1
|
Audunsdottir K, Sartorius AM, Kang H, Glaser BD, Boen R, Nærland T, Alaerts K, Kildal ESM, Westlye LT, Andreassen OA, Quintana DS. The effects of oxytocin administration on social and routinized behaviors in autism: A preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 167:107067. [PMID: 38815399 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin administration has demonstrated considerable promise for providing individualized support for autistic people. However, studies evaluating the effects of oxytocin administration on autistic characteristics have yielded inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effect of oxytocin administration on social and routinized behaviors in autism using recently developed methods to accurately assess the potential impact of effect size dependency and publication bias. Our frequentist meta-analysis yielded a significant summary effect size estimate for the impact of oxytocin administration on social outcomes in autism (d = 0.22, p < 0.001). The summary effect size estimate for routinized behavior outcomes was not statistically significant (d = 0.14, p = 0.22), with a follow up test indicating that the effect size estimate was not either statistically equivalent (Z = -1.06, p = 0.2), assuming a smallest effect size of interest of 0.25. Frequentist and Bayesian assessments for publication bias, as well as results from Robust Bayesian meta-analysis of oxytocin effects on social outcomes in autism, indicated that summary effect sizes might be inflated due to publication bias. Future studies should aim to reduce bias by preregistering analysis plans and to increase precision with larger sample sizes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Audunsdottir
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alina M Sartorius
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Heemin Kang
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bernt D Glaser
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rune Boen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Terje Nærland
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kaat Alaerts
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emilie S M Kildal
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel S Quintana
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Szabó J, Mlynár M, Feješ A, Renczés E, Borbélyová V, Ostatníková D, Celec P. Intranasal oxytocin in a genetic animal model of autism. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:342-347. [PMID: 38102481 PMCID: PMC11116098 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02330-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders mainly characterized by deficient sociability and repetitive behaviors. Effective treatment for the core symptoms of ASD is still lacking. Behavioral interventions show limited effectiveness, while pharmacotherapy focuses on the amelioration of secondary symptomatology. Oxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide known for its prosocial impact, making it a candidate drug for ASD treatment. Its alleviating effect has been and still is widely researched, but outcomes reported by clinical studies are ambiguous. We examined the effect of daily intranasal OXT (0.8 IU/kg) administration for 4 weeks on the ASD-like phenotype in Shank3-/- adult mice. Animals treated with OXT spent twice as much time interacting with the social partner as early as after 2 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, OXT-treated mice exhibited reduced explorative behavior by 50%, after 4 weeks of treatment, and a 30% reduction in repetitive behavior, 4 weeks after treatment termination. One-fold higher sociability and 30% reduced exploration due to OXT lasted up to 4 weeks following the treatment termination. However, social disinterest was elevated by roughly 10% as well, indicating a form of social ambivalence. Obtained results support the therapeutic potential of intranasally administered OXT in alleviating social shortfalls in a genetic model of ASD. Subsequent research is necessary to elucidate the benefits and risks of the long-term OXT administration, as well as its applicability in other ASD models and the potential treatment effect on social communication, which was not measured in the present study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Szabó
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Matúš Mlynár
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Andrej Feješ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Emese Renczés
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Borbélyová
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Ostatníková
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Long P, Scholl JL, Wang X, Kallsen NA, Ehli EA, Freeman H. Intranasal Oxytocin and Pain Reduction: Testing a Social Cognitive Mediation Model. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1689. [PMID: 38137136 PMCID: PMC10741592 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is well known for its role in relationships and social cognition and has more recently been implicated in pain relief and pain perception. Connections between prosocial feelings and pain relief are also well documented; however, the effects of exogenous oxytocin on social cognition and pain have not been explored. The current study tested whether intranasally delivered oxytocin affects pain perception through prosocial behaviors. Additionally, moderation of the effects of oxytocin by life history or genetic polymorphisms is examined. Young adults (n = 43; 65% female) were administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo in a crossover design on two visits separated by a one-week washout period. Pain was delivered via cold pressor. Baseline measures for decision-making and social cognition were collected, as well as pain sensitivity and medication history. Saliva samples were collected for analysis of genetic markers, and urine samples were collected to assess oxytocin saturation. Following oxytocin administration, participants reported increased prosocial cognition and decision-making. Pain perception appeared to be adaptive, with procedural order and expectation affecting perception. Finally, behavioral trust and cooperation responses were significantly predicted by genetic markers. Oxytocin may increase a patient's trust and cooperation and reduce pain sensitivity while having fewer physiological side effects than current pharmaceutical options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Preston Long
- Institute for Outcomes Research, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jamie L. Scholl
- Basic Biomedical Sciences & Center for Brain and Behavior Research, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Xiaotian Wang
- School of Humanities and Social Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518172, China;
| | - Noah A. Kallsen
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; (N.A.K.); (E.A.E.)
| | - Erik A. Ehli
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; (N.A.K.); (E.A.E.)
| | - Harry Freeman
- Division of Counseling and Psychology in Education & Center for Brain and Behavior Research, School of Education, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
KAGIZMAN SC, HOCAOGLU C. Oxytocin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders. Medeni Med J 2023; 38:218-231. [PMID: 37767153 PMCID: PMC10542980 DOI: 10.4274/mmj.galenos.2023.13707] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a peptide hormone that is most known for its role in reproduction. However, many effects other than reproduction have been defined. The lifetime prevalence of mental disorders is approximately 20%, and they have a significant ratio among the diseases that lead to disability. Treatment resistance may cause the mental disorder to become chronic and increase disability. With the examination of the oxytocinergic system, both the elucidation of the etiology of the diseases and their evaluation as a new treatment option have come to the fore. In various studies, it has been desired to create a more effective treatment model by measuring the level of oxytocin in psychiatric disorders, examining its receptor, and applying exogenous oxytocin in the treatment. In this review, an overview of oxytocin's efficacy in treatment is presented by considering the relationship between psychiatric disorders and the oxytocinergic system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salim Cagatay KAGIZMAN
- Hitit University Erol Olcok Training and Research Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Corum, Turkey
| | - Cicek HOCAOGLU
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Rize, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mohammadi AH, Karimian M, Mirzaei H, Milajerdi A. Epigenetic modifications and obsessive-compulsive disorder: what do we know? Brain Struct Funct 2023:10.1007/s00429-023-02649-4. [PMID: 37204485 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02649-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic, severe disabling neuropsychiatric disorder whose pathophysiology is not yet well defined. Generally, the symptom onset occurs during pre-adult life and affects subjects in different life aspects, including professional and social relationships. Although robust evidence indicates the presence of genetic factors in the etiopathology of OCD, the entirely mechanisms are not totally clarified. Thus, the possible interactions between genes and environmental risk factors mediated by epigenetic mechanisms should be sought. Therefore, we provide a review of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms related to OCD with a deep focus on the regulation of critical genes of the central nervous system seeking possible potential biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Hossein Mohammadi
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Karimian
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Alireza Milajerdi
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Daniels N, Moerkerke M, Steyaert J, Bamps A, Debbaut E, Prinsen J, Tang T, Van der Donck S, Boets B, Alaerts K. Effects of multiple-dose intranasal oxytocin administration on social responsiveness in children with autism: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Mol Autism 2023; 14:16. [PMID: 37081454 PMCID: PMC10117268 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00546-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intranasal administration of oxytocin is increasingly explored as a new approach to facilitate social development and reduce disability associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The efficacy of multiple-dose oxytocin administration in children with ASD is, however, not well established. METHODS A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with parallel design explored the effects of a 4-week intranasal oxytocin administration (12 IU, twice daily) on parent-rated social responsiveness (Social Responsiveness Scale: SRS-2) in pre-pubertal school-aged children (aged 8-12 years, 61 boys, 16 girls). Secondary outcomes included a questionnaire-based assessment of repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and attachment. Effects of oxytocin were assessed immediately after the administration period and at a follow-up, 4 weeks after the last administration. The double-blind phase was followed by a 4-week single-blind phase during which all participants received intranasal oxytocin. RESULTS In the double-blind phase, both the oxytocin and placebo group displayed significant pre-to-post-improvements in social responsiveness and secondary questionnaires, but improvements were not specific to the intranasal oxytocin. Notably, in the single-blind phase, participants who were first allocated to intranasal placebo and later changed to intranasal oxytocin displayed a significant improvement in social responsiveness, over and above the placebo-induced improvements noted in the first phase. Participants receiving oxytocin in the first phase also showed a significant further improvement upon receiving a second course of oxytocin, but only at the 4-week follow-up. Further, exploratory moderator analyses indicated that children who received psychosocial trainings (3 or more sessions per month) along with oxytocin administration displayed a more pronounced improvement in social responsiveness. LIMITATIONS Future studies using larger cohorts and more explicitly controlled concurrent psychosocial trainings are warranted to further explore the preliminary moderator effects, also including understudied populations within the autism spectrum, such as children with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSIONS Four weeks of oxytocin administration did not induce treatment-specific improvements in social responsiveness in school-aged children with ASD. Future studies are warranted to further explore the clinical efficacy of oxytocin administration paired with targeted psychosocial trainings that stimulate socio-communicative behaviors. Trial registration The trial was registered with the European Clinical Trial Registry (EudraCT 2018-000769-35) on June 7th, 2018 ( https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2018-000769-35/BE ).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Daniels
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, Box 1501, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthijs Moerkerke
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Bamps
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Edward Debbaut
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jellina Prinsen
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, Box 1501, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tiffany Tang
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephanie Van der Donck
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Alaerts
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, Box 1501, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang L, Wang B, Wu C, Wang J, Sun M. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Neurodevelopmental Risk Factors, Biological Mechanism, and Precision Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031819. [PMID: 36768153 PMCID: PMC9915249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous, behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has progressively increased, however, no clear diagnostic markers and specifically targeted medications for autism have emerged. As a result, neurobehavioral abnormalities, neurobiological alterations in ASD, and the development of novel ASD pharmacological therapy necessitate multidisciplinary collaboration. In this review, we discuss the development of multiple animal models of ASD to contribute to the disease mechanisms of ASD, as well as new studies from multiple disciplines to assess the behavioral pathology of ASD. In addition, we summarize and highlight the mechanistic advances regarding gene transcription, RNA and non-coding RNA translation, abnormal synaptic signaling pathways, epigenetic post-translational modifications, brain-gut axis, immune inflammation and neural loop abnormalities in autism to provide a theoretical basis for the next step of precision therapy. Furthermore, we review existing autism therapy tactics and limits and present challenges and opportunities for translating multidisciplinary knowledge of ASD into clinical practice.
Collapse
|
8
|
Coccia G, La Greca F, Di Luca M, Scheggia D. Dissecting social decision-making: A spotlight on oxytocinergic transmission. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1061934. [PMID: 36618824 PMCID: PMC9813388 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1061934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Social decision-making requires the ability to balance both the interests of the self and the interests of others to survive in social environments. Empathy is essential to the regulation of this type of interaction, and it often sustains relevant prosocial behaviors such as altruism and helping behavior. In the last decade, our capacity to assess affective and empathy-like behaviors in rodents has expanded our understanding of the neurobiological substrates that underly social decision-making processes such as prosocial behaviors. Within this context, oxytocinergic transmission is profoundly implicated in modulating some of the major components of social decision-making. Thus, this review will present evidence of the association between oxytocin and empathy-like and prosocial behaviors in nonhuman animals. Then, we will dissect the involvement of oxytocinergic transmission-across different brain regions and pathways-in some of the key elements of social decision-making such as emotional discrimination, social recognition, emotional contagion, social dominance, and social memory. Evidence of the modulatory role of oxytocin on social decision-making has raised considerable interest in its clinical relevance, therefore we will also discuss the controversial findings on intranasal oxytocin administration.
Collapse
|
9
|
Triana-Del Rio R, Ranade S, Guardado J, LeDoux J, Klann E, Shrestha P. The modulation of emotional and social behaviors by oxytocin signaling in limbic network. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1002846. [PMID: 36466805 PMCID: PMC9714608 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1002846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides can exert volume modulation in neuronal networks, which account for a well-calibrated and fine-tuned regulation that depends on the sensory and behavioral contexts. For example, oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) trigger a signaling pattern encompassing intracellular cascades, synaptic plasticity, gene expression, and network regulation, that together function to increase the signal-to-noise ratio for sensory-dependent stress/threat and social responses. Activation of OTRs in emotional circuits within the limbic forebrain is necessary to acquire stress/threat responses. When emotional memories are retrieved, OTR-expressing cells act as gatekeepers of the threat response choice/discrimination. OT signaling has also been implicated in modulating social-exposure elicited responses in the neural circuits within the limbic forebrain. In this review, we describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the neuromodulation by OT, and how OT signaling in specific neural circuits and cell populations mediate stress/threat and social behaviors. OT and downstream signaling cascades are heavily implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by emotional and social dysregulation. Thus, a mechanistic understanding of downstream cellular effects of OT in relevant cell types and neural circuits can help design effective intervention techniques for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sayali Ranade
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Jahel Guardado
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joseph LeDoux
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eric Klann
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Prerana Shrestha
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bose M, Farias Quipildor G, Ehrlich ME, Salton SR. Intranasal Peptide Therapeutics: A Promising Avenue for Overcoming the Challenges of Traditional CNS Drug Development. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223629. [PMID: 36429060 PMCID: PMC9688574 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) has, among all organ systems in the human body, the highest failure rate of traditional small-molecule drug development, ranging from 80-100% depending on the area of disease research. This has led to widespread abandonment by the pharmaceutical industry of research and development for CNS disorders, despite increased diagnoses of neurodegenerative disorders and the continued lack of adequate treatment options for brain injuries, stroke, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neuropsychiatric illness. However, new approaches, concurrent with the development of sophisticated bioinformatic and genomic tools, are being used to explore peptide-based therapeutics to manipulate endogenous pathways and targets, including "undruggable" intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The development of peptide-based therapeutics was previously rejected due to systemic off-target effects and poor bioavailability arising from traditional oral and systemic delivery methods. However, targeted nose-to-brain, or intranasal (IN), approaches have begun to emerge that allow CNS-specific delivery of therapeutics via the trigeminal and olfactory nerve pathways, laying the foundation for improved alternatives to systemic drug delivery. Here we review a dozen promising IN peptide therapeutics in preclinical and clinical development for neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), neuropsychiatric (depression, PTSD, schizophrenia), and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism), with insulin, NAP (davunetide), IGF-1, PACAP, NPY, oxytocin, and GLP-1 agonists prominent among them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Bose
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Gabriela Farias Quipildor
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michelle E. Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Stephen R. Salton
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-212-824-9308
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
The dual neural effects of oxytocin in autistic youth: results from a randomized trial. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16304. [PMID: 36175473 PMCID: PMC9523043 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19524-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent discoveries have highlighted the effects of oxytocin (OT) on social behavior and perception among autistic individuals. However, a gap persists in the literature regarding the potential effects of OT and the neural temporal dynamics due to OT administration. We explored the effect of OT on autistic individuals using magnetoencephalography (MEG), focusing on M100, M170, and M250, social perception-related components that tend to show atypical patterns in autistic individuals. Twenty-five autistic adolescents participated in this randomized, double-blind MEG study. Autistic individuals arrived at the lab twice and received an acute dose of intranasal OT or placebo in each session. During the scans, participants were asked to identify pictures of social and non-social stimuli. Additionally, 23 typically developing (TD) adolescents performed the same task in the MEG as a benchmark that allowed us to better characterize neural regions of interest and behavioral results for this age group in this task. A source-model beamformer analysis revealed that OT enhanced neural activity for social stimuli in frontal regions during M170. Additionally, in each of the preselected time windows, OT increased activation in the left hemisphere, regardless of the content of the presented stimuli. We suggest that OT increased the processing of social stimuli through two separate mechanisms. First, OT increased neural activity in a nonspecific manner, allowing increased allocation of attention toward the stimuli. Second, OT enhanced M170 activity in frontal regions only in response to social stimuli. These results reveal the temporal dynamics of the effects of OT on the early stages of social and non-social perception in autistic adolescents. Trial registration: This study was a part of a project registered as clinical trial October 27th, 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05096676.
Collapse
|
12
|
Daughters K, Rees DA, Hunnikin L, Wells A, Hall J, van Goozen S. Oxytocin administration versus emotion training in healthy males: considerations for future research. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210056. [PMID: 35858104 PMCID: PMC9272145 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying emotions correctly is essential for successful social interaction. There is therefore a keen interest in designing therapeutic interventions to improve emotion recognition in individuals who struggle with social interaction. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been proposed as a potential physiological intervention due to its important role in emotion recognition and other aspects of social cognition. However, there are a number of caveats to consider with the current form of intranasal oxytocin commonly used in the literature. Psychological interventions, on the other hand, do not carry the same caveats, and there is, therefore, a need to understand how intranasal oxytocin administration compares to psychological interventions designed to target the same psychological phenomena; and whether a combined intervention approach may provide additive benefits. Here we present a pilot, proof-of-concept study in healthy volunteers comparing the effect of intranasal oxytocin against a validated emotion training programme, finding that the psychological intervention, and not intranasal oxytocin, improved emotion recognition specifically for angry expressions. We discuss the theoretical implications of the research for future clinical trials. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Daughters
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - D Aled Rees
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Laura Hunnikin
- Centre for Human Developmental Science, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Amy Wells
- Centre for Human Developmental Science, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Marazziti D, Diep PT, Carter S, Carbone MG. Oxytocin: An Old Hormone, A Novel Psychotropic Drug And Possible Use In Treating Psychiatric Disorders. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:5615-5687. [PMID: 35894453 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220727120646] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin is a nonapeptide synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Historically, this molecule has been involved as a key factor in the formation of infant attachment, maternal behavior and pair bonding and, more generally, in linking social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. In the last decades, the whole oxytocin system has gained a growing interest as it was proposed to be implicated in etiopathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS With the main goal of an in-depth understanding of the oxytocin role in the regulation of different functions and complex behaviors as well as its intriguing implications in different neuropsychiatric disorders, we performed a critical review of the current state of art. We carried out this work through PubMed database up to June 2021 with the search terms: 1) "oxytocin and neuropsychiatric disorders"; 2) "oxytocin and neurodevelopmental disorders"; 3) "oxytocin and anorexia"; 4) "oxytocin and eating disorders"; 5) "oxytocin and obsessive-compulsive disorder"; 6) "oxytocin and schizophrenia"; 7) "oxytocin and depression"; 8) "oxytocin and bipolar disorder"; 9) "oxytocin and psychosis"; 10) "oxytocin and anxiety"; 11) "oxytocin and personality disorder"; 12) "oxytocin and PTSD". RESULTS Biological, genetic, and epigenetic studies highlighted quality and quantity modifications in the expression of oxytocin peptide or in oxytocin receptor isoforms. These alterations would seem to be correlated with a higher risk of presenting several neuropsychiatric disorders belonging to different psychopathological spectra. Collaterally, the exogenous oxytocin administration has shown to ameliorate many neuropsychiatric clinical conditions. CONCLUSION Finally, we briefly analyzed the potential pharmacological use of oxytocin in patient with severe symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunoregulatory properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Phuoc-Tan Diep
- Department of Histopathology, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Carter
- Director Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Manuel G Carbone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jiang CC, Lin LS, Long S, Ke XY, Fukunaga K, Lu YM, Han F. Signalling pathways in autism spectrum disorder: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:229. [PMID: 35817793 PMCID: PMC9273593 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01081-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent and complex neurodevelopmental disorder which has strong genetic basis. Despite the rapidly rising incidence of autism, little is known about its aetiology, risk factors, and disease progression. There are currently neither validated biomarkers for diagnostic screening nor specific medication for autism. Over the last two decades, there have been remarkable advances in genetics, with hundreds of genes identified and validated as being associated with a high risk for autism. The convergence of neuroscience methods is becoming more widely recognized for its significance in elucidating the pathological mechanisms of autism. Efforts have been devoted to exploring the behavioural functions, key pathological mechanisms and potential treatments of autism. Here, as we highlight in this review, emerging evidence shows that signal transduction molecular events are involved in pathological processes such as transcription, translation, synaptic transmission, epigenetics and immunoinflammatory responses. This involvement has important implications for the discovery of precise molecular targets for autism. Moreover, we review recent insights into the mechanisms and clinical implications of signal transduction in autism from molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and neurobehavioural aspects. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are discussed with regard to novel strategies predicated on the biological features of autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Li-Shan Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Sen Long
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Mental Health Center Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. .,Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Integrative analysis prioritised oxytocin-related biomarkers associated with the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder. EBioMedicine 2022; 81:104091. [PMID: 35665681 PMCID: PMC9301877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. The common variants of specific oxytocin-related genes (OTRGs), particularly OXTR, are associated with the aetiology of ASD. The contribution of rare genetic variations in OTRGs to ASD aetiology remains unclear. Methods We catalogued publicly available de novo mutations (DNMs) [from 6,511 patients with ASD and 3,391 controls], rare inherited variants (RIVs) [from 1,786 patients with ASD and 1,786 controls], and both de novo copy number variations (dnCNVs) and inherited CNVs (ihCNVs) [from 15,581 patients with ASD and 6,017 controls] in 963 curated OTRGs to explore their contribution to ASD pathology, respectively. Finally, a combined model was designed to prioritise the contribution of each gene to ASD aetiology by integrating DNMs and CNVs. Findings The rare genetic variations of OTRGs were significantly associated with ASD aetiology, in the order of dnCNVs > ihCNVs > DNMs. Furthermore, 172 OTRGs and their connected 286 ASD core genes were prioritised to positively contribute to ASD aetiology, including top-ranked MAPK3. Probands carrying rare disruptive variations in these genes were estimated to account for 10∼11% of all ASD probands. Interpretation Our findings suggest that rare disruptive variations in 172 OTRGs and their connected 286 ASD core genes are associated with ASD aetiology and may be potential biomarkers predicting the effects of oxytocin treatment. Funding Guangdong Key Project, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province.
Collapse
|
16
|
Witte AM, de Moor MHM, Majdandžić M, Verhees MWFT, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. Effects of oxytocin and vasopressin administration on human fathers' sensitive and challenging parenting: A randomized within-subject controlled trial. Horm Behav 2022; 142:105175. [PMID: 35430502 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subject study examined the effects of intranasal administration of oxytocin and vasopressin on fathers' sensitive and challenging parenting behaviors. Furthermore, we examined the moderating role of fathers' early childhood experiences. The sample consisted of 70 fathers with their 2- to 12-month-old infants. All fathers were assigned to each of the three experimental sessions (oxytocin, vasopressin, and placebo), on three separate days, with random order and intervening periods of one to two weeks. Sensitive and challenging parenting behaviors (CPB) were observed during a 10-minute free play task. Results showed no effects of vasopressin administration on paternal sensitivity. Fathers in the oxytocin condition were less sensitive than fathers in the placebo condition, and this effect was moderated by fathers' own childhood experiences: Fathers who reported higher levels of experienced parental love withdrawal were less sensitive in the oxytocin condition as compared to the placebo condition, whereas fathers with less experienced parental love withdrawal showed no difference in sensitivity between the oxytocin and placebo condition. No effects were found of oxytocin and vasopressin administration on fathers' CPB. Our results, although partly unexpected, are largely in line with previous literature showing that oxytocin administration can exert negative effects in individuals with adverse childhood experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annemieke M Witte
- Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Marleen H M de Moor
- Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjana Majdandžić
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Marinus H van IJzendoorn
- Department of Psychology, Education, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Research Department of Clinical, Education and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
| | - Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg
- Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lindenmaier Z, Ellegood J, Stuive M, Easson K, Yee Y, Fernandes D, Foster J, Anagnostou E, Lerch JP. Examining the effect of chronic intranasal oxytocin administration on the neuroanatomy and behavior of three autism-related mouse models. Neuroimage 2022; 257:119243. [PMID: 35508216 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although initially showing great potential, oxytocin treatment has encountered a translational hurdle in its promise of treating the social deficits of autism. Some debate surrounds the ability of oxytocin to successfully enter the brain, and therefore modify neuroanatomy. Moreover, given the heterogeneous nature of autism, treatment will only amerliorate symptoms in a subset of patients. Therefore, to determine whether oxytocin changes brain circuitry, and whether it does so variably, depending on genotype, we implemented a large randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, preclinical study on chronic intranasal oxytocin treatment in three different mouse models related to autism with a focus on using neuroanatomical phenotypes to assess and subset treatment response. Intranasal oxytocin (0.6IU) was administered daily, for 28 days, starting at 5 weeks of age to the 16p11.2 deletion, Shank3 (exon 4-9) knockout, and Fmr1 knockout mouse models. Given the sensitivity of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the neurological effects of interventions like drugs, along with many other advantages, the mice underwent in vivo longitudinal and high-resolution ex vivo imaging with MRI. The scans included three in vivo T1weighted, 90um isotropic resolution scans and a T2-weighted, 3D fast spin echo with 40um isotropic resolution ex vivo scan to assess the changes in neuroanatomy using established automated image registration and deformation based morphometry approaches in response to oxytocin treatment. The behavior of the mice was assessed in multiple domains, including social behaviours and repetitive behaviours, among others. Treatment effect on the neuroanatomy did not reach significance, although the pattern of trending effects was promising. No significant effect of treatment was found on social behavior in any of the strains, although a significant effect of treatment was found in the Fmr1 mouse, with treatment normalizing a grooming deficit. No other treatment effect on behavior was observed that survived multiple comparisons correction. Overall, chronic treatment with oxytocin had limited effects on the three mouse models related to autism, and no promising pattern of response susceptibility emerged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Lindenmaier
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monique Stuive
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaitlyn Easson
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yohan Yee
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Darren Fernandes
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jane Foster
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, St.Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Autism Research Center, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroImaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Borie AM, Agezo S, Lunsford P, Boender AJ, Guo JD, Zhu H, Berman GJ, Young LJ, Liu RC. Social experience alters oxytocinergic modulation in the nucleus accumbens of female prairie voles. Curr Biol 2022; 32:1026-1037.e4. [PMID: 35108521 PMCID: PMC8930613 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Social relationships are dynamic and evolve with shared and personal experiences. Whether the functional role of social neuromodulators also evolves with experience to shape the trajectory of relationships is unknown. We utilized pair bonding in the socially monogamous prairie vole as an example of socio-sexual experience that dramatically alters behaviors displayed toward other individuals. We investigated oxytocin-dependent modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens as a function of pair-bonding status. We found that an oxytocin receptor agonist decreases the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in sexually naive virgin, but not pair-bonded, female voles, while it increases the amplitude of electrically evoked EPSCs in paired voles, but not in virgins. This oxytocin-induced potentiation of synaptic transmission relies on the de novo coupling between oxytocin receptor signaling and endocannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptor signaling in pair-bonded voles. Blocking CB1 receptors after pair-bond formation increases the occurrence of a specific form of social rejection-defensive upright response-that is displayed toward the partner, but not toward a novel individual. Altogether, our results demonstrate that oxytocin's action in the nucleus accumbens is changed through social experience in a way that regulates the trajectory of social interactions as the relationship with the partner unfolds, potentially promoting the maintenance of a pair bond by inhibiting aggressive responses. These results provide a mechanism by which social experience and context shift oxytocinergic signaling to impact neural and behavioral responses to social cues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amélie M Borie
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sena Agezo
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Parker Lunsford
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Arjen J Boender
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ji-Dong Guo
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hong Zhu
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Gordon J Berman
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Center for Social Neural Networks, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8555, Japan.
| | - Robert C Liu
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Tian J, Gao X, Yang L. Repetitive Restricted Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Mechanism to Development of Therapeutics. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:780407. [PMID: 35310097 PMCID: PMC8924045 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.780407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, social interaction, and repetitive restricted behaviors (RRBs). It is usually detected in early childhood. RRBs are behavioral patterns characterized by repetition, inflexibility, invariance, inappropriateness, and frequent lack of obvious function or specific purpose. To date, the classification of RRBs is contentious. Understanding the potential mechanisms of RRBs in children with ASD, such as neural connectivity disorders and abnormal immune functions, will contribute to finding new therapeutic targets. Although behavioral intervention remains the most effective and safe strategy for RRBs treatment, some promising drugs and new treatment options (e.g., supplementary and cell therapy) have shown positive effects on RRBs in recent studies. In this review, we summarize the latest advances of RRBs from mechanistic to therapeutic approaches and propose potential future directions in research on RRBs.
Collapse
|
20
|
Wang F, Yin XS, Lu J, Cen C, Wang Y. Phosphorylation-dependent positive feedback on the oxytocin receptor through the kinase PKD1 contributes to long-term social memory. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabd0033. [PMID: 35104164 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abd0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Social memory enables one to recognize and distinguish specific individuals. It is fundamental to social behaviors that can be mediated by the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), such as forming relationships. We investigated the molecular regulation and function of OXTR in animal behavior involving social memory. We found that Ser261 in OXTR was phosphorylated by protein kinase D1 (PKD1). Neuronal Ca2+ signaling and behavior analyses revealed that rats expressing a mutated form of OXTR that cannot be phosphorylated at this residue (OXTR S261A) in the medial amygdala (MeA) exhibited impaired long-term social memory (LTSM). Blocking the phosphorylation of wild-type OXTR in the MeA using an interfering peptide in rats or through conditional knockout of Pkd1 in mice reduced social memory retention, whereas expression of a phosphomimetic mutant of OXTR rescued it. In HEK293A cells, the PKD1-mediated phosphorylation of OXTR promoted its binding to Gq protein and, in turn, OXTR-mediated phosphorylation of PKD1, indicating a positive feedback loop. In addition, OXTR with a single-nucleotide polymorphism found in humans (rs200362197), which has a mutation in the conserved recognition region in the PKD1 phosphorylation site, showed impaired activation and signaling in vitro and in HEK293A cells similar to that of the S216A mutant. Our findings describe a phosphoregulatory loop for OXTR and its critical role in social behavior that might be further explored in associated disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.,Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Xiang-Sha Yin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Cheng Cen
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Yamasue H, Kojima M, Kuwabara H, Kuroda M, Matsumoto K, Kanai C, Inada N, Owada K, Ochi K, Ono N, Benner S, Wakuda T, Kameno Y, Inoue J, Harada T, Tsuchiya K, Umemura K, Yamauchi A, Ogawa N, Kushima I, Ozaki N, Suyama S, Saito T, Uemura Y, Hamada J, Kano Y, Honda N, Kikuchi S, Seto M, Tomita H, Miyoshi N, Matsumoto M, Kawaguchi Y, Kanai K, Ikeda M, Nakamura I, Isomura S, Hirano Y, Onitsuka T, Kosaka H, Okada T. Effect of a novel nasal oxytocin spray with enhanced bioavailability on autism: a randomized trial. Brain 2022; 145:490-499. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Although intranasal oxytocin is expected to be a novel therapy for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, which has currently no approved medication, the efficacy of repeated administrations was inconsistent, suggesting that the optimal dose for a single administration of oxytocin is not optimal for repeated administration.
The current double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, crossover trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03466671) was aimed to test the effect of TTA-121, a new formulation of intranasal oxytocin spray with an enhanced bioavailability (3.6 times higher than Syntocinon® spray, as assessed by area under the concentration–time curve in rabbit brains), which enabled us to test a wide range of multiple doses, on autism spectrum disorder core symptoms and to determine the dose–response relationship. Four-week administrations of TTA-121, at low dose once per day (3 U/day), low dose twice per day (6 U/day), high dose once per day (10 U/day), or high dose twice per day (20 U/day), and 4-week placebo were administered in a crossover manner. The primary outcome was the mean difference in the reciprocity score (range: 0–14, higher values represent worse outcomes) on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule between the baseline and end point of each administration period. This trial with two administration periods and eight groups was conducted at seven university hospitals in Japan, enrolling adult males with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Enrolment began from June 2018 and ended December 2019. Follow-up ended March 2020.
Of 109 males with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder who were randomized, 103 completed the trial. The smallest P-value, judged as the dose–response relationship, was the contrast with the peak at TTA-121 6 U/day, with inverted U-shape for both the full analysis set (P = 0.182) and per protocol set (P = 0.073). The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule reciprocity score, the primary outcome, was reduced in the TTA-121 6 U/day administration period compared with the placebo (full analysis set: P = 0.118, mean difference = −0.5; 95% CI: −1.1 to 0.1; per protocol set: P = 0.012, mean difference = −0.8; 95% CI: −1.3 to −0.2). The per protocol set was the analysis target population, consisting of all full analysis set participants except those who deviated from the protocol. Most dropouts from the full analysis set to the per protocol set occurred because of poor adherence to the test drug (9 of 12 in the first period and 8 of 15 in the second period). None of the secondary clinical and behavioural outcomes were significantly improved with the TTA-121 compared with the placebo in the full analysis set.
A novel intranasal spray of oxytocin with enhanced bioavailability enabled us to test a wide range of multiple doses, revealing an inverted U-shape dose–response curve, with the peak at a dose that was lower than expected from previous studies. The efficacy of TTA-121 shown in the current exploratory study should be verified in a future large-scale, parallel-group trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Yamasue
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development at Hamamatsu, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan
| | - Masaki Kojima
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development at Hamamatsu, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan
| | - Miho Kuroda
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Psychology, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, 7-1 Ohgigaoka, Nonoichi 921-8054, Japan
| | - Chieko Kanai
- Child Development and Education, Faculty of Humanities, Wayo Women’s University, Konodai 2-3-1, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-0827, Japan
| | - Naoko Inada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiho Owada
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Keiko Ochi
- School of Media Science, Tokyo University of Technology, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Ono
- Department of Computer Science, Graduate School of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hino, Japan
| | - Seico Benner
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Wakuda
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kameno
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
| | - Jun Inoue
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
| | - Taeko Harada
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development at Hamamatsu, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan
| | - Kenji Tsuchiya
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development at Hamamatsu, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan
| | - Kazuo Umemura
- Department of Pharmacology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
| | - Aya Yamauchi
- Department of Medical Technique, Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8560, Japan
| | - Nanayo Ogawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Satoshi Suyama
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takuya Saito
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yukari Uemura
- Biostatistics Section, Department of Data Science, Center for Clinical Science, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjyu-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Junko Hamada
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kano
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Nami Honda
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Saya Kikuchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Moe Seto
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tomita
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Noriko Miyoshi
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Megumi Matsumoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuko Kawaguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koji Kanai
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Itta Nakamura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shuichi Isomura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoji Hirano
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Onitsuka
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kosaka
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yamamoto Y, Harashima A, Munesue SI, Higashida H. Use of Cocultures to Measure the Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability of Oxytocin. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2384:247-255. [PMID: 34550579 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1759-5_15] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Primary monkey brain capillary endothelial cell cultures, with rat pericytes and astrocytes, provide an assay system for predicting the ability of oxytocin (OT) to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), using a commercially available in vitro BBB kit. The integrity of the in vitro "BBB," which has a high transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), can be established approximately 4 days after preparations for experiments. Dominant endothelial transport of OT is from the upper (luminal blood side) to lower (abluminal brain side) chambers, dose-dependently. OT is transported by the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in endothelial cells, which is evidenced using the RAGE knockdown system with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) treatment. This in vitro assay system is useful for further assessment of OT transport across the BBB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan.
| | - Ai Harashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Sei-Ichi Munesue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Berends YR, Tulen JH, Wierdsma AI, de Rijke YB, Kushner SA, van Marle HJ. Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 8:100080. [PMID: 35757666 PMCID: PMC9216378 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin has been proposed to enhance feelings of trust, however, these findings have been difficult to replicate. Environmental or hormonal factors might influence this association. We studied whether oxytocin moderates the association between the testosterone-cortisol ratio, which is associated with risk taking behavior and aggression, and trustworthiness, while controlling for the general level of trust. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 53 healthy males was performed in which 32IU oxytocin (n = 27) or placebo (n = 26) was administered intranasally. Participants subsequently played the Trust Game in which they were allocated to the role of trustee. In the third phase of the Trust Game, we found a positive association between the testosterone-cortisol-ratio and the proportion of the amount that is returned to the investor (P=<0.01). However, administration of oxytocin reduced reciprocity in those with a high testosterone-cortisol ratio after reciprocity restoration (a significant interaction effect between administration of oxytocin and the testosterone-cortisol ratio in the third phase of the Trust Game, P = 0.015). The third phase of the Trust Game represents the restoration of reciprocity and trustworthiness, after this is violated in the second phase. Therefore, our data suggest that oxytocin might hinder the restoration of trustworthiness and diminish risk-taking behavior when trust is violated, especially in those who are hormonally prone to risk-taking behavior by a high testosterone-cortisol ratio. Oxytocin (32IU) was administered intranasally to healthy young males in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Testosterone-cortisol ratio was positively associated with trustworthiness during the Trust Game. Oxytocin significantly attenuated the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness.
Collapse
|
24
|
Morais LH, Golubeva AV, Casey S, Scott KA, Ramos Costa AP, Moloney GM, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Early-life oxytocin attenuates the social deficits induced by caesarean-section delivery in the mouse. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1958-1968. [PMID: 34040156 PMCID: PMC8429532 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01040-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The oxytocin (OXT) system has been strongly implicated in the regulation of social behaviour and anxiety, potentially contributing to the aetiology of a wide range of neuropathologies. Birth by Caesarean-section (C-section) results in alterations in microbiota diversity in early-life, alterations in brain development and has recently been associated with long-term social and anxiety-like behaviour deficits. In this study, we assessed whether OXT intervention in the early postnatal period could reverse C-section-mediated effects on behaviour, and physiology in early life and adulthood. Following C-section or per vaginum birth, pups were administered with OXT (0.2 or 2 μg/20 μl; s.c.) or saline daily from postnatal days 1-5. We demonstrate that early postnatal OXT treatment has long-lasting effects reversing many of the effects of C-section on mouse behaviour and physiology. In early-life, high-dose OXT administration attenuated C-section-mediated maternal attachment impairments. In adulthood, low-dose OXT restored social memory deficits, some aspects of anxiety-like behaviour, and improved gastrointestinal transit. Furthermore, as a consequence of OXT intervention in early life, OXT plasma levels were increased in adulthood, and dysregulation of the immune response in C-section animals was attenuated by both doses of OXT treatment. These findings indicate that there is an early developmental window sensitive to manipulations of the OXT system that can prevent lifelong behavioural and physiological impairments associated with mode of birth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livia H. Morais
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.20861.3d0000000107068890Present Address: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | - Anna V. Golubeva
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Sophie Casey
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,Present Address: Irish Centre for Foetal and Neonatal Translational Research, INFANT, Cork, Ireland
| | - Karen A. Scott
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Present Address: Department of Pharmacodynamics, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Ana Paula Ramos Costa
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.411237.20000 0001 2188 7235Departamento de Farmacologia, CCB, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Gerard M. Moloney
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G. Dinan
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F. Cryan
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Henneberry E, Lamy M, Dominick KC, Erickson CA. Decades of Progress in the Psychopharmacology of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:4370-4394. [PMID: 34491511 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent decades have been marked by a wave drug treatment research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This work has resulted in improved ability to treat commonly occurring behavioral challenges associated with ASD including most prominently irritability marked by aggression, self-injurious behavior, and severe tantrums. While treatment of interfering behavior has progressed in our field, there remain several areas of unmet medical need including most prominently a lack of any approved drug therapies for the core, defining symptoms of autism. We outline the progress to date in the field of autism drug treatment while taking a future look forward into how decades of work can inform better future steps in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Henneberry
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Martine Lamy
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Kelli C Dominick
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Craig A Erickson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Mayer AV, Wermter AK, Stroth S, Alter P, Haberhausen M, Stehr T, Paulus FM, Krach S, Kamp-Becker I. Randomized clinical trial shows no substantial modulation of empathy-related neural activation by intranasal oxytocin in autism. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15056. [PMID: 34301983 PMCID: PMC8302641 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that intranasal application of oxytocin facilitates empathy and modulates its underlying neural processes, which are often impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Oxytocin has therefore been considered a promising candidate for the treatment of social difficulties in ASD. However, evidence linking oxytocin treatment to social behavior and brain function in ASD is limited and heterogeneous effects might depend on variations in the oxytocin-receptor gene (OXTR). We examined 25 male ASD patients without intellectual disability in a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled fMRI-protocol, in which a single dose of oxytocin or placebo was applied intranasally. Patients performed three experiments in the MRI examining empathy for other's physical pain, basic emotions, and social pain. All participants were genotyped for the rs53576 single-nucleotide polymorphism of the OXTR. Oxytocin increased bilateral amygdala responsiveness during the physical pain task for both painful and neutral stimuli. Other than that, there were no effects of oxytocin treatment. OXTR genotype did not significantly interact with oxytocin treatment. Our results contribute to the growing body of empirical literature suggesting heterogenous effects of oxytocin administration in ASD. To draw clinically relevant conclusions regarding the usefulness of oxytocin treatment, however, empirical studies need to consider methods of delivery, dose, and moderating individual factors more carefully in larger samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annalina V Mayer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Neuroscience Lab, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Anne-Kathrin Wermter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sanna Stroth
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter Alter
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Haberhausen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Stehr
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Frieder M Paulus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Neuroscience Lab, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sören Krach
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Neuroscience Lab, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Inge Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Marburg Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kurokawa H, Kinari Y, Okudaira H, Tsubouchi K, Sai Y, Kikuchi M, Higashida H, Ohtake F. Oxytocin-Trust Link in Oxytocin-Sensitive Participants and Those Without Autistic Traits. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:659737. [PMID: 34113232 PMCID: PMC8186783 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.659737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been numerous studies in which the biological role of oxytocin in trusting behavior has been investigated. However, a link between oxytocin and trust in humans was discovered only in one early study. We hypothesized that there is a large interindividual variation in oxytocin sensitivity, and that such variation is one reason for the doubt surrounding the role of oxytocin in trusting behavior. Here, in a double-blind, prospective, case-control study, we administered intranasal oxytocin to participants of trust and risk games. We measured salivary oxytocin concentration, relating it to the amount of money transferred among participants (a proxy for trust) and the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ). A one-sided Fisher’s exact test was performed to detect differences between the oxytocin and placebo groups in the proportions of investors who transferred the maximum amount of money. We discovered a tendency for participants who received oxytocin to transfer higher amounts of money to co-participants than those who received a placebo (P = 0.04). We also revealed a high degree of interindividual variation in salivary oxytocin concentrations after oxytocin administration. After stratifying the samples with respect to oxytocin sensitivity, oxytocin-sensitive participants in the oxytocin group also transferred higher amounts of money than those in the placebo group (P = 0.03), while such a tendency was not observed for oxytocin-insensitive participants (P = 0.34). Participants with lower AQ scores (less severe autistic traits) exhibited a greater tendency toward trusting behavior after oxytocin administration than did those with higher AQ scores (P = 0.02). A two-sample t-test that was performed to detect significant differences in the mean transfers between the oxytocin and placebo groups indicated no significant between-group difference in the mean transfers (P = 0.08). There are two possible interpretations of these results: First, there is no effect of oxytocin on trust in humans; second, the effects of oxytocin on trust in humans is person-dependent. However, the results should be interpreted with caution as the effect size was not larger than the minimal detectable effect size and the results were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) after Bonferroni corrections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Kurokawa
- School of Economics and Management, University of Hyogo, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kinari
- Hirao School of Management, Konan University, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | | | | | - Yoshimichi Sai
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kikuchi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Fumio Ohtake
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Rae M, Lemos Duarte M, Gomes I, Camarini R, Devi LA. Oxytocin and vasopressin: Signalling, behavioural modulation and potential therapeutic effects. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:1544-1564. [PMID: 33817785 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are endogenous ligands for OT and AVP receptors in the brain and in the peripheral system. Several studies demonstrate that OT and AVP have opposite roles in modulating stress, anxiety and social behaviours. Interestingly, both peptides and their receptors exhibit high sequence homology which could account for the biased signalling interaction of the peptides with OT and AVP receptors. However, how and under which conditions this crosstalk occurs in vivo remains unclear. In this review we shed light on the complexity of the roles of OT and AVP, by focusing on their signalling and behavioural differences and exploring the crosstalk between the receptor systems. Moreover, we discuss the potential of OT and AVP receptors as therapeutic targets to treat human disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia and drug abuse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Rae
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mariana Lemos Duarte
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ivone Gomes
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rosana Camarini
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lakshmi A Devi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Martins D, Paduraru M, Paloyelis Y. Heterogeneity in response to repeated intranasal oxytocin in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis of variance. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:1525-1543. [PMID: 33739447 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intranasal oxytocin (OT) has been suggested as a putative adjunctive treatment for patients with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Here, we examine available evidence from trials investigating the effects of repeated administrations of intranasal OT on the core symptoms of patients with schizophrenia and ASD, focusing on its therapeutic efficacy and heterogeneity of response (meta-ANOVA). Repeated administration of intranasal OT does not improve most of the core symptoms of schizophrenia and ASD, beyond a small tentative effect on schizophrenia general symptoms. However, we found significant moderator effects for dose in schizophrenia total psychopathology and positive symptoms, and percentage of included men and duration of treatment in schizophrenia general symptoms. We found evidence of heterogeneity (increased variance) in the response of schizophrenia negative symptoms to intranasal OT compared with placebo, suggesting that subgroups of responsive and non-responsive patients might coexist. For other core symptoms of schizophrenia, or any of the core symptom dimensions in ASD, the response to repeated treatment with intranasal OT did not show evidence of heterogeneity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Martins
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Paduraru
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yannis Paloyelis
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Munesue SI, Liang M, Harashima A, Zhong J, Furuhara K, Boitsova EB, Cherepanov SM, Gerasimenko M, Yuhi T, Yamamoto Y, Higashida H. Transport of oxytocin to the brain after peripheral administration by membrane-bound or soluble forms of receptors for advanced glycation end-products. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12963. [PMID: 33733541 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide hormone. Single and repetitive administration of OT increases social interaction and maternal behaviour in humans and mammals. Recently, it was found that the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is an OT-binding protein and plays a critical role in the uptake of OT to the brain after peripheral OT administration. Here, we address some unanswered questions on RAGE-dependent OT transport. First, we found that, after intranasal OT administration, the OT concentration increased in the extracellular space of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of wild-type male mice, as measured by push-pull microperfusion. No increase of OT in the mPFC was observed in RAGE knockout male mice. Second, in a reconstituted in vitro blood-brain barrier system, inclusion of the soluble form of RAGE (endogenous secretory RAGE [esRAGE]), an alternative splicing variant, in the luminal (blood) side had no effect on the transport of OT to the abluminal (brain) chamber. Third, OT concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid after i.p. OT injection were slightly higher in male mice overexpressing esRAGE (esRAGE transgenic) compared to those in wild-type male mice, although this did not reach statistical significance. Although more extensive confirmation is necessary because of the small number of experiments in the present study, the reported data support the hypothesis that RAGE may be involved in the transport of OT to the mPFC from the circulation. These results suggest that the soluble form of RAGE in the plasma does not function as a decoy in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sei-Ichi Munesue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - MingKun Liang
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Ai Harashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Jing Zhong
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazumi Furuhara
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Elizabeta B Boitsova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
- Laboratory for Social Brain Studies, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V. F. Voino-Yasentsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Stanislav M Cherepanov
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Maria Gerasimenko
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Teruko Yuhi
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
- Laboratory for Social Brain Studies, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V. F. Voino-Yasentsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Alaerts K, Steyaert J, Vanaudenaerde B, Wenderoth N, Bernaerts S. Changes in endogenous oxytocin levels after intranasal oxytocin treatment in adult men with autism: An exploratory study with long-term follow-up. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 43:147-152. [PMID: 33309460 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is increasingly explored as a potential treatment for targeting the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previously, interactions of exogenously administered OT with its endogenous production have been demonstrated following single-dose administrations. However, the impact of repeated, long-term OT use on endogenous salivary OT levels is unknown. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study with between-subject design, 34 adult men with ASD were either assigned to a four-week treatment of once-daily intranasal OT administrations (24 IU) or placebo. Salivary OT samples were obtained before and after the treatment period as well as at two follow-up sessions, four weeks and one year after cessation of the treatment. Receiving OT intranasally but not placebo reliably increased endogenous salivary levels of OT immediately post-treatment and at the follow-up session four weeks post treatment, indicating an interaction between exogenously administered OT and its endogenous production. Notably, increases in salivary OT at the four-week follow-up session were most pronounced in individuals with larger behavioral improvements in ASD social symptoms. These results suggest that OT's positive effects on social behaviors may lead to a self-perpetuating elevation of OT levels through a feed-forward triggering of its own release. Together, the current investigation provides initial evidence that repeated intranasal administration of OT can induce long-lasting changes in endogenous salivary OT levels, presumably through a positive spiral of OT release.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaat Alaerts
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neurorehabilitation Research Group, Belgium; Leuven Autism Research Consortium, KU Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jean Steyaert
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Neurosciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Psychiatry Research Group, Belgium; Leuven Autism Research Consortium, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Vanaudenaerde
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Group Biomedical Sciences, Pneumology Research Group, Belgium
| | - Nicole Wenderoth
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neural Control of Movement Lab, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Bernaerts
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neurorehabilitation Research Group, Belgium; Leuven Autism Research Consortium, KU Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Iovino M, Messana T, Tortora A, Giusti C, Lisco G, Giagulli VA, Guastamacchia E, De Pergola G, Triggiani V. Oxytocin Signaling Pathway: From Cell Biology to Clinical Implications. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2021; 21:91-110. [PMID: 32433011 DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666200520093730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to the well-known role played in lactation and parturition, Oxytocin (OT) and OT receptor (OTR) are involved in many other aspects such as the control of maternal and social behavior, the regulation of the growth of the neocortex, the maintenance of blood supply to the cortex, the stimulation of limbic olfactory area to mother-infant recognition bond, and the modulation of the autonomic nervous system via the vagal pathway. Moreover, OT and OTR show antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-pain, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-atherogenic effects. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the main data coming from the literature dealing with the role of OT and OTR in physiology and pathologic conditions focusing on the most relevant aspects. METHODS Appropriate keywords and MeSH terms were identified and searched in Pubmed. Finally, references of original articles and reviews were examined. RESULTS We report the most significant and updated data on the role played by OT and OTR in physiology and different clinical contexts. CONCLUSION Emerging evidence indicates the involvement of OT system in several pathophysiological mechanisms influencing brain anatomy, cognition, language, sense of safety and trust and maternal behavior, with the possible use of exogenous administered OT in the treatment of specific neuropsychiatric conditions. Furthermore, it modulates pancreatic β-cell responsiveness and lipid metabolism leading to possible therapeutic use in diabetic and dyslipidemic patients and for limiting and even reversing atherosclerotic lesions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iovino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Tullio Messana
- Infantile Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS - Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Tortora
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Consuelo Giusti
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lisco
- Hospital Unit of Endocrinology, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Pergola
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Shishido E, Shuo T, Shinohara K, Horiuchi S. Effects of epidural anesthesia on postpartum maternity blues and fatigue and its relation to changes in oxytocin. Jpn J Nurs Sci 2021; 18:e12406. [PMID: 33470059 DOI: 10.1111/jjns.12406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to clarify (a) the association of the delivery mode (i.e., epidural anesthesia or no epidural) with women's changes in longitudinal salivary oxytocin (OT) levels from late pregnancy to early postpartum, and (b) the association of these changes with postpartum maternity blues (MB) and fatigue. METHODS We used a longitudinal observational design. We performed measurements of the saliva samples at four measurement points: (a) 36-37 gestational weeks, (b) 38-39 gestational weeks, (c) 1-2 days after birth, and (d) 4-5 days after birth. The inclusion criterion was low-risk primiparous women who were planning to have vaginal delivery. We used Stein's MB scale to evaluate postpartum data and a visual analog scale to examine "postpartum fatigue". We determined the association between the MB/fatigue scores and the changes in the OT levels by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS There were 29 women who delivered with epidural anesthesia and 29 women who did not. A significantly higher mean salivary OT level was observed in the women with epidural anesthesia at 1-2 days after birth than at 36-37 gestational weeks. The mean OT level at 4-5 days postpartum was significantly lower than that at 1-2 days postpartum. The correlation of the MB score with the salivary OT level at 4-5 days postpartum was ρ = -0.33, p = .01. CONCLUSIONS Early postpartum OT level decreased with epidural anesthesia and showed a negative correlation with postpartum MB and fatigue. Healthcare providers should recognize that women who had epidural anesthesia need specific supportive care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eri Shishido
- Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Shuo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Shinohara
- Neurobiology and Behavior Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shigeko Horiuchi
- Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Intranasal oxytocin in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders: A multilevel meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 122:18-27. [PMID: 33400920 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Intranasal oxytocin has been shown to promote social functioning and has recently been applied as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The current meta-analysis aims to assess the crucial question of oxytocin's efficacy in the treatment of ASD. We performed a systematic literature search, including randomized, single- or double-blind/open-label and placebo-controlled clinical trials as well as single-arm, non-randomized and uncontrolled studies investigating exogenous oxytocin effect on ASD. A total of 28 studies (N = 726 ASD patients) met our predefined inclusion criteria. We used a multilevel meta-analytic model and found that oxytocin had beneficial effects on social functioning, but did not find strong evidence for symptoms improvement in the non-social domain. Our findings suggest that oxytocin administration can be regarded as an effective treatment for some core aspects of ASD, especially in the domain of social functioning, highlighting the promise of using oxytocin as a new-generation therapeutic to address core social impairments in ASD.
Collapse
|
35
|
The promiscuity of the oxytocin-vasopressin systems and their involvement in autism spectrum disorder. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 182:121-140. [PMID: 34266588 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819973-2.00009-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin and vasopressin systems have been studied separately in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we provide evidence from an evolutionary and neuroscience perspective about the shared mechanisms and the common roles in regulating social behaviors. We first discuss findings on the evolutionary history of oxytocin and vasopressin ligands and receptors that highlight their common origin and clarify the evolutionary background of the crosstalk between them. Second, we conducted a comprehensive review of the increasing evidence for the role of both neuropeptides in regulating social behaviors. Third, we reviewed the growing evidence on the associations between the oxytocin/vasopressin systems and ASD, which includes oxytocin and vasopressin dysfunction in animal models of autism and in human patients, and the impact of treatments targeting the oxytocin or the vasopressin systems in children and in adults. Here, we highlight the potential of targeting the oxytocin/vasopressin systems to improve social deficits observed in ASD and the need for further investigations on how to transfer these research innovations into clinical applications.
Collapse
|
36
|
Zhou MS, Nasir M, Farhat LC, Kook M, Artukoglu BB, Bloch MH. Meta-analysis: Pharmacologic Treatment of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 60:35-45. [PMID: 32387445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHOD We searched PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL to identify all double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials that examined the efficacy of pharmacological agents in the treatment of ASD and measured RRB as an outcome. Our primary outcome was the standardized mean difference in rating scales of RRB. RESULTS We identified 64 randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving 3,499 participants with ASD. Antipsychotics significantly improved RRB outcomes compared to placebo (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.28, 95% CIs = 0.08-0.49), z = 2.77, p = .01) demonstrating a small effect size. Larger significant positive effects on RRB in ASD were seen in individual studies with fluvoxamine, buspirone, bumetanide, divalproex, guanfacine, and folinic acid that have not been replicated. Other frequently studied pharmacological treatments in ASD including oxytocin, omega-3 fatty acids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and methylphenidate did not demonstrate significant benefit in reducing RRB compared to placebo (oxytocin: SMD = 0.23, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.47, z = 1.85, p = .06; omega-3 fatty acids: SMD = 0.19, 95% CI = -0.05 to 0.43, z = 1.54, p = .12; SSRI: SMD = 0.09, 95% CI = -0.21 to 0.39, z = 0.60, p = .56; methylphenidate: SMD = 0.18, 95% CI = -0.11 to 0.46, z = 1.23, p = .22). CONCLUSION The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that currently available pharmacological agents have at best only a modest benefit for the treatment of RRB in ASD, with the most evidence supporting antipsychotic medications. Additional randomized controlled trials with standardized study designs and consistent and specific assessment tools for RRB are needed to further understand how we can best help ameliorate these behaviors in individuals with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa S Zhou
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Madeeha Nasir
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Luis C Farhat
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil
| | - Minjee Kook
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Bekir B Artukoglu
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Michael H Bloch
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Pandina G, Ring RH, Bangerter A, Ness S. Current Approaches to the Pharmacologic Treatment of Core Symptoms Across the Lifespan of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2020; 43:629-645. [PMID: 33126999 DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There are no approved medications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core symptoms. However, given the significant clinical need, children and adults with ASD are prescribed medication off label for core or associated conditions, sometimes based on limited evidence for effectiveness. Recent developments in the understanding of biologic basis of ASD have led to novel targets with potential to impact core symptoms, and several clinical trials are underway. Heterogeneity in course of development, co-occurring conditions, and age-related treatment response variability hampers study outcomes. Novel measures and approaches to ASD clinical trial design will help in development of effective pharmacologic treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gahan Pandina
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA.
| | | | - Abigail Bangerter
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
| | - Seth Ness
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Spanos M, Chandrasekhar T, Kim SJ, Hamer RM, King BH, McDougle CJ, Sanders KB, Gregory SG, Kolevzon A, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Sikich L. Rationale, design, and methods of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) network Study of Oxytocin in Autism to improve Reciprocal Social Behaviors (SOARS-B). Contemp Clin Trials 2020; 98:106103. [PMID: 32777383 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the rationale, design, and methods of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) network Study of Oxytocin in Autism to improve Reciprocal Social Behaviors (SOARS-B). METHOD This phase 2 clinical trial was designed to evaluate the use of intranasal oxytocin treatment to improve social difficulties in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In total, 290 participants ages 3 to 17 years with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD were enrolled to receive 24 weeks of treatment with either oxytocin or a matched placebo at one of seven collaborating sites. Participants were subsequently treated with open-label oxytocin for 24 additional weeks. Post-treatment assessments were done approximately 4 weeks after treatment discontinuation. Plasma oxytocin and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation level were measured at baseline, and week 8, 24 and 36 to explore potential relationships between these biomarkers and treatment response. RESULTS This report describes the rationale, design, and methods of the SOARS-B clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS There is a tremendous unmet need for safe and effective pharmacological treatment options that target the core symptoms of ASD. Several studies support the hypothesis that intranasal oxytocin could improve social orienting and the salience of social rewards in ASD, thereby enhancing reciprocal social behaviors. However, due to conflicting results from a number of pilot studies on the prosocial effects of exogenous oxytocin, this hypothesis remains controversial and inconclusive. SOARS-B is the best powered study to date to address this hypothesis and promises to improve our understanding of the safety and efficacy of intranasal oxytocin in the treatment of social deficits in children with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Spanos
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America.
| | - Tara Chandrasekhar
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Soo-Jeong Kim
- Seattle Children's Autism Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington; Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Robert M Hamer
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Bryan H King
- Department of Psychiatry and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Christopher J McDougle
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Kevin B Sanders
- Neuroscience Product Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Simon G Gregory
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Alexander Kolevzon
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University; New York State Psychiatric Institute; Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, United States of America
| | - Linmarie Sikich
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Yamasue H, Okada T, Munesue T, Kuroda M, Fujioka T, Uno Y, Matsumoto K, Kuwabara H, Mori D, Okamoto Y, Yoshimura Y, Kawakubo Y, Arioka Y, Kojima M, Yuhi T, Owada K, Yassin W, Kushima I, Benner S, Ogawa N, Eriguchi Y, Kawano N, Uemura Y, Yamamoto M, Kano Y, Kasai K, Higashida H, Ozaki N, Kosaka H. Effect of intranasal oxytocin on the core social symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: a randomized clinical trial. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1849-1858. [PMID: 29955161 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0097-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Although small-scale studies have described the effects of oxytocin on social deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), no large-scale study has been conducted. In this randomized, parallel-group, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in Japan, 106 ASD individuals (18-48 y.o.) were enrolled between Jan 2015 and March 2016. Participants were randomly assigned to a 6-week intranasal oxytocin (48IU/day, n = 53) or placebo (n = 53) group. One-hundred-three participants were analyzed. Since oxytocin reduced the primary endpoint, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) reciprocity, (from 8.5 to 7.7; P < .001) but placebo also reduced the score (8.3 to 7.2; P < .001), no between-group difference was found (effect size -0.08; 95% CI, -0.46 to 0.31; P = .69); however, plasma oxytocin was only elevated from baseline to endpoint in the oxytocin-group compared with the placebo-group (effect size -1.12; -1.53 to -0.70; P < .0001). Among the secondary endpoints, oxytocin reduced ADOS repetitive behavior (2.0 to 1.5; P < .0001) compared with placebo (2.0 to 1.8; P = .43) (effect size 0.44; 0.05 to 0.83; P = .026). In addition, the duration of gaze fixation on socially relevant regions, another secondary endpoint, was increased by oxytocin (41.2 to 52.3; P = .03) compared with placebo (45.7 to 40.4; P = .25) (effect size 0.55; 0.10 to 1.0; P = .018). No significant effects were observed for the other secondary endpoints. No significant difference in the prevalence of adverse events was observed between groups, although one participant experienced temporary gynecomastia during oxytocin administration. Based on the present findings, we cannot recommend continuous intranasal oxytocin treatment alone at the current dose and duration for treatment of the core social symptoms of high-functioning ASD in adult men, although this large-scale trial suggests oxytocin's possibility to treat ASD repetitive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Yamasue
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City, 431-3192, Japan. .,Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Toshio Munesue
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Miho Kuroda
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Toru Fujioka
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
| | - Yota Uno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.,Laboratory for Psychiatric and Molecular Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Kaori Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Psychology, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, 7-1 Ohgigaoka, Nonoichi, 921-8054, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.,Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development at Hamamatsu, Handayama 1 Higashiku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yuko Okamoto
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
| | - Yuko Yoshimura
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Yuki Kawakubo
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.,Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yuko Arioka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masaki Kojima
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Teruko Yuhi
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Keiho Owada
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Walid Yassin
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Seico Benner
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Nanayo Ogawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yosuke Eriguchi
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Naoko Kawano
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yukari Uemura
- Biostatistics Division, Clinical Research Support Center, University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Maeri Yamamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kano
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kosaka
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Antineuroinflammatory therapy: potential treatment for autism spectrum disorder by inhibiting glial activation and restoring synaptic function. CNS Spectr 2020; 25:493-501. [PMID: 31659946 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852919001603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by deficits in social interactions and perseverative and stereotypical behavior. Growing evidence points toward a critical role for synaptic dysfunction in the onset of ASD, and synaptic function is influenced by glial cells. Considering the evidence that neuroinflammation in ASD is mediated by glial cells, one hypothesis is that reactive glial cells, under inflammatory conditions, contribute to the loss of synaptic functions and trigger ASD. Ongoing pharmacological treatments for ASD, including oxytocin, vitamin D, sulforaphane, and resveratrol, are promising and are shown to lead to improvements in behavioral performance in ASD. More importantly, their pharmacological mechanisms are closely related to anti-inflammation and synaptic protection. We focus this review on the hypothesis that synaptic dysfunction caused by reactive glial cells would lead to ASD, and discuss the potentials of antineuroinflammatory therapy for ASD.
Collapse
|
41
|
Exogenous effects of oxytocin in five psychiatric disorders: a systematic review, meta-analyses and a personalized approach through the lens of the social salience hypothesis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 114:70-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
42
|
Owada K, Okada T, Munesue T, Kuroda M, Fujioka T, Uno Y, Matsumoto K, Kuwabara H, Mori D, Okamoto Y, Yoshimura Y, Kawakubo Y, Arioka Y, Kojima M, Yuhi T, Yassin W, Kushima I, Benner S, Ogawa N, Kawano N, Eriguchi Y, Uemura Y, Yamamoto M, Kano Y, Kasai K, Higashida H, Ozaki N, Kosaka H, Yamasue H. Quantitative facial expression analysis revealed the efficacy and time course of oxytocin in autism. Brain 2020; 142:2127-2136. [PMID: 31096266 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Discrepancies in efficacy between single-dose and repeated administration of oxytocin for autism spectrum disorder have led researchers to hypothesize that time-course changes in efficacy are induced by repeated administrations of the peptide hormone. However, repeatable, objective, and quantitative measurement of autism spectrum disorder's core symptoms are lacking, making it difficult to examine potential time-course changes in efficacy. We tested this hypothesis using repeatable, objective, and quantitative measurement of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. We examined videos recorded during semi-structured social interaction administered as the primary outcome in single-site exploratory (n = 18, crossover within-subjects design) and multisite confirmatory (n = 106, parallel-group design), double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-week trials of repeated intranasal administrations of oxytocin (48 IU/day) in adult males with autism spectrum disorder. The main outcomes were statistical representative values of objectively quantified facial expression intensity in a repeatable part of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule: the maximum probability (i.e. mode) and the natural logarithm of mode on the probability density function of neutral facial expression and the natural logarithm of mode on the probability density function of happy expression. Our recent study revealed that increases in these indices characterize autistic facial expression, compared with neurotypical individuals. The current results revealed that oxytocin consistently and significantly decreased the increased natural logarithm of mode on the probability density function of neutral facial expression compared with placebo in exploratory (effect-size, -0.57; 95% CI, -1.27 to 0.13; P = 0.023) and confirmatory trials (-0.41; -0.62 to -0.20; P < 0.001). A significant interaction between time-course (at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks) and the efficacy of oxytocin on the natural logarithm of mode on the probability density function of neutral facial expression was found in confirmatory trial (P < 0.001). Post hoc analyses revealed maximum efficacy at 2 weeks (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = -0.78; 95% CI, -1.21 to -0.35) and deterioration of efficacy at 4 weeks (P = 0.042, Cohen's d = -0.46; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.01) and 6 weeks (P = 0.10, Cohen's d = -0.35; 95% CI, -0.77 to 0.08), while efficacy was preserved at 2 weeks post-treatment (i.e. 8 weeks) (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = -1.24; 95% CI, -1.71 to -0.78). Quantitative facial expression analyses successfully verified the positive effects of repeated oxytocin on autistic individuals' facial expressions and demonstrated a time-course change in efficacy. The current findings support further development of an optimized regimen of oxytocin treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keiho Owada
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Toshio Munesue
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Miho Kuroda
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toru Fujioka
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan
| | - Yota Uno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Laboratory for Psychiatric and Molecular Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Kaori Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Psychology, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, 7-1 Ohgigaoka, Nonoichi, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuko Okamoto
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan
| | - Yuko Yoshimura
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Kawakubo
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Arioka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masaki Kojima
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Teruko Yuhi
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Walid Yassin
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Seico Benner
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City, Japan
| | - Nanayo Ogawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Naoko Kawano
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yosuke Eriguchi
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukari Uemura
- Biostatistics Division, Clinical Research Support Center, University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maeri Yamamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kano
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.,The International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN) at The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), Fukui, Japan.,UTokyo Center for Integrative Science of Human Behavior (CiSHuB), Fukui, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kosaka
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan
| | - Hidenori Yamasue
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City, Japan.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Development of Social Attention and Oxytocin Levels in Maltreated Children. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7407. [PMID: 32366913 PMCID: PMC7198561 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64297-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Child maltreatment (CM) is a major risk factor for various psychopathologies but also adversely affects social development. Research on oxytocin (OT) is currently drawing attention as an endocrine basis for social development. In this study, we investigated the relationship between visual attention to social cues and salivary OT levels in children exposed to CM. The results revealed that the CM group had a significantly lower percentage of gaze fixation for the human face eye area and lower salivary OT levels compared to the typical development group. Moreover, a path analysis suggested that gaze fixation for the eye area was a mediator of the relationship between salivary OT levels and social-emotional problems in the CM group. These results suggest that lower endogenous OT levels in maltreated children may lead to atypical development of their visual attention to eyes as a social cue, resulting in social-emotional problems.
Collapse
|
44
|
Pandina G, Ring RH, Bangerter A, Ness S. Current Approaches to the Pharmacologic Treatment of Core Symptoms Across the Lifespan of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2020; 29:301-317. [PMID: 32169264 DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There are no approved medications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core symptoms. However, given the significant clinical need, children and adults with ASD are prescribed medication off label for core or associated conditions, sometimes based on limited evidence for effectiveness. Recent developments in the understanding of biologic basis of ASD have led to novel targets with potential to impact core symptoms, and several clinical trials are underway. Heterogeneity in course of development, co-occurring conditions, and age-related treatment response variability hampers study outcomes. Novel measures and approaches to ASD clinical trial design will help in development of effective pharmacologic treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gahan Pandina
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA.
| | | | - Abigail Bangerter
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
| | - Seth Ness
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Hernandez LM, Lawrence KE, Padgaonkar NT, Inada M, Hoekstra JN, Lowe JK, Eilbott J, Jack A, Aylward E, Gaab N, Van Horn JD, Bernier RA, McPartland JC, Webb SJ, Pelphrey KA, Green SA, Geschwind DH, Bookheimer SY, Dapretto M. Imaging-genetics of sex differences in ASD: distinct effects of OXTR variants on brain connectivity. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:82. [PMID: 32127526 PMCID: PMC7054353 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0750-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more prevalent in males than in females, but the neurobiological mechanisms that give rise to this sex-bias are poorly understood. The female protective hypothesis suggests that the manifestation of ASD in females requires higher cumulative genetic and environmental risk relative to males. Here, we test this hypothesis by assessing the additive impact of several ASD-associated OXTR variants on reward network resting-state functional connectivity in males and females with and without ASD, and explore how genotype, sex, and diagnosis relate to heterogeneity in neuroendophenotypes. Females with ASD who carried a greater number of ASD-associated risk alleles in the OXTR gene showed greater functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAcc; hub of the reward network) and subcortical brain areas important for motor learning. Relative to males with ASD, females with ASD and higher OXTR risk-allele-dosage showed increased connectivity between the NAcc, subcortical regions, and prefrontal brain areas involved in mentalizing. This increased connectivity between NAcc and prefrontal cortex mirrored the relationship between genetic risk and brain connectivity observed in neurotypical males showing that, under increased OXTR genetic risk load, females with ASD and neurotypical males displayed increased connectivity between reward-related brain regions and prefrontal cortex. These results indicate that females with ASD differentially modulate the effects of increased genetic risk on brain connectivity relative to males with ASD, providing new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms through which the female protective effect may manifest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leanna M Hernandez
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Katherine E Lawrence
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - N Tanya Padgaonkar
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Marisa Inada
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jackson N Hoekstra
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jennifer K Lowe
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jeffrey Eilbott
- Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Allison Jack
- Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Aylward
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John D Van Horn
- USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Sara J Webb
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shulamite A Green
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Susan Y Bookheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Zhao W, Luo R, Sindermann C, Li J, Wei Z, Zhang Y, Liu C, Le J, Quintana DS, Montag C, Becker B, Kendrick KM. Oxytocin modulation of self-referential processing is partly replicable and sensitive to oxytocin receptor genotype. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 96:109734. [PMID: 31415827 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Intranasal oxytocin (OXT) has been associated with effects on diverse social-emotional domains in humans, however progress towards a therapeutic application of OXT in disorders with social-emotion impairments is currently hampered by poor replicability. Limited statistical power and individual differences in biological factors, such as oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genetics, may have contributed to these variable findings. To this end, employing a validated oxytocin-sensitive trait judgment paradigm, we present a pharmaco-genetic study aiming at (1) replicating previous findings suggesting that intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) reduces the self-referential bias in a large sample of n = 170 male subjects, (2) determining whether variations in common receptor polymorphisms (rs237887, rs2268491, rs2254298, rs53576, rs2268498) influence sensitivity to oxytocin's behavioral effects. We confirmed that in the whole sample oxytocin influenced self-other distinction in terms of reduced decision time. However, oxytocin only influenced decision time in rs53576 G carriers, whereas effects on subsequent memory performance were only found in rs2268498 TT homozygotes. In summary, the current study partially replicates our previous findings showing that oxytocin reduces the self-referential bias and suggests that sensitivity to its effects in this domain are receptor genotype dependent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Ruixue Luo
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Cornelia Sindermann
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jialin Li
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Zhenyu Wei
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Jiao Le
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Daniel S Quintana
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian Montag
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Queen NJ, Boardman AA, Patel RS, Siu JJ, Mo X, Cao L. Environmental enrichment improves metabolic and behavioral health in the BTBR mouse model of autism. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 111:104476. [PMID: 31648110 PMCID: PMC6914218 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice are an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-like model that exhibit behavioral and physiological deficits similar to those observed in patients with ASD. While behavioral therapy is a first line of treatment in ASD patients, comparable non-pharmacological treatments are less explored in murine models. Here, we administer a bio-behavioral intervention for BTBR mice by way of environmental enrichment (EE) - an experimental housing paradigm previously shown to improve systemic metabolism, learning/memory, anxious behavior, neurogenesis, locomotion, and immunocompetence in C57BL/6 mice. Juvenile BTBR mice were randomized to standard or EE housing and were subjected to metabolic and behavioral assessments up to 17 weeks. Following EE exposure, we report an EE-induced metabolic and behavioral phenotype. Male BTBR mice responded metabolically to EE, displaying reduced adiposity, increased lean mass, improved glycemic control, and decreased circulating leptin. The gene expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) and its receptor (Ntrk2/TrkB) were upregulated in several brain areas in EE-BTBR males. EE-BTBR females showed modest reduction of adiposity and no changes in glycemic control, circulating leptin, or Bdnf/Ntrk2 gene expression. With regard to behavior, EE resulted in decreased anxiety, and increased social affiliation. Together, these results suggest that EE improves metabolic and behavioral health in BTBR mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Amber A Boardman
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ripal S Patel
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jason J Siu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Higashida H, Hashii M, Tanaka Y, Matsukawa S, Higuchi Y, Gabata R, Tsubomoto M, Seishima N, Teramachi M, Kamijima T, Hattori T, Hori O, Tsuji C, Cherepanov SM, Shabalova AA, Gerasimenko M, Minami K, Yokoyama S, Munesue SI, Harashima A, Yamamoto Y, Salmina AB, Lopatina O. CD38, CD157, and RAGE as Molecular Determinants for Social Behavior. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010062. [PMID: 31881755 PMCID: PMC7016687 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies provide evidence to support that cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) and CD157 meaningfully act in the brain as neuroregulators. They primarily affect social behaviors. Social behaviors are impaired in Cd38 and Cd157 knockout mice. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CD38 and CD157/BST1 genes are associated with multiple neurological and psychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. In addition, both antigens are related to infectious and immunoregulational processes. The most important clues to demonstrate how these molecules play a role in the brain are oxytocin (OT) and the OT system. OT is axo-dendritically secreted into the brain from OT-containing neurons and causes activation of OT receptors mainly on hypothalamic neurons. Here, we overview the CD38/CD157-dependent OT release mechanism as the initiation step for social behavior. The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a newly identified molecule as an OT binding protein and serves as a transporter of OT to the brain, crossing over the blood–brain barrier, resulting in the regulation of brain OT levels. We point out new roles of CD38 and CD157 during neuronal development and aging in relation to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ levels in embryonic and adult nervous systems. Finally, we discuss how CD38, CD157, and RAGE are crucial for social recognition and behavior in daily life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiro Higashida
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
- Laboratory of Social Brain Study, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; (A.B.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-76-265-2455; Fax: +81-76-234-4213
| | - Minako Hashii
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Nanao Hospital, Nanao 926-0841, Japan
| | - Yukie Tanaka
- Molecular Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan;
| | - Shigeru Matsukawa
- Life Science Research Laboratory, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan;
| | - Yoshihiro Higuchi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka 513-0816, Japan;
| | - Ryosuke Gabata
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Makoto Tsubomoto
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Noriko Seishima
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Mitsuyo Teramachi
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Taiki Kamijima
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Tsuyoshi Hattori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (T.H.); (O.H.)
| | - Osamu Hori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (T.H.); (O.H.)
| | - Chiharu Tsuji
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Stanislav M. Cherepanov
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Anna A. Shabalova
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Maria Gerasimenko
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Kana Minami
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shigeru Yokoyama
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Sei-ichi Munesue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (S.-i.M.); (A.H.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Ai Harashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (S.-i.M.); (A.H.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (S.-i.M.); (A.H.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Alla B. Salmina
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
- Laboratory of Social Brain Study, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; (A.B.S.)
| | - Olga Lopatina
- Laboratory of Social Brain Study, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; (A.B.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Frye RE, Vassall S, Kaur G, Lewis C, Karim M, Rossignol D. Emerging biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2019; 7:792. [PMID: 32042808 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.11.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 2% of children in the United States (US) yet its etiology is unclear and effective treatments are lacking. Therapeutic interventions are most effective if started early in life, yet diagnosis often remains delayed, partly because the diagnosis of ASD is based on identifying abnormal behaviors that may not emerge until the disorder is well established. Biomarkers that identify children at risk during the pre-symptomatic period, assist with early diagnosis, confirm behavioral observations, stratify patients into subgroups, and predict therapeutic response would be a great advance. Here we underwent a systematic review of the literature on ASD to identify promising biomarkers and rated the biomarkers in regards to a Level of Evidence and Grade of Recommendation using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine scale. Biomarkers identified by our review included physiological biomarkers that identify neuroimmune and metabolic abnormalities, neurological biomarkers including abnormalities in brain structure, function and neurophysiology, subtle behavioral biomarkers including atypical development of visual attention, genetic biomarkers and gastrointestinal biomarkers. Biomarkers of ASD may be found prior to birth and after diagnosis and some may predict response to specific treatments. Many promising biomarkers have been developed for ASD. However, many biomarkers are preliminary and need to be validated and their role in the diagnosis and treatment of ASD needs to be defined. It is likely that biomarkers will need to be combined to be effective to identify ASD early and guide treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Frye
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Deparment of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah Vassall
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Gurjot Kaur
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Christina Lewis
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Mohammand Karim
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Deparment of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Horta M, Kaylor K, Feifel D, Ebner NC. Chronic oxytocin administration as a tool for investigation and treatment: A cross-disciplinary systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:1-23. [PMID: 31647964 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) subserves various physiological, behavioral, and cognitive processes. This paired with the ability to administer OT with minimal and inconsistent side effects has spurred research to explore its therapeutic potential. Findings from single-dose studies indicate that OT administration may be beneficial, at least under certain circumstances. The state of the field, however, is less clear regarding effects from chronic OT administration, which more closely resembles long-term treatment. To address this gap, this review synthesizes existing findings on the use of chronic OT administration in animal and human work. In addition to detailing the effects of chronic OT administration across different functional domains, this review highlights factors that have contributed to mixed findings. Based on this review, a basic framework of interrelated regulatory functions sensitive to chronic OT administration is offered. The paper also identifies future research directions across different contexts, populations, and outcomes, specifically calling for more systematic and standardized research on chronic OT administration in humans to supplement and expand what is currently known from preclinical work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Horta
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Kathryn Kaylor
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David Feifel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Institute on Aging, Department of Aging & Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|