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Sapienza J, Agostoni G, Comai S, Nasini S, Dall'Acqua S, Sut S, Spangaro M, Martini F, Bechi M, Buonocore M, Bigai G, Repaci F, Nocera D, Ave C, Guglielmino C, Cocchi F, Cavallaro R, Deste G, Bosia M. Neuroinflammation and kynurenines in schizophrenia: Impact on cognition depending on cognitive functioning and modulatory properties in relation to cognitive remediation and aerobic exercise. Schizophr Res Cogn 2024; 38:100328. [PMID: 39281320 PMCID: PMC11399803 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2024.100328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
Background In the last decade, the kynurenine pathway (KP) has gained attention in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia being at the croassroad between neuroinflammation and glutamatergic and cholinergic neurotransmission. However, clinical findings are scarse and conflicting, and the specific contributions of these two systems to the neurobiology of cognitive symptoms are far from being elucidated. Furthermore, little is known about the molecular underpinnings of non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive improvement, including rehabilitation strategies. Methods The current study examined 72 patients with schizophrenia, divided in two clusters depending on the severity of the cognitive impairment, with the aim to evaluate the impact of inflammatory biomarkers and KP metabolites depending on cognitive functioning. Moreover, we studied their possible link to the cognitive outcome in relation to sessions of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) and aerobic exercise (AE) in a longitudinal arm of 42 patients. Results Neuroinflammation appeared to exert a more pronounced influence on cognition in patients exhibiting a higher cognitive functioning, contrasting with the activation of the KP, which had a greater impact on individuals with a lower cognitive profile. Cognitive improvements after the treatments were negatively predicted by levels of TNF-α and positively predicted by the 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK)/kynurenine (KYN) ratio, an index of the kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) enzyme activity. Conclusion Overall, these findings add novel evidence on the biological underpinnings of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia pointing at a differential role of neuroinflammation and KP metabolites in inducing cognitive deficits depending on the cognitive reserve and predicting outcomes after rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Sapienza
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Agostoni
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Comai
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Division of Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Sofia Nasini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Dall'Acqua
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefania Sut
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Spangaro
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Martini
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Bechi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Buonocore
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Bigai
- School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Repaci
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Nocera
- School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Ave
- School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Carmelo Guglielmino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cocchi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Cavallaro
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Bosia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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Gao Z, Xiao Y, Zhu F, Tao B, Zhao Q, Yu W, Sweeney JA, Gong Q, Lui S. Multilayer network analysis reveals instability of brain dynamics in untreated first-episode schizophrenia. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae402. [PMID: 39375878 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae402] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 09/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Although aberrant static functional brain network activity has been reported in schizophrenia, little is known about how the dynamics of neural function are altered in first-episode schizophrenia and are modulated by antipsychotic treatment. The baseline resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 122 first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia patients and 128 healthy controls (HCs), and 44 patients were rescanned after 1-year of antipsychotic treatment. Multilayer network analysis was applied to calculate the network switching rates between brain states. Compared to HCs, schizophrenia patients at baseline showed significantly increased network switching rates. This effect was observed mainly in the sensorimotor (SMN) and dorsal attention networks (DAN), and in temporal and parietal regions at the nodal level. Switching rates were reduced after 1-year of antipsychotic treatment at the global level and in DAN. Switching rates at baseline at the global level and in the inferior parietal lobule were correlated with the treatment-related reduction of negative symptoms. These findings suggest that instability of functional network activity plays an important role in the pathophysiology of acute psychosis in early-stage schizophrenia. The normalization of network stability after antipsychotic medication suggests that this effect may represent a systems-level mechanism for their therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Gao
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - Yuan Xiao
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - Fei Zhu
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - Bo Tao
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - Qiannan Zhao
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - John A Sweeney
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 260 Stetson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219, United States
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
| | - Su Lui
- Department of Radiology, and Functional and Molecular Imaging key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, Chengdu 610041, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Guoxuexiang 37#, Wuhou, China
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Kaldewaij R, Salamone PC, Enmalm A, Östman L, Pietrzak M, Karlsson H, Löfberg A, Gauffin E, Samuelsson M, Gustavson S, Capusan AJ, Olausson H, Heilig M, Boehme R. Ketamine reduces the neural distinction between self- and other-produced affective touch: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1767-1774. [PMID: 38918578 PMCID: PMC11399133 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01906-2] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
A coherent sense of self is crucial for social functioning and mental health. The N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine induces short-term dissociative experiences and has therefore been used to model an altered state of self-perception. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study investigated the mechanisms for ketamine's effects on the bodily sense of self in the context of affective touch. Thirty healthy participants (15 females/15 males, age 19-39) received intravenous ketamine or placebo while performing self-touch and receiving touch by someone else during functional MRI - a previously established neural measure of tactile self-other-differentiation. Afterwards, tactile detection thresholds during self- and other-touch were assessed, as well as dissociative states, interoceptive awareness, and social touch attitudes. Compared to placebo, ketamine administration elicited dissociation and reduced neural activity associated with self-other-differentiation in the right temporoparietal cortex, which was most pronounced during other-touch. This reduction correlated with ketamine-induced reductions in interoceptive awareness. The temporoparietal cortex showed higher connectivity to somatosensory cortex and insula during other- compared to self-touch. This difference was augmented by ketamine, and correlated with dissociation strength for somatosensory cortex. These results demonstrate that disrupting the self-experience through ketamine administration affects neural activity associated with self-other-differentiation in a region involved in touch perception and social cognition, especially with regard to social touch by someone else. This process may be driven by ketamine-induced effects on top-down signaling, rendering the processing of predictable self-generated and unpredictable other-generated touch more similar. These findings provide further evidence for the intricate relationship of the bodily self with the tactile sense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinoud Kaldewaij
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Paula C Salamone
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Adam Enmalm
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lars Östman
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Michal Pietrzak
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Hanna Karlsson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andreas Löfberg
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Emelie Gauffin
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martin Samuelsson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sarah Gustavson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andrea J Capusan
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Håkan Olausson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Boehme
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Sapienza J, Martini F, Comai S, Cavallaro R, Spangaro M, De Gregorio D, Bosia M. Psychedelics and schizophrenia: a double-edged sword. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02743-x. [PMID: 39294303 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02743-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelics have shown promising effects in several psychiatric diseases as demonstrated by multiple clinical trials. However, no clinical experiments on patients with schizophrenia have been conducted up to date, except for some old semi-anecdotal studies mainly performed in the time-span '50s-'60s. Notably, these studies reported interesting findings, particularly on the improvement of negative symptoms and social cognition. With no doubts the lack of modern clinical studies is due to the psychomimetic properties of psychedelics, a noteworthy downside that could worsen positive symptoms. However, a rapidly increasing body of evidence has suggested that the mechanisms of action of such compounds partially overlaps with the pathogenic underpinnings of schizophrenia but in an opposite way. These findings suggest that, despite being a controversial issue, the use of psychedelics in the treatment of schizophrenia would be based on a strong biological rationale. Therefore, the aim of our perspective paper is to provide a background on the old experiments with psychedelics performed on patients with schizophrenia, interpreting them in the light of recent molecular findings on their ability to induce neuroplasticity and modulate connectivity, the immune and TAARs systems, neurotransmitters, and neurotropic factors. No systematic approach was adopted in reviewing the evidence given the difficulty to retrieve and interpret old findings. Interestingly, we identified a therapeutic potential of psychedelics in schizophrenia adopting a critical point of view, particularly on negative symptoms and social cognition, and we summarized all the relevant findings. We also identified an eligible subpopulation of chronic patients predominantly burdened by negative symptoms, outlining possible therapeutic strategies which encompass very low doses of psychedelics (microdosing), carefully considering safety and feasibility, to pave the way to future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Sapienza
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Comai
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberto Cavallaro
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- School of medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Danilo De Gregorio
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- School of medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Bosia
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- School of medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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5
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Sapienza J, Pacchioni F, Spangaro M, Bosia M. Dysconnection in schizophrenia: Filling the dots from old to new evidence. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 162:226-228. [PMID: 38555237 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Sapienza
- Schizophrenia Research and Clinical Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy; Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Federico Pacchioni
- Schizophrenia Research and Clinical Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spangaro
- Schizophrenia Research and Clinical Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Bosia
- Schizophrenia Research and Clinical Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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Rocca P, Brasso C, Montemagni C, Del Favero E, Bellino S, Bozzatello P, Giordano GM, Caporusso E, Fazio L, Pergola G, Blasi G, Amore M, Calcagno P, Rossi R, Rossi A, Bertolino A, Galderisi S, Maj M. The relationship between the resting state functional connectivity and social cognition in schizophrenia: Results from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:330-340. [PMID: 38613864 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.04.009] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Deficits in social cognition (SC) interfere with recovery in schizophrenia (SZ) and may be related to resting state brain connectivity. This study aimed at assessing the alterations in the relationship between resting state functional connectivity and the social-cognitive abilities of patients with SZ compared to healthy subjects. We divided the brain into 246 regions of interest (ROI) following the Human Healthy Volunteers Brainnetome Atlas. For each participant, we calculated the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in terms of degree centrality (DC), which evaluates the total strength of the most powerful coactivations of every ROI with all other ROIs during rest. The rs-DC of the ROIs was correlated with five measures of SC assessing emotion processing and mentalizing in 45 healthy volunteers (HVs) chosen as a normative sample. Then, controlling for symptoms severity, we verified whether these significant associations were altered, i.e., absent or of opposite sign, in 55 patients with SZ. We found five significant differences between SZ patients and HVs: in the patients' group, the correlations between emotion recognition tasks and rsFC of the right entorhinal cortex (R-EC), left superior parietal lobule (L-SPL), right caudal hippocampus (R-c-Hipp), and the right caudal (R-c) and left rostral (L-r) middle temporal gyri (MTG) were lost. An altered resting state functional connectivity of the L-SPL, R-EC, R-c-Hipp, and bilateral MTG in patients with SZ may be associated with impaired emotion recognition. If confirmed, these results may enhance the development of non-invasive brain stimulation interventions targeting those cerebral regions to reduce SC deficit in SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rocca
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Claudio Brasso
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy.
| | - Cristiana Montemagni
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Del Favero
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvio Bellino
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Bozzatello
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Giordano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Edoardo Caporusso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Leonardo Fazio
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, LUM University, Strada Statale 100, 70010 Casamassima (BA), Italy
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Calcagno
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, via Vetoio - Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy; Policlinico Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, via Vetoio - Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
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Lefebvre S, Gehrig G, Nadesalingam N, Nuoffer MG, Kyrou A, Wüthrich F, Walther S. The pathobiology of psychomotor slowing in psychosis: altered cortical excitability and connectivity. Brain 2024; 147:1423-1435. [PMID: 38537253 PMCID: PMC10994557 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychomotor slowing is a frequent symptom of schizophrenia. Short-interval intracortical inhibition assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation demonstrated inhibitory dysfunction in schizophrenia. The inhibitory deficit results from additional noise during information processing in the motor system in psychosis. Here, we tested whether cortical inhibitory dysfunction was linked to psychomotor slowing and motor network alterations. In this cross-sectional study, we included 60 patients with schizophrenia and psychomotor slowing determined by the Salpêtrière Retardation Rating Scale, 23 patients without slowing and 40 healthy control participants. We acquired single and double-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation effects from the left primary motor cortex, resting-state functional connectivity and diffusion imaging on the same day. Groups were compared on resting motor threshold, amplitude of the motor evoked potentials, as well as short-interval intracortical inhibition. Regression analyses calculated the association between motor evoked potential amplitudes or cortical inhibition with seed-based resting-state functional connectivity from the left primary motor cortex and fractional anisotropy at whole brain level and within major motor tracts. In patients with schizophrenia and psychomotor slowing, we observed lower amplitudes of motor evoked potentials, while the short-interval intracortical inhibition/motor evoked potentials amplitude ratio was higher than in healthy controls, suggesting lower cortical inhibition in these patients. Patients without slowing also had lower amplitudes of motor evoked potentials. Across the combined patient sample, cortical inhibition deficits were linked to more motor coordination impairments. In patients with schizophrenia and psychomotor slowing, lower amplitudes of motor evoked potentials were associated with lower fractional anisotropy in motor tracts. Moreover, resting-state functional connectivity between the primary motor cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex and the cerebellum increased with stronger cortical inhibition. In contrast, in healthy controls and patients without slowing, stronger cortical inhibition was linked to lower resting-state functional connectivity between the left primary motor cortex and premotor or parietal cortices. Psychomotor slowing in psychosis is linked to less cortical inhibition and aberrant functional connectivity of the primary motor cortex. Higher neural noise in the motor system may drive psychomotor slowing and thus may become a treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Lefebvre
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gwendolyn Gehrig
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Niluja Nadesalingam
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Melanie G Nuoffer
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Kyrou
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Florian Wüthrich
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Walther
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
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Sapienza J, Agostoni G, Dall'Acqua S, Sut S, Nasini S, Martini F, Marchesi A, Bechi M, Buonocore M, Cocchi F, Cavallaro R, Spangaro M, Comai S, Bosia M. The kynurenine pathway in treatment-resistant schizophrenia at the crossroads between pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy. Schizophr Res 2024; 264:71-80. [PMID: 38101180 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.12.005] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Two cardinal elements in the complex and multifaceted pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) are neuroinflammation and dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, with the latter being especially involved in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Interestingly, the Kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) is at the crossroad between them, constituting a potential causal link and a therapeutic target. Although there is preclinical and clinical evidence indicating a dysregulation of KP associated with the clinical phenotype of SCZ, clinical studies investigating the possible relationship between changes in biomarkers of the KP and response to pharmacotherapy are still limited. Therefore, we have studied possible differences in the circulating levels of biomarkers of the metabolism of tryptophan along the KP in 43 responders to first-line treatments (FLR) and 32 TRS patients treated with clozapine, and their possible associations with psychopathology in the two subgroups. Plasma levels of KYN were significantly higher in TRS patients than in FLR patients, indicating a greater activation of KP. Furthermore, the levels of quinolinic (NMDA receptor agonist) and kynurenic acid (NMDA negative allosteric modulator) showed a negative and a positive correlation with several dimensions and the overall symptomatology in the whole sample and in FLR, but not in TRS, suggesting a putative modulating effect of clozapine elicited through the NMDA receptors. Despite the cross-sectional design of the study that prevents us from demonstrating causation, these findings show a significant relationship among circulating KP biomarkers, psychopathology, and response to pharmacotherapy in SCZ. Therefore, plasma KP biomarkers should be further investigated for developing personalized medicine approaches in SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Sapienza
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Agostoni
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Dall'Acqua
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefania Sut
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Sofia Nasini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Martini
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Marchesi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Bechi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Buonocore
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cocchi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Cavallaro
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spangaro
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| | - Stefano Comai
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Division of Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Marta Bosia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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Yakimov V, Falkai P, Wagner E. Pathogenese der Schizophrenie(n). FORTSCHRITTE DER NEUROLOGIE-PSYCHIATRIE 2023; 91:369-383. [PMID: 37725988 DOI: 10.1055/a-2099-7560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by marked heterogeneity at both the phenomenological and neurobiological levels. Its diagnostic disentanglement would lead to more precise treatment and improved prognosis in people with schizophrenia. For this, a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia is needed.
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