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Zürcher NR, Chen JE, Wey HY. PET-MRI Applications and Future Prospects in Psychiatry. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024. [PMID: 38838352 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
This article reviews the synergistic application of positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) in neuroscience with relevance for psychiatry, particularly examining neurotransmission, epigenetics, and dynamic imaging methodologies. We begin by discussing the complementary insights that PET and MRI modalities provide into neuroreceptor systems, with a focus on dopamine, opioids, and serotonin receptors, and their implications for understanding and treating psychiatric disorders. We further highlight recent PET-MRI studies using a radioligand that enables the quantification of epigenetic enzymes, specifically histone deacetylases, in the brain in vivo. Imaging epigenetics is used to exemplify the impact the quantification of novel molecular targets may have, including new treatment approaches for psychiatric disorders. Finally, we discuss innovative designs involving functional PET using [18F]FDG (fPET-FDG), which provides detailed information regarding dynamic changes in glucose metabolism. Concurrent acquisitions of fPET-FDG and functional MRI provide a time-resolved approach to studying brain function, yielding simultaneous metabolic and hemodynamic information and thereby opening new avenues for psychiatric research. Collectively, the review underscores the potential of a multimodal PET-MRI approach to advance our understanding of brain structure and function in health and disease, which could improve clinical care based on objective neurobiological features and treatment response monitoring. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Zürcher
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jingyuan E Chen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hsiao-Ying Wey
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Liu QQ, Mi J, Du YY, Rong Z, Qin Y, Jiang W, Li X, Yu JY, Yang L, Du XY, Yang Q, Guo YY. Lotusine ameliorates propionic acid-induced autism spectrum disorder-like behavior in mice by activating D1 dopamine receptor in medial prefrontal cortex. Phytother Res 2024; 38:1089-1103. [PMID: 38168755 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8098] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neuropsychiatric condition for which effective drug therapy for core clinical symptoms remains elusive. Lotusine, known for its neuroprotective properties in the treatment of neurological disorders, holds potential in addressing ASD. Nevertheless, its specific efficacy in ASD remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of lotusine in ASD and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We induced an ASD mouse model through intracerebroventricular-propionic acid (ICV-PPA) injection for 7 days, followed by lotusine administration for 5 days. The efficacy of lotusine was evaluated through a battery of behavioral tests, including the three-chamber social test. The underlying mechanisms of lotusine action in ameliorating ASD-like behavior were investigated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, molecular docking, and cellular thermal shift assay. The efficacy and mechanisms of lotusine were further validated in vitro. Lotusine effectively alleviated social deficits induced by ICV-PPA injection in mice by counteracting the reduction in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency within the mPFC. Moreover, lotusine enhanced neuronal activity and ameliorated α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor dysfunction in ICV-PPA infusion mice by upregulating c-fos, p-GluA1 Ser 845, and p-GluA1 Ser 831 protein levels within the mPFC. Our findings also suggest that lotusine may exert its effects through modulation of the D1 dopamine receptor (DRD1). Furthermore, the rescuing effects of lotusine were nullified by a DRD1 antagonist in PC12 cells. In summary, our results revealed that lotusine ameliorates ASD-like behavior through targeted modulation of DRD1, ultimately enhancing excitatory synaptic transmission. These findings highlight the potential of lotusine as a nutritional supplement in the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Qing Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Jie Mi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Ya-Ya Du
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Zheng Rong
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Yan Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Jiao-Yan Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Le Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yan Du
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Yan-Yan Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
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Yamasue H. Is the efficacy of oxytocin for autism diminished at higher dosages or repeated doses?: Potential mechanisms and candidate solutions. Peptides 2024; 171:171133. [PMID: 38072084 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2023.171133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
No approved pharmacological intervention currently exists to address the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition. However, there is a growing body of empirical evidence highlighting oxytocin's modulatory effects on social and communicative behaviors. Numerous single-dose trials have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of oxytocin in ameliorating behavioral and neural measurements associated with the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Nevertheless, prior investigations involving the repeated administration of oxytocin have yielded disparate findings concerning its effectiveness, particularly in relation to clinical measures of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Recent studies have also raised the possibility of diminishing efficacy of oxytocin over time, particularly when higher or recurrent dosages of oxytocin are administered. This review article aims to provide an overview of previous studies examining this issue. Furthermore, it aims to discuss the potential mechanisms underlying these effects, including the interaction between oxytocin and vasopressin, as well as potential strategies for addressing the challenges mentioned. This review's overall objective is to provide insights into the potential development of innovative therapeutics to mitigate the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, representing potential breakthroughs in the treatment of this complex neurodevelopmental condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Yamasue
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan.
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Millevert C, Vidas-Guscic N, Vanherp L, Jonckers E, Verhoye M, Staelens S, Bertoglio D, Weckhuysen S. Resting-State Functional MRI and PET Imaging as Noninvasive Tools to Study (Ab)Normal Neurodevelopment in Humans and Rodents. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8275-8293. [PMID: 38073598 PMCID: PMC10711730 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1043-23.2023] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of complex neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Functional and molecular imaging techniques, such as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), can be used to measure network activity noninvasively and longitudinally during maturation in both humans and rodent models. Here, we review the current knowledge on rs-fMRI and PET biomarkers in the study of normal and abnormal neurodevelopment, including intellectual disability (ID; with/without epilepsy), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in humans and rodent models from birth until adulthood, and evaluate the cross-species translational value of the imaging biomarkers. To date, only a few isolated studies have used rs-fMRI or PET to study (abnormal) neurodevelopment in rodents during infancy, the critical period of neurodevelopment. Further work to explore the feasibility of performing functional imaging studies in infant rodent models is essential, as rs-fMRI and PET imaging in transgenic rodent models of NDDs are powerful techniques for studying disease pathogenesis, developing noninvasive preclinical imaging biomarkers of neurodevelopmental dysfunction, and evaluating treatment-response in disease-specific models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charissa Millevert
- Applied & Translational Neurogenomics Group, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnology (VIB) Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Nicholas Vidas-Guscic
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Vanherp
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Jonckers
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Steven Staelens
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp (MICA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Daniele Bertoglio
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp (MICA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Applied & Translational Neurogenomics Group, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnology (VIB) Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
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Saga T, Tanaka H, Matsuda Y, Morimoto T, Uratani M, Okazaki K, Fujimoto Y, Nakamura S. Automatic evaluation-feedback system for automated social skills training. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6856. [PMID: 37100886 PMCID: PMC10133273 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33703-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Social skills training (SST), which is a rehabilitation program for improving daily interpersonal communication, has been used for more than 40 years. Although such training's demand is increasing, its accessibility is limited due to the lack of experienced trainers. To tackle this issue, automated SST systems have been studied for years. An evaluation-feedback pipeline of social skills is a crucial component of an SST system. Unfortunately, research that considers both the evaluation and feedback parts of automation remains insufficient. In this paper, we collected and analyzed the characteristics of a human-human SST dataset that consisted of 19 healthy controls, 15 schizophreniacs, 16 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participants, and 276 sessions with score labels of six clinical measures. From our analysis of this dataset, we developed an automated SST evaluation-feedback system under the supervision of professional, experienced SST trainers. We identified their preferred or most acceptable feedback methods by running a user-study on the following conditions: with/without recorded video of the role-plays of users and different amounts of positive and corrective feedback. We confirmed a reasonable performance of our social-skill-score estimation models as our system's evaluation part with a maximum Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.68. For the feedback part, our user-study concluded that people understood more about what aspects they need to improve by watching recorded videos of their own performance. In terms of the amount of feedback, participants most preferred a 2-positive/1-corrective format. Since the average amount of feedback preferred by the participants nearly equaled that from experienced trainers in human-human SSTs, our result suggests the practical future possibilities of an automated evaluation-feedback system that complements SSTs done by professional trainers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Saga
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Yasuhiro Matsuda
- Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Hirakata, 573-0022, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Morimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Uratani
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kosuke Okazaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Fujimoto
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakamura
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan
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Pini L, Salvalaggio A, Wennberg AM, Dimakou A, Matteoli M, Corbetta M. The pollutome-connectome axis: a putative mechanism to explain pollution effects on neurodegeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 86:101867. [PMID: 36720351 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The study of pollutant effects is extremely important to address the epochal challenges we are facing, where world populations are increasingly moving from rural to urban centers, revolutionizing our world into an urban world. These transformations will exacerbate pollution, thus highlighting the necessity to unravel its effect on human health. Epidemiological studies have reported that pollution increases the risk of neurological diseases, with growing evidence on the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. Air pollution and water pollutants are the main chemicals driving this risk. These chemicals can promote inflammation, acting in synergy with genotype vulnerability. However, the biological underpinnings of this association are unknown. In this review, we focus on the link between pollution and brain network connectivity at the macro-scale level. We provide an updated overview of epidemiological findings and studies investigating brain network changes associated with pollution exposure, and discuss the mechanistic insights of pollution-induced brain changes through neural networks. We explain, in detail, the pollutome-connectome axis that might provide the functional substrate for pollution-induced processes leading to cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. We describe this model within the framework of two pollutants, air pollution, a widely recognized threat, and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large class of synthetic chemicals which are currently emerging as new neurotoxic source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pini
- Department of Neuroscience and Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Italy; Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, VIMM, Padova, Italy.
| | | | - Alexandra M Wennberg
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Dimakou
- Department of Neuroscience and Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Neuro Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milano, Italy; CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Corbetta
- Department of Neuroscience and Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Italy; Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, VIMM, Padova, Italy
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Duan X, Chen H. Mapping brain functional and structural abnormities in autism spectrum disorder: moving toward precision treatment. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2022; 2:78-85. [PMID: 38665600 PMCID: PMC10917159 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a formidable challenge for psychiatry and neuroscience because of its high prevalence, lifelong nature, complexity, and substantial heterogeneity. A major goal of neuroimaging studies of ASD is to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of this disorder from multi-dimensional and multi-level perspectives, by investigating how brain anatomy, function, and connectivity are altered in ASD, and how they vary across the population. However, ongoing debate exists within those studies, and neuroimaging findings in ASD are often contradictory. Over the past decade, we have dedicated to delineate a comprehensive and consistent mapping of the abnormal structure and function of the autistic brain, and this review synthesizes the findings across our studies reaching a consensus that the "social brain" are the most affected regions in the autistic brain at different levels and modalities. We suggest that the social brain network can serve as a plausible biomarker and potential target for effective intervention in individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xujun Duan
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Huafu Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
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