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Scheggi S, Concas L, Corsi S, Carta M, Melis M, Frau R. Expanding the therapeutic potential of neuro(active)steroids: a promising strategy for hyperdopaminergic behavioral phenotypes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105842. [PMID: 39103066 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Imbalances in dopamine activity significantly contribute to the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction, ADHD, schizophrenia, impulse control disorders, and Parkinson's Disease. Neuro(active)steroids, comprising endogenous steroids that finely modulate neuronal activity, are considered crucial regulators of brain function and behavior, with implications in various physiological processes and pathological conditions. Specifically, subclasses of Neuro(active)steroids belonging to the 5α reductase pathway are prominently involved in brain disorders characterized by dopaminergic signaling imbalances. This review highlights the neuromodulatory effects of Neuro(active)steroids on the dopamine system and related aberrant behavioral phenotypes. We critically appraise the role of pregnenolone, progesterone, and allopregnanolone on dopamine signaling. Additionally, we discuss the impact of pharmacological interventions targeting 5α reductase activity in neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by excessive activation of the dopaminergic system, ranging from psychotic (endo)phenotypes and motor complications to decision-making problems and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Scheggi
- Dept. of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Luca Concas
- Dept. Of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sara Corsi
- Dept. of Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Manolo Carta
- Dept. Of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Miriam Melis
- Dept. Of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Frau
- Dept. Of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy; Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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2
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Liu Z, Sun W, Ng YH, Dong H, Quake SR, Südhof TC. The cortical amygdala consolidates a socially transmitted long-term memory. Nature 2024; 632:366-374. [PMID: 38961294 PMCID: PMC11306109 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07632-5] [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: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Social communication guides decision-making, which is essential for survival. Social transmission of food preference (STFP) is an ecologically relevant memory paradigm in which an animal learns a desirable food odour from another animal in a social context, creating a long-term memory1,2. How food-preference memory is acquired, consolidated and stored is unclear. Here we show that the posteromedial nucleus of the cortical amygdala (COApm) serves as a computational centre in long-term STFP memory consolidation by integrating social and sensory olfactory inputs. Blocking synaptic signalling by the COApm-based circuit selectively abolished STFP memory consolidation without impairing memory acquisition, storage or recall. COApm-mediated STFP memory consolidation depends on synaptic inputs from the accessory olfactory bulb and on synaptic outputs to the anterior olfactory nucleus. STFP memory consolidation requires protein synthesis, suggesting a gene-expression mechanism. Deep single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics revealed robust but distinct gene-expression signatures induced by STFP memory formation in the COApm that are consistent with synapse restructuring. Our data thus define a neural circuit for the consolidation of a socially communicated long-term memory, thereby mechanistically distinguishing protein-synthesis-dependent memory consolidation from memory acquisition, storage or retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Wenfei Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yi Han Ng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hua Dong
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stephen R Quake
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Redwood City, CA, USA.
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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3
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Li Y, Tan Y, Ren L, Li Q, Sui J, Liu S. Structural and expression analysis of the dopamine receptors reveals their crucial roles in regulating the insulin signaling pathway in oysters. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 247:125703. [PMID: 37414315 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine performs its critical role upon binding to receptors. Since dopamine receptors are numerous and versatile, understanding their protein structures and evolution status, and identifying the key receptors involved in the modulation of insulin signaling will provide essential clues to investigate the molecular mechanism of neuroendocrine regulating the growth in invertebrates. In this study, seven dopamine receptors were identified in the Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and were classified into four subtypes according to their protein secondary and tertiary structures, and ligand-binding activities. Of which, DR2 (dopamine receptor 2) and D(2)RA-like (D(2) dopamine receptor A-like) were considered the invertebrate-specific type 1 and type 2 dopamine receptors, respectively. Expression analysis indicated that the DR2 and D(2)RA-like were highly expressed in the fast-growing oyster "Haida No.1". After in vitro incubation of ganglia and adductor muscle with exogenous dopamine and dopamine receptor antagonists, the expression of these two dopamine receptors and ILPs (insulin-like peptides) was also significantly affected. Dual-fluorescence in situ hybridization results showed that D(2)RA-like and DR2 were co-localized with MIRP3 (molluscan insulin-related peptide 3) and MIRP3-like (molluscan insulin-related peptide 3-like) in the visceral ganglia, and were co-localized with ILP (insulin-like peptide) in the adductor muscle. Furthermore, the downstream components of dopamine signaling, including PKA, ERK, CREB, CaMKK1, AKT, and GSK3β were also significantly affected by the exogenous dopamine and dopamine receptor antagonists. These findings confirmed that dopamine might affect the secretion of ILPs through the invertebrate-specific dopamine receptors D(2)RA-like and DR2, and thus played crucial roles in the growth regulation of the Pacific oysters. Our study establishes the potential regulatory relationship between the dopaminergic system and insulin-like signaling pathway in marine invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Ying Tan
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Liting Ren
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Jianxin Sui
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China
| | - Shikai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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4
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Savchenko A, Targa G, Fesenko Z, Leo D, Gainetdinov RR, Sukhanov I. Dopamine Transporter Deficient Rodents: Perspectives and Limitations for Neuroscience. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050806. [PMID: 37238676 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The key element of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission is undoubtedly DA transporter (DAT), a transmembrane protein responsible for the synaptic reuptake of the mediator. Changes in DAT's function can be a key mechanism of pathological conditions associated with hyperdopaminergia. The first strain of gene-modified rodents with a lack of DAT were created more than 25 years ago. Such animals are characterized by increased levels of striatal DA, resulting in locomotor hyperactivity, increased levels of motor stereotypes, cognitive deficits, and other behavioral abnormalities. The administration of dopaminergic and pharmacological agents affecting other neurotransmitter systems can mitigate those abnormalities. The main purpose of this review is to systematize and analyze (1) known data on the consequences of changes in DAT expression in experimental animals, (2) results of pharmacological studies in these animals, and (3) to estimate the validity of animals lacking DAT as models for discovering new treatments of DA-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem Savchenko
- Valdman Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, Lev Tolstoy Str. 6-8, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Giorgia Targa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Zoia Fesenko
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Damiana Leo
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Raul R Gainetdinov
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- St. Petersburg University Hospital, St. Petersburg State University, Fontanka River Emb. 154, 190121 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ilya Sukhanov
- Valdman Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, Lev Tolstoy Str. 6-8, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
- St. Petersburg University Hospital, St. Petersburg State University, Fontanka River Emb. 154, 190121 St. Petersburg, Russia
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5
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Corsi S, Scheggi S, Pardu A, Braccagni G, Caruso D, Cioffi L, Diviccaro S, Gentile M, Fanni S, Stancampiano R, Gambarana C, Melcangi RC, Frau R, Carta M. Pregnenolone for the treatment of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol 2023; 363:114370. [PMID: 36878398 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Growing preclinical and clinical evidence highlights neurosteroid pathway imbalances in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LIDs). We recently reported that 5α-reductase (5AR) inhibitors dampen dyskinesias in parkinsonian rats; however, unraveling which specific neurosteroid mediates this effect is critical to optimize a targeted therapy. Among the 5AR-related neurosteroids, striatal pregnenolone has been shown to be increased in response to 5AR blockade and decreased after 6-OHDA lesions in the rat PD model. Moreover, this neurosteroid rescued psychotic-like phenotypes by exerting marked antidopaminergic activity. In light of this evidence, we investigated whether pregnenolone might dampen the appearance of LIDs in parkinsonian drug-naïve rats. We tested 3 escalating doses of pregnenolone (6, 18, 36 mg/kg) in 6-OHDA-lesioned male rats and compared the behavioral, neurochemical, and molecular outcomes with those induced by the 5AR inhibitor dutasteride, as positive control. The results showed that pregnenolone dose-dependently countered LIDs without affecting L-DOPA-induced motor improvements. Post-mortem analyses revealed that pregnenolone significantly prevented the increase of validated striatal markers of dyskinesias, such as phospho-Thr-34 DARPP-32 and phospho-ERK1/2, as well as D1-D3 receptor co-immunoprecipitation in a fashion similar to dutasteride. Moreover, the antidyskinetic effect of pregnenolone was paralleled by reduced striatal levels of BDNF, a well-established factor associated with the development of LIDs. In support of a direct pregnenolone effect, LC/MS-MS analyses revealed that striatal pregnenolone levels strikingly increased after the exogenous administration, with no significant alterations in downstream metabolites. All these data suggest pregnenolone as a key player in the antidyskinetic properties of 5AR inhibitors and highlight this neurosteroid as an interesting novel tool to target LIDs in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Corsi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Simona Scheggi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pardu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Giulia Braccagni
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Donatella Caruso
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Lucia Cioffi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Silvia Diviccaro
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Mauro Gentile
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Silvia Fanni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy; Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Sweden
| | | | - Carla Gambarana
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Roberto Cosimo Melcangi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy; "Guy Everett Laboratory", Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Manolo Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy.
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6
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Seljeset S, Liebowitz S, Bright DP, Smart TG. Pre- and postsynaptic modulation of hippocampal inhibitory synaptic transmission by pregnenolone sulphate. Neuropharmacology 2023; 233:109530. [PMID: 37037282 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109530] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurosteroids are important endogenous modulators of GABAA receptor-mediated neurotransmission within the CNS and play a vital role in maintaining normal healthy brain function. Research has mainly focussed on neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone and tetrahydro-deoxycorticosterone (THDOC) which are allosteric potentiators of GABAA receptors, whilst the sulphated steroids, including pregnenolone sulphate (PS), which inhibit GABAA receptor function, have been relatively neglected. Importantly, a full description of PS effects on inhibitory synaptic transmission, at concentrations that are expected to inhibit postsynaptic GABAA receptors, is lacking. Here, we address this deficit by recording inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) from rat hippocampal neurons both in culture and in acute brain slices and explore the impact of PS at micromolar concentrations. We reveal that PS inhibits postsynaptic GABAA receptors, evident from reductions in IPSC amplitude and decay time. Concurrently, PS also causes an increase in synaptic GABA release which we discover is due to the activation of presynaptic TRPM3 receptors located close to presynaptic GABA release sites. Pharmacological blockade of TRPM3 receptors uncovers a PS-evoked reduction in IPSC frequency. This second presynaptic effect is caused by PS activation of inwardly-rectifying Kir2.3 channels on interneurons, which act to depress synaptic GABA release. Overall, we provide a comprehensive characterisation of pre- and postsynaptic modulation by PS of inhibitory synaptic transmission onto hippocampal neurons which elucidates the diverse mechanisms by which this understudied neurosteroid can modulate brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Seljeset
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Seth Liebowitz
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Damian P Bright
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Trevor G Smart
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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7
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Bhagar R, Le-Niculescu H, Roseberry K, Kosary K, Daly C, Ballew A, Yard M, Sandusky GE, Niculescu AB. Temporal effects on death by suicide: empirical evidence and possible molecular correlates. DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 3:10. [PMID: 37861857 PMCID: PMC10501025 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-023-00035-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Popular culture and medical lore have long postulated a connection between full moon and exacerbations of psychiatric disorders. We wanted to empirically analyze the hypothesis that suicides are increased during the period around full moons. We analyzed pre-COVID suicides from the Marion County Coroner's Office (n = 776), and show that deaths by suicide are significantly increased during the week of the full moon (p = 0.037), with older individuals (age ≥ 55) showing a stronger effect (p = 0.019). We also examined in our dataset which hour of the day (3-4 pm, p = 0.035), and which month of the year (September, p = 0.09) show the most deaths by suicide. We had blood samples on a subset of the subjects (n = 45), which enabled us to look at possible molecular mechanisms. We tested a list of top blood biomarkers for suicidality (n = 154) from previous studies of ours 7, to assess which of them are predictive. The biomarkers for suicidality that are predictive of death by suicide during full moon, peak hour of day, and peak month of year, respectively, compared to outside of those periods, appear to be enriched in circadian clock genes. For full moon it is AHCYL2, ACSM3, AK2, and RBM3. For peak hour it is GSK3B, AK2, and PRKCB. For peak month it is TBL1XR1 and PRKCI. Half of these genes are modulated in expression by lithium and by valproate in opposite direction to suicidality, and all of them are modulated by depression and alcohol in the same direction as suicidality. These data suggest that there are temporal effects on suicidality, possibly mediated by biological clocks, pointing to changes in ambient light (timing and intensity) as a therapeutically addressable target to decrease suicidality, that can be coupled with psychiatric pharmacological and addiction treatment preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Bhagar
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Building 200B, 320 W. 15thStreet, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - H Le-Niculescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Building 200B, 320 W. 15thStreet, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - K Roseberry
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Building 200B, 320 W. 15thStreet, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - K Kosary
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Building 200B, 320 W. 15thStreet, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - C Daly
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Building 200B, 320 W. 15thStreet, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - A Ballew
- Marion County Coroner's Office, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - M Yard
- INBRAIN, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - G E Sandusky
- INBRAIN, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - A B Niculescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Building 200B, 320 W. 15thStreet, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- INBRAIN, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Indianapolis VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, USA.
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Kolas V, Bandonil JSA, Wali N, Hsia KC, Shie JJ, Chung BC. A synthetic pregnenolone analog promotes microtubule dynamics and neural development. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:190. [PMID: 36456994 PMCID: PMC9717551 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00923-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnenolone (P5) is a neurosteroid that promotes microtubule polymerization. It also reduces stress and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, promotes memory, as well as recovery from spinal cord injury. P5 is the first substance in the steroid-synthetic pathway; it can be further metabolized into other steroids. Therefore, it is difficult to differentiate the roles of P5 versus its metabolites in the brain. To alleviate this problem, we synthesized and screened a series of non-metabolizable P5 derivatives for their ability to polymerize microtubules similar to P5. RESULTS We identified compound #43 (3-beta-pregnenolone acetate), which increased microtubule polymerization. We showed that compound #43 modified microtubule dynamics in live cells, increased neurite outgrowth and changed growth cone morphology in mouse cerebellar granule neuronal culture. Furthermore, compound #43 promoted the formation of stable microtubule tracks in zebrafish developing cerebellar axons. CONCLUSIONS We have developed compound #43, a nonmetabolized P5 analog, that recapitulates P5 functions in vivo and can be a new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoryia Kolas
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan ,grid.38348.340000 0004 0532 0580Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | | | - Niaz Wali
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan ,grid.19188.390000 0004 0546 0241Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan ,grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Taiwan International Graduate Program, (TIGP-CBMB) Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chiang Hsia
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Jie Shie
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bon-chu Chung
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan ,grid.38348.340000 0004 0532 0580Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ,grid.254145.30000 0001 0083 6092Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
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9
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SRI-32743, a novel allosteric modulator, attenuates HIV-1 Tat protein-induced inhibition of the dopamine transporter and alleviates the potentiation of cocaine reward in HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice. Neuropharmacology 2022; 220:109239. [PMID: 36126727 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine abuse increases the incidence of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders. We have demonstrated that HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) allosterically modulates dopamine (DA) reuptake through the human DA transporter (hDAT), potentially contributing to Tat-induced cognitive impairment and potentiation of cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP). This study determined the effects of a novel allosteric modulator of DAT, SRI-32743, on the interactions of HIV-1 Tat, DA, cocaine, and [3H]WIN35,428 with hDAT in vitro. SRI-32743 (50 nM) attenuated Tat-induced inhibition of [3H]DA uptake and decreased the cocaine-mediated dissociation of [3H]WIN35,428 binding in CHO cells expressing hDAT, suggesting a SRI-32743-mediated allosteric modulation of the Tat-DAT interaction. In further in vivo studies utilizing doxycycline-inducible Tat transgenic (iTat-tg) mice, 14 days of Tat expression significantly reduced the recognition index by 31.7% in the final phase of novel object recognition (NOR) and potentiated cocaine-CPP 2.7-fold compared to responses of vehicle-treated control iTat-tg mice. The Tat-induced NOR deficits and potentiation of cocaine-CPP were not observed in saline-treated iTat-tg or doxycycline-treated G-tg (Tat-null) mice. Systemic administration (i.p.) of SRI-32743 prior to behavioral testing ameliorated Tat-induced impairment of NOR (at a dose of 10 mg/kg) and the Tat-induced potentiation of cocaine-CPP (at doses of 1 or 10 mg/kg). These findings demonstrate that Tat and cocaine interactions with DAT may be regulated by compounds interacting at the DAT allosteric modulatory sites, suggesting a potential therapeutic intervention for HIV-infected patients with concurrent cocaine abuse.
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10
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Mayeli A, Clancy KJ, Sonnenschein S, Sarpal DK, Ferrarelli F. A narrative review of treatment interventions to improve cognitive performance in schizophrenia, with an emphasis on at-risk and early course stages. Psychiatry Res 2022; 317:114926. [PMID: 36932470 PMCID: PMC10729941 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of schizophrenia (SCZ), which unfavorably affects SCZ patients' daily functioning and overall clinical outcome. An increasing body of evidence has shown that cognitive deficits are present not only at the beginning of the illness but also several years before the onset of psychosis. Nonetheless, the majority of treatment interventions targeting cognitive dysfunction in SCZ, using both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches, have focused on chronic patients rather than individuals at high risk or in the early stages of the disease. In this article, we provide a narrative review of cognitive interventions in SCZ patients, with a particular focus on pre-emptive interventions in at-risk/early course individuals when available. Furthermore, we discuss current challenges for these pre-emptive treatment interventions and provide some suggestions on how future work may ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Mayeli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Forbes Ave, Suite 456, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kevin J Clancy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Forbes Ave, Suite 456, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Susan Sonnenschein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Forbes Ave, Suite 456, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Deepak K Sarpal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Forbes Ave, Suite 456, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Forbes Ave, Suite 456, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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11
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Vitku J, Hill M, Kolatorova L, Kubala Havrdova E, Kancheva R. Steroid Sulfation in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:839887. [PMID: 35281259 PMCID: PMC8904904 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.839887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid sulfation and desulfation participates in the regulation of steroid bioactivity, metabolism and transport. The authors focused on sulfation and desulfation balance in three neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer´s disease (AD), Parkinson´s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Circulating steroid conjugates dominate their unconjugated counterparts, but unconjugated steroids outweigh their conjugated counterparts in the brain. Apart from the neurosteroid synthesis in the central nervous system (CNS), most brain steroids cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) from the periphery and then may be further metabolized. Therefore, steroid levels in the periphery partly reflect the situation in the brain. The CNS steroids subsequently influence the neuronal excitability and have neuroprotective, neuroexcitatory, antidepressant and memory enhancing effects. They also exert anti-inflammatory and immunoprotective actions. Like the unconjugated steroids, the sulfated ones modulate various ligand-gated ion channels. Conjugation by sulfotransferases increases steroid water solubility and facilitates steroid transport. Steroid sulfates, having greater half-lives than their unconjugated counterparts, also serve as a steroid stock pool. Sulfotransferases are ubiquitous enzymes providing massive steroid sulfation in adrenal zona reticularis and zona fasciculata.. Steroid sulfatase hydrolyzing the steroid conjugates is exceedingly expressed in placenta but is ubiquitous in low amounts including brain capillaries of BBB which can rapidly hydrolyze the steroid sulfates coming across the BBB from the periphery. Lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) plasma levels and reduced sulfotransferase activity are considered as risk factors in AD patients. The shifted balance towards unconjugated steroids can participate in the pathophysiology of PD and anti-inflammatory effects of DHEAS may counteract the MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Vitku
- Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Jana Vitku,
| | - Martin Hill
- Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lucie Kolatorova
- Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czechia
| | - Eva Kubala Havrdova
- Department of Neurology and Center of Clinical Neuroscience, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Radmila Kancheva
- Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czechia
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12
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Brancato A, Lo Russo SLM, Liberati AS, Carbone C, Zelli S, Laviola G, Cannizzaro C, Adriani W. Social Interactions of Dat-Het Epi-Genotypes Differing for Maternal Origins: The Development of a New Preclinical Model of Socio-Sexual Apathy. Biomedicines 2021; 9:778. [PMID: 34356842 PMCID: PMC8301365 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction is essential for life but is impaired in many psychiatric disorders. We presently focus on rats with a truncated allele for dopamine transporter (DAT). Since heterozygous individuals possess only one non-mutant allele, epigenetic interactions may unmask latent genetic predispositions. Homogeneous "maternal" heterozygous offspring (termed MAT-HET) were born from dopamine-transporter knocked-out (DAT-KO) male rats and wild-type (WT) mothers; "mixed" heterozygous offspring (termed MIX-HET) were born from both DAT-heterozygous parents. Their social behavior was assessed by: partner-preference (PPT), social-preference (SPT) and elicited-preference (EPT) tests. During the PPT, focal MIX-HET and MAT-HET males had a choice between two WT females, one in estrous and the other not. In the SPT, they met as stimulus either a MIX-HET or a WT male. In the EPT, the preference of focal male WT rats towards either a MIX- or a MAT-HET stimulus was tested. MIX-HET focal males showed an abnormal behavior, seeming not interested in socializing either with a female in estrous or with another male if MIX-HET. Focal MAT-HET males, instead, were very attracted by the female in estrous, but totally ignored the MIX-HET male. We assessed the expression of noradrenaline transporter (NET) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus, finding differences between the two offspring. MIX-HETs' hypothalamus and hippocampus showed less NET than MAT-HETs, while the latter, in turn, showed higher NET than WTs. These behavioral differences between heterozygous groups may be attributed to different maternal cares received. Results allow preclinical understanding of epigenetic factors involved in social-behavior abnormalities, typical of many psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Brancato
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Sara L. M. Lo Russo
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.L.M.L.R.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Anna Sara Liberati
- Faculty of Psychology, Università Telematica Internazionale “Uninettuno”, 00186 Rome, Italy;
| | - Cristiana Carbone
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.L.M.L.R.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Silvia Zelli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.L.M.L.R.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Giovanni Laviola
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.L.M.L.R.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Carla Cannizzaro
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Walter Adriani
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.L.M.L.R.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
- Faculty of Psychology, Università Telematica Internazionale “Uninettuno”, 00186 Rome, Italy;
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13
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Ang MJ, Lee S, Kim JC, Kim SH, Moon C. Behavioral Tasks Evaluating Schizophrenia-like Symptoms in Animal Models: A Recent Update. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 19:641-664. [PMID: 32798374 PMCID: PMC8573744 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200814175114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects more than 21 million people worldwide. Both genetics and the environment play a role in its etiology and pathogenesis. Symptoms of schizophrenia are mainly categorized into positive, negative, and cognitive. One major approach to identify and understand these diverse symptoms in humans has been to study behavioral phenotypes in a range of animal models of schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE We aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the behavioral tasks commonly used for measuring schizophrenia-like behaviors in rodents together with an update of the recent study findings. METHODS Articles describing phenotypes of schizophrenia-like behaviors in various animal models were collected through a literature search in Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, with a focus on advances over the last 10 years. RESULTS Numerous studies have used a range of animal models and behavioral paradigms of schizophrenia to develop antipsychotic drugs for improved therapeutics. In establishing animal models of schizophrenia, the candidate models were evaluated for schizophrenia-like behaviors using several behavioral tasks for positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms designed to verify human symptoms of schizophrenia. Such validated animal models were provided as rapid preclinical avenues for drug testing and mechanistic studies. CONCLUSION Based on the most recent advances in the field, it is apparent that a myriad of behavior tests are needed to confirm and evaluate the congruency of animal models with the numerous behaviors and clinical signs exhibited by patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Changjong Moon
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, South Korea, Tel: +82-62-530-2838; E-mail:
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14
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Jorratt P, Hoschl C, Ovsepian SV. Endogenous antagonists of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor in schizophrenia. Alzheimers Dement 2020; 17:888-905. [PMID: 33336545 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric brain disorder that has devastating personal impact and rising healthcare costs. Dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathobiology of the disease, attributed largely to the hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Currently, there is a major gap in mechanistic analysis as to how endogenous modulators of the NMDA receptors contribute to the onset and progression of the disease. We present a systematic review of the neurobiology and the role of endogenous NMDA receptor antagonists in animal models of schizophrenia, and in patients. We discuss their neurochemical origin, release from neurons and glia with action mechanisms, and functional effects, which might contribute toward the impairment of neuronal processes underlying this complex pathological state. We consider clinical evidence suggesting dysregulations of endogenous NMDA receptor in schizophrenia, and highlight the pressing need in future studies and emerging directions, to restore the NMDA receptor functions for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Jorratt
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Cyril Hoschl
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Saak V Ovsepian
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic
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15
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Fedorenko OY, Ivanova SA. [A new look at the genetics of neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2020; 120:183-192. [PMID: 32929943 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2020120081183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The article presents current literature data on genetic studies of neurocognitive deficit in schizophrenia, including the genes of neurotransmitter systems (dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and serotonergic); genes analyzed in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), as well as other genetic factors related to the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia and neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Yu Fedorenko
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia.,National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - S A Ivanova
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia.,National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
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16
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Wong P, Ho WY, Yen YC, Sanford E, Ling SC. The vulnerability of motor and frontal cortex-dependent behaviors in mice expressing ALS-linked mutation in TDP-43. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 92:43-60. [PMID: 32422502 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
TDP-43 aggregates are the defining pathological hallmark for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Strikingly, these TDP-43 proteinopathies are also found in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and are prevalent in the brains of old-aged humans. Furthermore, disease-causal mutations in TDP-43 have been identified for ALS and FTD. Collectively, the evidence indicates that TDP-43 dysfunctions lead to motor and cognitive deficits. To determine whether the mouse line expressing an ALS-linked mutation in TDP-43 (Q331K) can be used to study ALS-FTD spectrum disorders, we performed a systematic and longitudinal behavioral assessment that covered motor and cognitive functions. Deficits in motor and cognitive abilities were observed as early as 3 months of age and persisted through to 12 months of age. Within the cognitive modalities, the hippocampus-mediated spatial learning and memory, and contextual fear conditioning, were normal; whereas the frontal cortex-mediated working memory and cognitive flexibility were impaired. Biochemically, the human TDP-43 transgene downregulates endogenous mouse TDP-43 mRNA and protein, resulting in human TDP-43 protein that is comparable with the physiological level in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, Q331K TDP-43 is largely retained at the nucleus without apparent aggregates. Taken together, our data suggest that motor and frontal cortex may be more vulnerable to disease-linked mutation in TDP-43 and, this mouse model may be used to assess ALS-FTD-related spectrum diseases and the molecular underpinnings associated with the phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyan Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Yun Ho
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi-Chun Yen
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Emma Sanford
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shuo-Chien Ling
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Neurobiology/Ageing Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Program in Neuroscience and Behavior Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
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17
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Frau R, Miczán V, Traccis F, Aroni S, Pongor CI, Saba P, Serra V, Sagheddu C, Fanni S, Congiu M, Devoto P, Cheer JF, Katona I, Melis M. Prenatal THC exposure produces a hyperdopaminergic phenotype rescued by pregnenolone. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1975-1985. [PMID: 31611707 PMCID: PMC6884689 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0512-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Increased legal availability of cannabis has led to a common misconception that it is a safe natural remedy for, amongst others, pregnancy-related ailments like morning sickness. Emerging clinical evidence, however, indicates that prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) predisposes offspring to various neuropsychiatric disorders linked to aberrant dopaminergic function. Yet, our knowledge of how cannabis exposure affects the maturation of this neuromodulatory system remains limited. Here, we show that male, but not female, offspring of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-exposed dams, a rat PCE model, exhibit extensive molecular and synaptic changes in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area, including altered excitatory-to-inhibitory balance and switched polarity of long-term synaptic plasticity. The resulting hyperdopaminergic state leads to increased behavioral sensitivity to acute THC during pre-adolescence. The FDA-approved neurosteroid pregnenolone rescues synaptic defects and normalizes dopaminergic activity and behavior in PCE offspring, suggesting a therapeutic approach for offspring exposed to cannabis during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Vivien Miczán
- Momentum Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Francesco Traccis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Sonia Aroni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Csaba I Pongor
- Nikon Center of Excellence for Neuronal Imaging, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pierluigi Saba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valeria Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Silvia Fanni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mauro Congiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Paola Devoto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Joseph F Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - István Katona
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy.
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18
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Malt EA, Juhasz K, Frengen A, Wangensteen T, Emilsen NM, Hansen B, Agafonov O, Nilsen HL. Neuropsychiatric phenotype in relation to gene variants in the hemizygous allele in 3q29 deletion carriers: A case series. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019; 7:e889. [PMID: 31347308 PMCID: PMC6732294 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic risk variants in the hemizygous allele may influence neuropsychiatric manifestations and clinical course in 3q29 deletion carriers. Methods In‐depth phenotypic assessment in two deletion carriers included medical records, medical, genetic, psychiatric and neuropsychological evaluations, brain MRI scan and EEG. Blood samples were analyzed for copy number variations, and deep sequencing of the affected 3q29 region was performed in patients and seven first‐degree relatives. Risk variants were identified through bioinformatic analysis. Results One deletion carrier was diagnosed with learning difficulties and childhood autism, the other with mild intellectual disability and schizophrenia. EEG abnormalities in childhood normalized in adulthood in both. Cognitive abilities improved during adolescence in one deletion carrier. Both had microcytic, hypochromic erythrocytes and suffered from chronic pain and fatigue. Molecular and bioinformatic analyses identified risk variants in the hemizygous allele that were not present in the homozygous state in relatives in genes involved in cilia function and insulin action in the autistic individual and in synaptic function and neurosteroid transport in the subject with schizophrenia. Conclusion 3q29 deletion carriers may undergo developmental phenotypic transition and need regular medical follow‐up. Identified risk variants in the remaining hemizygous allele should be explored further in autism and schizophrenia research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Albertsen Malt
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway.,Campus Ahus, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katalin Juhasz
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
| | - Anna Frengen
- Campus Ahus, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Section for Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
| | | | - Nina Merete Emilsen
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
| | - Borre Hansen
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
| | - Oleg Agafonov
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Department of Core Facilities, Institute of Cancer Research, Radium Hospital, Part of Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hilde Loge Nilsen
- Campus Ahus, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Section for Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
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19
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Cabanas H, Muraki K, Balinas C, Eaton-Fitch N, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Validation of impaired Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel activity in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients. Mol Med 2019; 25:14. [PMID: 31014226 PMCID: PMC6480905 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-019-0083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a complex multifactorial disorder of unknown cause having multi-system manifestations. Although the aetiology of CFS/ME remains elusive, immunological dysfunction and more particularly reduced cytotoxic activity in natural killer (NK) cells is the most consistent laboratory finding. The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channels play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of immune diseases and are therefore potential therapeutic targets. We have previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in TRP genes in peripheral NK cells from CFS/ME patients. We have also described biochemical pathway changes and calcium signaling perturbations in NK cells from CFS/ME patients. Notably, we have previously reported a decrease of TRP cation channel subfamily melastatin member 3 (TRPM3) function in NK cells isolated from CFS/ME patients compared with healthy controls after modulation with pregnenolone sulfate and ononetin using a patch-clamp technique. In the present study, we aim to confirm the previous results describing an impaired TRPM3 activity in a new cohort of CFS/ME patients using a whole cell patch-clamp technique after modulation with reversible TRPM3 agonists, pregnenolone sulfate and nifedipine, and an effective TRPM3 antagonist, ononetin. Indeed, no formal research has commented on using pregnenolone sulfate or nifedipine to treat CFS/ME patients while there is evidence that clinicians prescribe calcium channel blockers to improve different symptoms. Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to measure TRPM3 activity in isolated NK cells from twelve age- and sex-matched healthy controls and CFS/ME patients, after activation with pregnenolone sulfate and nifedipine and inhibition with ononetin. Results We confirmed a significant reduction in amplitude of TRPM3 currents after pregnenolone sulfate stimulation in isolated NK cells from another cohort of CFS/ME patients compared with healthy controls. The pregnenolone sulfate-evoked ionic currents through TRPM3 channels were again significantly modulated by ononetin in isolated NK cells from healthy controls compared with CFS/ME patients. In addition, we used nifedipine, another reversible TRPM3 agonist to support the previous findings and found similar results confirming a significant loss of the TRPM3 channel activity in CFS/ME patients. Conclusions Impaired TRPM3 activity was validated in NK cells isolated from CFS/ME patients using different pharmacological tools and whole-cell patch-clamp technique as the gold standard for ion channel research. This investigation further helps to establish TRPM3 channels as a prognostic marker and/ or a potential therapeutic target for CFS/ME.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Cabanas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. .,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia. .,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - K Muraki
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aichi-Gakuin University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - C Balinas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - N Eaton-Fitch
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - D Staines
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - S Marshall-Gradisnik
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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20
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Matsuda S, Ikeda Y, Murakami M, Nakagawa Y, Tsuji A, Kitagishi Y. Roles of PI3K/AKT/GSK3 Pathway Involved in Psychiatric Illnesses. Diseases 2019; 7:diseases7010022. [PMID: 30781836 PMCID: PMC6473240 DOI: 10.3390/diseases7010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric illnesses may be qualified to the cellular impairments of the function for survival or death in neurons, which may consequently appear as abnormalities in the neuroplasticity. The molecular mechanism has not been well understood, however, it seems that PI3K, AKT, GSK3, and their downstream molecules have crucial roles in the pathogenesis. Through transducing cell surviving signal, the PI3K/AKT/GSK3 pathway may organize an intracellular central network for the action of the synaptic neuroplasticity. In addition, the pathways may also regulate cell proliferation, cell migration, and apoptosis. Several lines of evidence have supported a role for this signaling network underlying the development and treatment for psychiatric illnesses. Indeed, the discovery of molecular biochemical phenotypes would represent a breakthrough in the research for effective treatment. In this review, we summarize advances on the involvement of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3 pathways in cell signaling of neuronal cells. This study may provide novel insights on the mechanism of mental disorder involved in psychiatric illnesses and would open future opportunity for contributions suggesting new targets for diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Matsuda
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Yuka Ikeda
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Mutsumi Murakami
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Yukie Nakagawa
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Ai Tsuji
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Yasuko Kitagishi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
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Ratner MH, Kumaresan V, Farb DH. Neurosteroid Actions in Memory and Neurologic/Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:169. [PMID: 31024441 PMCID: PMC6465949 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory dysfunction is a symptomatic feature of many neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders; however, the basic underlying mechanisms of memory and altered states of circuitry function associated with disorders of memory remain a vast unexplored territory. The initial discovery of endogenous neurosteroids triggered a quest to elucidate their role as neuromodulators in normal and diseased brain function. In this review, based on the perspective of our own research, the advances leading to the discovery of positive and negative neurosteroid allosteric modulators of GABA type-A (GABAA), NMDA, and non-NMDA type glutamate receptors are brought together in a historical and conceptual framework. We extend the analysis toward a state-of-the art view of how neurosteroid modulation of neural circuitry function may affect memory and memory deficits. By aggregating the results from multiple laboratories using both animal models for disease and human clinical research on neuropsychiatric and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, elements of a circuitry level view begins to emerge. Lastly, the effects of both endogenously active and exogenously administered neurosteroids on neural networks across the life span of women and men point to a possible underlying pharmacological connectome by which these neuromodulators might act to modulate memory across diverse altered states of mind.
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Fanni S, Scheggi S, Rossi F, Tronci E, Traccis F, Stancampiano R, De Montis MG, Devoto P, Gambarana C, Bortolato M, Frau R, Carta M. 5alpha-reductase inhibitors dampen L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia via normalization of dopamine D1-receptor signaling pathway and D1-D3 receptor interaction. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 121:120-130. [PMID: 30261284 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although 1-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is the mainstay therapy for treating Parkinson's disease (PD), its long-term administration is accompanied by the development of motor complications, particularly L-DOPA induced dyskinesia (LID), that dramatically affects patients' quality of life. LID has consistently been related to an excessive dopamine receptor transmission, particularly at the down-stream signaling of the striatal D1 receptors (D1R), resulting in an exaggerated stimulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. We previously reported that pharmacological blockade of 5alpha-reductase (5AR), the rate-limiting enzyme in neurosteroids synthesis, attenuates the severity of a broad set of behavioral alterations induced by D1R and D3R activation, without inducing extrapyramidal symptoms. In line with this evidence, in a recent study, we found that inhibition of 5AR by finasteride (FIN) produced a significant reduction of dyskinesia induced by L-DOPA and direct dopaminergic agonists in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. In the attempt to further investigate the effect of 5AR inhibitors on dyskinesia and shed light on the mechanism of action, in the present study we compared the effect of FIN and dutasteride (DUTA), a potent dual 5AR inhibitor, on the development of LID, on the therapeutic efficacy of L-DOPA, on the molecular alterations downstream to the D1R, as well as on D1R-D3R interaction. The results indicated that both FIN and DUTA administration significantly reduced development and expression of LID; however, DUTA appeared more effective than FIN at a lower dose and produced its antidyskinetic effect without impacting the ability of L-DOPA to increase motor activation, or ameliorate forelimb use in parkinsonian rats. Moreover, this study demonstrates for the first time that 5AR inhibitors are able to prevent key events in the appearance of dyskinesia, such as L-DOPA-induced upregulation of striatal D1R-related cAMP/PKA/ERK signaling pathways and D1R-D3R coimmunoprecipitation, an index of heteromer formation. These findings are relevant as they confirm the 5AR enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of dyskinesia in PD, suggesting the first ever evidence that neurosteroidogenesis may affect functional interaction between dopamine D1R and D3R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Fanni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Simona Scheggi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Rossi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tronci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Francesco Traccis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Roberto Stancampiano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Maria Graziella De Montis
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Devoto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Carla Gambarana
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy; Tourette Syndrome Center, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy; Sleep Medicine Center, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, Italy.
| | - Manolo Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SP 8, Monserrato 09042, Italy.
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Schverer M, Lanfumey L, Baulieu EE, Froger N, Villey I. Neurosteroids: non-genomic pathways in neuroplasticity and involvement in neurological diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 191:190-206. [PMID: 29953900 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroids are neuroactive brain-born steroids. They can act through non-genomic and/or through genomic pathways. Genomic pathways are largely described for steroid hormones: the binding to nuclear receptors leads to transcription regulation. Pregnenolone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, their respective sulfate esters and Allopregnanolone have no corresponding nuclear receptor identified so far whereas some of their non-genomic targets have been identified. Neuroplasticity is the capacity that neuronal networks have to change their structure and function in response to biological and/or environmental signals; it is regulated by several mechanisms, including those that involve neurosteroids. In this review, after a description of their biosynthesis, the effects of Pregnenolone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, their respective sulfate esters and Allopregnanolone on their targets will be exposed. We then shall highlight that neurosteroids, by acting on these targets, can regulate neurogenesis, structural and functional plasticity. Finally, we will discuss the therapeutic potential of neurosteroids in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases in which alterations of neuroplasticity are associated with changes in neurosteroid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Schverer
- Inserm U894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Laurence Lanfumey
- Inserm U894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Etienne-Emile Baulieu
- MAPREG SAS, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Inserm UMR 1195, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
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24
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Rajagopal L, Soni D, Meltzer HY. Neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate, alone, and as augmentation of lurasidone or tandospirone, rescues phencyclidine-induced deficits in cognitive function and social interaction. Behav Brain Res 2018; 350:31-43. [PMID: 29763637 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnenolone sulfate (PregS), an endogenous neurosteroid, which negatively and positively modulates gamma amino butyric acid subunit A (GABAA) and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (R) respectively, among other potential neuroplastic changes on synaptic processes, has shown some beneficial effects on treating cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) and negative symptoms. Lurasidone (Lur), an atypical antipsychotic drug (AAPD), and tandospirone (Tan), a 5-HT1A R partial agonist, have also been reported to improve cognitive or negative symptoms, or both, in some schizophrenia patients. METHODS We tested whether PregS, by itself, and in combination with Lur or Tan could rescue persistent deficits produced by subchronic treatment with the NMDAR antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP)-in episodic memory, executive functioning, and social behavior, using novel object recognition (NOR), operant reversal learning (ORL), and social interaction (SI) tasks, in male C57BL/6 J mice. RESULTS PregS (10, but not 3 mg/kg) significantly rescued subchronic PCP-induced NOR and SI deficits. Co-administration of sub-effective doses (SEDs) of PregS (3 mg/kg) + Lur (0.1 mg/kg) or Tan (0.03 mg/kg) rescued scPCP-induced NOR and SI deficits. Further, PregS (30, but not 10 mg/kg) rescued PCP-induced ORL deficit, as did the combination of SED PregS (10 mg/kg) +SED Lur (1 mg/kg) or Tan (1 mg/kg). CONCLUSION PregS was effective alone and as adjunctive treatment for treating two types of cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in this schizophrenia model. Further study of the mechanisms by which PregS alone and in combination with AAPDs and 5-HT1A R partial agonists, rescues the deficits in cognition and SI in this preclinical model is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rajagopal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 60611, USA
| | - D Soni
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 60611, USA
| | - H Y Meltzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 60611, USA.
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Salatino-Oliveira A, Rohde LA, Hutz MH. The dopamine transporter role in psychiatric phenotypes. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; 177:211-231. [PMID: 28766921 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The dopamine transporter (DAT) is one of the most relevant and investigated neurotransmitter transporters. DAT is a plasma membrane protein which plays a homeostatic role, controlling both extracellular and intracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA). Since unbalanced DA levels are known to be involved in numerous mental disorders, a wealth of investigations has provided valuable insights concerning DAT role into normal brain functioning and pathological processes. Briefly, this extensive but non-systematic review discusses what is recently known about the role of SLC6A3 gene which encodes the dopamine transporter in psychiatric phenotypes. DAT protein, SLC6A3 gene, animal models, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging investigations are also concisely discussed. To conclude, current challenges are reviewed in order to provide perspectives for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis A Rohde
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Institute for Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mara H Hutz
- Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Cinque S, Zoratto F, Poleggi A, Leo D, Cerniglia L, Cimino S, Tambelli R, Alleva E, Gainetdinov RR, Laviola G, Adriani W. Behavioral Phenotyping of Dopamine Transporter Knockout Rats: Compulsive Traits, Motor Stereotypies, and Anhedonia. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:43. [PMID: 29520239 PMCID: PMC5826953 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in dopamine neurotransmission are generally associated with diseases such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Such diseases typically feature poor decision making and lack of control on executive functions and have been studied through the years using many animal models. Dopamine transporter (DAT) knockout (KO) and heterozygous (HET) mice, in particular, have been widely used to study ADHD. Recently, a strain of DAT KO rats has been developed (1). Here, we provide a phenotypic characterization of reward sensitivity and compulsive choice by adult rats born from DAT-HET dams bred with DAT-HET males, in order to further validate DAT KO rats as an animal model for preclinical research. We first tested DAT KO rats' sensitivity to rewarding stimuli, provided by highly appetitive food or sweet water; then, we tested their choice behavior with an Intolerance-to-Delay Task (IDT). During these tests, DAT KO rats appeared less sensitive to rewarding stimuli than wild-type (WT) and HET rats: they also showed a prominent hyperactive behavior with a rigid choice pattern and a wide number of compulsive stereotypies. Moreover, during the IDT, we tested the effects of amphetamine (AMPH) and RO-5203648, a trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) partial agonist. AMPH accentuated impulsive behaviors in WT and HET rats, while it had no effect in DAT KO rats. Finally, we measured the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine receptor 2 (D2), serotonin transporter, and TAAR1 mRNA transcripts in samples of ventral striatum, finding no significant differences between WT and KO genotypes. Throughout this study, DAT KO rats showed alterations in decision-making processes and in motivational states, as well as prominent motor and oral stereotypies: more studies are warranted to fully characterize and efficiently use them in preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cinque
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Zoratto
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Poleggi
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Damiana Leo
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Cerniglia
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Cimino
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Renata Tambelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Alleva
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Raul R. Gainetdinov
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Giovanni Laviola
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Walter Adriani
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Rome, Italy
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Neagoe I, Liu C, Stumpf A, Lu Y, He D, Francis R, Chen J, Reynen P, Alaoui-Ismaili MH, Fukui H. The GluN2B subunit represents a major functional determinant of NMDA receptors in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons. Stem Cell Res 2018; 28:105-114. [PMID: 29454156 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal signaling pathways mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various CNS disorders and have been long considered as promising points of therapeutic intervention. However, few efforts have been previously described concerning evaluation of therapeutic modulators of NMDARs and their downstream pathways in human neurons with endogenous expression of NMDARs. In the present study, we assessed expression, functionality, and subunit composition of endogenous NMDARs in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cortical neurons (iCell Neurons and iCell GlutaNeurons). We initially confirmed the expected pharmacological response of iCell Neurons and iCell GlutaNeurons to NMDA by patch-clamp recordings. Subsequent pharmacological interrogation using GluN2 subunit-selective antagonists revealed the predominance of GluN2B in both iCell Neurons and iCell GlutaNeurons. This observation was also supported by qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses of GluN2 subunit expression as well as pharmacological experiments using positive allosteric modulators with distinct GluN2 subunit selectivity. We conclude that iCell Neurons and iCell GlutaNeurons express functional GluN2B-containing NMDARs and could serve as a valuable system for development and validation of GluN2B-modulating pharmaceutical agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Neagoe
- Evotec AG, Essener Bogen 7, 22419 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Alexander Stumpf
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt 60590, Germany
| | - Yanmei Lu
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Dongping He
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ross Francis
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Paul Reynen
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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Pronounced Hyperactivity, Cognitive Dysfunctions, and BDNF Dysregulation in Dopamine Transporter Knock-out Rats. J Neurosci 2018; 38:1959-1972. [PMID: 29348190 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1931-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) controls many vital physiological functions and is critically involved in several neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The major function of the plasma membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) is the rapid uptake of released DA into presynaptic nerve terminals leading to control of both the extracellular levels of DA and the intracellular stores of DA. Here, we present a newly developed strain of rats in which the gene encoding DAT knockout Rats (DAT-KO) has been disrupted by using zinc finger nuclease technology. Male and female DAT-KO rats develop normally but weigh less than heterozygote and wild-type rats and demonstrate pronounced spontaneous locomotor hyperactivity. While striatal extracellular DA lifetime and concentrations are significantly increased, the total tissue content of DA is markedly decreased demonstrating the key role of DAT in the control of DA neurotransmission. Hyperactivity of DAT-KO rats can be counteracted by amphetamine, methylphenidate, the partial Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonist RO5203648 ((S)-4-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-ylamine) and haloperidol. DAT-KO rats also demonstrate a deficit in working memory and sensorimotor gating tests, less propensity to develop obsessive behaviors and show strong dysregulation in frontostriatal BDNF function. DAT-KO rats could provide a novel translational model for human diseases involving aberrant DA function and/or mutations affecting DAT or related regulatory mechanisms.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here, we present a newly developed strain of rats in which the gene encoding the dopamine transporter (DAT) has been disrupted (Dopamine Transporter Knockout rats [DAT-KO rats]). DAT-KO rats display functional hyperdopaminergia accompanied by pronounced spontaneous locomotor hyperactivity. Hyperactivity of DAT-KO rats can be counteracted by amphetamine, methylphenidate, and a few other compounds exerting inhibitory action on dopamine-dependent hyperactivity. DAT-KO rats also demonstrate cognitive deficits in working memory and sensorimotor gating tests, less propensity to develop compulsive behaviors, and strong dysregulation in frontostriatal BDNF function. These observations highlight the key role of DAT in the control of brain dopaminergic transmission. DAT-KO rats could provide a novel translational model for human diseases involving aberrant dopamine functions.
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Efimova EV, Gainetdinov RR, Budygin EA, Sotnikova TD. Dopamine transporter mutant animals: a translational perspective. J Neurogenet 2017; 30:5-15. [PMID: 27276191 DOI: 10.3109/01677063.2016.1144751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an important homeostatic role in the control of both the extracellular and intraneuronal concentrations of dopamine, thereby providing effective control over activity of dopaminergic transmission. Since brain dopamine is known to be involved in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, investigations using mice with genetically altered DAT function and thus intensity of dopamine-mediated signaling have provided numerous insights into the pathology of these disorders and novel pathological mechanisms that could be targeted to provide new therapeutic approaches for these disorders. In this brief overview, we discuss recent investigations involving animals with genetically altered DAT function, particularly focusing on translational studies providing new insights into pathology and pharmacology of dopamine-related disorders. Perspective applications of these and newly developed models of DAT dysfunction are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya V Efimova
- a Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia ;,b Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology , Skolkovo , Moscow Region , Russia
| | - Raul R Gainetdinov
- a Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia ;,b Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology , Skolkovo , Moscow Region , Russia
| | - Evgeny A Budygin
- a Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia ;,c Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy , Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , NC , USA
| | - Tatyana D Sotnikova
- a Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia
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Barichello T, Simões LR, Collodel A, Giridharan VV, Dal-Pizzol F, Macedo D, Quevedo J. The translocator protein (18 kDa) and its role in neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 83:183-199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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31
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Crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in schizophrenia: The dawn of new therapeutic approaches. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 83:589-603. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Liu L, Luo Y, Zhang G, Jin C, Zhou Z, Cheng Z, Yuan G. Correlation of DRD2 mRNA expression levels with deficit syndrome severity in chronic schizophrenia patients receiving clozapine treatment. Oncotarget 2017; 8:86515-86526. [PMID: 29156812 PMCID: PMC5689702 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex, severe, chronic psychiatric disorder, and the associated deficit syndrome is widely regarded as an important clinical aspect of schizophrenia. This study analyzed the relationship of deficit syndrome severity with the mRNA levels of members of signaling pathways that associate with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, including the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2), protein kinase B (AKT1), and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3KCB), in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of 20 healthy controls and 19 chronic schizophrenia patients with long-term clozapine treatment. The DRD2 expression levels in chronic schizophrenia group were statistically higher than those in controls (t=2.168, p=0.037). Moreover, in chronic schizophrenia group, correlations were observed between the expression levels of DRD2 and PI3KCB (r=0.771, p<0.001), DRD2 and AKT1 (r=0.592, p=0.008), and PI3KCB and AKT1 (r=0.562, p=0.012) and between the DRD2 mRNA levels and the Proxy for the Deficit Syndrome score (r=0.511, p=0.025). In control group, the correlation between PI3KCB expression levels and DRD2 expression levels was only observed (r=0.782, p<0.001). In conclusion, a correlation was observed between increased deficit syndrome severity and elevated expression levels of DRD2 in PBLs of chronic schizophrenia patients receiving long-term clozapine treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Liu
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yin Luo
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Guofu Zhang
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Chunhui Jin
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Zhenhe Zhou
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Zaohuo Cheng
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi Tongren International Rehabilitation Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Guozhen Yuan
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi Tongren International Rehabilitation Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
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33
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Nash AI. Crosstalk between insulin and dopamine signaling: A basis for the metabolic effects of antipsychotic drugs. J Chem Neuroanat 2017; 83-84:59-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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34
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Korade Ž, Liu W, Warren EB, Armstrong K, Porter NA, Konradi C. Effect of psychotropic drug treatment on sterol metabolism. Schizophr Res 2017; 187:74-81. [PMID: 28202290 PMCID: PMC5554466 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol metabolism is vital for brain function. Previous work in cultured cells has shown that a number of psychotropic drugs inhibit the activity of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), an enzyme that catalyzes the final steps in cholesterol biosynthesis. This leads to the accumulation of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC), a molecule that gives rise to oxysterols, vitamin D, and atypical neurosteroids. We examined levels of cholesterol and the cholesterol precursors desmosterol, lanosterol, 7DHC and its isomer 8-dehydrocholesterol (8DHC), in blood samples of 123 psychiatric patients on various antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs, and 85 healthy controls, to see if the observations in cell lines hold true for patients as well. Three drugs, aripiprazole, haloperidol and trazodone increased circulating 7DHC and 8DHC levels, while five other drugs, clozapine, escitalopram/citalopram, lamotrigine, olanzapine, and risperidone, did not. Studies in rat brain verified that haloperidol dose-dependently increased 7DHC and 8DHC levels, while clozapine had no effect. We conclude that further studies should investigate the role of 7DHC and 8DHC metabolites, such as oxysterols, vitamin D, and atypical neurosteroids, in the deleterious and therapeutic effects of psychotropic drugs. Finally, we recommend that drugs that increase 7DHC levels should not be prescribed during pregnancy, as children born with DHCR7 deficiency have multiple congenital malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Željka Korade
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UNMC, Omaha, NE 68198, United States
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, TN 37235, United States
| | - Emily B Warren
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, United States
| | - Kristan Armstrong
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, United States
| | - Ned A Porter
- Department of Chemistry and Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, TN 37235, United States
| | - Christine Konradi
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, United States.
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Mereu M, Contarini G, Buonaguro EF, Latte G, Managò F, Iasevoli F, de Bartolomeis A, Papaleo F. Dopamine transporter (DAT) genetic hypofunction in mice produces alterations consistent with ADHD but not schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Neuropharmacology 2017; 121:179-194. [PMID: 28454982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
ADHD, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are psychiatric diseases with a strong genetic component which share dopaminergic alterations. Dopamine transporter (DAT) genetics might be potentially implicated in all these disorders. However, in contrast to DAT absence, the effects of DAT hypofunction especially in developmental trajectories have been scarcely addressed. Thus, we comprehensively studied DAT hypofunctional mice (DAT+/-) from adolescence to adulthood to disentangle DAT-dependent alterations in the development of psychiatric-relevant phenotypes. From pre-adolescence onward, DAT+/- displayed a hyperactive phenotype, while responses to external stimuli and sensorimotor gating abilities were unaltered. General cognitive impairments in adolescent DAT+/- were partially ameliorated during adulthood in males but not in females. Despite this, attentional and impulsivity deficits were evident in DAT+/- adult males. At the molecular level, DAT+/- mice showed a reduced expression of Homer1a in the prefrontal cortex, while other brain regions as well as Arc and Homer1b expression were mostly unaffected. Amphetamine treatments reverted DAT+/- hyperactivity and rescued cognitive deficits. Moreover, amphetamine shifted DAT-dependent Homer1a altered expression from prefrontal cortex to striatal regions. These behavioral and molecular phenotypes indicate that a genetic-driven DAT hypofunction alters neurodevelopmental trajectories consistent with ADHD, but not with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mereu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - G Contarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - E F Buonaguro
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - G Latte
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - F Managò
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - F Iasevoli
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - A de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - F Papaleo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
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Unaltered Dopamine Transporter Availability in Drug-Naive Patients With Schizophrenia After 6 Months of Antipsychotics Treatment: A Naturalistic Study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2017; 37:21-26. [PMID: 28027110 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000000632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dopaminergic dysfunction, namely, dopamine transporter (DAT) availability variations in patients with drug-naive schizophrenia after long-term treatment, is still not well understood. The aims of the study were to explore (i) whether the DAT availability in patients with drug-naive schizophrenia differed after antipsychotic treatment and (ii) whether treatment with different generations of antipsychotics influenced the DAT availability after follow-up for 6 months. METHODS Twenty-four first-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia were divided into first- and second-generation antipsychotic groups naturalistically. After 6 months of follow-up, 7 patients who received first-generation antipsychotic treatment and 17 patients who received second-generation antipsychotic treatment completed the study. The patients underwent premedication and 6-month follow-up measurements using single-photon emission computed tomography with technetium Tc 99m (Tc) TRODAT-1. Psychopathological evaluations and adverse effects were recorded using appropriate scales. RESULTS Both of the treatment groups significantly improved according to Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale evaluation. However, no significant difference was noticed between the premedication and 6-month follow-up DAT scans. Nonsignificant differences existed even in the groups of different generations of antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS Improvements in psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia may not be influenced by DAT availability, even under treatment with different antipsychotics for a sufficient treatment period.
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Synthesis and CYP17α hydroxylase inhibition activity of new 3α- and 3β-ester derivatives of pregnenolone and related ether analogues. Med Chem Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-015-1480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Impaired mTORC2 signaling in catecholaminergic neurons exaggerates high fat diet-induced hyperphagia. Heliyon 2015; 1:e00025. [PMID: 27441217 PMCID: PMC4939830 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2015.e00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Food intake is highly regulated by central homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms in response to peripheral and environmental cues. Neutral energy balance stems from proper integration of homeostatic signals with those “sensing” the rewarding properties of food. Impairments in brain insulin signaling causes dysregulation of feeding behaviors and, as a consequence, hyperphagia. Here, we sought to determine how the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), a complex involved in insulin signaling, influences high fat feeding. Methods Rictor is a subunit of mTORC2, and its genetic deletion impairs mTORC2 activity. We used Cre-LoxP technology to delete Rictorin tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expressing neurons (TH Rictor KO). We assessed food intake, body weight, body composition and DA dependent behaviors. Results TH Rictor KO mice display a high-fat diet specific hyperphagia, yet, when on low-fat diet, their food intake is indistinguishable from controls. Consistently, TH Rictor KO become obese only while consuming high-fat diet. This is paralleled by reduced brain DA content, and disruption of DA dependent behaviors including increased novelty-induced hyperactivity and exaggerated response to the psycho stimulant amphetamine (AMPH). Conclusions Our data support a model in which mTORC2 signaling within catecholaminergic neurons constrains consumption of a high-fat diet, while disruption causes high-fat diet-specific exaggerated hyperphagia. In parallel, impaired mTORC2 signaling leads to aberrant striatal DA neurotransmission, which has been associated with obesity in human and animal models, as well as with escalating substance abuse. These data suggest that defects localized to the catecholaminergic pathways are capable of overriding homeostatic circuits, leading to obesity, metabolic impairment, and aberrant DA-dependent behaviors.
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Chopra DA, Monaghan DT, Dravid SM. Bidirectional Effect of Pregnenolone Sulfate on GluN1/GluN2A N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Gating Depending on Extracellular Calcium and Intracellular Milieu. Mol Pharmacol 2015; 88:650-9. [PMID: 26162866 DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnenolone sulfate (PS), one of the most commonly occurring neurosteroids in the central nervous system, influences the function of several receptors. PS modulates N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and has been shown to have both positive and negative modulatory effects on NMDAR currents generally in a subtype-selective manner. We assessed the gating mechanism of PS modulation of GluN1/GluN2A receptors transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells using whole-cell and single-channel electrophysiology. Only a modest effect on the whole-cell responses was observed by PS in dialyzed (nonperforated) whole-cell recordings. Interestingly, in perforated conditions, PS was found to increase the whole-cell currents in the absence of nominal extracellular Ca(2+), whereas PS produced an inhibition of the current responses in the presence of 0.5 mM extracellular Ca(2+). The Ca(2+)-binding DRPEER motif and GluN1 exon-5 were found to be critical for the Ca(2+)-dependent bidirectional effect of PS. Single-channel cell-attached analysis demonstrated that PS primarily affected the mean open time to produce its effects: positive modulation mediated by an increase in duration of open time constants, and negative modulation mediated by a reduction in the time spent in a long-lived open state of the receptor. Further kinetic modeling of the single-channel data suggested that the positive and negative modulatory effects are mediated by different gating steps which may represent GluN2 and GluN1 subunit-selective conformational changes, respectively. Our studies provide a unique mechanism of modulation of NMDARs by an endogenous neurosteroid, which has implications for identifying state-dependent molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divyan A Chopra
- Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (D.A.C., S.M.D.); and Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (D.T.M.)
| | - Daniel T Monaghan
- Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (D.A.C., S.M.D.); and Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (D.T.M.)
| | - Shashank M Dravid
- Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (D.A.C., S.M.D.); and Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (D.T.M.)
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