expression levels from adolescence to adulthood. In this study, we used fluorescent in situ hybridization to identify and quantify the expression of α4, α5, α6, β2 and β3 nAChR subunit transcripts in dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic and noradrenergic neurons and astrocytes in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) in adult and adolescent, male and female C57BL/6J mice. There were distinct differences in the pattern of nAChR subunit transcript expression between the two brain regions. LC noradrenergic neurons had high prevalence of α6, β2 and β3 expression, with very low expression of α4, suggesting the α6(non-α4)β2β3 receptor as a main subtype in these neurons. VTA astrocytes from adult mice showed greater prevalence of α5, α6, β2 and β3 transcript compared with adolescent mice. These data highlight the complex nAChR expression patterns across brain region and cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runbo Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Amelia M. Schneider
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah M. Mulloy
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Anna M. Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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9
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Du C, Park K, Hua Y, Liu Y, Volkow ND, Pan Y. Astrocytes modulate cerebral blood flow and neuronal response to cocaine in prefrontal cortex. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:820-834. [PMID: 38238549 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02373-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Cocaine affects both cerebral blood vessels and neuronal activity in brain. Cocaine can also disrupt astrocytes, which modulate neurovascular coupling-a process that regulates cerebral hemodynamics in response to neuronal activation. However, separating neuronal and astrocytic effects from cocaine's direct vasoactive effects has been challenging, partially due to limitations of neuroimaging techniques able to differentiate vascular from neuronal and glial effects at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Here, we used a newly-developed multi-channel fluorescence and optical coherence Doppler microscope (fl-ODM) that allows for simultaneous measurements of neuronal and astrocytic activities (reflected by the intracellular calcium changes in neurons Ca2+N and astrocytes Ca2+A, respectively) alongside their vascular interactions in vivo to address this challenge. Using green and red genetically-encoded Ca2+ indicators differentially expressed in astrocytes and neurons, fl-ODM enabled concomitant imaging of large-scale astrocytic and neuronal Ca2+ fluorescence and 3D cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) in vascular networks in the mouse cortex. We assessed cocaine's effects in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and found that the CBFv changes triggered by cocaine were temporally correlated with astrocytic Ca2+A activity. Chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes during the baseline state resulted in blood vessel dilation and CBFv increases but did not affect neuronal activity, suggesting modulation of spontaneous blood vessel's vascular tone by astrocytes. Chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes during a cocaine challenge prevented its vasoconstricting effects alongside the CBFv decreases, but it also attenuated the neuronal Ca2+N increases triggered by cocaine. These results document a role of astrocytes both in regulating vascular tone and consequently blood flow, at baseline and for modulating the vasoconstricting and neuronal activation responses to cocaine in the PFC. Strategies to inhibit astrocytic activity could offer promise for ameliorating vascular and neuronal toxicity from cocaine misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwu Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Kichon Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Yueming Hua
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Yanzuo Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20857, USA
| | - Yingtian Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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10
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Yang J, Qiu Z. Swell1 channel-mediated tonic GABA release from astrocytes modulates cocaine reward. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:327-328. [PMID: 37524750 PMCID: PMC10700506 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01691-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Junhua Yang
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Zhaozhu Qiu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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11
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Liang Y, Chen L, Huang Y, Xie L, Liu X, Zhou W, Cao W, Chen Z, Zhong X. Betaine eliminates CFA-induced depressive-like behaviour in mice may be through inhibition of microglia and astrocyte activation and polarization. Brain Res Bull 2024; 206:110863. [PMID: 38145759 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110863] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain can induce not only nociceptive but also depressive emotions. A previous study demonstrated that betaine, a commonly used nutrient supplement, has an anti-nociceptive effect, but whether betaine can alleviate chronic pain-induced depressive emotion is elusive. Our current study found that betaine administration significantly eliminated complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain-related depressive-like behaviour. Mechanistically, betaine treatment inhibited microglia and astrocyte activation. Furthermore, betaine significantly promoted the transition of microglia from the M1 to the M2 phenotype, as well as the transition of astrocytes from the A1 to the A2 phenotype. Additionally, the release of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-18, IL-1β and IL-6 and anti-inflammatory factors such as IL-10 in the hippocampus induced by CFA were also reversed by betaine administration. Overall, betaine has therapeutic effects on pain-related depressive-like phenotypes caused by CFA, possibly through altering the polarization of microglia and astrocytes to reduce neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China; The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Yanmei Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Lihua Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xueqin Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Wenyan Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Wenyu Cao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zuyao Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China.
| | - Xiaolin Zhong
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, China.
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12
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Campbell RR, Lobo MK. Neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychostimulant use. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 83:102786. [PMID: 37776675 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Rates of individuals struggling with psychostimulant use disorder (PSUD), defined as chronic use of psychostimulants despite negative consequences, are growing rapidly over the last few decades. However, there are no current pharmacotherapeutics to aid individuals in maintaining drug abstinence. Identifying the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that promote persistent craving and taking of psychostimulants is critical to creating novel pharmacological treatments for PSUD. Psychostimulant use dysregulates processes within the brain that are responsible for decision-making, reward, and memory formation to drive future drug-seeking. Here, we describe novel findings and theories on how psychostimulants impact mechanisms related to transcription, mitochondrial function, and synaptic plasticity within the reward system to drive drug-seeking. We also highlight work examining how psychostimulants impact neural networks through rewiring circuitry to drive addiction-related behaviors. Overall, this review aims to feature the latest progress in understanding the biological basis of PSUD and promising mechanisms for PSUD pharmacotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne R Campbell
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. https://twitter.com/RianneThoughts
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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13
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Chen W, Zhang Y, Liang J, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Huang E, Zhang G, Lu L, Han Y, Shi J. Disrupting astrocyte-neuron lactate transport prevents cocaine seeking after prolonged withdrawal. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi4462. [PMID: 37878699 PMCID: PMC10599624 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Energy supply, especially the transfer of lactate from astrocytes to neurons, is critical for neuronal plasticity. However, its role in the incubation of cocaine craving remains largely unknown. Using an extended-access self-administration model and in vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we found that lactate synthesis in the central amygdala (CeA) is required for the intensified cocaine craving after prolonged withdrawal. Furthermore, incubated cocaine seeking was associated with a selective increase in monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2) and MCT4 expression levels. Down-regulation of astrocytic MCT4 or neuronal MCT2 using targeted antisense oligonucleotides or cell type-specific shRNA attenuated cocaine craving and reduced the expression of plasticity-related proteins and excitatory synaptic transmission. Meanwhile, lactate administration rescued MCT4 but not MCT2 disruption-induced behavioral changes due to the inability of lactate to be transported into neurons. Together, our study highlights the critical role of astrocyte-neuron lactate transport in the CeA in the incubation of cocaine craving and suggests a potential therapeutic target for drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Chen
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jie Liang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhongyu Zhang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Libo Zhang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Enze Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guipeng Zhang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lin Lu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ying Han
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- The Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
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14
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Pla-Tenorio J, Roig AM, García-Cesaní PA, Santiago LA, Sepulveda-Orengo MT, Noel RJ. Astrocytes: Role in pathogenesis and effect of commonly misused drugs in the HIV infected brain. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 5:100108. [PMID: 38020814 PMCID: PMC10663134 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of astrocytes as reservoirs and producers of a subset of viral proteins in the HIV infected brain have been studied extensively as a key to understanding HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, their comprehensive role in the context of intersecting substance use and neurocircuitry of the reward pathway and HAND has yet to be fully explained. Use of methamphetamines, cocaine, or opioids in the context of HIV infection have been shown to lead to a faster progression of HAND. Glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic systems are implicated in the development of HAND-induced cognitive impairments. A thorough review of scientific literature exploring the variety of mechanisms in which these drugs exert their effects on the HIV brain and astrocytes has revealed marked areas of convergence in overexcitation leading to increased drug-seeking behavior, inflammation, apoptosis, and irreversible neurotoxicity. The present review investigates astrocytes, the neural pathways, and mechanisms of drug disruption that ultimately play a larger holistic role in terms of HIV progression and drug use. There are opportunities for future research, therapeutic intervention, and preventive strategies to diminish HAND in the subset population of patients with HIV and substance use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessalyn Pla-Tenorio
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
| | - Angela M. Roig
- Seattle Children's Hospital, MS OC.7.830, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105-0371, United States
| | - Paulina A. García-Cesaní
- Bella Vista Hospital, Family Medicine Residency, Carr. 349 Km 2.7, Cerro Las Mesas, Mayaguez, PR, 00681, Puerto Rico
| | - Luis A. Santiago
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
| | - Marian T. Sepulveda-Orengo
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
| | - Richard J. Noel
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
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15
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Stewart AF, Lepack AE, Fulton SL, Safovich P, Maze I. Histone H3 dopaminylation in nucleus accumbens, but not medial prefrontal cortex, contributes to cocaine-seeking following prolonged abstinence. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103824. [PMID: 36842545 PMCID: PMC10247417 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Enduring patterns of epigenomic and transcriptional plasticity within the mesolimbic dopamine system contribute importantly to persistent behavioral adaptations that characterize substance use disorders (SUD). While drug addiction has long been thought of as a disorder of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, therapeutic interventions targeting receptor mediated DA-signaling have not yet resulted in efficacious treatments. Our laboratory recently identified a non-canonical, neurotransmission-independent signaling moiety for DA in brain, termed dopaminylation, whereby DA itself acts as a donor source for the establishment of post-translational modifications (PTM) on substrate proteins (e.g., histone H3 at glutamine 5; H3Q5dop). In our previous studies, we demonstrated that H3Q5dop plays a critical role in the regulation of neuronal transcription and, when perturbed within monoaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), critically contributes to pathological states, including relapse vulnerability to both psychostimulants (e.g., cocaine) and opiates (e.g., heroin). Importantly, H3Q5dop is also observed throughout the mesolimbic DA reward pathway (e.g., in nucleus accumbens/NAc and medial prefrontal cortex/mPFC, which receive DA input from VTA). As such, we investigated whether H3Q5dop may similarly be altered in its expression in response to drugs of abuse in these non-dopamine-producing regions. In rats undergoing extended abstinence from cocaine self-administration (SA), we observed both acute and prolonged accumulation of H3Q5dop in NAc, but not mPFC. Attenuation of H3Q5dop in NAc during drug abstinence reduced cocaine-seeking and affected cocaine-induced gene expression programs associated with altered dopamine signaling and neuronal function. These findings thus establish H3Q5dop in NAc, but not mPFC, as an important mediator of cocaine-induced behavioral and transcriptional plasticity during extended cocaine abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Stewart
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ashley E Lepack
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sasha L Fulton
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Polina Safovich
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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16
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Kumaresan V, Lim Y, Juneja P, Tipton AE, de Guglielmo G, Carrette LLG, Kallupi M, Maturin L, Liu Y, George O, Zhang H. Abstinence from Escalation of Cocaine Intake Changes the microRNA Landscape in the Cortico-Accumbal Pathway. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1368. [PMID: 37239038 PMCID: PMC10216163 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine administration alters the microRNA (miRNA) landscape in the cortico-accumbal pathway. These changes in miRNA can play a major role in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression during withdrawal. This study aimed to investigate the changes in microRNA expression in the cortico-accumbal pathway during acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence following escalated cocaine intake. Small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) was used to profile miRNA transcriptomic changes in the cortico-accumbal pathway [infralimbic- and prelimbic-prefrontal cortex (IL and PL) and nucleus accumbens (NAc)] of rats with extended access to cocaine self-administration followed by an 18-h withdrawal or a 4-week abstinence. An 18-h withdrawal led to differential expression (fold-change > 1.5 and p < 0.05) of 21 miRNAs in the IL, 18 miRNAs in the PL, and two miRNAs in the NAc. The mRNAs potentially targeted by these miRNAs were enriched in the following pathways: gap junctions, neurotrophin signaling, MAPK signaling, and cocaine addiction. Moreover, a 4-week abstinence led to differential expression (fold-change > 1.5 and p < 0.05) of 23 miRNAs in the IL, seven in the PL, and five miRNAs in the NAc. The mRNAs potentially targeted by these miRNAs were enriched in pathways including gap junctions, cocaine addiction, MAPK signaling, glutamatergic synapse, morphine addiction, and amphetamine addiction. Additionally, the expression levels of several miRNAs differentially expressed in either the IL or the NAc were significantly correlated with addiction behaviors. Our findings highlight the impact of acute and protracted abstinence from escalated cocaine intake on miRNA expression in the cortico-accumbal pathway, a key circuit in addiction, and suggest developing novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to prevent relapse by targeting abstinence-associated miRNAs and their regulated mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidhya Kumaresan
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Yolpanhchana Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.L.); (P.J.); (Y.L.)
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Poorva Juneja
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.L.); (P.J.); (Y.L.)
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Allison E. Tipton
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Giordano de Guglielmo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.d.G.); (L.L.G.C.); (M.K.); (L.M.); (O.G.)
| | - Lieselot L. G. Carrette
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.d.G.); (L.L.G.C.); (M.K.); (L.M.); (O.G.)
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.d.G.); (L.L.G.C.); (M.K.); (L.M.); (O.G.)
| | - Lisa Maturin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.d.G.); (L.L.G.C.); (M.K.); (L.M.); (O.G.)
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.L.); (P.J.); (Y.L.)
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.d.G.); (L.L.G.C.); (M.K.); (L.M.); (O.G.)
| | - Huiping Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.L.); (P.J.); (Y.L.)
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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17
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Pan Y, Du C, Park K, Hua Y, Volkow N. Astrocytes mediate cerebral blood flow and neuronal response to cocaine in prefrontal cortex. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2626090. [PMID: 36993330 PMCID: PMC10055529 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2626090/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine affects both cerebral blood vessels and neuronal activity in brain. Cocaine can also disrupt astrocytes, which are involved in neurovascular coupling process that modulates cerebral hemodynamics in response to neuronal activity. However, separating neuronal and astrocytic effects from cocaine's direct vasoactive effects is challenging, partially due to limitations of neuroimaging techniques to differentiate vascular from neuronal and glial effects at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Here, we used a newly-developed multi-channel fluorescence and optical coherence Doppler microscope (fl-ODM) that allows for simultaneous measurements of neuronal and astrocytic activities alongside their vascular interactions in vivo to address this challenge. Using green and red genetically-encoded Ca2+ indicators differentially expressed in astrocytes and neurons, fl-ODM enabled concomitant imaging of large-scale astrocytic and neuronal Ca2+ fluorescence and 3D cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) in vascular networks in the mouse cortex. We assessed cocaine's effects in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and found that the CBFv changes triggered by cocaine were temporally correlated with astrocytic Ca2 + A activity. Chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes during the baseline state resulted in blood vessel dilation and CBFv increases but did not affect neuronal activity, suggesting modulation of spontaneous blood vessel's vascular tone by astrocytes. Chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes during cocaine challenge prevented its vasoconstricting effects alongside the CBFv decreases but also attenuated the neuronal Ca2+ N increases triggered by cocaine. These results document a role of astrocytes both in regulating vascular tone of blood flow at baseline and for mediating the vasoconstricting responses to cocaine as well as its neuronal activation in the PFC. Strategies to inhibit astrocytic activity could offer promise for ameliorating vascular and neuronal toxicity from cocaine misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nora Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institutes of Health
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18
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Shigetomi E, Koizumi S. The role of astrocytes in behaviors related to emotion and motivation. Neurosci Res 2023; 187:21-39. [PMID: 36181908 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.09.015] [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: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are present throughout the brain and intimately interact with neurons and blood vessels. Three decades of research have shown that astrocytes reciprocally communicate with neurons and other non-neuronal cells in the brain and dynamically regulate cell function. Astrocytes express numerous receptors for neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and cytokines and receive information from neurons, other astrocytes, and other non-neuronal cells. Among those receptors, the main focus has been G-protein coupled receptors. Activation of G-protein coupled receptors leads to dramatic changes in intracellular signaling (Ca2+ and cAMP), which is considered a form of astrocyte activity. Methodological improvements in measurement and manipulation of astrocytes have advanced our understanding of the role of astrocytes in circuits and have begun to reveal unexpected functions of astrocytes in behavior. Recent studies have suggested that astrocytic activity regulates behavior flexibility, such as coping strategies for stress exposure, and plays an important role in behaviors related to emotion and motivation. Preclinical evidence suggests that impairment of astrocytic function contributes to psychiatric diseases, especially major depression. Here, we review recent progress on the role of astrocytes in behaviors related to emotion and motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Shigetomi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Japan; Yamanashi GLIA Center, Graduate School of Medical Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Japan.
| | - Schuichi Koizumi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Japan; Yamanashi GLIA Center, Graduate School of Medical Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Japan.
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19
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Nuñez-delMoral A, Bianchi PC, Brocos-Mosquera I, Anesio A, Palombo P, Camarini R, Cruz FC, Callado LF, Vialou V, Erdozain AM. The Matricellular Protein Hevin Is Involved in Alcohol Use Disorder. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020234. [PMID: 36830603 PMCID: PMC9953008 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytic-secreted matricellular proteins have been shown to influence various aspects of synaptic function. More recently, they have been found altered in animal models of psychiatric disorders such as drug addiction. Hevin (also known as Sparc-like 1) is a matricellular protein highly expressed in the adult brain that has been implicated in resilience to stress, suggesting a role in motivated behaviors. To address the possible role of hevin in drug addiction, we quantified its expression in human postmortem brains and in animal models of alcohol abuse. Hevin mRNA and protein expression were analyzed in the postmortem human brain of subjects with an antemortem diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD, n = 25) and controls (n = 25). All the studied brain regions (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, caudate nucleus and cerebellum) in AUD subjects showed an increase in hevin levels either at mRNA or/and protein levels. To test if this alteration was the result of alcohol exposure or indicative of a susceptibility factor to alcohol consumption, mice were exposed to different regimens of intraperitoneal alcohol administration. Hevin protein expression was increased in the nucleus accumbens after withdrawal followed by a ethanol challenge. The role of hevin in AUD was determined using an RNA interference strategy to downregulate hevin expression in nucleus accumbens astrocytes, which led to increased ethanol consumption. Additionally, ethanol challenge after withdrawal increased hevin levels in blood plasma. Altogether, these results support a novel role for hevin in the neurobiology of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaia Nuñez-delMoral
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Paula C. Bianchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Iria Brocos-Mosquera
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Augusto Anesio
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Paola Palombo
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Rosana Camarini
- Department of Pharmacology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Fabio C. Cruz
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Luis F. Callado
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
- Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Vincent Vialou
- Institute of Biology Paris Seine, Neuroscience Paris Seine, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (V.V.); (A.M.E.); Tel.: +33-1-44-27-60-98 (V.V.); +34-601-28-48 (A.M.E.)
| | - Amaia M. Erdozain
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
- Correspondence: (V.V.); (A.M.E.); Tel.: +33-1-44-27-60-98 (V.V.); +34-601-28-48 (A.M.E.)
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20
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Kruyer A, Kalivas PW, Scofield MD. Astrocyte regulation of synaptic signaling in psychiatric disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:21-36. [PMID: 35577914 PMCID: PMC9700696 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01338-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 15 years, the field of neuroscience has evolved toward recognizing the critical role of astroglia in shaping neuronal synaptic activity and along with the pre- and postsynapse is now considered an equal partner in tripartite synaptic transmission and plasticity. The relative youth of this recognition and a corresponding deficit in reagents and technologies for quantifying and manipulating astroglia relative to neurons continues to hamper advances in understanding tripartite synaptic physiology. Nonetheless, substantial advances have been made and are reviewed herein. We review the role of astroglia in synaptic function and regulation of behavior with an eye on how tripartite synapses figure into brain pathologies underlying behavioral impairments in psychiatric disorders, both from the perspective of measures in postmortem human brains and more subtle influences on tripartite synaptic regulation of behavior in animal models of psychiatric symptoms. Our goal is to provide the reader a well-referenced state-of-the-art understanding of current knowledge and predict what we may discover with deeper investigation of tripartite synapses using reagents and technologies not yet available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kruyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Peter W Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
- Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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21
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Liu Y, Hua Y, Park K, Volkow ND, Pan Y, Du C. Cocaine's cerebrovascular vasoconstriction is associated with astrocytic Ca 2+ increase in mice. Commun Biol 2022; 5:936. [PMID: 36097038 PMCID: PMC9468035 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03877-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human and animal studies have reported widespread reductions in cerebral blood flow associated with chronic cocaine exposures. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cerebral blood flow reductions are not well understood. Here, by combining a multimodal imaging platform with a genetically encoded calcium indicator, we simultaneously measured the effects of acute cocaine on neuronal and astrocytic activity, tissue oxygenation, hemodynamics and vascular diameter changes in the mouse cerebral cortex. Our results showed that cocaine constricted blood vessels (measured by vessel diameter Φ changes), decreasing cerebral total blood volume (HbT) and temporally reducing tissue oxygenation. Cellular imaging showed that the mean astrocytic Ca2+ dependent fluorescence [Formula: see text] increase in response to cocaine was weaker but longer lasting than the mean neuronal Ca2+ dependent fluorescence [Formula: see text] changes. Interestingly, while cocaine-induced [Formula: see text] increase was temporally correlated with tissue oxygenation change, the [Formula: see text] elevation after cocaine was in temporal correspondence with the long-lasting decrease in arterial blood volumes. To determine whether the temporal association between astrocytic activation and cocaine induced vasoconstriction reflected a causal association we inhibited astrocytic Ca2+ using GFAP-DREADD(Gi). Inhibition of astrocytes attenuated the vasoconstriction resulting from cocaine, providing evidence that astrocytes play a critical role in cocaine's vasoconstrictive effects in the brain. These results indicate that neurons and astrocytes play different roles in mediating neurovascular coupling in response to cocaine. Our findings implicate neuronal activation as the main driver of the short-lasting reduction in tissue oxygenation and astrocyte long-lasting activation as the driver of the persistent vasoconstriction with cocaine. Understanding the cellular and vascular interaction induced by cocaine will be helpful for future putative treatments to reduce cerebrovascular pathology from cocaine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzuo Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Yueming Hua
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Kicheon Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD, 20852, USA.
| | - Yingtian Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Congwu Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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22
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Webb SM, Sacramento AD, McCloskey MA, Wroten MG, Ploense KL, Kippin TE, Ben-Shahar O, Szumlinski KK. The incubation of cocaine craving is dissociated from changes in glial cell markers within prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of rats. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 3:100030. [PMID: 36034166 PMCID: PMC9410194 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sierra M. Webb
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Arianne D. Sacramento
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Megan A. McCloskey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Melissa G. Wroten
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Kyle L. Ploense
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Tod E. Kippin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9625, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9625, USA
| | - Osnat Ben-Shahar
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Karen K. Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9625, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9625, USA
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23
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Chen W, Meng S, Han Y, Shi J. Astrocytes: the neglected stars in the central nervous system and drug addiction. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:417-426. [PMID: 37724324 PMCID: PMC10388769 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of improved tools to examine the astrocytes, which have been believed to play a supportive role in the central nervous system (CNS) for years, their participation in the operation of the CNS and drug addiction was unveiled. Assisting the formation and function of the CNS, astrocytes are involved in physiological and pathological brain activities. Drug addiction is a pervasive psychiatric disorder, characterized by compulsive drug-taking behavior and high rate of relapse, impacting individual health and society stability and safety. When exposed to drugs of abuse, astrocytes go through a series of alterations, contributing to the development of addiction. Here we review how astrocytes contribute to the CNS and drug addiction. We hope that understanding the interaction between addictive drugs and astrocytes may help discover new mechanisms underlying the addiction and produce novel therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Chen
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shiqiu Meng
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Han
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- The Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
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Shelkar GP, Gandhi PJ, Liu J, Dravid SM. Cocaine preference and neuroadaptations are maintained by astrocytic NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo6574. [PMID: 35867797 PMCID: PMC9307248 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo6574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine-associated memories induce cravings and interfere with the ability of users to cease cocaine use. Reducing the strength of cue-drug memories by facilitating extinction may have therapeutic value for the treatment of cocaine addiction. Here, we demonstrate the expression of GluN1/2A/2C NMDA receptor currents in astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens core. Selective ablation of GluN1 subunit from astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens enhanced extinction of cocaine preference memory but did not affect cocaine conditioning or reinstatement. Repeated cocaine exposure up-regulated GluN2C subunit expression and increased astrocytic NMDA receptor currents. Furthermore, intra-accumbal inhibition of GluN2C/2D-containing receptors and GluN2C subunit deletion facilitated extinction of cocaine memory. Cocaine-induced neuroadaptations including dendritic spine maturation and AMPA receptor recruitment were absent in GluN2C knockout mice. Impaired retention of cocaine preference memory in GluN2C knockout mice was restored by exogenous administration of recombinant glypican 4. Together, these results identify a previously unknown astrocytic GluN2C-containing NMDA receptor mechanism underlying maintenance of cocaine preference memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajanan P. Shelkar
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Pauravi J. Gandhi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jinxu Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
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Hodebourg R, Kalivas PW, Kruyer A. Extrasynaptic therapeutic targets in substance use and stress disorders. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:56-68. [PMID: 34753604 PMCID: PMC8688303 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.10.006] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Treatments for substance use and stress disorders are based on ameliorating behavioral symptoms, not on reversing the synaptic pathology that has the potential to cure disorders. This failing arises in part from a research focus on how pre- and postsynaptic physiology is changed even though key neuropathology exists in the perisynaptic neuropil that homeostatically regulates synaptic transmission. We explore recent findings from the substance use and stress disorder literature pointing to a key role for perisynaptic astroglia and signaling in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regulating synaptic pathology. We conclude that drugs and stress initiate long-lasting changes in brain synapses via enduring neuroadaptations in astroglia and the ECM, and that modulating extrasynaptic regulators may be therapeutically useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritchy Hodebourg
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29464, USA
| | - Peter W Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29464, USA.
| | - Anna Kruyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29464, USA
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Silent Synapses in Cocaine-Associated Memory and Beyond. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9275-9285. [PMID: 34759051 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1559-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamatergic synapses are key cellular sites where cocaine experience creates memory traces that subsequently promote cocaine craving and seeking. In addition to making across-the-board synaptic adaptations, cocaine experience also generates a discrete population of new synapses that selectively encode cocaine memories. These new synapses are glutamatergic synapses that lack functionally stable AMPARs, often referred to as AMPAR-silent synapses or, simply, silent synapses. They are generated de novo in the NAc by cocaine experience. After drug withdrawal, some of these synapses mature by recruiting AMPARs, contributing to the consolidation of cocaine-associated memory. After cue-induced retrieval of cocaine memories, matured silent synapses alternate between two dynamic states (AMPAR-absent vs AMPAR-containing) that correspond with the behavioral manifestations of destabilization and reconsolidation of these memories. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying silent synapse dynamics during behavior, discuss their contributions to circuit remodeling, and analyze their role in cocaine-memory-driven behaviors. We also propose several mechanisms through which silent synapses can form neuronal ensembles as well as cross-region circuit engrams for cocaine-specific behaviors. These perspectives lead to our hypothesis that cocaine-generated silent synapses stand as a distinct set of synaptic substrates encoding key aspects of cocaine memory that drive cocaine relapse.
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Astrocyte-neuron signaling in the mesolimbic dopamine system: the hidden stars of dopamine signaling. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1864-1872. [PMID: 34253855 PMCID: PMC8429665 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01090-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are fundamental components of brain information processing and possess the ability to respond to synaptic signaling with increases in cytoplasmic calcium and modulate neuronal activity with the subsequent release of neuroactive transmitters. Dopamine signaling is essential for brain physiology and pathology, participating in learning and memory, motor control, neurological diseases, and psychiatric diseases, and astrocytes are emerging as a key cellular target of dopamine signaling. The present review will examine evidence revealing that astrocytes respond to dopamine and modulate information processing in the primary brain regions implicated in the mesolimbic dopamine system. Astrocytes exhibit circuit-specific modulation of neuronal networks and have the potential to serve as a therapeutic target for interventions designed for dopamine pathologies.
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