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Sal-Sarria S, Conejo NM, González-Pardo H. Maternal immune activation and its multifaceted effects on learning and memory in rodent offspring: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105844. [PMID: 39106940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
This systematic review explored the impact of maternal immune activation (MIA) on learning and memory behavior in offspring, with a particular focus on sexual dimorphism. We analyzed 20 experimental studies involving rodent models (rats and mice) exposed to either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or POLY I:C during gestation following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our findings reveal that most studies report a detrimental impact of MIA on the learning and memory performance of offspring, highlighting the significant role of prenatal environmental factors in neurodevelopment. Furthermore, this review underscores the complex effects of sex, with males often exhibiting more pronounced cognitive impairment compared to females. Notably, a small subset of studies report enhanced cognitive function following MIA, suggesting complex, context-dependent outcomes of prenatal immune challenges. This review also highlights sex differences caused by the effects of MIA in terms of cytokine responses, alterations in gene expression, and differences in microglial responses as factors that contribute to the cognitive outcomes observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saúl Sal-Sarria
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Nélida M Conejo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Héctor González-Pardo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
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2
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Godavarthi SK, Li HQ, Pratelli M, Spitzer NC. Embryonic exposure to environmental factors drives transmitter switching in the neonatal mouse cortex causing autistic-like adult behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2406928121. [PMID: 39178233 PMCID: PMC11363343 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406928121] [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: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be caused by environmental factors. These factors act early in the development of the nervous system and induce stereotyped repetitive behaviors and diminished social interactions, among other outcomes. Little is known about how these behaviors are produced. In pregnant women, delivery of valproic acid (VPA) (to control seizure activity or stabilize mood) or immune activation by a virus increases the incidence of ASD in offspring. We found that either VPA or Poly Inosine:Cytosine (which mimics a viral infection), administered at mouse embryonic day 12.5, induced a neurotransmitter switch from GABA to glutamate in PV- and CCK-expressing interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex by postnatal day 10. The switch was present for only a brief period during early postnatal development, observed in male and female mice at postnatal day 21 and reversed in both males and females by postnatal day 30. At postnatal day 90, male mice exhibited stereotyped repetitive behaviors and diminished social interaction while female mice exhibited only stereotyped repetitive behavior. Transfecting GAD1 in PV- and CCK-expressing interneurons at postnatal day 10, to reintroduce GABA expression, overrode the switch and prevented expression of autistic-like behavior. These findings point to an important role of neurotransmitter switching in mediating the environmental causes of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha K. Godavarthi
- Neurobiology Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
- Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
| | - Hui-quan Li
- Neurobiology Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
- Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
| | - Marta Pratelli
- Neurobiology Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
- Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
| | - Nicholas C. Spitzer
- Neurobiology Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
- Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
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3
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Santana-Coelho D, Pranske ZJ, Nolan SO, Hodges SL, Binder MS, Womble PD, Narvaiz DA, Muhammad I, Lugo JN. Neonatal immune stimulation results in sex-specific changes in ultrasonic vocalizations but does not affect seizure susceptibility in neonatal mice. Int J Dev Neurosci 2024; 84:381-391. [PMID: 38712612 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10333] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation during the neonatal period has been linked to disorders such as autism and epilepsy. In this study, we investigated the early life behavioral consequences of a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at postnatal day 10 (PD10) in mice. To assess deficits in communication, we performed the isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) test at PD12. To determine if early life immune stimulus could alter seizure susceptibility, latency to flurothyl-induced generalized seizures was measured at 4 hours (hrs), 2 days, or 5 days after LPS injections. LPS had a sex-dependent effect on USV number. LPS-treated male mice presented significantly fewer USVs than LPS-treated female mice. However, the number of calls did not significantly differ between control and LPS for either sex. In male mice, we found that downward, short, and composite calls were significantly more prevalent in the LPS treatment group, while upward, chevron, and complex calls were less prevalent than in controls (p < 0.05). Female mice that received LPS presented a significantly higher proportion of short, frequency steps, two-syllable, and composite calls in their repertoire when compared with female control mice (p < 0.05). Seizure latency was not altered by early-life inflammation at any of the time points measured. Our findings suggest that early-life immune stimulation at PD10 disrupts vocal development but does not alter the susceptibility to flurothyl-induced seizures during the neonatal period. Additionally, the effect of inflammation in the disruption of vocalization is sex-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zachary J Pranske
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Suzanne O Nolan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - Matthew S Binder
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Paige D Womble
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - David A Narvaiz
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Ilyasah Muhammad
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Joaquin N Lugo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
- Institute of Biomedical Studets, Waco, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
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4
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Chen P, Ding N, Pan D, Chen X, Li S, Luo Y, Chen Z, Xu Y, Zhu X, Wang K, Zou W. PET imaging for the early evaluation of ocular inflammation in diabetic rats by using [ 18F]-DPA-714. Exp Eye Res 2024; 245:109986. [PMID: 38945519 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Ocular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) are the leading cause of vision loss. Ocular inflammation often occurs in the early stage of DM; however, there are no proven quantitative methods to evaluate the inflammatory status of eyes in DM. The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is an evolutionarily conserved cholesterol binding protein localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane. It is a biomarker of activated microglia/macrophages; however, its role in ocular inflammation is unclear. In this study, fluorine-18-DPA-714 ([18F]-DPA-714) was evaluated as a specific TSPO probe by cell uptake, cell binding assays and micro positron emission tomography (microPET) imaging in both in vitro and in vivo models. Primary microglia/macrophages (PMs) extracted from the cornea, retina, choroid or sclera of neonatal rats with or without high glucose (50 mM) treatment were used as the in vitro model. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats that received an intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg once) were used as the in vivo model. Increased cell uptake and high binding affinity of [18F]-DPA-714 were observed in primary PMs under hyperglycemic stress. These findings were consistent with cellular morphological changes, cell activation, and TSPO up-regulation. [18F]-DPA-714 PET imaging and biodistribution in the eyes of DM rats revealed that inflammation initiates in microglia/macrophages in the early stages (3 weeks and 6 weeks), corresponding with up-regulated TSPO levels. Thus, [18F]-DPA-714 microPET imaging may be an effective approach for the early evaluation of ocular inflammation in DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Jintan Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nannan Ding
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital, Jiangnan University Medical Center (JUMC), Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Donghui Pan
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuelian Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, PuNan Branch of Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - ShiYi Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Jingjiang People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yidan Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ziqing Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuping Xu
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Zhu
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ke Wang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wenjun Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital, Jiangnan University Medical Center (JUMC), Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
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Sheng JA, Tobet SA. Maternal immune activation with toll-like receptor 7 agonist during mid-gestation alters juvenile and adult developmental milestones and behavior. J Neuroendocrinol 2024; 36:e13417. [PMID: 38822791 PMCID: PMC11296912 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13417] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Infections during pregnancy are associated with increased risk for adult neuropsychiatric disease, such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder. In mouse models of maternal immune activation (MIA), different toll-like receptors (TLRs) are stimulated to initiate inflammatory responses in mother and fetus. The goal of this study was to determine sex-dependent aspects of MIA using a TLR7/8 agonist, Resiquimod (RQ), on neurodevelopment. RQ was administered to timed-pregnant mice on embryonic day (E) 12.5. At E15, maternal/fetal plasma cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Maternal cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were higher while tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-17 were lower in pregnant dams exposed to RQ. Fetal cytokines (E15) were altered at the same timepoint with fetal plasma IL-6 and IL-17 greater after RQ compared to vehicle, while IL-10 and TNF-α were higher in male fetuses but not female. Other timed-pregnant dams were allowed to give birth. MIA with RQ did not alter the female to male ratio of offspring born per litter. Body weights were reduced significantly in both sexes at birth, and over the next 5 weeks. Offspring from RQ-injected mothers opened their eyes 5 days later than controls. Similarly, female offspring from RQ-injected mothers exhibited pubertal delay based on vaginal opening 2-3 days later than control females. On the behavioral side, juvenile and adult male and female MIA offspring exhibited less social-like behavior in a social interaction test. Anhedonia-like behavior was greater in MIA adult female mice. This study provides support for sex-dependent influences of fetal antecedents for altered brain development and behavioral outputs that could be indicative of increased susceptibility for adult disorders through immune mechanisms. Future studies are needed to determine neural cellular and molecular mechanisms for such programming effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stuart A. Tobet
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Department of Psychiatry, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine, Mass General Hospital
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6
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Kissel LT, Pochareddy S, An JY, Sestan N, Sanders SJ, Wang X, Werling DM. Sex-Differential Gene Expression in Developing Human Cortex and Its Intersection With Autism Risk Pathways. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100321. [PMID: 38957312 PMCID: PMC11217612 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100321] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Sex-differential biology may contribute to the consistently male-biased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Gene expression differences between males and females in the brain can indicate possible molecular and cellular mechanisms involved, although transcriptomic sex differences during human prenatal cortical development have been incompletely characterized, primarily due to small sample sizes. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of sex-differential expression and co-expression network analysis in 2 independent bulk RNA sequencing datasets generated from cortex of 273 prenatal donors without known neuropsychiatric disorders. To assess the intersection between neurotypical sex differences and neuropsychiatric disorder biology, we tested for enrichment of ASD-associated risk genes and expression changes, neuropsychiatric disorder risk genes, and cell type markers within identified sex-differentially expressed genes (sex-DEGs) and sex-differential co-expression modules. Results We identified 101 significant sex-DEGs, including Y-chromosome genes, genes impacted by X-chromosome inactivation, and autosomal genes. Known ASD risk genes, implicated by either common or rare variants, did not preferentially overlap with sex-DEGs. We identified 1 male-specific co-expression module enriched for immune signaling that is unique to 1 input dataset. Conclusions Sex-differential gene expression is limited in prenatal human cortex tissue, although meta-analysis of large datasets allows for the identification of sex-DEGs, including autosomal genes that encode proteins involved in neural development. Lack of sex-DEG overlap with ASD risk genes in the prenatal cortex suggests that sex-differential modulation of ASD symptoms may occur in other brain regions, at other developmental stages, or in specific cell types, or may involve mechanisms that act downstream from mutation-carrying genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee T. Kissel
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Sirisha Pochareddy
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joon-Yong An
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Department of Healthcare Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Stephan J. Sanders
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Xuran Wang
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, New York, New York
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Donna M. Werling
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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7
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Tseng CEJ, Canales C, Marcus RE, Parmar AJ, Hightower BG, Mullett JE, Makary MM, Tassone AU, Saro HK, Townsend PH, Birtwell K, Nowinski L, Thom RP, Palumbo ML, Keary C, Catana C, McDougle CJ, Hooker JM, Zürcher NR. In vivo translocator protein in females with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot study. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1193-1201. [PMID: 38615126 PMCID: PMC11109261 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01859-6] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Sex-based differences in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are well-documented, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 4:1. The clinical presentation of the core symptoms of ASD can also vary between sexes. Previously, positron emission tomography (PET) studies have identified alterations in the in vivo levels of translocator protein (TSPO)-a mitochondrial protein-in primarily or only male adults with ASD, with our group reporting lower TSPO relative to whole brain mean in males with ASD. However, whether in vivo TSPO levels are altered in females with ASD, specifically, is unknown. This is the first pilot study to measure in vivo TSPO in the brain in adult females with ASD using [11C]PBR28 PET-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twelve adult females with ASD and 10 age- and TSPO genotype-matched controls (CON) completed one or two [11C]PBR28 PET-MRI scans. Females with ASD exhibited elevated [11C]PBR28 standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in the midcingulate cortex and splenium of the corpus callosum compared to CON. No brain area showed lower [11C]PBR28 SUVR in females with ASD compared to CON. Test-retest over several months showed stable [11C]PBR28 SUVR across time in both groups. Elevated regional [11C]PBR28 SUVR in females with ASD stand in stark contrast to our previous findings of lower regional [11C]PBR28 SUVR in males with ASD. Preliminary evidence of regionally elevated mitochondrial protein TSPO relative to whole brain mean in ASD females may reflect neuroimmuno-metabolic alterations specific to females with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-En Jane Tseng
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camila Canales
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Rachel E Marcus
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Anjali J Parmar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Baileigh G Hightower
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Mullett
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Meena M Makary
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Systems and Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Alison U Tassone
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Hannah K Saro
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Paige Hickey Townsend
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Kirstin Birtwell
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Nowinski
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Robyn P Thom
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Michelle L Palumbo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Keary
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Ciprian Catana
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher J McDougle
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Jacob M Hooker
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Nicole R Zürcher
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, USA.
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8
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Seiffe A, Kazlauskas N, Campolongo M, Depino AM. Juvenile peripheral LPS exposure overrides female resilience to prenatal VPA effects on adult sociability in mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11435. [PMID: 38763939 PMCID: PMC11102908 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62217-6] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibits a gender bias, with boys more frequently affected than girls. Similarly, in mouse models induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), males typically display reduced sociability, while females are less affected. Although both males and females exhibit VPA effects on neuroinflammatory parameters, these effects are sex-specific. Notably, females exposed to VPA show increased microglia and astrocyte density during the juvenile period. We hypothesized that these distinct neuroinflammatory patterns contribute to the resilience of females to VPA. To investigate this hypothesis, we treated juvenile animals with intraperitoneal bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a treatment known to elicit brain neuroinflammation. We thus evaluated the impact of juvenile LPS-induced inflammation on adult sociability and neuroinflammation in female mice prenatally exposed to VPA. Our results demonstrate that VPA-LPS females exhibit social deficits in adulthood, overriding the resilience observed in VPA-saline littermates. Repetitive behavior and anxiety levels were not affected by either treatment. We also evaluated whether the effect on sociability was accompanied by heightened neuroinflammation in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Surprisingly, we observed reduced astrocyte and microglia density in the cerebellum of VPA-LPS animals. These findings shed light on the complex interactions between prenatal insults, juvenile inflammatory stimuli, and sex-specific vulnerability in ASD-related social deficits, providing insights into potential therapeutic interventions for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araceli Seiffe
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-UBA, Int. Guiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, 2do piso, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nadia Kazlauskas
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-UBA, Int. Guiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, 2do piso, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcos Campolongo
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-UBA, Int. Guiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, 2do piso, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amaicha Mara Depino
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-UBA, Int. Guiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, 2do piso, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Mahmoudian M, Lorigooini Z, Rahimi-Madiseh M, Shabani S, Amini-Khoei H. Protective effects of rosmarinic acid against autistic-like behaviors in a mouse model of maternal separation stress: behavioral and molecular amendments. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03143-2. [PMID: 38730077 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03143-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with worldwide increasing incidence. Maternal separation (MS) stress at the beginning of life with its own neuroendocrine changes can provide the basis for development of ASD. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound with a protective effect in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of RA on autistic-like behaviors in maternally separated mice focusing on its possible effects on neuroimmune response and nitrite levels in the hippocampus. In this study, 40 mice were randomly divided into five groups of control (received normal saline (1 ml/kg)) and MS that were treated with normal saline (1 ml/kg) or doses of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg RA, respectively, for 14 days. Three-chamber sociability, shuttle box, and marble burying tests were used to investigate autistic-like behaviors. Nitrite level and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR4, and iNOS were assessed in the hippocampus. The results showed that RA significantly increased the social preference and social novelty indexes, as well as attenuated impaired passive avoidance memory and the occurrence of repetitive and obsessive behaviors in the MS mice. RA reduced the nitrite level and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. RA, probably via attenuation of the nitrite level as well as of the neuroimmune response in the hippocampus, mitigated autistic-like behaviors in maternally separated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maziar Mahmoudian
- Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Zahra Lorigooini
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rahimi-Madiseh
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Sahreh Shabani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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10
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Guma E, Chakravarty MM. Immune Alterations in the Intrauterine Environment Shape Offspring Brain Development in a Sex-Specific Manner. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01260-5. [PMID: 38679357 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to immune dysregulation in utero or in early life has been shown to increase risk for neuropsychiatric illness. The sources of inflammation can be varied, including acute exposures due to maternal infection or acute stress, or persistent exposures due to chronic stress, obesity, malnutrition, or autoimmune diseases. These exposures may cause subtle alteration in brain development, structure, and function that can become progressively magnified across the life span, potentially increasing the likelihood of developing a neuropsychiatric conditions. There is some evidence that males are more susceptible to early-life inflammatory challenges than females. In this review, we discuss the various sources of in utero or early-life immune alteration and the known effects on fetal development with a sex-specific lens. To do so, we leveraged neuroimaging, behavioral, cellular, and neurochemical findings. Gaining clarity about how the intrauterine environment affects offspring development is critically important for informing preventive and early intervention measures that may buffer against the effects of these early-life risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Guma
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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11
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Vacharasin JM, Ward JA, McCord MM, Cox K, Imitola J, Lizarraga SB. Neuroimmune mechanisms in autism etiology - untangling a complex problem using human cellular models. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 3:kvae003. [PMID: 38665176 PMCID: PMC11044813 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 36 people and is more often diagnosed in males than in females. Core features of ASD are impaired social interactions, repetitive behaviors and deficits in verbal communication. ASD is a highly heterogeneous and heritable disorder, yet its underlying genetic causes account only for up to 80% of the cases. Hence, a subset of ASD cases could be influenced by environmental risk factors. Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a response to inflammation during pregnancy, which can lead to increased inflammatory signals to the fetus. Inflammatory signals can cross the placenta and blood brain barriers affecting fetal brain development. Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that MIA could contribute to ASD etiology. However, human mechanistic studies have been hindered by a lack of experimental systems that could replicate the impact of MIA during fetal development. Therefore, mechanisms altered by inflammation during human pre-natal brain development, and that could underlie ASD pathogenesis have been largely understudied. The advent of human cellular models with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and organoid technology is closing this gap in knowledge by providing both access to molecular manipulations and culturing capability of tissue that would be otherwise inaccessible. We present an overview of multiple levels of evidence from clinical, epidemiological, and cellular studies that provide a potential link between higher ASD risk and inflammation. More importantly, we discuss how stem cell-derived models may constitute an ideal experimental system to mechanistically interrogate the effect of inflammation during the early stages of brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janay M Vacharasin
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Francis Marion University, 4822 East Palmetto Street, Florence, S.C. 29506, USA
| | - Joseph A Ward
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute of Brain Science, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Mikayla M McCord
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Kaitlin Cox
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jaime Imitola
- Laboratory of Neural Stem Cells and Functional Neurogenetics, UConn Health, Departments of Neuroscience, Neurology, Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-5357, USA
| | - Sofia B Lizarraga
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute of Brain Science, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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12
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Rexrode LE, Hartley J, Showmaker KC, Challagundla L, Vandewege MW, Martin BE, Blair E, Bollavarapu R, Antonyraj RB, Hilton K, Gardiner A, Valeri J, Gisabella B, Garrett MR, Theoharides TC, Pantazopoulos H. Molecular profiling of the hippocampus of children with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02441-8. [PMID: 38355786 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02441-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence point to a key role of the hippocampus in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Altered hippocampal volume and deficits in memory for person and emotion related stimuli have been reported, along with enhanced ability for declarative memories. Mouse models have demonstrated a critical role of the hippocampus in social memory dysfunction, associated with ASD, together with decreased synaptic plasticity. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a family of extracellular matrix molecules, represent a potential key link between neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and immune system signaling. There is a lack of information regarding the molecular pathology of the hippocampus in ASD. We conducted RNAseq profiling on postmortem human brain samples containing the hippocampus from male children with ASD (n = 7) and normal male children (3-14 yrs old), (n = 6) from the NIH NeuroBioBank. Gene expression profiling analysis implicated molecular pathways involved in extracellular matrix organization, neurodevelopment, synaptic regulation, and immune system signaling. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to confirm several of the top markers identified. The CSPG protein BCAN was examined with multiplex immunofluorescence to analyze cell-type specific expression of BCAN and astrocyte morphology. We observed decreased expression of synaptic proteins PSD95 (p < 0.02) and SYN1 (p < 0.02), increased expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protease MMP9 (p < 0.03), and decreased expression of MEF2C (p < 0.03). We also observed increased BCAN expression with astrocytes in children with ASD, together with altered astrocyte morphology. Our results point to alterations in immune system signaling, glia cell differentiation, and synaptic signaling in the hippocampus of children with ASD, together with alterations in extracellular matrix molecules. Furthermore, our results demonstrate altered expression of genes implicated in genetic studies of ASD including SYN1 and MEF2C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay E Rexrode
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Joshua Hartley
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Lavanya Challagundla
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Brigitte E Martin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Estelle Blair
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Ratna Bollavarapu
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Rhenius B Antonyraj
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Keauna Hilton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Alex Gardiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Jake Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Barbara Gisabella
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Michael R Garrett
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA.
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13
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Butera A, De Simone R, Potenza RL, Sanchez M, Armida M, Campanile D, Di Carlo N, Trenta F, Boirivant M, Ricceri L. Effects of a gut-selective integrin-targeted therapy in male mice exposed to early immune activation, a model for the study of autism spectrum disorder. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:89-100. [PMID: 37793488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.024] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To clarify the role of gut mucosal immunity in ASD, we evaluated, in the early-life immune activation (EIA) mouse model, the effects of administration of a monoclonal antibody directed against the integrin alpha4 beta7 (α4β7 mAb), blocking the leukocyte homing into the gut mucosa. EIA is a double-hit variant of the maternal immune-activation (MIA) model, including both prenatal (Poly I:C) and postnatal (LPS) immune challenges. In C57BL6/J EIA male adult offspring mice, IL-1β and IL-17A mRNA colonic tissue content increased when compared with controls. Cytofluorimetric analyses of lymphocytes isolated from mesenteric lymph-nodes (MLN) and spleens of EIA mice show increased percentage of total and CD4+α4β7+, unstimulated and stimulated IL-17A+ and stimulated IFN-γ+ lymphocytes in MLN and CD4+α4β7+ unstimulated and stimulated IL-17A+ and stimulated IFN-γ+ lymphocytes in the spleen. Treatment with anti-α4β7 mAb in EIA male mice was associated with colonic tissue IL-1β, and IL-17A mRNA content and percentage of CD4+ IL-17A+ and IFN-γ+ lymphocytes in MLN and spleens comparable to control mice. The anti-α4β7 mAb treatment rescue social novelty deficit showed in the three-chamber test by EIA male mice. Increased levels of IL-6 and IL-1β and decreased CD68 and TGF-β mRNAs were also observed in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of EIA male mice together with a reduction of BDNF mRNA levels in all brain regions examined. Anti-α4β7 mAb treatment restored the expression of BDNF, TGF-β and CD68 in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Improvement of the gut inflammatory status, obtained by a pharmacological agent acting exclusively at gut level, ameliorates some ASD behavioral features and the neuroinflammatory status. Data provide the first preclinical indication for a therapeutic strategy against gut-immune activation in ASD subjects with peripheral increase of gut-derived (α4β7+) lymphocytes expressing IL-17A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Butera
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta De Simone
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Luisa Potenza
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Sanchez
- Cytometry Unit-Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Armida
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Doriana Campanile
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Nazzareno Di Carlo
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Trenta
- Center for Behavioral Science and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Boirivant
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Ricceri
- Center for Behavioral Science and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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14
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Bordt EA, Moya HA, Jo YC, Ravichandran CT, Bankowski IM, Ceasrine AM, McDougle CJ, Carlezon WA, Bilbo SD. Gonadal hormones impart male-biased behavioral vulnerabilities to immune activation via microglial mitochondrial function. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:680-695. [PMID: 37972878 PMCID: PMC10996880 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a strong male bias in the prevalence of many neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. However, the mechanisms underlying this sex bias remain elusive. Infection during the perinatal period is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorder development. Here, we used a mouse model of early-life immune activation that reliably induces deficits in social behaviors only in males. We demonstrate that male-biased alterations in social behavior are dependent upon microglial immune signaling and are coupled to alterations in mitochondrial morphology, gene expression, and function specifically within microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain. Additionally, we show that this behavioral and microglial mitochondrial vulnerability to early-life immune activation is programmed by the male-typical perinatal gonadal hormone surge. These findings demonstrate that social behavior in males over the lifespan are regulated by microglia-specific mechanisms that are shaped by events that occur in early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan A Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Haley A Moya
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Young Chan Jo
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Caitlin T Ravichandran
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA; McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Izabella M Bankowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alexis M Ceasrine
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Christopher J McDougle
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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15
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Erickson CA, Shaffer RC, Will M, Schmitt LM, Horn P, Hirst K, Pedapati EV, Ober N, Tumuluru RV, Handen BL, Beversdorf DQ. Brief Report: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover, Proof-of-Concept Study of Minocycline in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06132-1. [PMID: 38102393 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06132-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammatory mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Minocycline is a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor 9 (MMP9) inhibitor tetracycline antibiotic with known anti-inflammatory properties. In preclinical animal models of ASD, minocycline has demonstrated potential positive effects on phenotypes that may have relevance to ASD. We conducted the first placebo-controlled study of minocycline in ASD. This double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial employed four week treatment periods with a two week washout period. Twenty-four 12-22 year olds (mean age 17.4 years; range 12.9-22.5 years) with ASD were enrolled. Overall minocycline was well tolerated. No minocycline-associated clinical changes were noted with treatment on any performance or clinician or caregiver completed measures were noted. We hypothesize that either minocycline does not have potential therapeutic effects in ASD or our project was underpowered to define potential subject subgroups who may potentially respond positively to this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Erickson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Rebecca C Shaffer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Meredith Will
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Paul Horn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kathy Hirst
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Ernest V Pedapati
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Nicole Ober
- Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | | | - Benjamin L Handen
- Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology, and Education Departments, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - David Q Beversdorf
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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16
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Santana-Coelho D, Lugo JN. Hippocampal Upregulation of Complement Component C3 in Response to Lipopolysaccharide Stimuli in a Model of Fragile-X Syndrome. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:9306-9315. [PMID: 37998759 PMCID: PMC10669955 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45110582] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The complement system is part of the innate immune system and has been shown to be altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fragile-X syndrome (FXS) is the main genetic cause of ASD and studies suggest a dysregulation in the immune system in patients with the disorder. To assess if an animal model of FXS presents with altered complement signaling, we treated male Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and collected the hippocampus 24 h later. Assessment of the expression of the complement genes C1q, C3, and C4 identified the upregulation of C3 in both wild-type (WT) and knockout mice. Levels of C3 also increased in both genotypes. Analysis of the correlation between the expression of C3 and the cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α identified a different relationship between the expression of the genes in Fmr1 KO when compared to WT mice. Our findings did not support our initial hypotheses that the lack of the FMR1 gene would alter complement system signaling, and that the induction of the complement system in response to LPS in Fmr1 KO mice differed from wild-type conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joaquin N. Lugo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA;
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
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17
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Cording KR, Bateup HS. Altered motor learning and coordination in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1270489. [PMID: 38026686 PMCID: PMC10663323 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1270489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with increasing prevalence. Over 1,000 risk genes have now been implicated in ASD, suggesting diverse etiology. However, the diagnostic criteria for the disorder still comprise two major behavioral domains - deficits in social communication and interaction, and the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior (RRBs). The RRBs associated with ASD include both stereotyped repetitive movements and other motor manifestations including changes in gait, balance, coordination, and motor skill learning. In recent years, the striatum, the primary input center of the basal ganglia, has been implicated in these ASD-associated motor behaviors, due to the striatum's role in action selection, motor learning, and habit formation. Numerous mouse models with mutations in ASD risk genes have been developed and shown to have alterations in ASD-relevant behaviors. One commonly used assay, the accelerating rotarod, allows for assessment of both basic motor coordination and motor skill learning. In this corticostriatal-dependent task, mice walk on a rotating rod that gradually increases in speed. In the extended version of this task, mice engage striatal-dependent learning mechanisms to optimize their motor routine and stay on the rod for longer periods. This review summarizes the findings of studies examining rotarod performance across a range of ASD mouse models, and the resulting implications for the involvement of striatal circuits in ASD-related motor behaviors. While performance in this task is not uniform across mouse models, there is a cohort of models that show increased rotarod performance. A growing number of studies suggest that this increased propensity to learn a fixed motor routine may reflect a common enhancement of corticostriatal drive across a subset of mice with mutations in ASD-risk genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R. Cording
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Helen S. Bateup
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, United States
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18
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Arenella M, Matuleviciute R, Tamouza R, Leboyer M, McAlonan G, Bralten J, Murphy D. Immunogenetics of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic literature review. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:488-499. [PMID: 37717669 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The aetiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex and, partly, accounted by genetic factors. Nonetheless, the genetic underpinnings of ASD are poorly defined. The presence of immune dysregulations in autistic individuals, and their families, supports a role of the immune system and its genetic regulators. Albeit immune responses belong either to the innate or adaptive arms, the overall immune system genetics is broad, and encompasses a multitude of functionally heterogenous pathways which may have different influences on ASD. Hence, to gain insights on the immunogenetic underpinnings of ASD, we conducted a systematic literature review of previous immune genetic and transcription studies in ASD. We defined a list of immune genes relevant to ASD and explored their neuro-immune function. Our review confirms the presence of immunogenetic variability in ASD, accounted by inherited variations of innate and adaptive immune system genes and genetic expression changes in the blood and post-mortem brain of autistic individuals. Besides their immune function, the identified genes control neurodevelopment processes (neuronal and synaptic plasticity) and are highly expressed in pre/peri-natal periods. Hence, our synthesis bolsters the hypothesis that perturbation in immune genes may contribute to ASD by derailing the typical trajectory of neurodevelopment. Our review also helped identifying some of the limitations of prior immunogenetic research in ASD. Thus, alongside clarifying the neurodevelopment role of immune genes, we outline key considerations for future work into the aetiology of ASD and possible novel intervention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Arenella
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute of Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Rugile Matuleviciute
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- University Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry Lab, AP-HP, Department of Addiction and Psychiatry (DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT), France; Fondation FondaMental, F-94010 Créteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- University Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry Lab, AP-HP, Department of Addiction and Psychiatry (DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT), France; Fondation FondaMental, F-94010 Créteil, France
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janita Bralten
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute of Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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19
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McMahon CL, Castro J, Silvas J, Muniz Perez A, Estrada M, Carrion R, Hsieh J. Fetal brain vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 112:188-205. [PMID: 37329995 PMCID: PMC10270733 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether or not SARS-CoV-2 can cross from mother to fetus during a prenatal infection has been controversial; however, recent evidence such as viral RNA detection in umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid, as well as the discovery of additional entry receptors in fetal tissues suggests a potential for viral transmission to and infection of the fetus. Furthermore, neonates exposed to maternal COVID-19 during later development have displayed neurodevelopmental and motor skill deficiencies, suggesting the potential for consequential neurological infection or inflammation in utero. Thus, we investigated transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2 and the consequences of infection on the developing brain using human ACE2 knock-in mice. In this model, we found that viral transmission to the fetal tissues, including the brain, occurred at later developmental stages, and that infection primarily targeted male fetuses. In the brain, SARS-CoV-2 infection largely occurred within the vasculature, but also within other cells such as neurons, glia, and choroid plexus cells; however, viral replication and increased cell death were not observed in fetal tissues. Interestingly, early gross developmental differences were observed between infected and mock-infected offspring, and high levels of gliosis were seen in the infected brains 7 days post initial infection despite viral clearance at this time point. In the pregnant mice, we also observed more severe COVID-19 infections, with greater weight loss and viral dissemination to the brain, compared to non-pregnant mice. Surprisingly, we did not observe an increase in maternal inflammation or the antiviral IFN response in these infected mice, despite showing clinical signs of disease. Overall, these findings have concerning implications regarding neurodevelopment and pregnancy complications of the mother following prenatal COVID-19 exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L McMahon
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; Brain Health Consortium, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Joshua Castro
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Jesus Silvas
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Aranis Muniz Perez
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; Brain Health Consortium, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Manuel Estrada
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; Brain Health Consortium, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Ricardo Carrion
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Jenny Hsieh
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; Brain Health Consortium, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
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20
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Wu X, Li S, Ni Y, Qi C, Bai S, Xu Q, Fan Y, Ma X, Lu C, Du G, Xu Z, Qin Y. Maternal BPAF exposure impaired synaptic development and caused behavior abnormality in offspring. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 256:114859. [PMID: 37023647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been widely restricted, leading to a significant increase in the production of bisphenol AF (BPAF), one of the most common bisphenol analogs use as a substitute for BPA. However, there is limit evidence on the neurotoxicity of BPAF, especially the potential effects of maternal exposed to BPAF on offspring. A maternal BPAF exposure model was used to evaluate its effects on long-term neurobehaviors in offspring. We found that maternal BPAF exposure resulted in immune disorders, characterized by abnormal CD4+T cell subsets, and their offspring exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, as well as impairments in learning-memory, sociability and social novelty. Further, brain bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and hippocampus single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) of offspring showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in pathways related to synaptic and neurodevelopment. Synaptic ultra-structure of offspring was damaged after maternal BPAF exposure. In conclusion, maternal BPAF exposure induced behavior abnormality in adult offspring, together with synaptic and neurodevelopment defects, which might be related to maternal immune dysfunction. Our results provide a comprehensive insight into the neurotoxicity mechanism of maternal BPAF exposure during gestation. Given the increasing and ubiquitous exposure to BPAF, especially during sensitive periods of growth and development, the safety of BPAF requires urgent attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Department of Microbiology and Infection, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Microbiology and Infection, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yangyue Ni
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Caoyan Qi
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengjun Bai
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Microbiology and Infection, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Fan
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Microbiology and Infection, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Microbiology and Infection, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guizhen Du
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Zhipeng Xu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yufeng Qin
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Microbiology and Infection, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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21
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Aspesi D, Bass N, Kavaliers M, Choleris E. The role of androgens and estrogens in social interactions and social cognition. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00151-3. [PMID: 37080448 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.03.028] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Gonadal hormones are becoming increasingly recognized for their effects on cognition. Estrogens, in particular, have received attention for their effects on learning and memory that rely upon the functioning of various brain regions. However, the impacts of androgens on cognition are relatively under investigated. Testosterone, as well as estrogens, have been shown to play a role in the modulation of different aspects of social cognition. This review explores the impact of testosterone and other androgens on various facets of social cognition including social recognition, social learning, social approach/avoidance, and aggression. We highlight the relevance of considering not only the actions of the most commonly studied steroids (i.e., testosterone, 17β-estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone), but also that of their metabolites and precursors, which interact with a plethora of different receptors and signalling molecules, ultimately modulating behaviour. We point out that it is also essential to investigate the effects of androgens, their precursors and metabolites in females, as prior studies have mostly focused on males. Overall, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of steroids such as androgens on behaviour is fundamental for a full understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, including that of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Aspesi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph
| | - Noah Bass
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph
| | - Martin Kavaliers
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph; Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph.
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22
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Loayza M, Lin S, Carter K, Ojeda N, Fan LW, Ramarao S, Bhatt A, Pang Y. Maternal immune activation alters fetal and neonatal microglia phenotype and disrupts neurogenesis in mice. Pediatr Res 2023; 93:1216-1225. [PMID: 35963885 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02239-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activation of microglia, increase in cortical neuron density, and reduction in GABAergic interneurons are some of the key findings in postmortem autism spectrum disorders (ASD) subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate how maternal immune activation (MIA) programs microglial phenotypes and abnormal neurogenesis in offspring mice. METHODS MIA was induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.p.) to pregnant mice at embryonic (E) day 12.5. Microglial phenotypes and neurogenesis were investigated between E15.5 to postnatal (P) day 21 by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and cytokine array. RESULTS MIA led to a robust increase in fetal and neonatal microglia in neurogenic regions. Homeostatic E15.5 and P4 microglia are heterogeneous, consisting of M1 (CD86+/CD206-) and mixed M1/M2 (CD86+/CD206+)-like subpopulations. MIA significantly reduced M1 but increased mixed M1/M2 microglia, which was associated with upregulation of numerous cytokines with pleotropic property. MIA resulted in a robust increase in Ki67+/Nestin+ and Tbr2+ neural progenitor cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of newborn mice. At juvenile stage, a male-specific reduction of Parvalbumin+ but increase in Reelin+ interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex was found in MIA offspring mice. CONCLUSIONS MIA programs microglia towards a pleotropic phenotype that may drive excessive neurogenesis in ASD patients. IMPACT Maternal immune activation (MIA) alters microglial phenotypes in the brain of fetal and neonatal mouse offspring. MIA leads to excessive proliferation and overproduction of neural progenitors in the subventricular zone (SVZ). MIA reduces parvalbumin+ while increases Reelin+ interneurons in the prefrontal cortex. Our study sheds light on neurobiological mechanisms of abnormal neurogenesis in certain neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Loayza
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Shuying Lin
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Kathleen Carter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Norma Ojeda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Lir-Wan Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Sumana Ramarao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Abhay Bhatt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
| | - Yi Pang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
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23
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Lan XY, Gu YY, Li MJ, Song TJ, Zhai FJ, Zhang Y, Zhan JS, Böckers TM, Yue XN, Wang JN, Yuan S, Jin MY, Xie YF, Dang WW, Hong HH, Guo ZR, Wang XW, Zhang R. Poly(I:C)-induced maternal immune activation causes elevated self-grooming in male rat offspring: Involvement of abnormal postpartum static nursing in dam. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1054381. [PMID: 37009477 PMCID: PMC10062710 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1054381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Maternal immune activation (MIA) is closely related to the onset of autism-like behaviors in offspring, but the mechanism remains unclear. Maternal behaviors can influence offspring’s development and behaviors, as indicated in both human and animal studies. We hypothesized that abnormal maternal behaviors in MIA dams might be other factors leading to delayed development and abnormal behaviors in offspring.Methods: To verify our hypothesis, we analyzed poly(I:C)-induced MIA dam’s postpartum maternal behavior and serum levels of several hormones related to maternal behavior. Pup’s developmental milestones and early social communication were recorded and evaluated in infancy. Other behavioral tests, including three-chamber test, self-grooming test, open field test, novel object recognition test, rotarod test and maximum grip test, were performed in adolescence of pups.Results: Our results showed that MIA dams exhibit abnormal static nursing behavior but normal basic care and dynamic nursing behavior. The serum levels of testosterone and arginine vasopressin in MIA dams were significantly reduced compared with control dams. The developmental milestones, including pinna detachment, incisor eruption and eye opening, were significantly delayed in MIA offspring compared with control offspring, while the weight and early social communication showed no significant differences between the two groups. Behavioral tests performed in adolescence showed that only male MIA offspring display elevated self-grooming behaviors and reduced maximum grip.Discussion: In conclusion, MIA dams display abnormal postpartum static nursing behavior concomitantly with reduced serum levels of testosterone and arginine vasopressin, possibly involving in the pathogenesis of delayed development and elevated self-grooming in male offspring. These findings hint that improving dam’s postpartum maternal behavior might be a potential regime to counteract delayed development and elevated self-grooming in male MIA offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Lan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - You-Yu Gu
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Juan Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Jia Song
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fu-Jun Zhai
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang-Shan Zhan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tobias M. Böckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Xiao-Nan Yue
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Health Bureau of Kenli District, Dongying, China
| | - Jia-Nan Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Yuan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Ying Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Fei Xie
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wan-Wen Dang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Heng Hong
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Rui Guo
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Autism Research Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Zhang,
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24
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Spinazzi NA, Santoro JD, Pawlowski K, Anzueto G, Howe YJ, Patel LR, Baumer NT. Co-occurring conditions in children with Down syndrome and autism: a retrospective study. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:9. [PMID: 36864370 PMCID: PMC9979529 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09478-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common genetic causes of intellectual disability, and it is associated with an increased incidence of numerous co-occurring conditions. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is common in persons with DS, with rates reported as high as 39%. However, little is known regarding co-occurring conditions in children with both DS and ASD. METHODS A single-center retrospective review of prospective longitudinally collected clinical data was performed. Any patient with a confirmed diagnosis of DS evaluated at a large, specialized Down Syndrome Program in a tertiary pediatric medical center between March 2018 and March 2022 was included. A standardized survey which included demographic and clinical questions was administered during each clinical evaluation. RESULTS In total, 562 individuals with DS were included. The median age was 10 years (IQR: 6.18-13.92). Of this group, 72 (13%) had a co-occurring diagnosis of ASD (DS+ASD). Individuals with DS+ASD were more likely to be male (OR 2.23, CI 1.29-3.84) and had higher odds of a current or prior diagnosis of constipation (OR 2.19, CI 1.31-3.65), gastroesophageal reflux (OR 1.91, CI 1.14-3.21), behavioral feeding difficulties (OR 2.71, CI 1.02-7.19), infantile spasms (OR 6.03, CI 1.79-20.34) and scoliosis (OR 2.73, CI 1.16-6.40). There were lower odds of congenital heart disease in the DS+ASD group (OR 0.56, CI 0.34-0.93). There was no observed difference in prematurity or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit complications between groups. Individuals with DS+ASD had similar odds of having a history of congenital heart defect requiring surgery to those with DS only. Furthermore, there was no difference in rates of autoimmune thyroiditis or celiac disease. There was also no difference in rates of diagnosed co-occurring neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions in this cohort, including anxiety disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies a variety of medical conditions which are more frequent in children with DS+ASD than DS alone, providing important information for the clinical management of these patients. Future research should investigate the role of some of these medical conditions in the development of ASD phenotypes, and whether there may be distinct genetic and metabolic contributions towards these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi A Spinazzi
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, 94609, USA.
| | - Jonathan D Santoro
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA.,Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Katherine Pawlowski
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gabriel Anzueto
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.,Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Yamini J Howe
- Massachusetts General Hospital Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lina R Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Nicole T Baumer
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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25
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Edlow AG, Castro VM, Shook LL, Haneuse S, Kaimal AJ, Perlis RH. Sex-Specific Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Among Offspring of Mothers With SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e234415. [PMID: 36951861 PMCID: PMC10037162 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.4415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Prior studies using large registries have suggested a modest increase in risk for neurodevelopmental diagnoses among children of mothers with immune activation during pregnancy, and such risk may be sex-specific. Objective To determine whether in utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with sex-specific risk for neurodevelopmental disorders up to 18 months after birth, compared with unexposed offspring born during or prior to the COVID-19 pandemic period. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study included the live offspring of all mothers who delivered between January 1 and December 31, 2018 (born and followed up before the COVID-19 pandemic), between March 1 and December 31, 2019 (born before and followed up during the COVID-19 pandemic), and between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021 (born and followed up during the COVID-19 pandemic). Offspring were born at any of 8 hospitals across 2 health systems in Massachusetts. Exposures Polymerase chain reaction evidence of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Main Outcomes and Measures Electronic health record documentation of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision diagnostic codes corresponding to neurodevelopmental disorders. Results The COVID-19 pandemic cohort included 18 355 live births (9399 boys [51.2%]), including 883 (4.8%) with maternal SARS-CoV-2 positivity during pregnancy. The cohort included 1809 Asian individuals (9.9%), 1635 Black individuals (8.9%), 12 718 White individuals (69.3%), and 1714 individuals (9.3%) who were of other race (American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, more than 1 race); 2617 individuals (14.3%) were of Hispanic ethnicity. Mean maternal age was 33.0 (IQR, 30.0-36.0) years. In adjusted regression models accounting for race, ethnicity, insurance status, hospital type (academic center vs community), maternal age, and preterm status, maternal SARS-CoV-2 positivity was associated with a statistically significant elevation in risk for neurodevelopmental diagnoses at 12 months among male offspring (adjusted OR, 1.94 [95% CI 1.12-3.17]; P = .01) but not female offspring (adjusted OR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.39-1.76]; P = .77). Similar effects were identified using matched analyses in lieu of regression. At 18 months, more modest effects were observed in male offspring (adjusted OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 0.92-2.11]; P = .10). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of offspring with SARS-CoV-2 exposure in utero, such exposure was associated with greater magnitude of risk for neurodevelopmental diagnoses among male offspring at 12 months following birth. As with prior studies of maternal infection, substantially larger cohorts and longer follow-up will be required to reliably estimate or refute risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G. Edlow
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Victor M. Castro
- Center for Quantitative Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Research Information Science and Computing, Mass General Brigham, Somerville, Massachusetts
| | - Lydia L. Shook
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Sebastien Haneuse
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anjali J. Kaimal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa
| | - Roy H. Perlis
- Center for Quantitative Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
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Rieger NS, Ng AJ, Lee S, Brady BH, Christianson JP. Maternal immune activation alters social affective behavior and sensitivity to corticotropin releasing factor in male but not female rats. Horm Behav 2023; 149:105313. [PMID: 36706685 PMCID: PMC9974777 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105313] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal infection increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism in offspring. In rodents, prenatal administration of the viral mimic Polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (Poly I: C) allows for investigation of developmental consequences of gestational sickness on offspring social behavior and neural circuit function. Because maternal immune activation (MIA) disrupts cortical development and sociability, we examined approach and avoidance in a rat social affective preference (SAP) task. Following maternal Poly I:C (0.5 mg/kg) injection on gestational day 12.5, male adult offspring (PN 60-64) exhibited atypical social interactions with stressed conspecifics whereas female SAP behavior was unaffected by maternal Poly I:C. Social responses to stressed conspecifics depend upon the insular cortex where corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) modulates synaptic transmission and SAP behavior. We characterized insular field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) in adult offspring of Poly I:C or control treated dams. Male MIA offspring showed decreased sensitivity to CRF (300 nM) while female MIA offspring showed greater sensitivity to CRF compared to sham offspring. These sex specific effects appear to be behaviorally relevant as CRF injected into the insula of male and female rats prior to social exploration testing had no effect in MIA male offspring but increased social interaction in female MIA offspring. We examined the cellular distribution of CRF receptor mRNA but found no effect of maternal Poly I:C in the insula. Together, these experiments reveal sex specific effects of prenatal infection on offspring responses to social affective stimuli and identify insular CRF signaling as a novel neurobiological substrate for autism risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel S Rieger
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Alexandra J Ng
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Shanon Lee
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Bridget H Brady
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - John P Christianson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
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Gzieło K, Piotrowska D, Litwa E, Popik P, Nikiforuk A. Maternal immune activation affects socio-communicative behavior in adult rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1918. [PMID: 36732579 PMCID: PMC9894913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide body of evidence suggests a relationship between maternal immune activation (MIA) and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since social and communicative deficits are included in the first diagnostic criterion of ASD, we aimed to characterize socio-communicative behaviors in the MIA model based on prenatal exposure to poly(I:C). Our previous studies demonstrated impaired socio-communicative functioning in poly(I:C)-exposed adolescent rats. Therefore, the current study sought to clarify whether these changes would persist beyond adolescence. For this purpose, we analyzed behavior during the social interaction test and recorded ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) accompanying interactions between adult poly(I:C) rats. The results demonstrated that the altered pattern of social behavior in poly(I:C) males was accompanied by the changes in acoustic parameters of emitted USVs. Poly(I:C) males also demonstrated an impaired olfactory preference for social stimuli. While poly(I:C) females did not differ from controls in socio-positive behaviors, they displayed aggression during the social encounter and were more reactive to somatosensory stimulation. Furthermore, the locomotor pattern of poly(I:C) animals were characterized by repetitive behaviors. Finally, poly(I:C) reduced parvalbumin and GAD67 expression in the cerebellum. The results showed that prenatal poly(I:C) exposure altered the pattern of socio-communicative behaviors of adult rats in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gzieło
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Diana Piotrowska
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Litwa
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Popik
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Nikiforuk
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.
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Zengeler KE, Shapiro DA, Bruch KR, Lammert CR, Ennerfelt H, Lukens JR. SSRI treatment modifies the effects of maternal inflammation on in utero physiology and offspring neurobiology. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 108:80-97. [PMID: 36343752 PMCID: PMC10291741 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbations to the in utero environment can dramatically change the trajectory of offspring neurodevelopment. Insults commonly encountered in modern human life such as infection, toxins, high-fat diet, prescription medications, and others are increasingly linked to behavioral alterations in prenatally-exposed offspring. While appreciation is expanding for the potential consequence that these triggers can have on embryo development, there is a paucity of information concerning how the crucial maternal-fetal interface (MFI) responds to these various insults and how it may relate to changes in offspring neurodevelopment. Here, we found that the MFI responds both to an inflammatory state and altered serotonergic tone in pregnant mice. Maternal immune activation (MIA) triggered an acute inflammatory response in the MFI dominated by interferon signaling that came at the expense of ordinary development-related transcriptional programs. The major MFI compartments, the decidua and the placenta, each responded in distinct manners to MIA. MFIs exposed to MIA were also found to have disrupted sex-specific gene expression and heightened serotonin levels. We found that offspring exposed to MIA had sex-biased behavioral changes and that microglia were not transcriptionally impacted. Moreover, the combination of maternal inflammation in the presence of pharmacologic inhibition of serotonin reuptake further transformed MFI physiology and offspring neurobiology, impacting immune and serotonin signaling pathways alike. In all, these findings highlight the complexities of evaluating diverse environmental impacts on placental physiology and neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Zengeler
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
| | - Daniel A Shapiro
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Katherine R Bruch
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Catherine R Lammert
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Hannah Ennerfelt
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - John R Lukens
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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Li M, Usui N, Shimada S. Prenatal Sex Hormone Exposure Is Associated with the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032203. [PMID: 36768521 PMCID: PMC9916422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual differentiation is a major developmental process. Sex differences resulting from sexual differentiation have attracted the attention of researchers. Unraveling what contributes to and underlies sex differences will provide valuable insights into the development of neurodevelopmental disorders that exhibit sex biases. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual's social interaction and communication abilities, and its male preponderance has been consistently reported in clinical studies. The etiology of male preponderance remains unclear, but progress has been made in studying prenatal sex hormone exposure. The present review examined studies that focused on the association between prenatal testosterone exposure and ASD development, as well as sex-specific behaviors in individuals with ASD. This review also included studies on maternal immune activation-induced developmental abnormalities that also showed striking sex differences in offspring and discussed its possible interacting roles in ASD so as to present a potential approach for future studies on sex biases in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengwei Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Noriyoshi Usui
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Addiction Research Unit, Osaka Psychiatric Research Center, Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Osaka 541-8567, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-6-6879-3124
| | - Shoichi Shimada
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Addiction Research Unit, Osaka Psychiatric Research Center, Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Osaka 541-8567, Japan
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Atanasova E, Arévalo AP, Graf I, Zhang R, Bockmann J, Lutz AK, Boeckers TM. Immune activation during pregnancy exacerbates ASD-related alterations in Shank3-deficient mice. Mol Autism 2023; 14:1. [PMID: 36604742 PMCID: PMC9814193 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00532-3] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is mainly characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication and repetitive behaviors. Known causes of ASD are mutations of certain risk genes like the postsynaptic protein SHANK3 and environmental factors including prenatal infections. METHODS To analyze the gene-environment interplay in ASD, we combined the Shank3Δ11-/- ASD mouse model with maternal immune activation (MIA) via an intraperitoneal injection of polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) on gestational day 12.5. The offspring of the injected dams was further analyzed for autistic-like behaviors and comorbidities followed by biochemical experiments with a focus on synaptic analysis. RESULTS We show that the two-hit mice exhibit excessive grooming and deficits in social behavior more prominently than the Shank3Δ11-/- mice. Interestingly, these behavioral changes were accompanied by an unexpected upregulation of postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins at excitatory synapses in striatum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. LIMITATIONS We found several PSD proteins to be increased in the two-hit mice; however, we can only speculate about possible pathways behind the worsening of the autistic phenotype in those mice. CONCLUSIONS With this study, we demonstrate that there is an interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors defining the severity of ASD symptoms. Moreover, we show that a general misbalance of PSD proteins at excitatory synapses is linked to ASD symptoms, making this two-hit model a promising tool for the investigation of the complex pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Atanasova
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea Pérez Arévalo
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ines Graf
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rong Zhang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Neuroscience Research Institute, Health Science Centre, Peking University, Peking, China
| | - Juergen Bockmann
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anne-Kathrin Lutz
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M. Boeckers
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany
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Points of divergence on a bumpy road: early development of brain and immune threat processing systems following postnatal adversity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:269-283. [PMID: 35705633 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Lifelong indices of maladaptive behavior or illness often stem from early physiological aberrations during periods of dynamic development. This is especially true when dysfunction is attributable to early life adversity (ELA), when the environment itself is unsuitable to support development of healthy behavior. Exposure to ELA is strongly associated with atypical sensitivity and responsivity to potential threats-a characteristic that could be adaptive in situations where early adversity prepares individuals for lifelong danger, but which often manifests in difficulties with emotion regulation and social relationships. By synthesizing findings from animal research, this review will consider threat sensitivity through the lenses of associated corticolimbic brain circuitry and immune mechanisms, both of which are immature early in life to maximize adaptation for protection against environmental challenges to an individual's well-being. The forces that drive differential development of corticolimbic circuits include caretaking stimuli, physiological and psychological stressors, and sex, which influences developmental trajectories. These same forces direct developmental processes of the immune system, which bidirectionally communicates with sensory systems and emotion regulation circuits within the brain. Inflammatory signals offer a further force influencing the timing and nature of corticolimbic plasticity, while also regulating sensitivity to future threats from the environment (i.e., injury or pathogens). The early development of these systems programs threat sensitivity through juvenility and adolescence, carving paths for probable function throughout adulthood. To strategize prevention or management of maladaptive threat sensitivity in ELA-exposed populations, it is necessary to fully understand these early points of divergence.
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Hippocampal Changes Elicited by Metabolic and Inflammatory Stressors following Prenatal Maternal Infection. Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:genes14010077. [PMID: 36672818 PMCID: PMC9859158 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010077] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus participates in spatial navigation and behavioral processes, displays molecular plasticity in response to environmental challenges, and can play a role in neuropsychiatric diseases. The combined effects of inflammatory prenatal and postnatal challenges can disrupt the hippocampal gene networks and regulatory mechanisms. Using a proven pig model of viral maternal immune activation (MIA) matched to controls and an RNA-sequencing approach, the hippocampal transcriptome was profiled on two-month-old female and male offspring assigned to fasting, mimetic viral, or saline treatments. More than 2600 genes presented single or combined effects (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.05) of MIA, postnatal stress, or sex. Biological processes and pathways encompassing messenger cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling were enriched with genes including gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) predominantly over-expressed in the MIA-exposed fasting males relative to groups that differed in sex, prenatal or postnatal challenge. While this pattern was amplified in fasting offspring, the postnatal inflammatory challenge appeared to cancel out the effects of the prenatal challenge. The transcription factors C-terminal binding protein 2 (CTBP2), RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), and SUZ12 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit were over-represented among the genes impacted by the prenatal and postnatal factors studied. Our results indicate that one environmental challenge can influence the effect of another challenge on the hippocampal transcriptome. These findings can assist in the identification of molecular targets to ameliorate the effects of pre-and post-natal stressors on hippocampal-associated physiology and behavior.
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Lee K, Mills Z, Cheung P, Cheyne JE, Montgomery JM. The Role of Zinc and NMDA Receptors in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 16:ph16010001. [PMID: 36678498 PMCID: PMC9866730 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
NMDA-type glutamate receptors are critical for synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. Their unique properties and age-dependent arrangement of subunit types underpin their role as a coincidence detector of pre- and postsynaptic activity during brain development and maturation. NMDAR function is highly modulated by zinc, which is co-released with glutamate and concentrates in postsynaptic spines. Both NMDARs and zinc have been strongly linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), suggesting that NMDARs are an important player in the beneficial effects observed with zinc in both animal models and children with ASDs. Significant evidence is emerging that these beneficial effects occur via zinc-dependent regulation of SHANK proteins, which form the backbone of the postsynaptic density. For example, dietary zinc supplementation enhances SHANK2 or SHANK3 synaptic recruitment and rescues NMDAR deficits and hypofunction in Shank3ex13-16-/- and Tbr1+/- ASD mice. Across multiple studies, synaptic changes occur in parallel with a reversal of ASD-associated behaviours, highlighting the zinc-dependent regulation of NMDARs and glutamatergic synapses as therapeutic targets for severe forms of ASDs, either pre- or postnatally. The data from rodent models set a strong foundation for future translational studies in human cells and people affected by ASDs.
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Bucknor MC, Gururajan A, Dale RC, Hofer MJ. A comprehensive approach to modeling maternal immune activation in rodents. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1071976. [PMID: 36590294 PMCID: PMC9800799 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1071976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal brain development is a highly orchestrated process, making it a very vulnerable window to perturbations. Maternal stress and subsequent inflammation during pregnancy leads to a state referred to as, maternal immune activation (MIA). If persistent, MIA can pose as a significant risk factor for the manifestation of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. To further elucidate this association between MIA and NDD risk, rodent models have been used extensively across laboratories for many years. However, there are few uniform approaches for rodent MIA models which make not only comparisons between studies difficult, but some established approaches come with limitations that can affect experimental outcomes. Here, we provide researchers with a comprehensive review of common experimental variables and potential limitations that should be considered when designing an MIA study based in a rodent model. Experimental variables discussed include: innate immune stimulation using poly I:C and LPS, environmental gestational stress paradigms, rodent diet composition and sterilization, rodent strain, neonatal handling, and the inclusion of sex-specific MIA offspring analyses. We discuss how some aspects of these variables have potential to make a profound impact on MIA data interpretation and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan C. Bucknor
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anand Gururajan
- The Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Russell C. Dale
- The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia,The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Markus J. Hofer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia,*Correspondence: Markus J. Hofer,
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Duan L, Liu J, Yin H, Wang W, Liu L, Shen J, Wang Z. Dynamic changes in spatiotemporal transcriptome reveal maternal immune dysregulation of autism spectrum disorder. Comput Biol Med 2022; 151:106334. [PMID: 36442276 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.106334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is known to be an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unclear at which fetal brain developmental windows and regions MIA induces ASD-related neurodevelopmental transcriptional abnormalities. The non-chasm differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in MIA inducing ASD during fetal brain developmental windows were identified by performing the differential expression analysis and comparing the common DEGs among MIA at four different gestational development windows, ASD with multiple brain regions from human patients and mouse models, and human and mouse embryonic brain developmental trajectory. The gene set and functional enrichment analyses were performing to identify MIA dysregulated ASD-related the fetal neurodevelopmental windows and brain regions and function annotations. Additionally, the networks were constructed using Cytoscape for visualization. MIA at E12.5 and E14.5 increased the risk of distinct brain regions for ASD. MIA-driven transcriptional alterations of non-chasm DEGs, during the coincidence brain developmental windows between human and mice, involving ASD-relevant synaptic components, as well as immune- and metabolism-related functions and pathways. Furthermore, a great number of non-chasm brain development-, immune-, and metabolism-related DEGs were overlapped in at least two existing ASD-associated databases, suggesting that the others could be considered as the candidate targets to construct the model mice for explaining the pathological changes of ASD when environmental factors (MIA) and gene mutation effects co-occur. Overall, our search supported that transcriptome-based MIA dysregulated the brain development-, immune-, and metabolism-related non-chasm DEGs at specific embryonic brain developmental window and region, leading to abnormal embryonic neurodevelopment, to induce the increasing risk of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Duan
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China; Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jiaxin Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Huamin Yin
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Wenhang Wang
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Li Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jingling Shen
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Zhendong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Interventional Pulmonology of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
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Cipriani C, Tartaglione AM, Giudice M, D’Avorio E, Petrone V, Toschi N, Chiarotti F, Miele MT, Calamandrei G, Garaci E, Matteucci C, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Ricceri L, Balestrieri E. Differential Expression of Endogenous Retroviruses and Inflammatory Mediators in Female and Male Offspring in a Mouse Model of Maternal Immune Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213930. [PMID: 36430402 PMCID: PMC9695919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal infections during pregnancy and the consequent maternal immune activation (MIA) are the major risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Epidemiological evidence is corroborated by the preclinical models in which MIA leads to ASD-like behavioral abnormalities and altered neuroinflammatory profiles, with an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial markers. In addition to neuroinflammatory response, an abnormal expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) has been identified in neurodevelopmental disorders and have been found to correlate with disease severity. Our aim was to evaluate the transcriptional profile of several ERV families, ERV-related genes, and inflammatory mediators (by RT real-time PCR) in mouse offspring of both sexes, prenatally exposed to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule targeting TLR-3 that mimics viral maternal infection during pregnancy. We found that prenatal exposure to Poly I:C deregulated the expression of some ERVs and ERV-related genes both in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, while no changes were detected in the blood. Interestingly, sex-related differences in the expression levels of some ERVs, ERV-related genes, and inflammatory mediators that were higher in females than in males emerged only in PFC. Our findings support the tissue specificity of ERV and ERV-related transcriptional profiles in MIA mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cipriani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Tartaglione
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Giudice
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Erica D’Avorio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vita Petrone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Toschi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Flavia Chiarotti
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Martino Tony Miele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gemma Calamandrei
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Garaci
- University San Raffaele, 00166 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, 00163 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Matteucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sinibaldi-Vallebona
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Ricceri
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Balestrieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Rasile M, Lauranzano E, Faggiani E, Ravanelli MM, Colombo FS, Mirabella F, Corradini I, Malosio ML, Borreca A, Focchi E, Pozzi D, Giorgino T, Barajon I, Matteoli M. Maternal immune activation leads to defective brain-blood vessels and intracerebral hemorrhages in male offspring. EMBO J 2022; 41:e111192. [PMID: 36314682 PMCID: PMC9713716 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111192] [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: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhages are recognized risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders and represent early biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction and mental disability, but the pathways leading to their occurrence are not well defined. We report that a single intrauterine exposure of the immunostimulant Poly I:C to pregnant mice at gestational day 9, which models a prenatal viral infection and the consequent maternal immune activation, induces the defective formation of brain vessels and causes intracerebral hemorrhagic events, specifically in male offspring. We demonstrate that maternal immune activation promotes the production of the TGF-β1 active form and the consequent enhancement of pSMAD1-5 in males' brain endothelial cells. TGF-β1, in combination with IL-1β, reduces the endothelial expression of CD146 and claudin-5, alters the endothelium-pericyte interplay resulting in low pericyte coverage, and increases hemorrhagic events in the adult offspring. By showing that exposure to Poly I:C at the beginning of fetal cerebral angiogenesis results in sex-specific alterations of brain vessels, we provide a mechanistic framework for the association between intragravidic infections and anomalies of the neural vasculature, which may contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rasile
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | | | - Elisa Faggiani
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Margherita M Ravanelli
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | | | - Filippo Mirabella
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Irene Corradini
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Maria L Malosio
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Antonella Borreca
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Elisa Focchi
- Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Toni Giorgino
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Isabella Barajon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
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Bhat A, Irizar H, Couch ACM, Raval P, Duarte RRR, Dutan Polit L, Hanger B, Powell T, Deans PJM, Shum C, Nagy R, McAlonan G, Iyegbe CO, Price J, Bramon E, Bhattacharyya S, Vernon AC, Srivastava DP. Attenuated transcriptional response to pro-inflammatory cytokines in schizophrenia hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 105:82-97. [PMID: 35716830 PMCID: PMC9810540 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during prenatal development is an environmental risk factor for psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia (SZ). Converging lines of evidence from human and animal model studies suggest that elevated cytokine levels in the maternal and fetal compartments are an important indication of the mechanisms driving this association. However, there is variability in susceptibility to the psychiatric risk conferred by MIA, likely influenced by genetic factors. How MIA interacts with a genetic profile susceptible to SZ is challenging to test in animal models. To address this gap, we examined whether differential gene expression responses occur in forebrain-lineage neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) generated from three individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and three healthy controls. Following acute (24 h) treatment with either interferon-gamma (IFNγ; 25 ng/μl) or interleukin (IL)-1β (10 ng/μl), we identified, by RNA sequencing, 3380 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the IFNγ-treated control lines (compared to untreated controls), and 1980 DEGs in IFNγ-treated SZ lines (compared to untreated SZ lines). Out of 4137 genes that responded significantly to IFNγ across all lines, 1223 were common to both SZ and control lines. The 2914 genes that appeared to respond differentially to IFNγ treatment in SZ lines were subjected to a further test of significance (multiple testing correction applied to the interaction effect between IFNγ treatment and SZ diagnosis), yielding 359 genes that passed the significance threshold. There were no differentially expressed genes in the IL-1β-treatment conditions after Benjamini-Hochberg correction. Gene set enrichment analysis however showed that IL-1β impacts immune function and neuronal differentiation. Overall, our data suggest that a) SZ NPCs show an attenuated transcriptional response to IFNγ treatment compared to controls; b) Due to low IL-1β receptor expression in NPCs, NPC cultures appear to be less responsive to IL-1β than IFNγ; and c) the genes differentially regulated in SZ lines - in the face of a cytokine challenge - are primarily associated with mitochondrial, "loss-of-function", pre- and post-synaptic gene sets. Our findings particularly highlight the role of early synaptic development in the association between maternal immune activation and schizophrenia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Bhat
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK; Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Haritz Irizar
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, NY, USA
| | - Amalie C M Couch
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Pooja Raval
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Rodrigo R R Duarte
- Department of Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, NY, USA
| | - Lucia Dutan Polit
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Bjorn Hanger
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Timothy Powell
- Department of Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, NY, USA
| | - P J Michael Deans
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Carole Shum
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Roland Nagy
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Conrad O Iyegbe
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Price
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK
| | - Elvira Bramon
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anthony C Vernon
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK.
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, UK.
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Hanson KL, Grant SE, Funk LH, Schumann CM, Bauman MD. Impact of Maternal Immune Activation on Nonhuman Primate Prefrontal Cortex Development: Insights for Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:460-469. [PMID: 35773097 PMCID: PMC9888668 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Late adolescence is a period of dynamic change in the brain as humans learn to navigate increasingly complex environments. In particular, prefrontal cortical (PFC) regions undergo extensive remodeling as the brain is fine-tuned to orchestrate cognitive control over attention, reasoning, and emotions. Late adolescence also presents a uniquely vulnerable period as neurodevelopmental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, become evident and worsen into young adulthood. Challenges in early development, including prenatal exposure to infection, may set the stage for a cascade of maladaptive events that ultimately result in aberrant PFC connectivity and function before symptoms emerge. A growing body of research suggests that activation of the mother's immune system during pregnancy may act as a disease primer, in combination with other environmental and genetic factors, contributing to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia. Animal models provide an invaluable opportunity to examine the course of brain and behavioral changes in offspring exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA). Although the vast majority of MIA research has been carried out in rodents, here we highlight the translational utility of the nonhuman primate (NHP) as a model species more closely related to humans in PFC structure and function. In this review, we consider the protracted period of brain and behavioral maturation in the NHP, describe emerging findings from MIA NHP offspring in the context of rodent preclinical models, and lastly explore the translational relevance of the NHP MIA model to expand understanding of the etiology and developmental course of PFC pathology in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Hanson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Simone E Grant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Lucy H Funk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
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40
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Tartaglione AM, Villani A, Ajmone-Cat MA, Minghetti L, Ricceri L, Pazienza V, De Simone R, Calamandrei G. Maternal immune activation induces autism-like changes in behavior, neuroinflammatory profile and gut microbiota in mouse offspring of both sexes. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:384. [PMID: 36104346 PMCID: PMC9474453 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorder with a male to female prevalence of 4:1, characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction and restricted-repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Microbiota alterations as well as signs of neuroinflammation have been also reported in ASD. The involvement of immune dysregulation in ASD is further supported by evidence suggesting that maternal immune activation (MIA), especially during early pregnancy, may be a risk factor for ASD. The present study was aimed at characterizing the effects of MIA on behavior, gut microbiota and neuroinflammation in the mouse offspring also considering the impact of MIA in the two sexes. MIA offspring exhibited significant ASD-like behavioral alterations (i.e., deficits in sociability and sensorimotor gating, perseverative behaviors). The analysis of microbiota revealed changes in specific microbial taxa that recapitulated those seen in ASD children. In addition, molecular analyses indicated sex-related differences in the neuroinflammatory responses triggered by MIA, with a more prominent effect in the cerebellum. Our data suggest that both sexes should be included in the experimental designs of preclinical studies in order to identify those mechanisms that confer different vulnerability to ASD to males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Tartaglione
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy.
| | - Annacandida Villani
- grid.413503.00000 0004 1757 9135Gastroenterology Unit IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, Hospital San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Ajmone-Cat
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Minghetti
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Research Coordination and Support Service, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Ricceri
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Pazienza
- grid.413503.00000 0004 1757 9135Gastroenterology Unit IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, Hospital San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Roberta De Simone
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gemma Calamandrei
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
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41
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Wilkin-Krug LCM, Macaskill AC, Ellenbroek BA. Preweaning environmental enrichment alters neonatal ultrasonic vocalisations in a rat model for prenatal infections. Behav Pharmacol 2022; 33:402-417. [PMID: 35947067 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal infections are a well-known risk factor for neurodevelopmental defects. Such defects are associated with a range of symptoms, and environmental enrichment (EE) could be a promising approach to rehabilitate these. We used the well-established prenatal poly I:C (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid) model in rats to examine the effects of preweaning EE on rat pups' ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) when separated from their mothers. USVs are one of the earliest indicators of a pup's functional level and, thus, well-suited as a marker of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. METHODS We used a two-by-two factorial design in which pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received either saline or the viral mimic poly I:C, and one group of pups was exposed to preweaning enrichment. We measured maternal separation-induced USVs both before postnatal day (PND) 7 and after preweaning enrichment on PND 14. RESULTS Poly I:C significantly reduced the number of USVs on PND 7. EE interacted with the poly I:C treatment in that poly I:C pups in the enrichment group called more, whereas saline pups in the enriched environment called less on PND 14 than the respective controls. CONCLUSION We showed that the effects of maternal poly I:C on the offspring's USVs could be reduced by early EE. If replicated, it could open novel and safe avenues for treating children of mothers who were exposed to infections during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda C M Wilkin-Krug
- School of Psychology, Victoria University Wellington.,Behavioural Neurogenetics Group, Victoria University Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Bart A Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Victoria University Wellington.,Behavioural Neurogenetics Group, Victoria University Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Ardalan M, Chumak T, Quist A, Hermans E, Hoseinpoor Rafati A, Gravina G, Jabbari Shiadeh SM, Svedin P, Alabaf S, Hansen B, Wegener G, Westberg L, Mallard C. Reelin cells and sex-dependent synaptopathology in autism following postnatal immune activation. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:4400-4422. [PMID: 35474185 PMCID: PMC9545289 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders with considerably increased risk in male infants born preterm and with neonatal infection. Here, we investigated the role of postnatal immune activation on hippocampal synaptopathology by targeting Reelin+ cells in mice with ASD-like behaviours. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH C57/Bl6 mouse pups of both sexes received lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg·kg-1 ) on postnatal day (P) 5. At P45, animal behaviour was examined by marble burying and sociability test, followed by ex vivo brain MRI diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). Hippocampal synaptogenesis, number and morphology of Reelin+ cells, and mRNA expression of trans-synaptic genes, including neurexin-3, neuroligin-1, and cell-adhesion molecule nectin-1, were analysed at P12 and P45. KEY RESULTS Social withdrawal and increased stereotypic activities in males were related to increased mean diffusivity on MRI-DKI and overgrowth in hippocampus together with retention of long-thin immature synapses on apical dendrites, decreased volume and number of Reelin+ cells as well as reduced expression of trans-synaptic and cell-adhesion molecules. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS The study provides new insights into sex-dependent mechanisms that may underlie ASD-like behaviour in males following postnatal immune activation. We identify GABAergic interneurons as core components of dysmaturation of excitatory synapses in the hippocampus following postnatal infection and provide cellular and molecular substrates for the MRI findings with translational value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ardalan
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Tetyana Chumak
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Alexandra Quist
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Eva Hermans
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Developmental Origins of Disease, Utrecht Brain Center and Wilhelmina Children's HospitalUtrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Ali Hoseinpoor Rafati
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Giacomo Gravina
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Seyedeh Marziyeh Jabbari Shiadeh
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Pernilla Svedin
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Setareh Alabaf
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Brian Hansen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience‐SKSAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Lars Westberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Carina Mallard
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
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Angrand L, Masson JD, Rubio-Casillas A, Nosten-Bertrand M, Crépeaux G. Inflammation and Autophagy: A Convergent Point between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-Related Genetic and Environmental Factors: Focus on Aluminum Adjuvants. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10090518. [PMID: 36136483 PMCID: PMC9502677 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder are genetically complex and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) resulting from genetic factors and gene-environment (GxE) interactions for which onset occurs in early brain development. Recent progress highlights the link between ASD and (i) immunogenetics, neurodevelopment, and inflammation, and (ii) impairments of autophagy, a crucial neurodevelopmental process involved in synaptic pruning. Among various environmental factors causing risk for ASD, aluminum (Al)-containing vaccines injected during critical periods have received special attention and triggered relevant scientific questions. The aim of this review is to discuss the current knowledge on the role of early inflammation, immune and autophagy dysfunction in ASD as well as preclinical studies which question Al adjuvant impacts on brain and immune maturation. We highlight the most recent breakthroughs and the lack of epidemiological, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data constituting a "scientific gap". We propose additional research, such as genetic studies that could contribute to identify populations at genetic risk, improving diagnosis, and potentially the development of new therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Angrand
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; (L.A.); (J.-D.M.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort IMRB, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- INSERM UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France;
- Sorbonne Université, Campus Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Daniel Masson
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; (L.A.); (J.-D.M.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort IMRB, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alberto Rubio-Casillas
- Biology Laboratory, Autlán Regional Preparatory School, University of Guadalajara, Autlán 48900, Jalisco, Mexico;
- Autlán Regional Hospital, Health Secretariat, Autlán 48900, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Marika Nosten-Bertrand
- INSERM UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France;
- Sorbonne Université, Campus Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guillemette Crépeaux
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; (L.A.); (J.-D.M.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort IMRB, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Correspondence:
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44
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Block CL, Eroglu O, Mague SD, Smith CJ, Ceasrine AM, Sriworarat C, Blount C, Beben KA, Malacon KE, Ndubuizu N, Talbot A, Gallagher NM, Chan Jo Y, Nyangacha T, Carlson DE, Dzirasa K, Eroglu C, Bilbo SD. Prenatal environmental stressors impair postnatal microglia function and adult behavior in males. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111161. [PMID: 35926455 PMCID: PMC9438555 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational exposure to environmental toxins and socioeconomic stressors is epidemiologically linked to neurodevelopmental disorders with strong male bias, such as autism. We model these prenatal risk factors in mice by co-exposing pregnant dams to an environmental pollutant and limited-resource stress, which robustly activates the maternal immune system. Only male offspring display long-lasting behavioral abnormalities and alterations in the activity of brain networks encoding social interactions. Cellularly, prenatal stressors diminish microglial function within the anterior cingulate cortex, a central node of the social coding network, in males during early postnatal development. Precise inhibition of microglial phagocytosis within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of wild-type (WT) mice during the same critical period mimics the impact of prenatal stressors on a male-specific behavior, indicating that environmental stressors alter neural circuit formation in males via impairing microglia function during development. Block et al. show that combined exposure to air pollution and maternal stress during pregnancy activates the maternal immune system and induces male-specific impairments in social behavior and circuit connectivity in offspring. Cellularly, prenatal stressors diminish microglia phagocytic function, and inhibition of microglia phagocytosis phenocopies behavioral deficits from prenatal stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina L Block
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Oznur Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Stephen D Mague
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Caroline J Smith
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alexis M Ceasrine
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | - Cameron Blount
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kathleen A Beben
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Karen E Malacon
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Nkemdilim Ndubuizu
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Austin Talbot
- Department of Statistical Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Neil M Gallagher
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Young Chan Jo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Timothy Nyangacha
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David E Carlson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kafui Dzirasa
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Lombardo B, Pagani M, De Rosa A, Nunziato M, Migliarini S, Garofalo M, Terrile M, D’Argenio V, Galbusera A, Nuzzo T, Ranieri A, Vitale A, Leggiero E, Di Maio A, Barsotti N, Borello U, Napolitano F, Mandarino A, Carotenuto M, Heresco-Levy U, Pasqualetti M, Malatesta P, Gozzi A, Errico F, Salvatore F, Pastore L, Usiello A. D-aspartate oxidase gene duplication induces social recognition memory deficit in mice and intellectual disabilities in humans. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:305. [PMID: 35915065 PMCID: PMC9343392 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02088-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The D-aspartate oxidase (DDO) gene encodes the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of D-aspartate, an atypical amino acid enriched in the mammalian brain and acting as an endogenous NMDA receptor agonist. Considering the key role of NMDA receptors in neurodevelopmental disorders, recent findings suggest a link between D-aspartate dysmetabolism and schizophrenia. To clarify the role of D-aspartate on brain development and functioning, we used a mouse model with constitutive Ddo overexpression and D-aspartate depletion. In these mice, we found reduced number of BrdU-positive dorsal pallium neurons during corticogenesis, and decreased cortical and striatal gray matter volume at adulthood. Brain abnormalities were associated with social recognition memory deficit at juvenile phase, suggesting that early D-aspartate occurrence influences neurodevelopmental related phenotypes. We corroborated this hypothesis by reporting the first clinical case of a young patient with severe intellectual disability, thought disorders and autism spectrum disorder symptomatology, harboring a duplication of a chromosome 6 region, including the entire DDO gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Lombardo
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Pagani
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Arianna De Rosa
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Marcella Nunziato
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Migliarini
- grid.5395.a0000 0004 1757 3729Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Garofalo
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marta Terrile
- grid.5606.50000 0001 2151 3065Dipartimento di Oncologia, Biologia e Genetica, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy ,grid.496862.70000 0004 0544 6263Present Address: Novartis Ireland ltd, D04A9N6 Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Valeria D’Argenio
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,Dipartimento di Promozione delle Scienze Umane e della Qualità della Vita, Università San Raffaele, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Galbusera
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Tommaso Nuzzo
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Annaluisa Ranieri
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Vitale
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Eleonora Leggiero
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Di Maio
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Noemi Barsotti
- grid.5395.a0000 0004 1757 3729Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ugo Borello
- grid.5395.a0000 0004 1757 3729Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Napolitano
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mandarino
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy
| | - Uriel Heresco-Levy
- grid.414060.70000 0004 0470 6676Research and Psychiatry Departments, Ezrath Nashim-Herzog Memorial Hospital, 9190501 Jerusalem, Israel ,grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Hadassah Medical School, Hebrew University, 9190501 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Massimo Pasqualetti
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy ,grid.5395.a0000 0004 1757 3729Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Malatesta
- grid.5606.50000 0001 2151 3065Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy ,grid.410345.70000 0004 1756 7871Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Francesco Errico
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XCEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Francesco Salvatore
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145, Naples, Italy. .,Centro Interuniversitario per Malattie Multigeniche e Multifattoriali e loro modelli animali (Federico II, 80131, Naples; Tor Vergata, Rome and "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara), Naples, Italy.
| | - Lucio Pastore
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145, Naples, Italy. .,Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Usiello
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145, Naples, Italy. .,Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
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Liu L, Wang D, Li X, Adetula AA, Khan A, Zhang B, Liu H, Yu Y, Chu Q. Long-lasting effects of lipopolysaccharide on the reproduction and splenic transcriptome of hens and their offspring. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 237:113527. [PMID: 35453024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is ubiquitous in the environment and is released after the death of gram-negative bacteria, which may be related to inflammation and immunosuppression. However, its impact on the reproduction of animals and their offspring, especially the underlying mechanism need further elucidation. Here, we used laying hens as a model organism to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to LPS (LPS maternal stimulation) on animal and their offspring's immunity and reproductive performance, as well as the regulatory role of the transcriptome. We found that the LPS maternal stimulation could reduce the egg-laying rate of hens and their offspring, especially during the early and late laying stages. The transcriptome study of the spleen in F0, F1 and F2 generations showed that the maternal stimulation of the LPS affects the patterns of gene expression in laying hens, and this change has a long-lasting effect. Further analysis of DEGs and their enrichment pathways found that the LPS maternal stimulation mainly affects the reproduction and immunity of laying hens and their offspring. The DEGs such as AVD, HPS5, CATHL2, S100A12, EXFABP, RSFR, LY86, PKD4, XCL1, FOS, TREM2 and MST1 may play an essential role in the regulation of the immunity and egg-laying rate of hens. Furthermore, the MMR1L3, C3, F13A1, LY86 and GDPD2 genes with heritable effects are highly correlated with the egg-laying rate, may have an important reference value for further research. Our study reveals the profound implications of LPS exposure on immunity and reproduction of offspring, elaborating the impact of immune alteration on the egg-laying rate, emphasizing the regulatory role of intergenerational transmission of the transcriptome, implying that the environment parents being exposed to has an important impact on offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Di Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xingzheng Li
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Adeyinka Abiola Adetula
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Adnan Khan
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Huagui Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Qin Chu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100094, China.
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47
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Desbonnet L, Konkoth A, Laighneach A, McKernan D, Holleran L, McDonald C, Morris DW, Donohoe G, Kelly J. Dual hit mouse model to examine the long-term effects of maternal immune activation and post-weaning social isolation on schizophrenia endophenotypes. Behav Brain Res 2022; 430:113930. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Bryan EE, Chen X, Smith BS, Dilger RN, Dilger AC. Maternal Immune Activation and Dietary Soy Isoflavone Supplementation Influence Pig Immune Function but not Muscle Fiber Formation. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6568979. [PMID: 35426431 PMCID: PMC9155173 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The goals of this study were to determine the impact of maternal PRRSV infection on offspring muscle and immune development and the potential of dietary soy isoflavones to mitigate those effects. Thirteen first-parity gilts (“gilts”) were randomly allotted into one of three treatments: not infected and fed a diet devoid of isoflavones (CON), infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and fed the control diet (POS) or that supplemented with 1,500 mg/kg soy-derived isoflavones (ISF). Gilts were inoculated with PRRSV intranasally on gestational day (GD) 70. After farrowing (GD 114 ± 2), 1-2 offspring (“pigs”) closest to the average litter weight were selected either at birth (3 ± 2 d of age) or weaning (21 ±2 d of age) to determine body, muscle, and organ weights as well as muscle cell number and size. Four weaned pigs of average body weight within each litter were selected for postnatal immune challenge. At PND 52, pigs were injected with 5 µg/kg BW lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneally. Serum was collected at 0, 4, and 8 h following LPS administration to analyze tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). At PND 59, pigs were administered a novel vaccine to elicit an adaptive immune response. At PND 59, 66, and 73, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and T-cell populations determined by flow cytometry. Both POS and ISF pigs exhibited persistent PRRSV infections throughout the study (PND 1-73). At PND 3, whole body, muscle, and organ weights were not different (P > 0.22) between groups, with the exception of relative liver weight, which was increased (P < 0.05) in POS compared with CON pigs. At PND 21, ISF pigs had reduced (P ≤ 0.05) whole body and muscle weights, but greater (P < 0.05) kidney weight compared with CON, and greater (P < 0.05) relative liver weight compared with CON and POS. Muscle fiber number and size were not different (P > 0.39) between groups at birth or weaning. After LPS administration, TNF-α was greatest in ISF pigs (P < 0.05) at both 0 and 8 h post-challenge. At the peak time-point of 4 h post-challenge, ISF pigs had the greatest concentration of TNF-α and CON pigs had the lowest, with POS pigs being intermediate (P = 0.01). After vaccination, ISF offspring had shifts in T-cell populations indicating an impaired immune response. These data indicate that maternal PRRSV infection may impact offspring organ growth and immune function, particularly when the dam is supplemented with isoflavones.
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Affiliation(s)
- E E Bryan
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - X Chen
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - B S Smith
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - R N Dilger
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - A C Dilger
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
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Yao Y, Man L, Du J, Wu D, Yang L, Peng F, Han L, Zhao T, Zhou W. Astilbin ameliorates depressive-like behavior caused by postnatal immune activation through Menin-regulated astrocyte inflammation. J Affect Disord 2022; 301:87-98. [PMID: 35026358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Postnatal immune activation (PIA) can affect normal brain development and increase the risk of behavioral abnormalities in later life, including depressive-like behavior. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safe and effective clinical medications for PIA. Recently, the protective effect of astilbin (ASB) in nervous system diseases has attracted much attention. However, the effect of ASB on neurodevelopmental diseases remains unclear. In this study, we used a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PIA mouse model and found that ASB specifically improved PIA-induced depressive-like behavior but not anxiety-like behavior in adult mice. Astrocytes play an essential role in regulating neuroinflammation, and are the most abundant cell type in the brain. In the PIA model, we found that ASB selectively inhibited astrocyte activation but not microglial activation in the cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, our results showed that ASB specifically upregulated the expression of menin protein in astrocytes and blocked the entry of P65 protein into the nucleus, thus inhibiting the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α by astrocytes. Taken together, ASB reduced the occurrence of astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation by targeting menin, thereby attenuating the PIA-induced depressive-like behavior. Our results reveal that ASB may be an attractive antidepressant drug and exert an antidepressant effect in PIA. In terms of drug selection, ASB may be a specific drug for patients with depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; Centre for Sports and Exercise Science, School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Lajie Man
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Jingyi Du
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Dong Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Fan Peng
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Lei Han
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Tiantian Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Wenjuan Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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50
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Velloso FJ, Wadhwa A, Kumari E, Carcea I, Gunal O, Levison SW. Modestly increasing systemic interleukin-6 perinatally disturbs secondary germinal zone neurogenesis and gliogenesis and produces sociability deficits. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 101:23-36. [PMID: 34954074 PMCID: PMC8885860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that infections during pregnancy increase the risk of offspring developing Schizophrenia, Autism, Depression and Bipolar Disorder and have implicated interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a causal agent. However, other cytokines have been associated with the developmental origins of psychiatric disorders; therefore, it remains to be established whether elevating IL-6 is sufficient to alter the trajectory of neural development. Furthermore, most rodent studies have manipulated the maternal immune system at mid-gestation, which affects the stem cells and progenitors in both the primary and secondary germinal matrices. Therefore, a question that remains to be addressed is whether elevating IL-6 when the secondary germinal matrices are most active will affect brain development. Here, we have increased IL-6 from postnatal days 3-6 when the secondary germinal matrices are rapidly expanding. Using Nestin-CreERT2 fate mapping we show that this transient increase in IL-6 decreased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the dorsal hippocampus, reduced astrogliogenesis in the amygdala and decreased oligodendrogenesis in the body and splenium of the corpus callosum all by ∼ 50%. Moreover, the IL-6 treatment elicited behavioral changes classically associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. As adults, IL-6 injected male mice lost social preference in the social approach test, spent ∼ 30% less time socially engaging with sexually receptive females and produced ∼ 50% fewer ultrasonic vocalizations during mating. They also engaged ∼ 50% more time in self-grooming behavior and had an increase in inhibitory avoidance. Altogether, these data provide new insights into the biological mechanisms linking perinatal immune activation to complex neurodevelopmental brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Janczur Velloso
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Anna Wadhwa
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA 07103
| | - Ekta Kumari
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA 07103
| | - Ioana Carcea
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Ozlem Gunal
- Department of Psychiatry, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Steven W. Levison
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA 07103,Correspondence should be addressed to: Steven W. Levison, PhD, Department Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 205 S. Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, Phone: 973-972-5162;
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