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Powers A, Angelos P, Bond A, Farina E, Fredericks C, Gandhi J, Greenwald M, Hernandez-Busot G, Hosein G, Kelley M, Mourgues C, Palmer W, Rodriguez-Sanchez J, Seabury R, Toribio S, Vin R, Weleff J, Benrimoh D. A computational account of the development and evolution of psychotic symptoms. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2404.10954v1. [PMID: 38699166 PMCID: PMC11065053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The mechanisms of psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions are often investigated in fully-formed illness, well after symptoms emerge. These investigations have yielded key insights, but are not well-positioned to reveal the dynamic forces underlying symptom formation itself. Understanding symptom development over time would allow us to identify steps in the pathophysiological process leading to psychosis, shifting the focus of psychiatric intervention from symptom alleviation to prevention. We propose a model for understanding the emergence of psychotic symptoms within the context of an adaptive, developing neural system. We will make the case for a pathophysiological process that begins with cortical hyperexcitability and bottom-up noise transmission, which engenders inappropriate belief formation via aberrant prediction error signaling. We will argue that this bottom-up noise drives learning about the (im)precision of new incoming sensory information because of diminished signal-to-noise ratio, causing an adaptive relative over-reliance on prior beliefs. This over-reliance on priors predisposes to hallucinations and covaries with hallucination severity. An over-reliance on priors may also lead to increased conviction in the beliefs generated by bottom-up noise and drive movement toward conversion to psychosis. We will identify predictions of our model at each stage, examine evidence to support or refute those predictions, and propose experiments that could falsify or help select between alternative elements of the overall model. Nesting computational abnormalities within longitudinal development allows us to account for hidden dynamics among the mechanisms driving symptom formation and to view established symptomatology as a point of equilibrium among competing biological forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Powers
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Philip Angelos
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alexandria Bond
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emily Farina
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carolyn Fredericks
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jay Gandhi
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maximillian Greenwald
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Gabriel Hosein
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Megan Kelley
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Catalina Mourgues
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - William Palmer
- Yale University Department of Psychology, New Haven, CT USA
| | | | - Rashina Seabury
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Silmilly Toribio
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Raina Vin
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeremy Weleff
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David Benrimoh
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Oldham S, Ball G. A phylogenetically-conserved axis of thalamocortical connectivity in the human brain. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6032. [PMID: 37758726 PMCID: PMC10533558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41722-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The thalamus enables key sensory, motor, emotive, and cognitive processes via connections to the cortex. These projection patterns are traditionally considered to originate from discrete thalamic nuclei, however recent work showing gradients of molecular and connectivity features in the thalamus suggests the organisation of thalamocortical connections occurs along a continuous dimension. By performing a joint decomposition of densely sampled gene expression and non-invasive diffusion tractography in the adult human thalamus, we define a principal axis of genetic and connectomic variation along a medial-lateral thalamic gradient. Projections along this axis correspond to an anterior-posterior cortical pattern and are aligned with electrophysiological properties of the cortex. The medial-lateral axis demonstrates phylogenetic conservation, reflects transitions in neuronal subtypes, and shows associations with neurodevelopment and common brain disorders. This study provides evidence for a supra-nuclear axis of thalamocortical organisation characterised by a graded transition in molecular properties and anatomical connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Oldham
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Gareth Ball
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Constable PA, Lim JKH, Thompson DA. Retinal electrophysiology in central nervous system disorders. A review of human and mouse studies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1215097. [PMID: 37600004 PMCID: PMC10433210 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1215097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina and brain share similar neurochemistry and neurodevelopmental origins, with the retina, often viewed as a "window to the brain." With retinal measures of structure and function becoming easier to obtain in clinical populations there is a growing interest in using retinal findings as potential biomarkers for disorders affecting the central nervous system. Functional retinal biomarkers, such as the electroretinogram, show promise in neurological disorders, despite having limitations imposed by the existence of overlapping genetic markers, clinical traits or the effects of medications that may reduce their specificity in some conditions. This narrative review summarizes the principal functional retinal findings in central nervous system disorders and related mouse models and provides a background to the main excitatory and inhibitory retinal neurotransmitters that have been implicated to explain the visual electrophysiological findings. These changes in retinal neurochemistry may contribute to our understanding of these conditions based on the findings of retinal electrophysiological tests such as the flash, pattern, multifocal electroretinograms, and electro-oculogram. It is likely that future applications of signal analysis and machine learning algorithms will offer new insights into the pathophysiology, classification, and progression of these clinical disorders including autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. New clinical applications of visual electrophysiology to this field may lead to earlier, more accurate diagnoses and better targeted therapeutic interventions benefiting individual patients and clinicians managing these individuals and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Constable
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jeremiah K. H. Lim
- Discipline of Optometry, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Dorothy A. Thompson
- The Tony Kriss Visual Electrophysiology Unit, Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Mayeli A, Janssen SA, Huston CA, Rupp JS, Sharma K, Moon CH, Keihani A, Hetherington HP, Ferrarelli F. N-Acetylaspartate and Choline Metabolites in Cortical and Subcortical Regions in Clinical High Risk Relative to Healthy Control Subjects: An Exploratory 7T MRSI Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097682. [PMID: 37175389 PMCID: PMC10178465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097682] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho) are two brain metabolites implicated in several key neuronal functions. Abnormalities in these metabolites have been reported in both early course and chronic patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). It is, however, unclear whether NAA and Cho's alterations occur even before the onset of the disorder. Clinical high risk (CHR) individuals are a population uniquely enriched for psychosis and SCZ. In this exploratory study, we utilized 7-Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to examine differences in total NAA (tNAA; NAA + N-acetylaspartylglutamate [NAAG]) and major choline-containing compounds, including glycerophosphorylcholine and phosphorylcholine [tCho], over the creatine (Cre) levels between 26 CHR and 32 healthy control (HC) subjects in the subcortical and cortical regions. While no tCho/Cre differences were found between groups in any of the regions of interest (ROIs), we found that CHR had significantly reduced tNAA/Cre in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to HC, and that the right DLPFC tNAA/Cre reduction in CHR was negatively associated with their positive symptoms scores. No tNAA/Cre differences were found between CHR and HC in other ROIs. In conclusion, reduced tNAA/Cre in CHR vs. HC may represent a putative molecular biomarker for risk of psychosis and SCZ that is associated with symptom severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Mayeli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sabine A Janssen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Chloe A Huston
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Julia S Rupp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kamakashi Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Chan-Hong Moon
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ahmadreza Keihani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hoby P Hetherington
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Xu J, Li J, Sun YJ, Quan W, Liu L, Zhang QH, Qin YD, Pei XC, Su H, Chen JJ. Identification of key genes and signaling pathways associated with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia using bioinformatics. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1029370. [PMID: 36970514 PMCID: PMC10034123 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1029370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveDementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) are collectively known as Lewy body dementia (LBD). Considering the heterogeneous nature of LBD and the different constellations of symptoms with which patients can present, the exact molecular mechanism underlying the differences between these two isoforms is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the biomarkers and potential mechanisms that distinguish between PDD and DLB.MethodsThe mRNA expression profile dataset of GSE150696 was acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 12 DLB and 12 PDD were identified from Brodmann area 9 of human postmortem brains using GEO2R. A series of bioinformatics methods were applied to identify the potential signaling pathways involved, and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to further investigate the relationship between gene co-expression and different LBD subtypes. Hub genes that are strongly associated with PDD and DLB were obtained from the intersection of DEGs and selected modules by WGCNA.ResultsA total of 1,864 DEGs between PDD and DLB were filtered by the online analysis tool GEO2R. We found that the most significant GO- and KEGG-enriched terms are involved in the establishment of the vesicle localization and pathways of neurodegeneration-multiple diseases. Glycerolipid metabolism and viral myocarditis were enriched in the PDD group. A B-cell receptor signaling pathway and one carbon pool by folate correlated with DLB in the results obtained from the GSEA. We found several clusters of co-expressed genes which we designated by colors in our WGCNA analysis. Furthermore, we identified seven upregulated genes, namely, SNAP25, GRIN2A, GABRG2, GABRA1, GRIA1, SLC17A6, and SYN1, which are significantly correlated with PDD.ConclusionThe seven hub genes and the signaling pathways we identified may be involved in the heterogeneous pathogenesis of PDD and DLB.
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Ge PY, Qu SY, Ni SJ, Yao ZY, Qi YY, Zhao X, Guo R, Yang NY, Zhang QC, Zhu HX. Berberine ameliorates depression-like behavior in CUMS mice by activating TPH1 and inhibiting IDO1-associated with tryptophan metabolism. Phytother Res 2023; 37:342-357. [PMID: 36089660 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Berberine, which is a potential antidepressant, exhibits definite efficiency in modulating the gut microbiota. Depressive behaviors in mice induced using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) stimulation were evaluated by behavioral experiments. The markers of neurons and synapses were measured using immunohistochemical staining. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to analyze serum inflammatory cytokines levels and neurotransmitters were evaluated by LC-MS/MS. Untargeted metabolomics of tryptophan metabolism was further performed using LC-MS/MS. The target enzymes of berberine involved in tryptophan metabolism were assayed using AutoDock and GRMACS softwares. Then, antibiotics was utilized to induce intestinal flora disturbance. Berberine improved the depressive behaviors of mice in a microbiota-dependent manner. Increased neurons and synaptic plasticity were observed following berberine treatment. Meanwhile, berberine decreased serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-4 and increased levels of IL-10. Moreover, berberine induced retraction of the abnormal neurotransmitters and metabolomics assays revealed that berberine promoted tryptophan biotransformation into serotonin and inhibited the kynurenine metabolism pathway, which was attributed to the potential agonist of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). In conclusion, berberine improves depressive symptoms in CUMS-stimulated mice by targeting both TPH1 and IDO1, which are involved in tryptophan metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Yuan Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Shu-Yue Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Sai-Jia Ni
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zeng-Ying Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi-Yu Qi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Guo
- School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Nian-Yun Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi-Chun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hua-Xu Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Glutamate/Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Alterations in Clinical High Risk and First-Episode Schizophrenia: A Preliminary 7-T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415846. [PMID: 36555487 PMCID: PMC9781166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Converging lines of evidence suggest that an imbalance between excitation and inhibition is present in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of schizophrenia (SCZ). Gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) and, to a lesser extent, glutamate (Glu) abnormalities were reported in the DLPFC of SCZ patients, especially on the right hemisphere, by post-mortem studies. However, in vivo evidence of GABA, Glu, and Glu/GABA DLPFC abnormalities, particularly on the right side and the early stages of illness, is limited. In this preliminary study, we utilized 7-Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to investigate bilateral Glu/Creatine (Cre), GABA/Cre, and Glu/GABA in the DLPFC of sixteen first episode schizophrenia (FES), seventeen clinical high risk (CHR), and twenty-six healthy comparison (HC) subjects. FES and CHR had abnormal GABA/Cre and Glu/GABA in the right DLPFC (rDLPFC) compared with HC participants, while no differences were observed in the left DLPFC (lDLPFC) among the three groups. Furthermore, HC had higher Glu/GABA in rDLPFC compared to lDLPFC (R > L), whereas the opposite relationship (R < L) was observed in the DLPFC Glu/GABA of FES patients. Altogether, these findings indicate that GABA/Cre and Glu/GABA DLPFC alterations are present before illness manifestation and worsen in FES patients, thus representing a putative early pathophysiological biomarker for SCZ and related psychotic disorders.
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Liu Y, Jia S, Wang J, Wang D, Zhang X, Liu H, Zhou F, Zhang Z, Li Q, Dong H, Zhong H. Endocannabinoid signaling regulates post-operative delirium through glutamatergic mediodorsal thalamus-prelimbic prefrontal cortical projection. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1036428. [DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1036428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundPost-operative delirium (POD), a common post-operative complication that affects up to 73. 5% of surgical patients, could prolong hospital stays, triple mortality rates, cause long-term cognitive decline and dementia, and boost medical expenses. However, the underlying mechanisms, especially the circuit mechanisms of POD remain largely unclear. Previous studies demonstrated that cannabis use might cause delirium-like behavior through the endocannabinoid system (eCBs), a widely distributed retrograde presynaptic neuromodulator system. We also found that the prelimbic (PrL) and intralimbic (IL) prefrontal cortex, a crucial hub for cognition and emotion, was involved in the eCBs-associated general anesthesia recovery.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to investigate the role of eCBs in POD development, and further clarify its neuronal specificity and circuit specificity attributed to POD.MethodsAccording to a previous study, 2 h of 1.4% isoflurane anesthesia and simple laparotomy were conducted to establish the POD model in C57/BL6 mice aged 8–12 weeks. A battery of behavioral tests, including the buried food, open field, and Y maze tests, were performed at 24 h before anesthesia and surgery (AS) and 6 and 9 h after AS. The behavioral results were calculated as a composite Z score for the POD assessment. To explore the dynamics of eCBs and their effect on POD regulation, an endocannabinoid (eCB) sensor was microinjected into the PrL, and the antagonists (AM281 and hemopressin) and agonist (nabilone) of type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R), were administered systemically or locally (into PrL). Chemogenetics, combined Cre-loxP and Flp-FRT system, were employed in mutant mice for neuronal specificity and circuit specificity observation.ResultsAfter AS, the composite Z score significantly increased at 6 and 9 but not at 24 h, whereas blockade of CB1R systemically and intra-PrL could specifically decrease the composite Z score at 6 and 9 h after AS. Results of fiber photometry further confirmed that the activity of eCB in the PrL was enhanced by AS, especially in the Y maze test at 6 h post-operatively. Moreover, the activation of glutamatergic neurons in the PrL could reduce the composite Z score, which could be significantly reversed by exogenous cannabinoid (nabilone) at 6 and 9 h post-operatively. However, activation of GABAergic neurons only decreased composite Z score at 9 h post-operatively, with no response to nabilone application. Further study revealed the glutamatergic projection from mediodorsal thalamus (MD) to PrL glutamatergic neurons, but not hippocampus (HIP)-PrL circuit, was in charge of the effect of eCBs on POD.ConclusionOur study firstly demonstrated the involvement of eCBs in the POD pathogenesis and further revealed that the eCBs may regulate POD through the specific MDglu-PrLglu circuit. These findings not only partly revealed the molecular and circuit mechanisms of POD, but also provided an applicable candidate for the clinical prevention and treatment of POD.
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Sonnenschein SF, Mayeli A, Yushmanov VE, Blazer A, Calabro FJ, Perica M, Foran W, Luna B, Hetherington HP, Ferrarelli F, Sarpal DK. A longitudinal investigation of GABA, glutamate, and glutamine across the insula during antipsychotic treatment of first-episode schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2022; 248:98-106. [PMID: 36029656 PMCID: PMC10018530 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) typically present with acute psychotic symptoms. Though antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay for treatment, the neurobiology underlying successful treatment remains largely elusive. Recent evidence from functional connectivity studies highlights the insula as a key structure in the neural mechanism of response. However, molecular contributions to response across insular regions remain largely unknown. We used 7-Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to measure glutamate (Glu), Glutamine (Gln), and GABA from anterior and posterior regions of the insula across antipsychotic treatment. A total of 36 participants were examined, including 15 individuals with FES and moderate to severe psychosis who were scanned at two time points, while starting and after 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. Symptoms were carefully monitored across the study period to characterize treatment response. GABA, Glu, and Gln levels were calculated relative to creatine in anterior and posterior insular regions, bilaterally. In relation to psychotic symptom reduction, we observed a significant increase in Glu across all insular regions with (p < 0.001), but no corresponding changes in Gln or GABA. In group analyses, the FES cohort showed lower levels of Glu (p < 0.001) and GABA (p = 0.02) at baseline. Finally, in exploratory analyses, treatment remitters demonstrated a normalization of lower insular Glu levels across treatment, unlike non-remitters. Overall, these findings contribute to our understating of molecular changes associated with antipsychotic response and demonstrate abnormalities specific to the insula in FES.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmad Mayeli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Annie Blazer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Finnegan J Calabro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Maria Perica
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - William Foran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Beatriz Luna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Deepak K Sarpal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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An Integrative Analysis of Identified Schizophrenia-Associated Brain Cell Types and Gene Expression Changes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911581. [PMID: 36232882 PMCID: PMC9569514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911581] [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: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe mental disorder that may result in hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking. How each cell type in the brain contributes to SCZ occurrence is still unclear. Here, we leveraged the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bulk RNA-seq data, then used the RNA-seq deconvolution algorithm CIBERSORTx to generate SCZ brain single-cell RNA-seq data for a comprehensive analysis to understand SCZ-associated brain cell types and gene expression changes. Firstly, we observed that the proportions of brain cell types in SCZ differed from normal samples. Among these cell types, astrocyte, pericyte, and PAX6 cells were found to have a higher proportion in SCZ patients (astrocyte: SCZ = 0.163, control = 0.145, P.adj = 4.9 × 10-4, effect size = 0.478; pericyte: SCZ = 0.057, control = 0.066, P.adj = 1.1 × 10-4, effect size = 0.519; PAX6: SCZ = 0.014, control = 0.011, P.adj = 0.014, effect size = 0.377), while the L5/6_IT_CAR3 cells and LAMP5 cells are the exact opposite (L5/6_IT_Car3: SCZ = 0.102, control = 0.108, P.adj = 0.016, effect size = 0.369; LAMP5: SCZ = 0.057, control = 0.066, P.adj = 2.2 × 10-6, effect size = 0.617). Next, we investigated gene expression in cell types and functional pathways in SCZ. We observed chemical synaptic transmission dysregulation in two types of GABAergic neurons (PVALB and LAMP5), and immune reaction involvement in GABAergic neurons (SST) and non-neuronal cell types (endothelial and oligodendrocyte). Furthermore, we observed that some differential expression genes from bulk RNA-seq displayed cell-type-specific abnormalities in the expression of molecules in SCZ. Finally, the cell types with the SCZ-related transcriptomic changes could be considered to belong to the same module since we observed two major similar coordinated transcriptomic changes across these cell types. Together, our results offer novel insights into cellular heterogeneity and the molecular mechanisms underlying SCZ.
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Ma X, Liu K, Han Y, Bai Y, Shen F, Wang M, Wei W, Qin J, Hao E, Hou X, Hou Y, Bai G. Cinnamaldehyde Regulates the Generation of γ-aminobutyric Acid to Exert Sedation via Irreversible Inhibition of ENO1 in the Cerebellar Granular Layer. Mol Nutr Food Res 2022; 66:e2100963. [PMID: 35332659 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SCOPE Glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters that control information flow in the brain. GABA dysfunction is a general vulnerability factor for mental illness. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is found to have sedation in a mental illness model. However, the specific targets and molecular mechanisms related to the sedative effects of CA have not been elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS Metabolomics analysis and target fishing showed CA could increase the expression of GABA in vivo, and α-enolase (ENO1) is the primary target protein of CA associated with sedation. CA mainly binds with ENO1 in the cerebellar granular layer of brain, which influences the first transformations of the input signals arriving in the cerebellar cortex. The α,β-unsaturated aldehyde group of CA blocks the hydroxy group of Ser40, which induces a loss in ENO1 activation. CA also disturbs the glycolysis pathway and influences the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which activate gluconeogenesis to provide energy to the brain. This mechanism is verified in zebrafish with ENO1 or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) deficiency. CONCLUSIONS CA demonstrates sedation and alleviates GABA dysfunction via covalent binding ENO1, which shows the potential to improve the therapy of mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Kaixin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Yiman Han
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Yongping Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Fukui Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Mukuo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Ingredients Study of Agricultural Residues, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, China
| | - Jianfeng Qin
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Ingredients Study of Agricultural Residues, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, China
| | - Erwei Hao
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Ingredients Study of Agricultural Residues, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, China
| | - Xiaotao Hou
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Ingredients Study of Agricultural Residues, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, China
| | - Yuanyuan Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Gang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300381, China
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12
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Covering the Gap Between Sleep and Cognition – Mechanisms and Clinical Examples. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1384:17-29. [PMID: 36217076 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-06413-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A growing number of studies have shown the strong relationship between sleep and different cognitive processes, especially those that involve memory consolidation. Traditionally, these processes were attributed to mechanisms related to the macroarchitecture of sleep, as sleep cycles or the duration of specific stages, such as the REM stage. More recently, the relationship between different cognitive traits and specific waves (sleep spindles or slow oscillations) has been studied. We here present the most important physiological processes induced by sleep, with particular focus on brain electrophysiology. In addition, recent and classical literature were reviewed to cover the gap between sleep and cognition, while illustrating this relationship by means of clinical examples. Finally, we propose that future studies may focus not only on analyzing specific waves, but also on the relationship between their characteristics as potential biomarkers for multiple diseases.
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13
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Lavigne KM, Kanagasabai K, Palaniyappan L. Ultra-high field neuroimaging in psychosis: A narrative review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:994372. [PMID: 36506432 PMCID: PMC9730890 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.994372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia and related psychoses are complex neuropsychiatric diseases representing dysconnectivity across multiple scales, through the micro (cellular), meso (brain network), manifest (behavioral), and social (interpersonal) levels. In vivo human neuroimaging, particularly at ultra-high field (UHF), offers unprecedented opportunity to examine multiscale dysconnectivity in psychosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature to date on UHF in psychosis, focusing on microscale findings from magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), mesoscale studies on structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and multiscale studies assessing multiple neuroimaging modalities and relating UHF findings to behavior. We highlight key insights and considerations from multiscale and longitudinal studies and provide recommendations for future research on UHF neuroimaging in psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Lavigne
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kesavi Kanagasabai
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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14
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Jeon P, Limongi R, Ford SD, Mackinley M, Dempster K, Théberge J, Palaniyappan L. Progressive Changes in Glutamate Concentration in Early Stages of Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal 7-Tesla MRS Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 2:sgaa072. [PMID: 34746793 PMCID: PMC8561748 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Progressive reduction in glutamatergic transmission has been proposed as an important component of the illness trajectory of schizophrenia. Despite its popularity, to date, this notion has not been convincingly tested in patients in early stages of schizophrenia. In a longitudinal 7T magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we quantified glutamate at the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in 21 participants with a median lifetime antipsychotic exposure of less than 3 days and followed them up after 6 months of treatment. Ten healthy controls were also scanned at 2 time points. While patients had significantly lower overall glutamate levels than healthy controls (F(1,27) = 5.23, P = .03), we did not observe a progressive change of glutamate concentration in patients (F(1,18) = 0.47, P = .50), and the group by time interaction was not significant (F(1,27) = 0.86, P = .36). On average, patients with early psychosis receiving treatment showed a 0.02 mM/y increase, while healthy controls showed a 0.06 mM/y reduction of MRS glutamate levels. Bayesian analysis of our observations does not support early, post-onset glutamate loss in schizophrenia. Interestingly, it provides evidence in favor of a lack of progressive glutamate change in our schizophrenia sample—indicating that the glutamate level at the onset of illness was the best predictor of the levels 6 months after treatment. A more nuanced view of glutamatergic physiology, linked to early cortical maturation, may be required to understand glutamate-mediated dynamics in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Jeon
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, Imaging Division, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roberto Limongi
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sabrina D Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Mackinley
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kara Dempster
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, Imaging Division, London, Ontario, Canada.,St. Joseph's Health Care, Diagnostic Imaging, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Zheng X, Wang C, Zhai N, Luo X, Liu G, Ju X. In Silico Screening of Novel α1-GABA A Receptor PAMs towards Schizophrenia Based on Combined Modeling Studies of Imidazo [1,2-a]-Pyridines. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9645. [PMID: 34502550 PMCID: PMC8431797 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ionotropic GABAA receptor (GABAAR) has been proven to be an important target of atypical antipsychotics. A novel series of imidazo [1,2-a]-pyridine derivatives, as selective positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of α1-containing GABAARs with potent antipsychotic activities, have been reported recently. To better clarify the pharmacological essentiality of these PAMs and explore novel antipsychotics hits, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR), molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and molecular dynamics (MD) were performed on 33 imidazo [1,2-a]-pyridines. The constructed 3D-QSAR models exhibited good predictive abilities. The dockings results and MD simulations demonstrated that hydrogen bonds, π-π stackings, and hydrophobic interactions play essential roles in the binding of these novel PAMs in the GABAAR binding pocket. Four hit compounds (DS01-04) were then screened out by the combination of the constructed models and computations, including the pharmacophore model, Topomer Search, molecular dockings, ADME/T predictions, and MD simulations. The compounds DS03 and DS04, with higher docking scores and better predicted activities, were also found to be relatively stable in the binding pocket by MD simulations. These results might provide a significant theoretical direction or information for the rational design and development of novel α1-GABAAR PAMs with antipsychotic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojiao Zheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Chenchen Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Na Zhai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiaogang Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Science Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Genyan Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiulian Ju
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
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