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Budniok S, Odent P, Callaerts-Vegh Z, Bosmans G, D'Hooge R. Neurobeachin haploinsufficient mice display sex-independent alterations in cued and contextual fear conditioning. Neuroreport 2023; 34:664-669. [PMID: 37506311 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Neurobeachin ( NBEA ) is a cytoplasmic protein that regulates receptor trafficking, neurotransmitter and hormone secretion, as well as synaptic connectivity. Recently, hippocampus-dependent contextual extinction, the gradual decrease of a conditioned fear response to a context, was suggested to be specifically impaired in male mice with Nbea deficiency ( Nbea+/- ). The current study examines the role of sex in this effect and whether Nbea also influences cued fear conditioning. We included both female and male mice and used a phased contextual and cued fear acquisition protocol that consists of different phases allowing us to assess fear acquisition, cued and contextual fear memory and within-phase extinction. Performance of Nbea+/- mice during assessment of both contextual and cued fear memory was significantly altered compared to controls, independent of sex. Follow-up analyses revealed that this altered performance could be indicative of impaired within-phase extinction. Altered within-phase extinction was not exclusively attributable to hippocampus, and independent of sex. Our results rather suggest that Nbea influences complex learning more broadly across different brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Budniok
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven
- Learn2Trust Research Group, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paulien Odent
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven
- Learn2Trust Research Group, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Guy Bosmans
- Learn2Trust Research Group, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven
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Cuzon Carlson VC, Aylwin CF, Carlson TL, Ford M, Mesnaoui H, Lomniczi A, Ferguson B, Cervera‐Juanes RP. Neurobeachin, a promising target for use in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13107. [PMID: 34699111 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hazardous, heavy drinking increases risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), which affects ~7% of adult Americans. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms promoting risk for heavy drinking is essential to developing more effective AUD pharmacotherapies than those currently approved by the FDA. Using genome-wide bisulfate sequencing, we identified DNA methylation (DNAm) signals within the nucleus accumbens core (NAcC) that differentiate nonheavy and heavy ethanol-drinking rhesus macaques. One differentially DNAm region (D-DMR) located within the gene neurobeachin (NBEA), which promotes synaptic membrane protein trafficking, was hypermethylated in heavy drinking macaques. A parallel study identified a similar NBEA D-DMR in human NAcC that distinguished alcoholic and nonalcoholic individuals. To investigate the role of NBEA in heavy ethanol drinking, we engineered a viral vector carrying a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to reduce the expression of NBEA. Using two murine models of ethanol consumption: 4 days of drinking-in-the-dark and 4 weeks of chronic intermittent access, the knockdown of NBEA expression did not alter average ethanol consumption in either model. However, it did lead to a significant increase in the ethanol preference ratio. Following withdrawal, whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiological experiments revealed that Nbea knockdown led to an increase in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude with no alteration in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents, suggesting a specific role of NBEA in trafficking of glutamatergic receptors. Together, our findings suggest that NBEA could be targeted to modulate the preference for alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verginia C. Cuzon Carlson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Carlos F. Aylwin
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Timothy L. Carlson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Matthew Ford
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Houda Mesnaoui
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Alejandro Lomniczi
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Betsy Ferguson
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
| | - Rita P. Cervera‐Juanes
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center Oregon Health & Science University Beaverton Oregon USA
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Positive modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the mPFC reduces the spontaneous recovery of fear. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2580-2589. [PMID: 35418600 PMCID: PMC9135632 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01498-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulators have recently received increased attention as potential therapeutics for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, we tested a novel NMDAR-positive modulator, NYX-783, in the following two rodent models of PTSD: an auditory fear-conditioning model and a single-prolonged stress (SPS) model. We examined the ability of NYX-783 to reduce subsequent fear-based behaviors by measuring enhanced fear extinction and reduced spontaneous recovery (spontaneous return of fear) in male mice. NYX-783 administration significantly reduced spontaneous recovery in both PTSD models and enhanced fear extinction in the SPS model. Furthermore, NYX-783 increased the NMDA-induced inward currents of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL mPFC) and that the GluN2B subunit of NMDARs on pyramidal neurons in the IL mPFC is required for its effect on spontaneous recovery. The downstream expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor was required for NYX-783 to achieve its behavioral effect. These results elucidate the cellular targets of NYX-783 and the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of spontaneous recovery. These preclinical findings support the hypothesis that NYX-783 may have therapeutic potential for PTSD treatment and may be particularly useful for inhibiting spontaneous recovery.
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Cantwell CY, Fortman J, Seegan A. Prazosin use in a patient with rare Neurobeachin gene deletion shows improvement in paranoid behavior: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2021; 15:612. [PMID: 34949210 PMCID: PMC8705137 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-021-03209-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Disruption of the Neurobeachin gene is a rare genetic mutation that has been implicated in the development of autism and enhanced long-term potentiation of the hippocampal CA1 region, causing a heightened conditioned fear response and impaired fear extinction. Prazosin, an alpha-1 receptor antagonist, has been used in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder to mitigate the increased alpha-1 activity involved in fear and startle responses. Here we report a case of a patient with a rare Neurobeachin gene deletion, who demonstrated marked and sustained improvement in paranoid behavior within days of prazosin initiation. Case presentation The patient is a 27-year-old White male with autism spectrum disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia, with a chromosome 13q12 deletion including deletion of the Neurobeachin gene, who presented to the emergency department due to worsening functional status and profound weight loss as a result of only eating prepackaged foods. He had not showered or changed clothes in several months prior to presentation. He was hospitalized in the inpatient psychiatric unit for 2 months before prazosin was initiated. During that time, he demonstrated paranoia as evidenced by heightened sensitivity to doors opening, guarded interactions, and limited communication with providers and other patients. He also exhibited poor grooming habits, with aversion to showering, shaving, and changing clothes. Since initiating prazosin, he has demonstrated a brighter affect, initiates and maintains conversations, showers and changes clothes on a regular basis, and eats a variety of foods. At the time of this report, the patient was discharged to live in an apartment with a caregiver after a 7-month inpatient hospitalization. Conclusions Low-dose prazosin shows rapid and sustained improvement in paranoid behavior in a patient with a rare Neurobeachin gene deletion. Prazosin has a relatively favorable side effect profile with once-daily dosing and low cost. Prazosin may provide clinical improvement in patients with Neurobeachin gene deletions due to its theoretical attenuation in fear response through alpha-1 antagonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Y Cantwell
- UC Irvine Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, CA, 92868, USA.
| | - Jamie Fortman
- UC Irvine Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, CA, 92868, USA
| | - Alexis Seegan
- UC Irvine Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, CA, 92868, USA
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Radiske A, Gonzalez MC, Nôga DA, Rossato JI, Bevilaqua LRM, Cammarota M. mTOR inhibition impairs extinction memory reconsolidation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 28:1-6. [PMID: 33323495 PMCID: PMC7747651 DOI: 10.1101/lm.052068.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fear-motivated avoidance extinction memory is prone to hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-dependent reconsolidation upon recall. Here, we show that extinction memory recall activates mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in dorsal CA1, and that post-recall inhibition of this kinase hinders avoidance extinction memory persistence and recovers the learned aversive response. Importantly, coadministration of recombinant BDNF impedes the behavioral effect of hippocampal mTOR inhibition. Our results demonstrate that mTOR signaling is necessary for fear-motivated avoidance extinction memory reconsolidation and suggests that BDNF acts downstream mTOR in a protein synthesis-independent manner to maintain the reactivated extinction memory trace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Radiske
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59056-450 Natal, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Gonzalez
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59056-450 Natal, Brazil.,Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, RN 59280-000 Macaiba, Brazil
| | - Diana A Nôga
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59056-450 Natal, Brazil
| | - Janine I Rossato
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59056-450 Natal, Brazil.,Departament of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59064-741 Natal, Brazil
| | - Lia R M Bevilaqua
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59056-450 Natal, Brazil
| | - Martín Cammarota
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN 59056-450 Natal, Brazil
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Kim YG, Woo J, Park J, Kim S, Lee YS, Kim Y, Kim SJ. Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Distinct Molecular Signatures of Different Cerebellum-Dependent Learning Paradigms. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:2011-2025. [PMID: 32181667 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum improves motor performance by adjusting motor gain appropriately. As de novo protein synthesis is essential for the formation and retention of memories, we hypothesized that motor learning in the opposite direction would induce a distinct pattern of protein expression in the cerebellum. We conducted quantitative proteomic profiling to compare the level of protein expression in the cerebellum at 1 and 24 h after training from mice that underwent different paradigms of cerebellum-dependent oculomotor learning from specific directional changes in motor gain. We quantified a total of 43 proteins that were significantly regulated in each of the three learning paradigms in the cerebellum at 1 and 24 h after learning. In addition, functional enrichment analysis identified protein groups that were differentially enriched or depleted in the cerebellum at 24 h after the three oculomotor learnings, suggesting that distinct biological pathways may be engaged in the formation of three oculomotor memories. Weighted correlation network analysis discovered groups of proteins significantly correlated with oculomotor memory. Finally, four proteins (Snca, Sncb, Cttn, and Stmn1) from the protein group correlated with the learning amount after oculomotor training were validated by Western blot. This study provides a comprehensive and unbiased list of proteins related to three cerebellum-dependent motor learning paradigms, suggesting the distinct nature of protein expression in the cerebellum for each learning paradigm. The proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with identifiers <PXD008433>.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Gyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Jongmin Woo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Joonho Park
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Seoul 151-742, Korea
| | - Sooyong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Yong-Seok Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Youngsoo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Seoul 151-742, Korea
| | - Sang Jeong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
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