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Zhang HL, Sun Y, Wu ZJ, Yin Y, Liu RY, Zhang JC, Zhang ZJ, Yau SY, Wu HX, Yuan TF, Zhang L, Adzic M, Chen G. Hippocampal PACAP signaling activation triggers a rapid antidepressant response. Mil Med Res 2024; 11:49. [PMID: 39044298 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-024-00548-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of ketamine-like rapid antidepressants holds promise for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of depression, but the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Implicated in depression regulation, the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is investigated here to examine its role in mediating the rapid antidepressant response. METHODS The onset of antidepressant response was assessed through depression-related behavioral paradigms. The signaling mechanism of PACAP in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was evaluated by utilizing site-directed gene knockdown, pharmacological interventions, or optogenetic manipulations. Overall, 446 mice were used for behavioral and molecular signaling testing. Mice were divided into control or experimental groups randomly in each experiment, and the experimental manipulations included: chronic paroxetine treatments (4, 9, 14 d) or a single treatment of ketamine; social defeat or lipopolysaccharides-injection induced depression models; different doses of PACAP (0.4, 2, 4 ng/site; microinjected into the hippocampal DG); pharmacological intra-DG interventions (CALM and PACAP6-38); intra-DG viral-mediated PACAP RNAi; and opotogenetics using channelrhodopsins 2 (ChR2) or endoplasmic natronomonas halorhodopsine 3.0 (eNpHR3.0). Behavioral paradigms included novelty suppressed feeding test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and sucrose preference test. Western blotting, ELISA, or quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis were used to detect the expressions of proteins/peptides or genes in the hippocampus. RESULTS Chronic administration of the slow-onset antidepressant paroxetine resulted in an increase in hippocampal PACAP expression, and intra-DG blockade of PACAP attenuated the onset of the antidepressant response. The levels of hippocampal PACAP expression were reduced in both two distinct depression animal models and intra-DG knockdown of PACAP induced depression-like behaviors. Conversely, a single infusion of PACAP into the DG region produced a rapid and sustained antidepressant response in both normal and chronically stressed mice. Optogenetic intra-DG excitation of PACAP-expressing neurons instantly elicited antidepressant responses, while optogenetic inhibition induced depression-like behaviors. The longer optogenetic excitation/inhibition elicited the more sustained antidepressant/depression-like responses. Intra-DG PACAP infusion immediately facilitated the signaling for rapid antidepressant response by inhibiting calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and activating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Pre-activation of CaMKII signaling within the DG blunted PACAP-induced rapid antidepressant response as well as eEF2-mTOR-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. Finally, acute ketamine treatment upregulated hippocampal PACAP expression, whereas intra-DG blockade of PACAP signaling attenuated ketamine's rapid antidepressant response. CONCLUSIONS Activation of hippocampal PACAP signaling induces a rapid antidepressant response through the regulation of CaMKII inhibition-governed eEF2-mTOR-BDNF signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Lou Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Departments of Psychiatry & Clinical and Translational Institute of Psychiatric Disorders, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- The Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulation of Brain-Periphery Homeostasis and Comprehensive Health, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Integrative Biomedicine for Brain Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhang-Jie Wu
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Departments of Psychiatry & Clinical and Translational Institute of Psychiatric Disorders, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ying Yin
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Departments of Psychiatry & Clinical and Translational Institute of Psychiatric Disorders, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Rui-Yi Liu
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Departments of Psychiatry & Clinical and Translational Institute of Psychiatric Disorders, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ji-Chun Zhang
- School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zhang-Jin Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Suk-Yu Yau
- The Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulation of Brain-Periphery Homeostasis and Comprehensive Health, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Hao-Xin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrative Biomedicine for Brain Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ti-Fei Yuan
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Central CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- "Vinča" Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology 090, University of Belgrade, 11001, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gang Chen
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Departments of Psychiatry & Clinical and Translational Institute of Psychiatric Disorders, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- The Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulation of Brain-Periphery Homeostasis and Comprehensive Health, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Begni V, Marizzoni M, Creutzberg KC, Silipo DM, Papp M, Cattaneo A, Riva MA. Transcriptomic analyses of rats exposed to chronic mild stress: Modulation by chronic treatment with the antipsychotic drug lurasidone. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110885. [PMID: 37865392 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to stressful experiences accounts for almost half of the risk for mental disorders. Hence, stress-induced alterations represent a key target for pharmacological interventions aimed at restoring brain function in affected individuals. We have previously demonstrated that lurasidone, a multi-receptor antipsychotic drug approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression, can normalize the functional and molecular impairments induced by stress exposure, representing a valuable tool for the treatment of stress-induced mental illnesses. However, the mechanisms that may contribute to the therapeutic effects of lurasidone are still poorly understood. Here, we performed a transcriptomic analysis on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult male rats exposed to the chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm and we investigated the impact of chronic lurasidone treatment on such changes. We found that CMS exposure leads to an anhedonic phenotype associated with a down-regulation of different pathways associated to neuronal guidance and synaptic plasticity within the PFC. Interestingly, a significant part of these alterations (around 25%) were counteracted by lurasidone treatment. In summary, we provided new insights on the transcriptional changes relevant for the therapeutic intervention with lurasidone, which may ultimately promote resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Moira Marizzoni
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy; Lab of Neuroimaging and Alzheimer's Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Kerstin Camile Creutzberg
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Diana Morena Silipo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mariusz Papp
- Institute of Pharmacology and Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, Kraków 31-343, Poland
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy.
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Wang W, Cheng Z, Wang X, An Q, Huang K, Dai Y, Meng Q, Zhang Y. Lactoferrin deficiency during lactation increases the risk of depressive-like behavior in adult mice. BMC Biol 2023; 21:242. [PMID: 37907907 PMCID: PMC10617225 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01748-2] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lactoferrin is an active protein in breast milk that plays an important role in the growth and development of infants and is implicated as a neuroprotective agent. The incidence of depression is currently increasing, and it is unclear whether the lack of lactoferrin during lactation affects the incidence of depressive-like behavior in adulthood. RESULTS Lack of lactoferrin feeding during lactation affected the barrier and innate immune functions of the intestine, disrupted the intestinal microflora, and led to neuroimmune dysfunction and neurodevelopmental delay in the hippocampus. When exposed to external stimulation, adult lactoferrin feeding-deficient mice presented with worse depression-like symptoms; the mechanisms involved were activation of the LPS-TLR4 signalling pathway in the intestine and hippocampus, reduced BDNF-CREB signaling pathway in hippocampus, increased abundance of depression-related bacteria, and decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings reveal that lactoferrin feeding deficient during lactation can increase the risk of depressive-like behavior in adults. The mechanism is related to the regulatory effect of lactoferrin on the development of the "microbial-intestinal-brain" axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhimei Cheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiong Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qin An
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Kunlun Huang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunping Dai
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingyong Meng
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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Transcriptomic Studies of Antidepressant Action in Rodent Models of Depression: A First Meta-Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113543. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Antidepressants (ADs) are, for now, the best everyday treatment we have for moderate to severe major depressive episodes (MDEs). ADs are among the most prescribed drugs in the Western Hemisphere; however, the trial-and-error prescription strategy and side-effects leave a lot to be desired. More than 60% of patients suffering from major depression fail to respond to the first AD they are prescribed. For those who respond, full response is only observed after several weeks of treatment. In addition, there are no biomarkers that could help with therapeutic decisions; meanwhile, this is already true in cancer and other fields of medicine. For years, many investigators have been working to decipher the underlying mechanisms of AD response. Here, we provide the first systematic review of animal models. We thoroughly searched all the studies involving rodents, profiling transcriptomic alterations consecutive to AD treatment in naïve animals or in animals subjected to stress-induced models of depression. We have been confronted by an important heterogeneity regarding the drugs and the experimental settings. Thus, we perform a meta-analysis of the AD signature of fluoxetine (FLX) in the hippocampus, the most studied target. Among genes and pathways consistently modulated across species, we identify both old players of AD action and novel transcriptional biomarker candidates that warrant further investigation. We discuss the most prominent transcripts (immediate early genes and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity pathways). We also stress the need for systematic studies of AD action in animal models that span across sex, peripheral and central tissues, and pharmacological classes.
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