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de Noronha SISR, de Moraes LAG, Hassell JE, Stamper CE, Arnold MR, Heinze JD, Foxx CL, Lieb MM, Cler KE, Karns BL, Jaekel S, Loupy KM, Silva FCS, Chianca-Jr DA, Lowry CA, de Menezes RC. High-fat diet, microbiome-gut-brain axis signaling, and anxiety-like behavior in male rats. Biol Res 2024; 57:23. [PMID: 38705984 PMCID: PMC11071217 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00505-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity, associated with the intake of a high-fat diet (HFD), and anxiety are common among those living in modern urban societies. Recent studies suggest a role of microbiome-gut-brain axis signaling, including a role for brain serotonergic systems in the relationship between HFD and anxiety. Evidence suggests the gut microbiome and the serotonergic brain system together may play an important role in this response. Here we conducted a nine-week HFD protocol in male rats, followed by an analysis of the gut microbiome diversity and community composition, brainstem serotonergic gene expression (tph2, htr1a, and slc6a4), and anxiety-related defensive behavioral responses. We show that HFD intake decreased alpha diversity and altered the community composition of the gut microbiome in association with obesity, increased brainstem tph2, htr1a and slc6a4 mRNA expression, including in the caudal part of the dorsomedial dorsal raphe nucleus (cDRD), a subregion previously associated with stress- and anxiety-related behavioral responses, and, finally, increased anxiety-related defensive behavioral responses. The HFD increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio relative to control diet, as well as higher relative abundances of Blautia, and decreases in Prevotella. We found that tph2, htr1a and slc6a4 mRNA expression were increased in subregions of the dorsal raphe nucleus in the HFD, relative to control diet. Specific bacterial taxa were associated with increased serotonergic gene expression in the cDRD. Thus, we propose that HFD-induced obesity is associated with altered microbiome-gut-serotonergic brain axis signaling, leading to increased anxiety-related defensive behavioral responses in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvana I S Rendeiro de Noronha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Lauro Angelo Gonçalves de Moraes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
- Computing Department, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - James E Hassell
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Christopher E Stamper
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Mathew R Arnold
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Jared D Heinze
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Christine L Foxx
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Margaret M Lieb
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Kristin E Cler
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Bree L Karns
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Sophia Jaekel
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Kelsey M Loupy
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Fernanda C S Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Deoclécio Alves Chianca-Jr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Rodrigo Cunha de Menezes
- Department of Biological Science Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro s/n, Ouro Preto, 35400-000, MG, Brazil.
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Surve TAN, Sharma DD, Khan KG, Ghanie N, Charanrak R, Sharifa M, Begum S, Auz MJ, Akbarova N, Mylavarapu M. A Comprehensive Review of the Intersection Between Asthma and Depression. J Asthma 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38415695 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2024.2324862] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Objective To emphasize the necessity for increased research in this field, incorporating depression into the preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations for asthma. Additionally, we seek to highlight upcoming advancements that can be applied to simultaneously address these comorbidities, ultimately improving the overall well-being and quality of life for individuals coping with these conditions.Methods A rigorous search in PubMed using the MeSH terms "asthma" and "depression" was performed, and papers were screened by the authors in view of their eligibility to contribute to the study.Results There exists a correlation between these two conditions, with specific biological mechanisms and genetic factors playing a crucial role in their concurrent occurrence. In this review, we present preclinical and clinical research data, shed light on the possible mechanisms contributing to the co-occurrence of symptoms associated with both asthma and depression, and explore the intricate relationship between both conditions.Conclusion The evidence presented here supports the existence of a correlation between asthma and depression. By acknowledging these shared biological mechanisms, genetic factors, and epidemiological trends, we can formulate more efficacious strategies for addressing the dual impact of asthma and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maneeth Mylavarapu
- MBBS, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Public Health, Adelphi University, NY, USA.
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Hodes GE, Bangasser D, Sotiropoulos I, Kokras N, Dalla C. Sex Differences in Stress Response: Classical Mechanisms and Beyond. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:475-494. [PMID: 37855285 PMCID: PMC10845083 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666231005090134] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders, which are associated with stress hormone dysregulation, occur at different rates in men and women. Moreover, nowadays, preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrates that sex and gender can lead to differences in stress responses that predispose males and females to different expressions of similar pathologies. In this curated review, we focus on what is known about sex differences in classic mechanisms of stress response, such as glucocorticoid hormones and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which are components of the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Then, we present sex differences in neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and GABA, as well as indices of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid β and Tau. Gonadal hormone effects, such as estrogens and testosterone, are also discussed throughout the review. We also review in detail preclinical data investigating sex differences caused by recentlyrecognized regulators of stress and disease, such as the immune system, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, as well neurosteroids. Finally, we discuss how understanding sex differences in stress responses, as well as in pharmacology, can be leveraged into novel, more efficacious therapeutics for all. Based on the supporting evidence, it is obvious that incorporating sex as a biological variable into preclinical research is imperative for the understanding and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications NCSR “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Dionisio-García DM, Genis-Mendoza AD, González-Castro TB, Tovilla-Zárate CA, Juarez-Rojop IE, López-Narváez ML, Hernández-Díaz Y, Nicolini H, Olvera-Hernández V. DNA Methylation of Genes Involved in the HPA Axis in Presence of Suicide Behavior: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040584. [PMID: 37190549 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation in genes of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis has been associated with suicide behavior. Through a systematic review, we aimed to evaluate DNA methylation levels of the genes involved in the HPA pathway and their association with suicide behavior. A search of articles was performed using PubMed and Science Direct, EBSCO. The terms included were “DNA methylation”, “suicide”, “epigenetics”, “HPA axis” and “suicide behavior”. This systematic review was performed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Six studies comprising 743 cases and 761 controls were included in this systematic review. The studies included individuals with suicide ideation, suicide attempts or completed suicide and childhood trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or depression. One study reported hypermethylation in GR in childhood trauma, while two studies found hypermethylation of NR3C1 in childhood trauma and major depressive disorder (MDD). Only one study reported hypermethylation in BNDF in people with MDD. FKBP5 was found to be hypermethylated in people with MDD. Another study reported hypermethylation in CRHBP. SKA2 was reported to be hypermethylated in one study and another study found hypomethylated both in populations with PTSD. CRHR1 was found to be hypermethylated in people with MDD, and the last study found hypomethylation in CRH. Our result showed that patients with suicidal behavior showed a DNA methylation state of genes of the HPA axis in association with psychiatric comorbidity and with adverse events. Genes of the HPA axis could play a role in suicidal behavior associated with adverse events and pathologies. As a result, DNA methylation levels, proteins, and genes involved in the HPA axis could be considered for the search for biomarkers for the prevention of suicidal behavior in future studies.
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Suseelan S, Pinna G. Heterogeneity in major depressive disorder: The need for biomarker-based personalized treatments. Adv Clin Chem 2022; 112:1-67. [PMID: 36642481 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or depression is a pathological mental condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Identification of objective biological markers of depression can provide for a better diagnostic and intervention criteria; ultimately aiding to reduce its socioeconomic health burden. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the major biomarker candidates that have been implicated in depression neurobiology. The key biomarker categories are covered across all the "omics" levels. At the epigenomic level, DNA-methylation, non-coding RNA and histone-modifications have been discussed in relation to depression. The proteomics system shows great promise with inflammatory markers as well as growth factors and neurobiological alterations within the endocannabinoid system. Characteristic lipids implicated in depression together with the endocrine system are reviewed under the metabolomics section. The chapter also examines the novel biomarkers for depression that have been proposed by studies in the microbiome. Depression affects individuals differentially and explicit biomarkers identified by robust research criteria may pave the way for better diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and prediction of treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayam Suseelan
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; UI Center on Depression and Resilience (UICDR), Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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6
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Wong JJ, Wong NML, Chang DHF, Qi D, Chen L, Lee TMC. Amygdala-pons connectivity is hyperactive and associated with symptom severity in depression. Commun Biol 2022; 5:574. [PMID: 35688901 PMCID: PMC9187701 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03463-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the neural underpinnings of processing sad information and how it differs in people with depression could elucidate the neural mechanisms perpetuating sad mood in depression. Here, we conduct a 7 T fMRI study to delineate the neural correlates involved only in processing sad information, including pons, amygdala, and corticolimbic regions. We then conduct a 3 T fMRI study to examine the resting-state connectivity in another sample of people with and without depression. Only clinically depressed people demonstrate hyperactive amygdala–pons connectivity. Furthermore, this connectivity is related to depression symptom severity and is a significant indicator of depression. We speculate that visual sad information reinforces depressed mood and stimulates the pons, strengthening the amygdala–pons connectivity. The relationship between this connectivity and depressive symptom severity suggests that guiding one’s visual attention and processing of sad information may benefit mood regulation. A study on patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) suggests that a specific sadness-processing connection between the amygdala and pons appears to be dysfunctional among people with MDD and associated with severity of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jun Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nichol M L Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dorita H F Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Di Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong, China.
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Chaves T, Fazekas CL, Horváth K, Correia P, Szabó A, Török B, Bánrévi K, Zelena D. Stress Adaptation and the Brainstem with Focus on Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22169090. [PMID: 34445795 PMCID: PMC8396605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress adaptation is of utmost importance for the maintenance of homeostasis and, therefore, of life itself. The prevalence of stress-related disorders is increasing, emphasizing the importance of exploratory research on stress adaptation. Two major regulatory pathways exist: the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis and the sympathetic adrenomedullary axis. They act in unison, ensured by the enormous bidirectional connection between their centers, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), and the brainstem monoaminergic cell groups, respectively. PVN and especially their corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) producing neurons are considered to be the centrum of stress regulation. However, the brainstem seems to be equally important. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the present knowledge on the role of classical neurotransmitters of the brainstem (GABA, glutamate as well as serotonin, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine) in stress adaptation. Neuropeptides, including CRH, might be co-localized in the brainstem nuclei. Here we focused on CRH as its role in stress regulation is well-known and widely accepted and other CRH neurons scattered along the brain may also complement the function of the PVN. Although CRH-positive cells are present on some parts of the brainstem, sometimes even in comparable amounts as in the PVN, not much is known about their contribution to stress adaptation. Based on the role of the Barrington’s nucleus in micturition and the inferior olivary complex in the regulation of fine motoric—as the main CRH-containing brainstem areas—we might assume that these areas regulate stress-induced urination and locomotion, respectively. Further studies are necessary for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Chaves
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Lea Fazekas
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Horváth
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pedro Correia
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Szabó
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bibiána Török
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Bánrévi
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
| | - Dóra Zelena
- Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; (T.C.); (C.L.F.); (K.H.); (P.C.); (A.S.); (B.T.); (K.B.)
- Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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Romero-Pimentel AL, Almeida D, Muñoz-Montero S, Rangel C, Mendoza-Morales R, Gonzalez-Saenz EE, Nagy C, Chen G, Aouabed Z, Theroux JF, Turecki G, Martinez-Levy G, Walss-Bass C, Monroy-Jaramillo N, Fernández-Figueroa EA, Gómez-Cotero A, García-Dolores F, Morales-Marin ME, Nicolini H. Integrative DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Analysis in the Prefrontal Cortex of Mexicans Who Died by Suicide. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:935-947. [PMID: 34214149 PMCID: PMC8653872 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide represents a major health concern, especially in developing countries. While many demographic risk factors have been proposed, the underlying molecular pathology of suicide remains poorly understood. A body of evidence suggests that aberrant DNA methylation and expression is involved. In this study, we examined DNA methylation profiles and concordant gene expression changes in the prefrontal cortex of Mexicans who died by suicide. METHODS In collaboration with the coroner's office in Mexico City, brain samples of males who died by suicide (n = 35) and age-matched sudden death controls (n = 13) were collected. DNA and RNA were extracted from prefrontal cortex tissue and analyzed with the Infinium Methylation480k and the HumanHT-12 v4 Expression Beadchips, respectively. RESULTS We report evidence of altered DNA methylation profiles at 4430 genomic regions together with 622 genes characterized by differential expression in cases vs controls. Seventy genes were found to have concordant methylation and expression changes. Metacore-enriched analysis identified 10 genes with biological relevance to psychiatric phenotypes and suicide (ADCY9, CRH, NFATC4, ABCC8, HMGA1, KAT2A, EPHA2, TRRAP, CD22, and CBLN1) and highlighted the association that ADCY9 has with various pathways, including signal transduction regulated by the cAMP-responsive element modulator, neurophysiological process regulated by the corticotrophin-releasing hormone, and synaptic plasticity. We therefore went on to validate the observed hypomethylation of ADCY9 in cases vs control through targeted bisulfite sequencing. CONCLUSION Our study represents the first, to our knowledge, analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression associated with suicide in a Mexican population using postmortem brain, providing novel insights for convergent molecular alterations associated with suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L Romero-Pimentel
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico,McGill Group of Suicide Studies, Montreal,Canada
| | - Daniel Almeida
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Said Muñoz-Montero
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Claudia Rangel
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Roberto Mendoza-Morales
- Instituto de Ciencias Forenses del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eli E Gonzalez-Saenz
- Instituto de Ciencias Forenses del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Corina Nagy
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gary Chen
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Zahia Aouabed
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Gustavo Turecki
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Martinez-Levy
- Psychiatric Genetics Department, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Consuelo Walss-Bass
- Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas,USA
| | - Nancy Monroy-Jaramillo
- Department of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Amalia Gómez-Cotero
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Santo Tomás, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernando García-Dolores
- Instituto de Ciencias Forenses del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Humberto Nicolini
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico,Correspondence: José Humberto Nicolini Sánchez, MD, PhD, Laboratorio de Genómica de Enfermedades Psiquiátricas y neurodegenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Periférico Sur 4809, Arenal Tepepan, Tlalpan, 14610, Ciudad de México, CDMX, México ()
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9
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Zhao S, Bao Z, Zhao X, Xu M, Li MD, Yang Z. Identification of Diagnostic Markers for Major Depressive Disorder Using Machine Learning Methods. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:645998. [PMID: 34220416 PMCID: PMC8249859 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.645998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a global health challenge that impacts the quality of patients’ lives severely. The disorder can manifest in many forms with different combinations of symptoms, which makes its clinical diagnosis difficult. Robust biomarkers are greatly needed to improve diagnosis and to understand the etiology of the disease. The main purpose of this study was to create a predictive model for MDD diagnosis based on peripheral blood transcriptomes. Materials and Methods We collected nine RNA expression datasets for MDD patients and healthy samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After a series of quality control and heterogeneity tests, 302 samples from six studies were deemed suitable for the study. R package “MetaOmics” was applied for systematic meta-analysis of genome-wide expression data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of individual genes. To obtain a better diagnostic model, we also adopted the support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbors (kNN), and naive Bayesian (NB) tools for modeling, with the RF method being used for feature selection. Results Our analysis revealed six differentially expressed genes (AKR1C3, ARG1, KLRB1, MAFG, TPST1, and WWC3) with a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 between MDD patients and control subjects. We then evaluated the diagnostic ability of these genes individually. With single gene prediction, we achieved a corresponding area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.63 ± 0.04, 0.67 ± 0.07, 0.70 ± 0.11, 0.64 ± 0.08, 0.68 ± 0.07, and 0.62 ± 0.09, respectively, for these genes. Next, we constructed the classifiers of SVM, RF, kNN, and NB with an AUC of 0.84 ± 0.09, 0.81 ± 0.10, 0.73 ± 0.11, and 0.83 ± 0.09, respectively, in validation datasets, suggesting that the SVM classifier might be superior for constructing an MDD diagnostic model. The final SVM classifier including 70 feature genes was capable of distinguishing MDD samples from healthy controls and yielded an AUC of 0.78 in an independent dataset. Conclusion This study provides new insights into potential biomarkers through meta-analysis of GEO data. Constructing different machine learning models based on these biomarkers could be a valuable approach for diagnosing MDD in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Bao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengxiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ming D Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongli Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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10
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Ding H, Cui SY, Cui XY, Liu YT, Hu X, Zhao HL, Qin Y, Kurban N, Zhang YH. Anti-stress effects of combined block of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:3696-3707. [PMID: 33908038 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) are involved in the response to stress. The present study investigated the role of GRs and MRs in the PVN in regulating depressive and anxiety-like behaviours. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH To model chronic stress, rats were exposed to corticosterone treatment via drinking water for 21 days, and GR antagonist RU486 and MR antagonist spironolactone, alone and combined, were directly injected in the PVN daily for the last 7 days of corticosterone treatment. Behavioural tests were run on days 22 and 23. Depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours were evaluated in forced swim test, sucrose preference test, novelty-suppressed feeding test and social interaction test. The expression of GRs, MRs and CRF were detected by western blot. KEY RESULTS Rats exposed to corticosterone exhibited depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours. The expression of GRs and MRs decreased, and CRF levels increased in the PVN. The intra-PVN administration of RU486 increased the levels of GRs and CRF without influencing depressive- or anxiety-like behaviours. The spironolactone-treated group exhibited an increase in MRs without influencing GRs and CRF in the PVN and improved anxiety-like behaviours. Interestingly, the intra-PVN administration of RU486 and spironolactone combined restored expression of GRs, MRs and CRF and improved depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS In this rat model of stress, the simultaneous restoration of GRs, MRs and CRF in the PVN might play an important role in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Su-Ying Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Tong Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Ling Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Qin
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Nurhumar Kurban
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-He Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, China
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11
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Chen L, Liu K, Wang Y, Liu N, Yao M, Hu J, Wang G, Sun Y, Pan J. Phosphodiesterase-2 inhibitor reverses post-traumatic stress induced fear memory deficits and behavioral changes via cAMP/cGMP pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 891:173768. [PMID: 33271150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Phosphodiesterase 2 is one of the phosphodiesterase (PDEs) family members that regulate cyclic nucleotide (namely cAMP and cGMP) concentrations. The present study determined whether PDE2 inhibition could rescue post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms. Mice were subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS) and treated with selective PDE2 inhibitor Bay 60-7550 (0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg, i.p.). The behavioral tests such as forced swimming, sucrose preference test, open field, elevated plus maze, and contextual fear paradigm were conducted to determine the effects of Bay 60-7550 on SPS-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior and fear memory deficits. The results suggested that Bay 60-7550 reversed SPS-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior and fear memory deficits. Moreover, Bay 60-7550 prevented SPS-induced changes in the adrenal gland index, synaptic proteins synaptophysin and PSD95 expression, PKA, PKG, pCREB, and BDNF levels in the hippocampus and amygdala. These effects were completely prevented by PKG inhibitor KT5823. While PKA inhibitor H89 also prevented Bay 60-7550-induced pCREB and BDNF expression, but only partially prevented the effects on PSD95 expression in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that Bay 60-7550 protects mice against PTSD-like stress induced traumatic injury by activation of cGMP- or cAMP-related neuroprotective molecules, such as synaptic proteins, pCREB and BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, PR China; Brain Institute, School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Kaiping Liu
- Brain Institute, School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yulu Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Traditional Medical Orthopedics, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Minjie Yao
- Department of Orthopedics, The People's Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jinlan Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Minhang TCM Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, PR China.
| | - Yindi Sun
- Department of Traditional Medical Orthopedics, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China.
| | - Jianchun Pan
- Brain Institute, School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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12
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Dudek KA, Dion‐Albert L, Kaufmann FN, Tuck E, Lebel M, Menard C. Neurobiology of resilience in depression: immune and vascular insights from human and animal studies. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:183-221. [PMID: 31421056 PMCID: PMC7891571 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic and recurrent psychiatric condition characterized by depressed mood, social isolation and anhedonia. It will affect 20% of individuals with considerable economic impacts. Unfortunately, 30-50% of depressed individuals are resistant to current antidepressant treatments. MDD is twice as prevalent in women and associated symptoms are different. Depression's main environmental risk factor is chronic stress, and women report higher levels of stress in daily life. However, not every stressed individual becomes depressed, highlighting the need to identify biological determinants of stress vulnerability but also resilience. Based on a reverse translational approach, rodent models of depression were developed to study the mechanisms underlying susceptibility vs resilience. Indeed, a subpopulation of animals can display coping mechanisms and a set of biological alterations leading to stress resilience. The aetiology of MDD is multifactorial and involves several physiological systems. Exacerbation of endocrine and immune responses from both innate and adaptive systems are observed in depressed individuals and mice exhibiting depression-like behaviours. Increasing attention has been given to neurovascular health since higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is found in MDD patients and inflammatory conditions are associated with depression, treatment resistance and relapse. Here, we provide an overview of endocrine, immune and vascular changes associated with stress vulnerability vs. resilience in rodents and when available, in humans. Lack of treatment efficacy suggests that neuron-centric treatments do not address important causal biological factors and better understanding of stress-induced adaptations, including sex differences, could contribute to develop novel therapeutic strategies including personalized medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna A. Dudek
- Department of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceFaculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research CenterUniversité LavalQuebec CityQCCanada
| | - Laurence Dion‐Albert
- Department of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceFaculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research CenterUniversité LavalQuebec CityQCCanada
| | - Fernanda Neutzling Kaufmann
- Department of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceFaculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research CenterUniversité LavalQuebec CityQCCanada
| | - Ellen Tuck
- Smurfit Institute of GeneticsTrinity CollegeDublinIreland
| | - Manon Lebel
- Department of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceFaculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research CenterUniversité LavalQuebec CityQCCanada
| | - Caroline Menard
- Department of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceFaculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research CenterUniversité LavalQuebec CityQCCanada
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13
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Nobis A, Zalewski D, Waszkiewicz N. Peripheral Markers of Depression. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E3793. [PMID: 33255237 PMCID: PMC7760788 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9123793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, creating a high medical and socioeconomic burden. There is a growing interest in the biological underpinnings of depression, which are reflected by altered levels of biological markers. Among others, enhanced inflammation has been reported in MDD, as reflected by increased concentrations of inflammatory markers-C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Oxidative and nitrosative stress also plays a role in the pathophysiology of MDD. Notably, increased levels of lipid peroxidation markers are characteristic of MDD. Dysregulation of the stress axis, along with increased cortisol levels, have also been reported in MDD. Alterations in growth factors, with a significant decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and an increase in fibroblast growth factor-2 and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations have also been found in MDD. Finally, kynurenine metabolites, increased glutamate and decreased total cholesterol also hold promise as reliable biomarkers for MDD. Research in the field of MDD biomarkers is hindered by insufficient understanding of MDD etiopathogenesis, substantial heterogeneity of the disorder, common co-morbidities and low specificity of biomarkers. The construction of biomarker panels and their evaluation with use of new technologies may have the potential to overcome the above mentioned obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Nobis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Bialystok, pl. Brodowicza 1, 16-070 Choroszcz, Poland; (D.Z.); (N.W.)
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14
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The Involvement of Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis in Suicide Risk. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10090653. [PMID: 32967089 PMCID: PMC7565104 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10090653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress and Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation play a major role in various pathophysiological processes associated with both mood disorders and suicidal behavior. We conducted a systematic review with the primary aim of clarifying the nature and extent of HPA axis activity and suicidal behavior. The second aim of this review was to investigate whether potential biomarkers related to HPA axis abnormalities act as individual susceptibility factors for suicide. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews was used. Only articles published in English peer-reviewed journals were considered for possible inclusion; we excluded case reports, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, and studies that did not clearly report statistical analysis, diagnostic criteria, or the number of patients included. Overall, 36 articles on HPA axis and suicide risk met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Studies that investigated tests detecting biomarkers and the role of early life stressors in suicide risk were also included. We found that HPA axis activity is involved in suicide risk, regardless of the presence or absence of psychiatric conditions. The HPA axis abnormalities, mainly characterized by hyperactivity of the HPA axis, may exert an important modulatory influence on suicide risk. Impaired stress response mechanisms contribute to suicide risk. Targeting HPA axis dysregulation might represent a fruitful strategy for identifying new treatment targets and improving suicide risk prediction.
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15
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Yuan Y, Zhen L, Li Z, Xu W, Leng H, Xu W, Zheng V, Luria V, Pan J, Tao Y, Zhang H, Cao S, Xu Y. trans-Resveratrol ameliorates anxiety-like behaviors and neuropathic pain in mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder. J Psychopharmacol 2020; 34:726-736. [PMID: 32308103 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120914221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND trans-Resveratrol has been extensively investigated for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-psychiatric properties. However, whether it could rescue posttraumatic stress disorder-like stress-induced pain abnormality is unknown. AIM The present study examined the effects of trans-resveratrol on anxiety-like behavior and neuropathic pain induced by single-prolonged stress, which is a classical animal model for mimicking posttraumatic stress disorder. METHODS The single-prolonged stress-induced anxiety-like behavior and pain response were detected by the novelty suppressed feeding, marble burying, locomotor activity, von Frey, and acetone-induced cold allodynia tests in mice. The serum corticosterone levels and glucocorticoid receptor, protein kinase A, phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analyses. RESULTS trans-Resveratrol reversed single-prolonged stress-induced increased latency to feed and the number of marbles buried in the novelty suppressed feeding and marble burying tests, but did not significantly influence locomotion distance in the locomotor activity test. trans-Resveratrol also reversed single-prolonged stress-induced cold and mechanical allodynia. Moreover, single-prolonged stress induced abnormality in the limbic hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis was reversed by trans-resveratrol, as evidenced by the fact that trans-resveratrol reversed the differential expression of glucocorticoid receptor in the anxiety- and pain-related regions. In addition, trans-resveratrol increased protein kinase A, phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, which were decreased in mice subjected to single-prolonged stress. CONCLUSIONS These results provide compelling evidence that trans-resveratrol protects neurons against posttraumatic stress disorder-like stress insults through regulation of limbic hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function and activation of downstream neuroprotective molecules such as protein kinase A, phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirong Yuan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Linlin Zhen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Huai'an No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Huai'an No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA
| | - Wenhua Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The People's Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Huilin Leng
- Department of Neurology, The People's Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Brain Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Victor Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA
| | - Victor Luria
- Department of System Biology, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jianchun Pan
- Brain Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yuanxiang Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, USA
| | - Hanting Zhang
- Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, USA
| | - Shengsheng Cao
- Department of Orthopedics, The People's Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China.,These authors jointly directed this work
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA.,These authors jointly directed this work
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16
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Donner NC, Mani S, Fitz SD, Kienzle DM, Shekhar A, Lowry CA. Crh receptor priming in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) induces tph2 gene expression in the dorsomedial dorsal raphe nucleus and chronic anxiety. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 96:109730. [PMID: 31415826 PMCID: PMC6815726 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a nodal structure in neural circuits controlling anxiety-related defensive behavioral responses. It contains neurons expressing the stress- and anxiety-related neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) as well as Crh receptors. Repeated daily subthreshold activation of Crh receptors in the BNST is known to induce a chronic anxiety-like state, but how this affects neurotransmitter-relevant gene expression in target regions of the BNST is still unclear. Since the BNST projects heavily to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), the main source of brain serotonin, we here tested the hypothesis that such repeated, anxiety-inducing activation of Crh receptors in the BNST alters the expression of serotonergic genes in the DR, including tph2, the gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme for brain serotonin synthesis, and slc6a4, the gene encoding the serotonin transporter (SERT). For 5 days, adult male Wistar rats received daily, bilateral, intra-BNST microinjections of vehicle (1% bovine serum albumin in 0.9% saline, n = 11) or behaviorally subthreshold doses of urocortin 1 (Ucn1, n = 11), a potent Crh receptor agonist. Priming with Ucn1 increased tph2 mRNA expression selectively within the anxiety-related dorsal part of the DR (DRD) and decreased social interaction (SI) time, a measure of anxiety-related defensive behavioral responses in rodents. Decreased social interaction was strongly correlated with increased tph2 mRNA expression in the DRD. Together with previous studies, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that Crh-mediated control of the BNST/DRD-serotonergic system plays a key role in the development of chronic anxiety states, possibly also contributing to stress-induced relapses in drug abuse and addiction behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina C. Donner
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Sofia Mani
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Stephanie D. Fitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Drake M. Kienzle
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Anantha Shekhar
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Christopher A. Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA,Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMRVAMC), Aurora, CO 80045, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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17
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Structural determinants governing β-arrestin2 interaction with PDZ proteins and recruitment to CRFR1. Cell Signal 2019; 63:109361. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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18
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Molecular programs underlying differences in the expression of mood disorders in males and females. Brain Res 2019; 1719:89-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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19
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Kokras N, Hodes GE, Bangasser DA, Dalla C. Sex differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: An obstacle to antidepressant drug development? Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:4090-4106. [PMID: 31093959 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction has long been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression, and HPA axis-based compounds have served as potential new therapeutic targets, but with no success. This review details sex differences from animal and human studies in the function of HPA axis elements (glucocorticoids, corticotropin releasing factor, and vasopressin) and related compounds tested as candidate antidepressants. We propose that sex differences contribute to the failure of novel HPA axis-based drugs in clinical trials. Compounds studied preclinically in males were tested in clinical trials that recruited more, if not exclusively, women, and did not control, but rather adjusted, for potential sex differences. Indeed, clinical trials of antidepressants are usually not stratified by sex or other important factors, although preclinical and epidemiological data support such stratification. In conclusion, we suggest that clinical testing of HPA axis-related compounds creates an opportunity for targeted, personalized antidepressant treatments based on sex. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on The Importance of Sex Differences in Pharmacology Research. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.21/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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20
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Klampfl SM, Bosch OJ. Mom doesn't care: When increased brain CRF system activity leads to maternal neglect in rodents. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 53:100735. [PMID: 30684507 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mothers are the primary caregivers in mammals, ensuring their offspring's survival. This strongly depends on the adequate expression of maternal behavior, which is the result of a concerted action of "pro-maternal" versus "anti-maternal" neuromodulators such as the oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) systems, respectively. When essential peripartum adaptations fail, the CRF system has negative physiological, emotional and behavioral consequences for both mother and offspring often resulting in maternal neglect. Here, we provide an elaborate and unprecedented review on the implications of the CRF system in the maternal brain. Studies in rodents have advanced our understanding of the specific roles of brain regions such as the limbic bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial preoptic area and lateral septum even in a CRF receptor subtype-specific manner. Furthermore, we discuss potential interactions of the CRF system with other neurotransmitters like oxytocin and noradrenaline, and present valuable translational aspects of the recent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie M Klampfl
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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21
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CRF modulation of central monoaminergic function: Implications for sex differences in alcohol drinking and anxiety. Alcohol 2018; 72:33-47. [PMID: 30217435 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research have described the importance of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling in alcohol addiction, as well as in commonly co-expressed neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety and mood disorders. However, CRF signaling can also acutely regulate binge alcohol consumption, anxiety, and affect in non-dependent animals, possibly via modulation of central monoaminergic signaling. We hypothesize that basal CRF tone is particularly high in animals and humans with an inherent propensity for high anxiety and alcohol consumption, and thus these individuals are at increased risk for the development of alcohol use disorder and comorbid neuropsychiatric diseases. The current review focuses on extrahypothalamic CRF circuits, particularly those stemming from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), found to play a role in basal phenotypes, and examines whether the intrinsic hyperactivity of these circuits is sufficient to escalate the expression of these behaviors and steepen the trajectory of development of disease states. We focus our efforts on describing CRF modulation of biogenic amine neuron populations that have widespread projections to the forebrain to modulate behaviors, including alcohol and drug intake, stress reactivity, and anxiety. Further, we review the known sex differences and estradiol modulation of these neuron populations and CRF signaling at their synapses to address the question of whether females are more susceptible to the development of comorbid addiction and stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases because of hyperactive extrahypothalamic CRF circuits compared to males.
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22
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Hacimusalar Y, Eşel E. Suggested Biomarkers for Major Depressive Disorder. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 55:280-290. [PMID: 30224877 DOI: 10.5152/npa.2017.19482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) mainly relies on clinical examination and subjective evaluation of depressive symptoms. There is no non-invasive, quantitative test available today for the diagnosis of MDD. In MDD, exploration of biomarkers will be helpful in diagnosing the disorder as well as in choosing a treatment, and predicting the treatment response. In this article, it is aimed to review the findings of suggested biomarkers such as growth factors, cytokines and other inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers, endocrine markers, energy balance hormones, genetic and epigenetic features, and neuroimaging in MDD and to evaluate how these findings contribute to the pathophysiology of MDD, the prediction of treatment response, severity of the disorder, and identification of subtypes. Among these, the findings related to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, cytokines, and neuroimaging may be strong candidates for being biomarkers MDD, and may provide critical information in understanding biological etiology of depression. Although the findings are not sufficient yet, we think that the results of epigenetic studies will also provide very important contributions to the biomarker research in MDD. The availability of biomarkers in MDD will be an advancement that will facilitate the diagnosis of the disorder, treatment choices in the early stages, and prediction of the course of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunus Hacimusalar
- Department of Psychiatry, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ertuğrul Eşel
- Department of Psychiatry, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
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23
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trans-Resveratrol ameliorates anxiety-like behaviors and fear memory deficits in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuropharmacology 2018; 133:181-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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24
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Bangasser DA, Wiersielis KR. Sex differences in stress responses: a critical role for corticotropin-releasing factor. Hormones (Athens) 2018; 17:5-13. [PMID: 29858858 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-018-0002-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and major depression are higher in women than in men. Another shared feature of these disorders is that dysregulation of the stress neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is thought to contribute to their pathophysiology. Therefore, sex differences in responses to CRF could contribute to this sex bias in disease prevalence. Here, we review emerging data from non-human animal models that reveal extensive sex differences in CRF functions ranging from its presynaptic regulation to its postsynaptic efficacy. Specifically, detailed are sex differences in the regulation of CRF-containing neurons and the amount of CRF that they produce. We also describe sex differences in CRF receptor expression, distribution, trafficking, and signaling. Finally, we highlight sex differences in the processes that mitigate the effects of CRF. In most cases, the identified sex differences can lead to increased stress sensitivity in females. Thus, the relevance of these differences for the increased risk of depression and anxiety disorders in women compared to men is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, 1701 North 13th Street, 873 Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
| | - Kimberly R Wiersielis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, 1701 North 13th Street, 873 Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
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25
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Salvatore M, Wiersielis KR, Luz S, Waxler DE, Bhatnagar S, Bangasser DA. Sex differences in circuits activated by corticotropin releasing factor in rats. Horm Behav 2018; 97:145-153. [PMID: 29037972 PMCID: PMC5831187 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Women are more likely than men to suffer from psychiatric disorders characterized by corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) hypersecretion, suggesting sex differences in CRF sensitivity. In rodents, sex differences in the sensitivity of specific brain regions to CRF have been identified. However, regions do not work in isolation, but rather form circuits to coordinate distinct responses to stressful events. Here we examined whether CRF activates different circuits in male and female rats. Following central administration of CRF or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), neuronal activation in stress-related areas was assessed using cFOS. Functional connectivity was gauged by correlating the number of cFOS-positive cells between regions and then identifying differences within each sex in correlations for aCSF-treated and CRF-treated groups. This analysis revealed that CRF altered different circuits in males and females. As an example, CRF altered correlations involving the dorsal raphe in males and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in females, suggesting sex differences in stress-activated circuits controlling mood and anxiety. Next, plasma estradiol and progesterone levels were correlated with cFOS counts in females. Negative correlations between estradiol and neuronal activation in the regions within the extended amygdala were found in CRF-treated, but not aCSF-treated females. This result suggests that estrogens and CRF together modulate the fear and anxiety responses mediated by these regions. Collectively, these studies reveal sex differences in the way brain regions work together in response to CRF. These differences could drive different stress coping strategies in males and females, perhaps contributing to sex biases in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Salvatore
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Kimberly R Wiersielis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Sandra Luz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David E Waxler
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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26
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Jesulola E, Micalos P, Baguley IJ. Understanding the pathophysiology of depression: From monoamines to the neurogenesis hypothesis model - are we there yet? Behav Brain Res 2017; 341:79-90. [PMID: 29284108 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A number of factors (biogenic amine deficiency, genetic, environmental, immunologic, endocrine factors and neurogenesis) have been identified as mechanisms which provide unitary explanations for the pathophysiology of depression. Rather than a unitary construct, the combination and linkage of these factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. That is, environmental stressors and heritable genetic factors acting through immunologic and endocrine responses initiate structural and functional changes in many brain regions, resulting in dysfunctional neurogenesis and neurotransmission which then manifest as a constellation of symptoms which present as depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Jesulola
- Paramedicine Discipline, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst Campus, NSW Australia.
| | - Peter Micalos
- Paramedicine Discipline, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst Campus, NSW Australia
| | - Ian J Baguley
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Rd, Wentworthville, NSW Australia
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27
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Jokinen J, Boström AE, Dadfar A, Ciuculete DM, Chatzittofis A, Åsberg M, Schiöth HB. Epigenetic Changes in the CRH Gene are Related to Severity of Suicide Attempt and a General Psychiatric Risk Score in Adolescents. EBioMedicine 2017; 27:123-133. [PMID: 29277323 PMCID: PMC5828554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study, comprising 88 suicide attempters, was to identify hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) -axis coupled CpG-sites showing methylation shifts linked to severity of the suicide attempt. Candidate methylation loci were further investigated as risk loci for a general psychiatric risk score in two cohorts of adolescents (cohort 1 and 2). The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured in whole blood using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. Subjects were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the severity of the suicidal behavior. We included CpG sites located within 2000 basepairs away from transcriptional start site of the following HPA-axis coupled genes: corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), corticotropin releasing hormone binding protein (CRHBP), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2), FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5) and the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1). The methylation state of two corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-associated CpG sites were significantly hypomethylated in the high-risk group of suicide attempters (n = 31) (cg19035496 and cg23409074) (p < 0.001). Adolescent cohort 1 and 2 consisted of 129 and 93 subjects, respectively, and were stratified by the in silico generated DAWBA measurements of a general psychiatric risk score into high-risk group (>~50% risk) or controls. In adolescent cohort 2, cg19035496 was hypermethylated in subjects with a high general psychiatric risk score. Our results show epigenetic changes in the CRH gene related to severity of suicide attempt in adults and a general psychiatric risk score in adolescents. Two CRH-associated CpG sites were significantly hypomethylated in the high-risk group of suicide attempters. In adolescent cohort, cg19035496 was hypermethylated in subjects with a high general psychiatric risk score. Epigenetic modulatory effects on the HPA axis dysregulation are associated with psychiatric illness and suicidal behavior.
In this study, comprising 88 suicide attempters, we aimed to identify epigenetic changes in stress system linked to severity of the suicide attempt. In the next step, we investigated if the same epigenetic changes could be detected in adolescents with high risk for psychiatric illness. The methylation pattern was measured in blood and subjects were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the severity of the suicidal behavior. One corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-a key regulator of stress system-associated CpG site showed less methylation in the high-risk group and was hypermethylated in adolescents with a high general psychiatric risk score. Epigenetic changes in the CRH gene were related to severity of suicide attempt in adults and a general psychiatric risk score in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Jokinen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Center for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Adrian E Boström
- Department of Neuroscience/Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ali Dadfar
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience/Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Chatzittofis
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Center for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marie Åsberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience/Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract
Suicide is a world health priority. Studies over the last few decades have revealed the complexity underlying the neurobiological mechanisms of suicide. Researchers have found dysregulations in the serotonergic system, the stress system, neural plasticity, lipid metabolism, and cell signaling pathways in relation to suicidal behaviors. These findings have provided more insight into the final path leading to suicide, at which medical intervention should be applied to prevent the action. However, because these molecular mechanisms have been implicated in both depression and suicide, the specificity of the mechanisms has been obscured. In this review, we summarize the main findings of studies on molecular mechanisms of suicidal behavior from the last 2 decades, with particular emphasis on the potential, independent role of each mechanism that is not contingent upon an underlying psychopathology, such as depression. The act of suicide is multifactorial; no single molecular mechanism is sufficient to fully account for the act. Knowledge of the reciprocal interactions among these molecular mechanisms and studying them in the context of brain circuitry by using neuroimaging techniques will provide a better understanding of the neurobiology of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangha Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yeouido St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyoung-Uk Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Uijeongbu St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
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29
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Large normal-range TBP and ATXN7 CAG repeat lengths are associated with increased lifetime risk of depression. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1143. [PMID: 28585930 PMCID: PMC5534943 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is one of the most prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorders worldwide. Recently, we showed that both relatively short and relatively long cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT) are associated with an increased risk of lifetime depression. However, to what extent the variations in CAG repeat length in the other eight polyglutamine disease-associated genes (PDAGs) are associated with depression is still unknown. We determined the CAG repeat sizes of ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A, ATXN7, TBP, ATN1 and AR in two well-characterized Dutch cohorts-the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety and the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons-including 2165 depressed and 1058 non-depressed individuals-aged 18-93 years. The association between PDAG CAG repeat size and the risk for depression was assessed via binary logistic regression. We found that the odds ratio (OR) for lifetime depression was significantly higher for individuals with >10, compared with subjects with ≤10, CAG repeats in both ATXN7 alleles (OR=1.90, confidence interval (CI) 1.26-2.85). For TBP we found a similar association: A CAG repeat length exceeding the median in both alleles was associated with an increased risk for lifetime depression (OR=1.33, CI 1.00-1.76). In conclusion, we observed that carriers of either ATXN7 or TBP alleles with relatively large CAG repeat sizes in both alleles had a substantially increased risk of lifetime depression. Our findings provide critical evidence for the notion that repeat polymorphisms can act as complex genetic modifiers of depression.
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30
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Brisch R, Steiner J, Mawrin C, Krzyżanowska M, Jankowski Z, Gos T. Microglia in the dorsal raphe nucleus plays a potential role in both suicide facilitation and prevention in affective disorders. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2017; 267:403-415. [PMID: 28229240 PMCID: PMC5509773 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-017-0774-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
An involvement of the central serotonergic system has constantly been reported in the pathogenesis of suicide. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is the main source of serotonergic innervation of forebrain limbic structures disturbed in suicidal behaviour, in which an abnormal microglia reaction seems to play a role. In our present study, the density of microglia immunostained for the HLA-DR antigen was evaluated in the DRN. These analyses were carried out on paraffin-embedded brains from 24 suicidal and 21 non-suicidal patients; among them, 27 depressed (15 major depressive disorder and 12 bipolar disorder) and 18 schizophrenia (9 residual and 9 paranoid) patients and 22 matched controls without mental disorders. Only the non-suicidal depressed subgroup revealed significantly lower microglial reaction, i.e., a decreased density of HLA-DR positive microglia versus both depressed suicide victims and controls. The effect was not related to antidepressant or antipsychotic medication, as the former correlated positively with microglial density in non-suicidal depressed patients, and the latter had no effect. Moreover, the comparison of these results with previously published data from our workgroup in the same cohort (Krzyżanowska et al. in Psychiatry Res 241:43-46, 4) suggested a positive impact of microglia on ribosomal DNA transcription in DRN neurons in the non-suicidal depressed subgroup, but not in depressed suicidal cases. Therefore, the interaction between microglia and neurons in the DRN may be potentially involved in opposite ways regarding suicide facilitation and prevention in the tested subgroups of depressed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Brisch
- 0000 0001 0531 3426grid.11451.30Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Johann Steiner
- 0000 0001 1018 4307grid.5807.aDepartment of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christian Mawrin
- 0000 0001 1018 4307grid.5807.aInstitute of Neuropathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marta Krzyżanowska
- 0000 0001 0531 3426grid.11451.30Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Jankowski
- 0000 0001 0531 3426grid.11451.30Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204, Gdańsk, Poland. .,Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany.
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31
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Kalin NH, Fox AS, Kovner R, Riedel MK, Fekete EM, Roseboom PH, Tromp DPM, Grabow BP, Olsen ME, Brodsky EK, McFarlin DR, Alexander AL, Emborg ME, Block WF, Fudge JL, Oler JA. Overexpressing Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in the Primate Amygdala Increases Anxious Temperament and Alters Its Neural Circuit. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 80:345-55. [PMID: 27016385 PMCID: PMC4967405 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonhuman primate models are critical for understanding mechanisms underlying human psychopathology. We established a nonhuman primate model of anxious temperament (AT) for studying the early-life risk to develop anxiety and depression. Studies have identified the central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) as an essential component of AT's neural substrates. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is expressed in the Ce, has a role in stress, and is linked to psychopathology. Here, in young rhesus monkeys, we combined viral vector technology with assessments of anxiety and multimodal neuroimaging to understand the consequences of chronically increased CRF in the Ce region. METHODS Using real-time intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging-guided convection-enhanced delivery, five monkeys received bilateral dorsal amygdala Ce-region infusions of adeno-associated virus serotype 2 containing the CRF construct. Their cagemates served as unoperated control subjects. AT, regional brain metabolism, resting functional magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging were assessed before and 2 months after viral infusions. RESULTS Dorsal amygdala CRF overexpression significantly increased AT and metabolism within the dorsal amygdala. Additionally, we observed changes in metabolism in other AT-related regions, as well as in measures of functional and structural connectivity. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a translational roadmap that is important for understanding human psychopathology by combining molecular manipulations used in rodents with behavioral phenotyping and multimodal neuroimaging measures used in humans. The results indicate that chronic CRF overexpression in primates not only increases AT but also affects metabolism and connectivity within components of AT's neural circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ned H Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Rothem Kovner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | | | - Eva M Fekete
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Patrick H Roseboom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Do P M Tromp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | | | - Miles E Olsen
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Ethan K Brodsky
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,inseRT MRI, Inc
| | | | - Andrew L Alexander
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,inseRT MRI, Inc
| | - Marina E Emborg
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI
| | - Walter F Block
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,inseRT MRI, Inc
| | - Julie L Fudge
- Departments of Neurobiology and Anatomy, and Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
| | - Jonathan A Oler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
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32
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Barra de la Tremblaye P, Plamondon H. Alterations in the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurocircuitry: Insights into post stroke functional impairments. Front Neuroendocrinol 2016; 42:53-75. [PMID: 27455847 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Although it is well accepted that changes in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis may increase susceptibility to affective disorders in the general population, this link has been less examined in stroke patients. Yet, the bidirectional association between depression and cardiovascular disease is strong, and stress increases vulnerability to stroke. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the central stress hormone of the HPA axis pathway and acts by binding to CRH receptors (CRHR) 1 and 2, which are located in several stress-related brain regions. Evidence from clinical and animal studies suggests a role for CRH in the neurobiological basis of depression and ischemic brain injury. Given its importance in the regulation of the neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral correlates of adaptation and maladaptation to stress, CRH is likely associated in the pathophysiology of post stroke emotional impairments. The goals of this review article are to examine the clinical and experimental data describing (1) that CRH regulates the molecular signaling brain circuit underlying anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, (2) the influence of CRH and other stress markers in the pathophysiology of post stroke emotional and cognitive impairments, and (3) context and site specific interactions of CRH and BDNF as a basis for the development of novel therapeutic targets. This review addresses how the production and release of the neuropeptide CRH within the various regions of the mesocorticolimbic system influences emotional and cognitive behaviors with a look into its role in psychiatric disorders post stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Barra de la Tremblaye
- School of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Vanier Building, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - H Plamondon
- School of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Vanier Building, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
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33
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Gururajan A, Clarke G, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Molecular biomarkers of depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 64:101-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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34
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Krzyżanowska M, Steiner J, Karnecki K, Kaliszan M, Brisch R, Wiergowski M, Braun K, Jankowski Z, Gos T. Decreased ribosomal DNA transcription in dorsal raphe nucleus neurons differentiates between suicidal and non-suicidal death. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2016; 266:217-24. [PMID: 26590846 PMCID: PMC4819736 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-015-0655-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
An involvement of the central serotonergic system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of suicide. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is the main source of serotonergic innervation of forebrain limbic structures disturbed in suicidal behaviour. The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded brainstem blocks containing the DRN obtained from 27 suicide completers (predominantly violent) with unknown psychiatric diagnosis and 30 non-suicidal controls. The transcriptional activity of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in DRN neurons as a surrogate marker of protein biosynthesis was evaluated by the AgNOR silver staining method. Significant decreases in AgNOR parameters suggestive of attenuated rDNA activity were found in the cumulative analysis of all DRN subnuclei in suicide victims versus controls (U test P values < 0.00001). Our findings suggest that the decreased activity of rDNA transcription in DRN neurons plays an important role in suicide pathogenesis. The method accuracy represented by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (>80 %) suggests a diagnostic value of the observed effect. However, the possible application of the method in forensic differentiation diagnostics between suicidal and non-suicidal death needs further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Krzyżanowska
- />Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Johann Steiner
- />Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Karol Karnecki
- />Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michał Kaliszan
- />Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ralf Brisch
- />Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marek Wiergowski
- />Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katharina Braun
- />Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Zbigniew Jankowski
- />Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204, Gdańsk, Poland. .,Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany.
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35
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Krzyżanowska M, Steiner J, Brisch R, Mawrin C, Busse S, Braun K, Jankowski Z, Bernstein HG, Bogerts B, Gos T. Ribosomal DNA transcription in dorsal raphe nucleus neurons is increased in residual schizophrenia compared to depressed patients with affective disorders. Psychiatry Res 2015; 230:233-41. [PMID: 26350704 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The central serotonergic system is implicated differentially in the pathogenesis of depression and schizophrenia. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is the main source of serotonergic innervation of forebrain limbic structures disturbed in both disorders. The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded brains from 27 depressed (15 major depressive disorder, MDD and 12 bipolar disorder, BD) and 17 schizophrenia (9 residual and 8 paranoid) patients and 28 matched controls without mental disorders. The transcriptional activity of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in DRN neurons was evaluated by the AgNOR silver staining method. A significant effect of diagnosis on rDNA activity was found in the cumulative analysis of all DRN subnuclei. Further analysis revealed an increase in this activity in residual (but not paranoid) schizophrenia compared to depressed (both MDD and BD) patients. The effect was most probably neither confounded by suicide nor related to antidepressant and antipsychotic medication. Our findings suggest that increased activity of rDNA in DRN neurons is a distinct phenomenon in residual schizophrenia, related presumably to differentially disturbed inputs to the DRN and/or their local transformation compared with depressive episodes in patients with affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Krzyżanowska
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Brisch
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Christian Mawrin
- Institute of Neuropathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Busse
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Braun
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Zbigniew Jankowski
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Bernhard Bogerts
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland; Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany.
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Sex differences in the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system and its regulation by stress. Brain Res 2015; 1641:177-88. [PMID: 26607253 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Women are more likely than men to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression. In addition to their sex bias, these disorders share stress as an etiological factor and hyperarousal as a symptom. Thus, sex differences in brain arousal systems and their regulation by stress could help explain increased vulnerability to these disorders in women. Here we review preclinical studies that have identified sex differences in the locus coeruleus (LC)-norepinephrine (NE) arousal system. First, we detail how structural sex differences in the LC can bias females towards increased arousal in response to emotional events. Second, we highlight studies demonstrating that estrogen can increase NE in LC target regions by enhancing the capacity for NE synthesis, while reducing NE degradation, potentially increasing arousal in females. Third, we review data revealing how sex differences in the stress receptor, corticotropin releasing factor 1 (CRF1), can increase LC neuronal sensitivity to CRF in females compared to males. This effect could translate into hyperarousal in women under conditions of CRF hypersecretion that occur in PTSD and depression. The implications of these sex differences for the treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders are discussed. Moreover, the value of using information regarding biological sex differences to aid in the development of novel pharmacotherapies to better treat men and women with PTSD and depression is also highlighted. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Noradrenergic System.
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Rodriguez KM, Stevenson EL, Stewart CE, Linscott ML, Chung WCJ. Fibroblast growth factor 8 regulates postnatal development of paraventricular nucleus neuroendocrine cells. Behav Brain Funct 2015; 11:34. [PMID: 26537115 PMCID: PMC4634727 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-015-0081-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are crucial signaling molecules that direct the development of the vertebrate brain. FGF8 gene signaling in particular, may be important for the development of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis. Indeed, newborn Fgf8 hypomorphic mice harbor a major reduction in the number of vasopressin (VP) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the central output component of the HPA-axis. Additionally, recent studies indicated that adult heterozygous (+/neo) Fgf8 hypomorphic mice exhibit more anxiety-like behaviors than wildtype (WT) mice. These studies led us to investigate whether Fgf8 hypomorphy abrogated VP and/or corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neuronal development in the postnatal day (PN) 21 and adult mouse PVN. Furthermore, we studied whether Fgf8 hypomorphy disrupted HPA responsiveness in these mice. Methods Using immunohistochemistry, we examined the development of VP and CRH neurons located in the PVN of PN 21 and adult Fgf8+/neo mice. Moreover, we used a restraint stress (RS) paradigm and measured corticosterone levels with enzyme immunoassays in order to assess HPA axis activation. Results The number of VP neurons in the PVN did not differ between WT and Fgf8+/neo mice on PN 21 and in adulthood. In contrast, CRH immunoreactivity was much higher in Fgf8+/neo mice than in WT mice on PN 21, this difference was no longer shown in adult mice. RS caused a higher increase in corticosterone levels in adult Fgf8+/neo mice than in WT mice after 15 min, but no difference was seen after 45 min. Conclusions First, Fgf8 hypomorphy did not eliminate VP and CRH neurons in the mouse PVN, but rather disrupted the postnatal timing of neuropeptide expression onset in PVN neurons. Second, Fgf8 hypomorphy may, in part, be an explanation for affective disorders involving hyperactivity of the HPA axis, such as anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla M Rodriguez
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Erica L Stevenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, 53 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Courtney E Stewart
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Megan L Linscott
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, 53 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Wilson C J Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, 53 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA. .,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
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Bangasser DA, Kawasumi Y. Cognitive disruptions in stress-related psychiatric disorders: A role for corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). Horm Behav 2015; 76:125-35. [PMID: 25888454 PMCID: PMC4605842 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "SBN 2014". Stress is a potential etiology contributor to both post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and major depression. One stress-related neuropeptide that is hypersecreted in these disorders is corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). Dysregulation of CRF has long been linked to the emotion and mood symptoms that characterize PTSD and depression. However, the idea that CRF also mediates the cognitive disruptions observed in patients with these disorders has received less attention. Here we review literature indicating that CRF can alter cognitive functions. Detailed are anatomical studies revealing that CRF is poised to modulate regions required for learning and memory. We also describe preclinical behavioral studies that demonstrate CRF's ability to alter fear conditioning, impair memory consolidation, and alter a number of executive functions, including attention and cognitive flexibility. The implications of these findings for the etiology and treatment of the cognitive impairments observed in stress-related psychiatric disorders are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Yushi Kawasumi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Waters RP, Rivalan M, Bangasser DA, Deussing JM, Ising M, Wood SK, Holsboer F, Summers CH. Evidence for the role of corticotropin-releasing factor in major depressive disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 58:63-78. [PMID: 26271720 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a devastating disease affecting over 300 million people worldwide, and costing an estimated 380 billion Euros in lost productivity and health care in the European Union alone. Although a wealth of research has been directed toward understanding and treating MDD, still no therapy has proved to be consistently and reliably effective in interrupting the symptoms of this disease. Recent clinical and preclinical studies, using genetic screening and transgenic rodents, respectively, suggest a major role of the CRF1 gene, and the central expression of CRF1 receptor protein in determining an individual's risk of developing MDD. This gene is widely expressed in brain tissue, and regulates an organism's immediate and long-term responses to social and environmental stressors, which are primary contributors to MDD. This review presents the current state of knowledge on CRF physiology, and how it may influence the occurrence of symptoms associated with MDD. Additionally, this review presents findings from multiple laboratories that were presented as part of a symposium on this topic at the annual 2014 meeting of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS). The ideas and data presented in this review demonstrate the great progress that has been made over the past few decades in our understanding of MDD, and provide a pathway forward toward developing novel treatments and detection methods for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - J M Deussing
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - M Ising
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - S K Wood
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - F Holsboer
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; HMNC GmbH, Munich, Germany
| | - Cliff H Summers
- University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA; Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA.
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Zaconeta AM, Amato AA, Barra GB, Casulari da Motta LD, de Souza VC, Karnikowski MGDO, Casulari LA. Cerebrospinal Fluid CRH Levels in Late Pregnancy Are Not Associated With New-Onset Postpartum Depressive Symptoms. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:3159-64. [PMID: 26066672 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-4503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT CRH participates in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and in neural circuits involved in the pathophysiology of depression. During pregnancy, the placenta produces large amounts of CRH, and production ceases abruptly after delivery. The relationship between CRH in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during pregnancy and peripartum mood disorders has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to determine whether there are differences in CSF CRH concentrations of pregnant and nonpregnant women and whether CSF CRH concentrations in late pregnancy are associated with the presence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period. DESIGN This was a prospective cohort study conducted from January to April, 2011. SETTING The study was conducted in one public and two private hospitals in Brasilia, Brazil. PATIENTS Patients included 107 healthy pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean delivery and 22 nonpregnant healthy women who underwent spinal anesthesia for elective surgical sterilization. INTERVENTION CRH in CSF was measured in pregnant and nonpregnant women by ELISA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The association between CSF CRH concentration at delivery and maternal depression assessed before cesarean section and postpartum (4 to 8 wk) with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with a cutoff of ≥ 13. RESULTS CRH concentration in the CSF was significantly higher in pregnant (4.1 ± 0.51 log CRH) than in nonpregnant women (3.6 ± 0.26 log CRH) (P < .001). Depressive symptoms starting after delivery occurred in 5.6% of women. CRH concentration in CSF was not different between women without depressive symptoms and women showing such symptoms during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. CONCLUSION CRH concentration in the CSF was higher in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women. However, in this sample, CSF CRH in late pregnancy was not associated with new-onset depressive symptoms in the early postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Moreno Zaconeta
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
| | - Angélica Amorim Amato
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Barcelos Barra
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
| | - Lucília Domingues Casulari da Motta
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Carolino de Souza
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
| | - Margô Gomes de Oliveira Karnikowski
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
| | - Luiz Augusto Casulari
- Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.M.Z., L.D.C.d.M.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.A.A.), Sabin Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Post-Graduation in Health Sciences (G.B.B.), Medical Sciences Graduate Program (V.C.d.S.), Faculty of Ceilandia (M.G.d.O.K.), and Section of Endocrinology (L.A.C.), University of Brasília, 70840-901 Brasília, Brazil
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Anacker C, O'Donnell KJ, Meaney MJ. Early life adversity and the epigenetic programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2015. [PMID: 25364283 PMCID: PMC4214175 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2014.16.3/canacker] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We review studies with human and nonhuman species that examine the hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms, particularly those affecting the expression of genes implicated in stress responses, mediate the association between early childhood adversity and later risk of depression. The resulting studies provide evidence consistent with the idea that social adversity, particularly that involving parent-offspring interactions, alters the epigenetic state and expression of a wide range of genes, the products of which regulate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. We also address the challenges for future studies, including that of the translation of epigenetic studies towards improvements in treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Anacker
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Wood SK, Bhatnagar S. Resilience to the effects of social stress: evidence from clinical and preclinical studies on the role of coping strategies. Neurobiol Stress 2015; 1:164-173. [PMID: 25580450 PMCID: PMC4286805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common form of stress encountered by people stems from one's social environment and is perceived as more intense than other types of stressors. One feature that may be related to differential resilience or vulnerability to stress is the type of strategy used to cope with the stressor, either active or passive coping. This review focuses on models of social stress in which individual differences in coping strategies produce resilience or vulnerability to the effects of stress. Neurobiological mechanisms underlying these individual differences are discussed. Overall, the literature suggests that there are multiple neural mechanisms that underlie individual differences in stress-induced resilience and vulnerability. How these mechanisms interact with one another to produce a resilient or vulnerable phenotype is not understood and such mechanisms have been poorly studied in females and in early developmental periods. Finally, we propose that resilience may be stress context specific and resilience phenotypes may need to be fine-tuned to suit a shifting environment. Resilience is considered positive adaptation in the face of adversity. Coping strategy impacts one's susceptibility to social stress-induced psychopathology. Neurobiological substrates such as CRF, NPY and DA may impact stress susceptibility. Individual differences within females and during adolescence are poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan K. Wood
- Department of Pharmacology Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Basic Science Bldg 1, 3rd Floor, Rm D28A, 6439 Garners Ferry Rd, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399, USA
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Ribosomal DNA transcription in the dorsal raphe nucleus is increased in residual but not in paranoid schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2015; 265:117-26. [PMID: 25091423 PMCID: PMC4339493 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-014-0518-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The central serotonergic system is implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, where the imbalance between dopamine, serotonin and glutamate plays a key pathophysiological role. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is the main source of serotonergic innervation of forebrain limbic structures disturbed in schizophrenia patients. The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded brains from 17 (8 paranoid and 9 residual) schizophrenia patients and 28 matched controls without mental disorders. The transcriptional activity of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in DRN neurons was evaluated by the AgNOR silver-staining method. An increased rDNA transcriptional activity was found in schizophrenia patients in the cumulative analysis of all DRN subnuclei (t test, P = 0.02). Further subgroup analysis revealed that it was an effect specific for residual schizophrenia versus paranoid schizophrenia or control groups (ANOVA, P = 0.002). This effect was confounded neither by suicide nor by antipsychotic medication. Our findings suggest that increased activity of rDNA in DRN neurons is a distinct phenomenon in schizophrenia, particularly in residual patients. An activation of the rDNA transcription in DRN neurons may represent a compensatory mechanism to overcome the previously described prefrontal serotonergic hypofunction in this diagnostic subgroup.
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Oquendo MA, Sullivan GM, Sudol K, Baca-Garcia E, Stanley BH, Sublette ME, Mann JJ. Toward a biosignature for suicide. Am J Psychiatry 2014; 171:1259-77. [PMID: 25263730 PMCID: PMC4356635 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Suicide, a major cause of death worldwide, has distinct biological underpinnings. The authors review and synthesize the research literature on biomarkers of suicide, with the aim of using the findings of these studies to develop a coherent model for the biological diathesis for suicide. METHOD The authors examined studies covering a large range of neurobiological systems implicated in suicide. They provide succinct descriptions of each system to provide a context for interpreting the meaning of findings in suicide. RESULTS Several lines of evidence implicate dysregulation in stress response systems, especially the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, as a diathesis for suicide. Additional findings related to neuroinflammatory indices, glutamatergic function, and neuronal plasticity at the cellular and circuitry level may reflect downstream effects of such dysregulation. Whether serotonergic abnormalities observed in individuals who have died by suicide are independent of stress response abnormalities is an unresolved question. CONCLUSIONS The most compelling biomarkers for suicide are linked to altered stress responses and their downstream effects, and to abnormalities in the serotonergic system. Studying these systems in parallel and in the same populations may elucidate the role of each and their interplay, possibly leading to identification of new treatment targets and biological predictors.
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Wood SK. Cardiac autonomic imbalance by social stress in rodents: understanding putative biomarkers. Front Psychol 2014; 5:950. [PMID: 25206349 PMCID: PMC4143725 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stress or traumatic events can lead to the development of depression and anxiety disorders. In addition to the debilitating consequences on mental health, patients with psychiatric disorders also suffer from autonomic imbalance, making them susceptible to a variety of medical disorders. Emerging evidence utilizing spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), a reliable non-invasive measure of cardiovascular autonomic regulation, indicates that patients with depression and various anxiety disorders (i.e., panic, social, generalized anxiety disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder) are characterized by decreased HRV. Social stressors in rodents are ethologically relevant experimental stressors that recapitulate many of the dysfunctional behavioral and physiological changes that occur in psychological disorders. In this review, evidence from clinical studies and preclinical stress models identify putative biomarkers capable of precipitating the comorbidity between disorders of the mind and autonomic dysfunction. Specifically, the role of corticotropin releasing factor, neuropeptide Y and inflammation are investigated. The impetus for this review is to highlight stress-related biomarkers that may prove critical in the development of autonomic imbalance in stress -related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan K Wood
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina Columbia, SC, USA
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46
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Bangasser DA, Valentino RJ. Sex differences in stress-related psychiatric disorders: neurobiological perspectives. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35:303-19. [PMID: 24726661 PMCID: PMC4087049 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Stress is associated with the onset and severity of several psychiatric disorders that occur more frequently in women than men, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Patients with these disorders present with dysregulation of several stress response systems, including the neuroendocrine response to stress, corticolimbic responses to negatively valenced stimuli, and hyperarousal. Thus, sex differences within their underlying circuitry may explain sex biases in disease prevalence. This review describes clinical studies that identify sex differences within the activity of these circuits, as well as preclinical studies that demonstrate cellular and molecular sex differences in stress responses systems. These studies reveal sex differences from the molecular to the systems level that increase endocrine, emotional, and arousal responses to stress in females. Exploring these sex differences is critical because this research can reveal the neurobiological underpinnings of vulnerability to stress-related psychiatric disorders and guide the development of novel pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Rita J Valentino
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Labermaier C, Kohl C, Hartmann J, Devigny C, Altmann A, Weber P, Arloth J, Quast C, Wagner KV, Scharf SH, Czibere L, Widner-Andrä R, Brenndörfer J, Landgraf R, Hausch F, Jones KA, Müller MB, Uhr M, Holsboer F, Binder EB, Schmidt MV. A polymorphism in the Crhr1 gene determines stress vulnerability in male mice. Endocrinology 2014; 155:2500-10. [PMID: 24773341 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders but does not necessarily lead to uniform long-term effects on mental health, suggesting modulating factors such as genetic predispositions. Here we address the question whether natural genetic variations in the mouse CRH receptor 1 (Crhr1) locus modulate the effects of adolescent chronic social stress (ACSS) on long-term stress hormone dysregulation in outbred CD1 mice, which allows a better understanding of the currently reported genes × environment interactions of early trauma and CRHR1 in humans. We identified 2 main haplotype variants in the mouse Crhr1 locus that modulate the long-term effects of ACSS on basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. This effect is likely mediated by higher levels of CRHR1, because Crhr1 mRNA expression and CRHR1 binding were enhanced in risk haplotype carriers. Furthermore, a CRHR1 receptor antagonist normalized these long-term effects. Deep sequencing of the Crhr1 locus in CD1 mice revealed a large number of linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms with some located in important regulatory regions, similar to the location of human CRHR1 variants implicated in modulating gene × stress exposure interactions. Our data support that the described gene × stress exposure interaction in this animal model is based on naturally occurring genetic variations in the Crhr1 gene associated with enhanced CRHR1-mediated signaling. Our results suggest that patients with a specific genetic predisposition in the CRHR1 gene together with an exposure to chronic stress may benefit from a treatment selectively antagonizing CRHR1 hyperactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana Labermaier
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (C.L., C.K., J.H., C.D., A.A, P.W., J.A., C.Q., K.V.W., S.H.S., L.C., R.W-A., J.B., R.L., F.H., M.U., F.H., E.B.B., M.V.S.), 80804 Munich, Germany; Lundbeck Research USA (K.A.J.), Paramus, New Jersey 07652; and Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center (M.B.M.), 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism and altered COMT gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of suicide brains. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 50:178-83. [PMID: 24389396 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a key role in the degradation of catecholamine neurotransmitters within the brain. A functional polymorphism COMT Val158Met has been associated with psychiatric disorders including suicidal behavior. In the present study we examined whether this polymorphism was related to COMT mRNA expression in frontal cortical regions, and whether the expression of COMT differed between depressed suicide victims and psychiatric healthy controls. The Val158Met polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. The levels of COMT mRNA expression in the frontopolar cortex (FPC; 29 suicides vs. 27 controls) and orbital frontal cortex (OFC; 19 suicides vs. 15 controls) were significantly increased among depressed individuals that died by suicide relative to those of controls, being up-regulated by approximately 60% and 65% in the FPC and OFC, respectively. Furthermore, among individuals with the Met allele (Met/Met and Met/Val genotypes) who died by suicide COMT mRNA expression was elevated relative to that of the nondepressed Met allele carriers. However, significant differences were not detected between suicides (n=49) and controls (n=72) with respect to the Val158Met genotypic distribution and allelic frequencies. These results are consistent with the perspective that altered COMT mRNA expression in frontal cortical brain regions might contribute to suicide and/or depression, further supporting the role of dysregulation of catecholaminergic pathway genes in the pathophysiology of suicide behaviors.
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Wood SK. Individual differences in the neurobiology of social stress: implications for depression-cardiovascular disease comorbidity. Curr Neuropharmacol 2014; 12:205-11. [PMID: 24669213 PMCID: PMC3964750 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x11666131120224413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 11/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress initiates a cascade of complex neural and peripheral changes that promote healthy adaption to stress, but when unabated, leads to pathology. Fascinating individual differences arise in the ability to cope with a stressor, rendering an individual more or less likely to develop stress-induced pathologies such as depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease. In this review we evaluate recent findings that investigate the neural underpinnings of adopting a passive or active coping response during social defeat stress. Because passive coping is associated with vulnerability to stress-related pathologies and active coping confers resiliency, understanding neurobiological adaptations associated with these diverse coping strategies may reveal biomarkers or targets impacting stress susceptibility. The co-occurrence of stress-induced depression and cardiovascular disease is becoming increasingly clear. Therefore this review focuses on the central mechanisms capable of contributing to psychopathology and cardiovascular disease such as corticotropin releasing factor, neuropeptide Y, monoamines, cytokines and oxidative stress. The impetus for this review is to highlight neurobiological systems that warrant further evaluation for their contribution to the pathophysiology of depression-cardiovascular disease comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan K Wood
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience
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Beurel E, Nemeroff CB. Interaction of stress, corticotropin-releasing factor, arginine vasopressin and behaviour. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2014; 18:67-80. [PMID: 24659554 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2014_306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Stress mediates the activation of a variety of systems ranging from inflammatory to behavioral responses. In this review we focus on two neuropeptide systems, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), and their roles in regulating stress responses. Both peptides have been demonstrated to be involved in anxiogenic and depressive effects, actions mediated in part through their regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Because of the depressive effects of CRF and AVP, drugs modifying the stress-associated detrimental actions of CRF and AVP are under development, particularly drugs antagonizing CRF and AVP receptors for therapy in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eléonore Beurel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
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