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Ali DN, Ali HM, Lopez MR, Kang S, Choi DS. Astrocytic GABAergic Regulation in Alcohol Use and Major Depressive Disorders. Cells 2024; 13:318. [PMID: 38391931 PMCID: PMC10887002 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Most GABAergic neurons synthesize GABA from glutamate and release it in the synaptic cleft in the CNS. However, astrocytes can also synthesize and release GABA, activating GABA receptors in the neighboring neurons in physiological and pathological conditions. As the primary homeostatic glial cells in the brain, astrocytes play a crucial role in regulating GABA homeostasis and synaptic neurotransmission. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that astrocytic GABA dysregulation is implicated in psychiatric disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), the most prevalent co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Several current medications and emerging pharmacological agents targeting GABA levels are in clinical trials for treating AUD and MDD. This review offers a concise summary of the role of astrocytic GABA regulation in AUD and MDD. We also provide an overview of the current understanding and areas of debate regarding the mechanisms by which astrocytes regulate GABA in the CNS and their potential significance in the molecular basis of AUD and MDD, paving the way toward future research directions and potential therapeutic target areas within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N. Ali
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.N.A.); (H.M.A.); (M.R.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Hossam M. Ali
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.N.A.); (H.M.A.); (M.R.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Matthew R. Lopez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.N.A.); (H.M.A.); (M.R.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Shinwoo Kang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.N.A.); (H.M.A.); (M.R.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.N.A.); (H.M.A.); (M.R.L.); (S.K.)
- Neuroscience Program, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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León BE, Kang S, Franca-Solomon G, Shang P, Choi DS. Alcohol-Induced Neuroinflammatory Response and Mitochondrial Dysfunction on Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:778456. [PMID: 35221939 PMCID: PMC8866940 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.778456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential organelles central to various cellular functions such as energy production, metabolic pathways, signaling transduction, lipid biogenesis, and apoptosis. In the central nervous system, neurons depend on mitochondria for energy homeostasis to maintain optimal synaptic transmission and integrity. Deficiencies in mitochondrial function, including perturbations in energy homeostasis and mitochondrial dynamics, contribute to aging, and Alzheimer's disease. Chronic and heavy alcohol use is associated with accelerated brain aging, and increased risk for dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, through neuroimmune responses, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, excessive alcohol use induces mitochondrial dysfunction. The direct and indirect alcohol-induced neuroimmune responses, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, are critical for the relationship between alcohol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. In the brain, alcohol activates microglia and increases inflammatory mediators that can impair mitochondrial energy production, dynamics, and initiate cell death pathways. Also, alcohol-induced cytokines in the peripheral organs indirectly, but synergistically exacerbate alcohol's effects on brain function. This review will provide recent and advanced findings focusing on how alcohol alters the aging process and aggravates Alzheimer's disease with a focus on mitochondrial function. Finally, we will contextualize these findings to inform clinical and therapeutic approaches towards Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Emanuel León
- Regenerative Sciences Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Shinwoo Kang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Gabriela Franca-Solomon
- Neuroscience Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Pei Shang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
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Hong SI, Kang S, Baker M, Choi DS. Astrocyte-neuron interaction in the dorsal striatum-pallidal circuits and alcohol-seeking behaviors. Neuropharmacology 2021; 198:108759. [PMID: 34433087 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In the striatum, two main types of GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs), denoted striatonigral (or direct-pathway MSNs, dMSNs) and striatopallidal neurons (indirect-pathway MSNs, iMSNs), form circuits with distinct pallidal nuclei, which sends "GO" or "NO-GO" signals through the thalamus. These striatopallidal circuits evaluate and execute reward-seeking and taking behaviors. Especially, the dorsal striatum can be further divided into the dorsomedial striatum (DMS, equivalent to caudate in primates and humans) and dorsolateral striatum (DLS, equivalent to putamen), which orchestrates goal-directed and habitual reward-seeking and taking behaviors, respectively. Using optogenetics, chemogenetics and in vivo calcium imaging technologies combined with electrophysiology and digitalized behavior phenotyping, recent studies have revealed cell-, circuit- and context-specific functions of these microcircuits in addictive behaviors. Also, region-specific astrocytes regulate the homeostatic activities of the dMSNs and iMSNs as well as the downstream circuits, which determine the net balance of cortico-striato-pallidal activities to the thalamic neurons. This review will summarize the recent progress of striatopallidal circuits focusing on astrocyte-neuron interaction and, reward- and alcohol-seeking behaviors. Our review will also discuss the translational and clinical implications of these microcircuit studies. This article is part of the special Issue on "Neurocircuitry Modulating Drug and Alcohol Abuse".
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Affiliation(s)
- Sa-Ik Hong
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Seungwoo Kang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Matthew Baker
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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Shang P, Baker M, Banks S, Hong SI, Choi DS. Emerging Nondopaminergic Medications for Parkinson's Disease: Focusing on A2A Receptor Antagonists and GLP1 Receptor Agonists. J Mov Disord 2021; 14:193-203. [PMID: 34399565 PMCID: PMC8490190 DOI: 10.14802/jmd.21035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe neurodegenerative disease characterized by classic motor features associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons and appearance of Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra. Due to the complexity of PD, a definitive diagnosis in the early stages and effective management of symptoms in later stages are difficult to achieve in clinical practice. Previous research has shown that colocalization of A2A receptors (A2AR) and dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) may induce an antagonistic interaction between adenosine and dopamine. Clinical trials have found that the A2AR antagonist istradefylline decreases dyskinesia in PD and could be used as an adjuvant to levodopa treatment. Meanwhile, the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) mainly facilitates glucose homeostasis and insulin signaling. Preclinical experiments and clinical trials of GLP1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists show that they may be effective in alleviating neuroinflammation and sustaining cellular functions in the central nervous system of patients with PD. In this review, we summarize up-to-date findings on the usefulness of A2AR antagonists and GLP1R agonists in PD management. We explain the molecular mechanisms of these medications and their interactions with other neurotransmitter receptors. Furthermore, we discuss the efficacy and limitations of A2AR antagonists and GLP1R agonists in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Shang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Matthew Baker
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Samantha Banks
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Sa-Ik Hong
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience Program, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
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