Systems biological assessment of altered cytokine responses to bacteria and fungi reveals impaired immune functionality in schizophrenia

Bacterial peptidoglycan signalling in microglia: Activation by MDP via the NF-κB/MAPK pathway

Bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN) fragments are commonly studied in the context of bacterial infections. However, PGN fragments recently gained recognition as signalling molecules from the commensal gut microbiota in the healthy host. Here we focus on the minimal bioactive PGN motif muramyl dipeptide (MDP), found in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative commensal bacteria, which signals through the Nod2 receptor. MDP from the gut microbiota translocates to the brain and is associated with changes in neurodevelopment and behaviour, yet there is limited knowledge about the underlying mechanisms. In this study we demonstrate that physiologically relevant doses of MDP induce rapid changes in microglial gene expression and lead to cytokine and chemokine secretion. In immortalised microglial (IMG) cells, C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5/RANTES) expression is acutely sensitive to the lowest physiologically prevalent dose (0.1 µg/ml) of MDP. As CCL5 plays an important role in memory formation and synaptic plasticity, microglial CCL5 might be the missing link in elucidating MDP-induced alterations in synaptic gene expression. We observed that a higher physiological dose of MDP elevates the expression of cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, indicating a transition toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype in IMG cells, which was validated in primary microglial cultures. Furthermore, MDP induces the translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 into the nucleus, which is blocked by MAPK p38 inhibitor SB202190, suggesting that an interplay of both the NF-κB and MAPK pathways is responsible for the MDP-specific microglial phenotype. These findings underscore the significance of different MDP levels in shaping microglial function in the CNS and indicate MDP as a potential mediator for early inflammatory processes in the brain. It also positions microglia as an important target in the gut microbiota-brain-axis pathway through PGN signalling.

Integrated Single-Cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq Reveals Heterogeneous Differentiation of CD4+ Naive T Cell Subsets is Associated with Response to Antidepressant Treatment in Major Depressive Disorder

The mechanism involved in major depressive disorder (MDD) is well-studied but the mechanistic origin of the heterogeneous antidepressant effect remains largely unknown. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 8 healthy individuals and 8 MDD patients before or after 12 weeks of antidepressant treatment is performed. scRNA-seq analysis reveals a lower proportion of naive T cells, particularly CD4+ naive T cells, in MDD patients compared to controls, and in nonresponders versus responders at the baseline. Flow cytometry data analysis of an independent cohort of 35 patients and 40 healthy individuals confirms the findings. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes indicated obvious immune activation in responders. A specific activated CD4+ naive T population in responders characterized by enhanced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway is identified. E-twenty six (ETS) is proposed as an upstream regulator of the MAPK pathway and heterogeneous differentiation in activated CD4+ naive T population is associated with the response to antidepressant treatment in MDD patients. A distinct immune feature manifested by CD4+ naive T cells during antidepressant treatment in MDD is identified. Collectively, this proposes the molecular mechanism that underlies the heterogeneous antidepressant outcomes for MDD.

Shared genetic basis and causality between schizophrenia and inflammatory bowel disease: evidence from a comprehensive genetic analysis

BACKGROUND

The comorbidity between schizophrenia (SCZ) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) observed in epidemiological studies is partially attributed to genetic overlap, but the magnitude of shared genetic components and the causality relationship between them remains unclear.

METHODS

By leveraging large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for SCZ, IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD), we conducted a comprehensive genetic pleiotropic analysis to uncover shared loci, genes, or biological processes between SCZ and each of IBD, UC, and CD, independently. Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were applied to assess the causality across these two disorders.

RESULTS

SCZ genetically correlated with IBD (rg = 0.14, p = 3.65 × 10−9), UC (rg = 0.15, p = 4.88 × 10−8), and CD (rg = 0.12, p = 2.27 × 10−6), all surpassed the Bonferroni correction. Cross-trait meta-analysis identified 64, 52, and 66 significantly independent loci associated with SCZ and IBD, UC, and CD, respectively. Follow-up gene-based analysis found 11 novel pleiotropic genes (KAT5, RABEP1, ELP5, CSNK1G1, etc) in all joint phenotypes. Co-expression and pathway enrichment analysis illustrated those novel genes were mainly involved in core immune-related signal transduction and cerebral disorder-related pathways. In univariable MR, genetic predisposition to SCZ was associated with an increased risk of IBD (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.15, p = 1.85 × 10−6). Multivariable MR indicated a causal effect of genetic liability to SCZ on IBD risk independent of Actinobacteria (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.16, p = 1.34 × 10−6) or BMI (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04–1.18, p = 1.84 × 10−3).

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed a shared genetic basis, pleiotropic loci/genes, and causal relationship between SCZ and IBD, providing novel insights into the biological mechanism and therapeutic targets underlying these two disorders.

Progresses in GluN2A-containing NMDA Receptors and their Selective Regulators

NMDA receptors play an important physiological role in regulating synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. GluN2A subunits are the most abundant functional subunits of NMDA receptors expressed in mature brain, and their dysfunction is related to various neurological diseases. According to subunit composition, GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors can be divided into two types: diheteromeric and triheteromeric receptors. In this review, the expression, functional and pharmacological properties of different kinds of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors as well as selective GluN2A regulators were described to further understand this type of NMDA receptors.

COVID-19 exit strategy during vaccine implementation: a balance between social distancing and herd immunity

Currently, health authorities around the world are struggling to limit the spread of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, social distancing has been the most important strategy used by most countries to control disease spread by flattening and elongating the epidemic curve. Another strategy, herd immunity, was also applied by some countries through relaxed control measures that allow the free spread of natural infection to build up solid immunity within the population. In 2021, COVID-19 vaccination was introduced with tremendous effort as a promising strategy for limiting the spread of disease. Therefore, in this review, we present the current knowledge about social distancing, herd immunity strategies, and aspects of their implementation to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the presence of the newly developed vaccines. Finally, we suggest a short-term option for controlling the pandemic during vaccine application.

Alterations in innate immune defense distinguish first-episode schizophrenia patients from healthy controls

Innate immune components involved in host defense have been implicated in schizophrenia (SCZ). However, studies exploring their clinical utility in SCZ diagnosis are limited. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate whether circulating endotoxin, high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and complement component 4 (C4) could act as peripheral biomarkers to distinguish first-episode schizophrenia (FES, n = 42) patients from healthy controls (HCs, n = 35) in associations with psychopathological symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions. Also, their changes after 8-week antipsychotic treatment were investigated. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS), and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) were administered. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of the three biological indicators. Compared to HCs, levels of endotoxin, HMGB1, and C4 were remarkably increased in FES patients after controlling for age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and education years, and the combination of the three biomarkers demonstrated desirable diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.933). Moreover, the endotoxin level was positively correlated with the severity of auditory hallucinations. After 8 weeks of treatment, HMGB1 was decreased significantly in patients but still higher than that in HCs, whereas endotoxin and C4 did not change statistically. The baseline levels of endotoxin, HMGB1, and C4, as well as their changes were not associated with changes in any PANSS subscale score and total score. Our preliminary results suggest that a composite peripheral biomarker of endotoxin, HMGB1, and C4 may have accessory diagnostic value to distinguish SCZ patients from HCs. Additionally, endotoxin might be implicated in the pathogenesis of auditory hallucinations.