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Peters SU, Shelton AR, Malow BA, Neul JL. A clinical-translational review of sleep problems in neurodevelopmental disabilities. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:41. [PMID: 39033100 PMCID: PMC11265033 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09559-4] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep disorders are very common across neurodevelopmental disorders and place a large burden on affected children, adolescents, and their families. Sleep disturbances seem to involve a complex interplay of genetic, neurobiological, and medical/environmental factors in neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we discuss animal models of sleep problems and characterize their presence in two single gene disorders, Rett Syndrome, and Angelman Syndrome and two more commonly occurring neurodevelopmental disorders, Down Syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders. We then discuss strategies for novel methods of assessment using wearable sensors more broadly for neurodevelopmental disorders in general, including the importance of analytical validation. An increased understanding of the mechanistic contributions and potential biomarkers of disordered sleep may offer quantifiable targets for interventions that improve overall quality of life for affected individuals and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika U Peters
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, One Magnolia Circle, Room 404B, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
| | - Althea Robinson Shelton
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, One Magnolia Circle, Room 404B, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - Beth A Malow
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, One Magnolia Circle, Room 404B, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Neul
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, One Magnolia Circle, Room 404B, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
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Ye X, Ghosh S, Shin BC, Ganguly A, Maggiotto L, Jacobs JP, Devaskar SU. Brain serotonin and serotonin transporter expression in male and female postnatal rat offspring in response to perturbed early life dietary exposures. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1363094. [PMID: 38576870 PMCID: PMC10991790 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1363094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Serotonin (5-HT) is critical for neurodevelopment and the serotonin transporter (SERT) modulates serotonin levels. Perturbed prenatal and postnatal dietary exposures affect the developing offspring predisposing to neurobehavioral disorders in the adult. We hypothesized that the postnatal brain 5-HT-SERT imbalance associated with gut dysbiosis forms the contributing gut-brain axis dependent mechanism responsible for such ultimate phenotypes. Methods Employing maternal diet restricted (IUGR, n=8) and high fat+high fructose (HFhf, n=6) dietary modifications, rodent brain serotonin was assessed temporally by ELISA and SERT by quantitative Western blot analysis. Simultaneously, colonic microbiome studies were performed. Results At early postnatal (P) day 2 no changes in the IUGR, but a ~24% reduction in serotonin (p = 0.00005) in the HFhf group occurred, particularly in the males (p = 0.000007) revealing a male versus female difference (p = 0.006). No such changes in SERT concentrations emerged. At late P21 the IUGR group reared on HFhf (IUGR/HFhf, (n = 4) diet revealed increased serotonin by ~53% in males (p = 0.0001) and 36% in females (p = 0.023). While only females demonstrated a ~40% decrease in serotonin (p = 0.010), the males only trended lower without a significant change within the HFhf group (p = 0.146). SERT on the other hand was no different in HFhf or IUGR/RC, with only the female IUGR/HFhf revealing a 28% decrease (p = 0.036). In colonic microbiome studies, serotonin-producing Bacteriodes increased with decreased Lactobacillus at P2, while the serotonin-producing Streptococcus species increased in IUGR/HFhf at P21. Sex-specific changes emerged in association with brain serotonin or SERT in the case of Alistipase, Anaeroplasma, Blautia, Doria, Lactococcus, Proteus, and Roseburia genera. Discussion We conclude that an imbalanced 5-HT-SERT axis during postnatal brain development is sex-specific and induced by maternal dietary modifications related to postnatal gut dysbiosis. We speculate that these early changes albeit transient may permanently alter critical neural maturational processes affecting circuitry formation, thereby perturbing the neuropsychiatric equipoise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ye
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and The Neonatal Research Center of the Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Shubhamoy Ghosh
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and The Neonatal Research Center of the Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bo-Chul Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and The Neonatal Research Center of the Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Amit Ganguly
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and The Neonatal Research Center of the Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Liesbeth Maggiotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and The Neonatal Research Center of the Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Jacobs
- The Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sherin U. Devaskar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and The Neonatal Research Center of the Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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3
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Rodnyy AY, Kondaurova EM, Tsybko AS, Popova NK, Kudlay DA, Naumenko VS. The brain serotonin system in autism. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:1-20. [PMID: 37415576 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are among the most common neurodevelopmental diseases. These disorders are characterized by lack of social interaction, by repetitive behavior, and often anxiety and learning disabilities. The brain serotonin (5-HT) system is known to be crucially implicated in a wide range of physiological functions and in the control of different kinds of normal and pathological behavior. A growing number of studies indicate the involvement of the brain 5-HT system in the mechanisms underlying both ASD development and ASD-related behavioral disorders. There are some review papers describing the role of separate key players of the 5-HT system in an ASD and/or autistic-like behavior. In this review, we summarize existing data on the participation of all members of the brain 5-HT system, namely, 5-HT transporter, tryptophan hydroxylase 2, MAOA, and 5-HT receptors, in autism in human and various animal models. Additionally, we describe the most recent studies involving modern techniques for in vivo regulation of gene expression that are aimed at identifying exact roles of 5-HT receptors, MAOA, and 5-HT transporter in the mechanisms underlying autistic-like behavior. Altogether, results of multiple research articles show that the brain 5-HT system intimately partakes in the control of some types of ASD-related behavior, and that specific changes in a function of a certain 5-HT receptor, transporter, and/or enzyme may normalize this aberrant behavior. These data give hope that some of clinically used 5-HT-related drugs have potential for ASD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ya Rodnyy
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Elena M Kondaurova
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Anton S Tsybko
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nina K Popova
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Kudlay
- NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia, Kashirskoe Highway 24, Moscow 115522, Russia
- Sechenov's University, 8-2 Trubetskaya Str., Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Vladimir S Naumenko
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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4
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Gajeswski-Kurdziel PA, Walsh AE, Blakely RD. Functional and pathological consequences of being fast on the uptake: Protein kinase G and p38α MAPK regulation of serotonin transporters. Curr Res Physiol 2024; 7:100117. [PMID: 38298474 PMCID: PMC10825370 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2024.100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signaling plays an important role in dynamic control of peripheral and central nervous system physiology, with altered 5-HT homeostasis implicated in a significant number of disorders, ranging from pulmonary, bowel, and metabolic disease to depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The presynaptic, 5-HT transporter (SERT) has a well-established role in regulating 5-HT signaling and is a target of widely prescribed psychotherapeutics, the 5-HT selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although SSRI therapy provides symptom relief for many suffering from mood and anxiety disorders, response to these medications is slow (weeks), and too many receive modest or no benefit. At present, all prescribed SSRIs act as competitive SERT antagonists. Although non-serotonergic therapeutics for mood disorders deserve aggressive investigation, the development of agents that target SERT regulatory pathways have yet to be considered for their possible utility and may possibly offer improved efficacy and more rapid onset. Here, we focus attention on a significant body of evidence that SERT transport activity can be rapidly elevated by protein kinase G (PKG) and p38α mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) linked pathways, mechanisms that are impacted by disease-associated genetic variation. Here, we provide a brief overview of kinase-linked, posttranslational regulation of SERT, with a particular focus on evidence from pharmacological and genetic studies that the transporter's regulation by PKG/p38α MAPK associated pathways offers an opportunity to more subtly adjust, rather than eliminate, SERT function as a therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison E. Walsh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Randy D. Blakely
- Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
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5
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Tizabi Y, Bennani S, El Kouhen N, Getachew B, Aschner M. Interaction of Heavy Metal Lead with Gut Microbiota: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1549. [PMID: 37892231 PMCID: PMC10605213 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction and communication, manifests in early childhood and is followed by restricted and stereotyped behaviors, interests, or activities in adolescence and adulthood (DSM-V). Although genetics and environmental factors have been implicated, the exact causes of ASD have yet to be fully characterized. New evidence suggests that dysbiosis or perturbation in gut microbiota (GM) and exposure to lead (Pb) may play important roles in ASD etiology. Pb is a toxic heavy metal that has been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes, including anemia, encephalopathy, gastroenteric diseases, and, more importantly, cognitive and behavioral problems inherent to ASD. Pb exposure can disrupt GM, which is essential for maintaining overall health. GM, consisting of trillions of microorganisms, has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of various physiological and psychological functions. GM interacts with the brain in a bidirectional manner referred to as the "Gut-Brain Axis (GBA)". In this review, following a general overview of ASD and GM, the interaction of Pb with GM in the context of ASD is emphasized. The potential exploitation of this interaction for therapeutic purposes is also touched upon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Samia Bennani
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Nacer El Kouhen
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Bruk Getachew
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
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6
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Choi I, Demir I, Oh S, Lee SH. Multisensory integration in the mammalian brain: diversity and flexibility in health and disease. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220338. [PMID: 37545309 PMCID: PMC10404930 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Multisensory integration (MSI) occurs in a variety of brain areas, spanning cortical and subcortical regions. In traditional studies on sensory processing, the sensory cortices have been considered for processing sensory information in a modality-specific manner. The sensory cortices, however, send the information to other cortical and subcortical areas, including the higher association cortices and the other sensory cortices, where the multiple modality inputs converge and integrate to generate a meaningful percept. This integration process is neither simple nor fixed because these brain areas interact with each other via complicated circuits, which can be modulated by numerous internal and external conditions. As a result, dynamic MSI makes multisensory decisions flexible and adaptive in behaving animals. Impairments in MSI occur in many psychiatric disorders, which may result in an altered perception of the multisensory stimuli and an abnormal reaction to them. This review discusses the diversity and flexibility of MSI in mammals, including humans, primates and rodents, as well as the brain areas involved. It further explains how such flexibility influences perceptual experiences in behaving animals in both health and disease. This article is part of the theme issue 'Decision and control processes in multisensory perception'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilsong Choi
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ilayda Demir
- Department of biological sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungmi Oh
- Department of biological sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hee Lee
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Department of biological sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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7
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Brown CR, Foster JD. Palmitoylation Regulates Human Serotonin Transporter Activity, Trafficking, and Expression and Is Modulated by Escitalopram. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3431-3443. [PMID: 37644775 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In the central nervous system, serotonergic signaling modulates sleep, mood, and cognitive control. During serotonergic transmission, the synaptic concentration of serotonin is tightly controlled in a spatial and temporal manner by the serotonin transporter (SERT). Dysregulation of this process is implicated in the pathogenesis of major-depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and autism-spectrum disorders, which makes SERT a primary target for prescription therapeutics, most notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). S-Palmitoylation, the reversible addition of a 16-carbon fatty acid to proteins, is an increasingly recognized dynamic post-translational modification responsible for modulating protein kinetics, trafficking, and localization patterns in response to physiologic/cellular stimuli. In this study, we reveal that human SERTs are a target for palmitoylation, and using the irreversible palmitoyl acyltransferase inhibitor 2-bromopalmitate (2BP), we have identified several associated functions. Using a lower dose of 2BP in shorter time frames, inhibition of palmitoylation was associated with reductions in SERT Vmax, without changes in Km or surface expression. With higher doses of 2BP for longer time intervals, inhibition of palmitoylation was consistent with the loss of cell surface and total SERT protein, suggesting palmitoylation is an important mechanism in regulating SERT trafficking and maintenance of SERT protein through biogenic or anti-degradative processes. Additionally, we have identified that treatment with the SSRI escitalopram decreases SERT palmitoylation analogous to 2BP, reducing SERT surface expression and transport capacity. Ultimately, these results reveal that palmitoylation is a major regulatory mechanism for SERT kinetics and trafficking and may be the mechanism responsible for escitalopram-induced internalization and ultimately decreased cellular SERT protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Brown
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
| | - James D Foster
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
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8
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Vogt K. Neuroscience: Merging multisensory memories. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R817-R819. [PMID: 37552950 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
How animals form and retain memories across multiple sensory modalities and how multisensory learning can enhance memory is largely unknown. A recent study sheds light on the neural mechanism underlying multisensory memory convergence in the Drosophila melanogaster brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Vogt
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
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9
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Brown CR, Foster JD. Palmitoylation regulates human serotonin transporter activity, trafficking, and expression and is modulated by escitalopram. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.09.540092. [PMID: 37214849 PMCID: PMC10197645 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.09.540092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In the central nervous system, serotonergic signaling modulates sleep, mood, and cognitive control. During neuronal transmission, the synaptic concentration of serotonin is tightly controlled in a spatial and temporal manner by the serotonin transporter (SERT). Dysregulation of serotonergic signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of major-depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and autism-spectrum disorders, which makes SERT a primary target for prescription therapeutics, most notably selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). S-palmitoylation is an increasingly recognized dynamic post-translational modification, regulating protein kinetics, trafficking, and localization patterns upon physiologic/cellular stimuli. In this study, we reveal that human SERTs are a target for palmitoylation, and using the irreversible palmitoyl acyl-transferase inhibitor, 2-bromopalmitate (2BP) we have identified several associated functions. Using a lower dose of 2BP in shorter time frames, inhibition of palmitoylation was associated with reductions in SERT V max , without changes in K m or surface expression. With higher doses of 2BP for longer time intervals, inhibition of palmitoylation was consistent with the loss of cell surface and total SERT protein, suggesting palmitoylation is an important mechanism in regulating SERT trafficking and maintenance of SERT protein through biogenic or anti-degradative processes. Additionally, we have identified that treatment with the SSRI escitalopram decreases SERT palmitoylation analogous to 2BP, reducing SERT surface expression and transport capacity. Ultimately, these results reveal palmitoylation is a major regulatory mechanism for SERT kinetics and trafficking and may be the mechanism responsible for escitalopram-induced internalization and loss of total SERT protein.
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10
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Wang Z, Xu Y, Peng D, Gao J, Lu F. Brain functional activity-based classification of autism spectrum disorder using an attention-based graph neural network combined with gene expression. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:6407-6419. [PMID: 36587290 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex brain neurodevelopmental disorder related to brain activity and genetics. Most of the ASD diagnostic models perform feature selection at the group level without considering individualized information. Evidence has shown the unique topology of the individual brain has a fundamental impact on brain diseases. Thus, a data-constructing method fusing individual topological information and a corresponding classification model is crucial in ASD diagnosis and biomarker discovery. In this work, we trained an attention-based graph neural network (GNN) to perform the ASD diagnosis with the fusion of graph data. The results achieved an accuracy of 79.78%. Moreover, we found the model paid high attention to brain regions mainly involved in the social-brain circuit, default-mode network, and sensory perception network. Furthermore, by analyzing the covariation between functional magnetic resonance imaging data and gene expression, current studies detected several ASD-related genes (i.e. MUTYH, AADAT, and MAP2), and further revealed their links to image biomarkers. Our work demonstrated that the ASD diagnostic framework based on graph data and attention-based GNN could be an effective tool for ASD diagnosis. The identified functional features with high attention values may serve as imaging biomarkers for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengning Wang
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China
| | - Yuhang Xu
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China
| | - Dawei Peng
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China
| | - Jingjing Gao
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China
| | - Fengmei Lu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China
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11
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Da Prato LC, Zayan U, Abdallah D, Point V, Schaller F, Pallesi-Pocachard E, Montheil A, Canaan S, Gaiarsa JL, Muscatelli F, Matarazzo V. Early life oxytocin treatment improves thermo-sensory reactivity and maternal behavior in neonates lacking the autism-associated gene Magel2. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1901-1912. [PMID: 35396500 PMCID: PMC9485246 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01313-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Atypical responses to sensory stimuli are considered as a core aspect and early life marker of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although recent findings performed in mouse ASD genetic models report sensory deficits, these were explored exclusively during juvenile or adult period. Whether sensory dysfunctions might be present at the early life stage and rescued by therapeutic strategy are fairly uninvestigated. Here we found that under cool environment neonatal mice lacking the autism-associated gene Magel2 present pup calls hypo-reactivity and are retrieved with delay by their wild-type dam. This neonatal atypical sensory reactivity to cool stimuli was not associated with autonomic thermoregulatory alteration but with a deficit of the oxytocinergic system. Indeed, we show in control neonates that pharmacogenetic inactivation of hypothalamic oxytocin neurons mimicked atypical thermosensory reactivity found in Magel2 mutants. Furthermore, pharmacological intranasal administration of oxytocin to Magel2 neonates was able to rescue both the atypical thermosensory response and the maternal pup retrieval. This preclinical study establishes for the first-time early life impairments in thermosensory integration and suggest a therapeutic potential benefit of intranasal oxytocin treatment on neonatal atypical sensory reactivity for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ugo Zayan
- grid.461865.80000 0001 1486 4553Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
| | - Dina Abdallah
- grid.461865.80000 0001 1486 4553Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
| | - Vanessa Point
- grid.5399.60000 0001 2176 4817Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, LISM, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Fabienne Schaller
- grid.461865.80000 0001 1486 4553Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
| | | | - Aurélie Montheil
- grid.461865.80000 0001 1486 4553Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Canaan
- grid.5399.60000 0001 2176 4817Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, LISM, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Luc Gaiarsa
- grid.461865.80000 0001 1486 4553Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
| | - Françoise Muscatelli
- grid.461865.80000 0001 1486 4553Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
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12
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Guidetti C, Salvini E, Viri M, Deidda F, Amoruso A, Visciglia A, Drago L, Calgaro M, Vitulo N, Pane M, Caucino AC. Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Study for Evaluating a Probiotic Mixture on Gastrointestinal and Behavioral Symptoms of Autistic Children. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11185263. [PMID: 36142909 PMCID: PMC9504504 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11185263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a diagnostic challenge with a still partially uncertain etiology, in which genetic and environmental factors have now been assessed. Among the hypotheses underlying the involvement of biological and environmental factors, the gut–brain axis is of particular interest in autism spectrum disorders. Several studies have highlighted the related incidence of particular gastrointestinal symptoms (GISs) in children suffering from ASDs. Probiotics have shown success in treating several gastrointestinal dysbiotic disorders; therefore, it is plausible to investigate whether they can alleviate behavioral symptoms as well. On these bases, a randomized double-blind crossover study with a placebo was conducted, evaluating the effects of a mixture of probiotics in a group of 61 subjects aged between 24 months and 16 years old with a diagnosis of ASD. Behavioral evaluation was performed through the administration of a questionnaire including a Parenting Stress Index (PSI) test and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS). The Psycho-Educational Profile and the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS) were also evaluated. Microbial composition analyses of fecal samples of the two groups was also performed. The study showed significant improvements in GISs, communication skills, maladaptive behaviors, and perceived parental stress level after the administration of probiotics. Microbiome alpha diversity was comparable between treatment arms and no significant differences were found, although beta diversity results were significantly different in the treatment group between T0 and T1 time points. Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius species were identified as some of the most discriminant taxa positively associated with T1 samples. This preliminary study corroborates the relationship between intestinal microbiota and ASD recently described in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Guidetti
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Elena Salvini
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Viri
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | | | - Angela Amoruso
- Probiotical Research Srl, Via E. Mattei 3, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Drago
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Matteo Calgaro
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy
| | - Nicola Vitulo
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Pane
- Probiotical Research Srl, Via E. Mattei 3, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Anna Claudia Caucino
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
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13
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Zhao F, Zhang H, Wang P, Cui W, Xu K, Chen D, Hu M, Li Z, Geng X, Wei S. Oxytocin and serotonin in the modulation of neural function: Neurobiological underpinnings of autism-related behavior. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:919890. [PMID: 35937893 PMCID: PMC9354980 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.919890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of generalized neurodevelopmental disorders. Its main clinical features are social communication disorder and repetitive stereotyped behavioral interest. The abnormal structure and function of brain network is the basis of social dysfunction and stereotyped performance in patients with autism spectrum disorder. The number of patients diagnosed with ASD has increased year by year, but there is a lack of effective intervention and treatment. Oxytocin has been revealed to effectively improve social cognitive function and significantly improve the social information processing ability, empathy ability and social communication ability of ASD patients. The change of serotonin level also been reported affecting the development of brain and causes ASD-like behavioral abnormalities, such as anxiety, depression like behavior, stereotyped behavior. Present review will focus on the research progress of serotonin and oxytocin in the pathogenesis, brain circuit changes and treatment of autism. Revealing the regulatory effect and neural mechanism of serotonin and oxytocin on patients with ASD is not only conducive to a deeper comprehension of the pathogenesis of ASD, but also has vital clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhao
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Peng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Cui
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaiyong Xu
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Minghui Hu
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zifa Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Zifa Li,
| | - Xiwen Geng
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Xiwen Geng,
| | - Sheng Wei
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Sheng Wei,
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14
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Therapeutic Effects of a Novel Form of Biotin on Propionic Acid-Induced Autistic Features in Rats. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061280. [PMID: 35334937 PMCID: PMC8955994 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnesium biotinate (MgB) is a novel biotin complex with superior absorption and anti-inflammatory effects in the brain than D-Biotin. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different doses of MgB on social behavior deficits, learning and memory alteration, and inflammatory markers in propionic acid (PPA)-exposed rats. In this case, 35 Wistar rats (3 weeks old) were distributed into five groups: 1, Control; 2, PPA treated group; 3, PPA+MgBI (10 mg, HED); 4, PPA+MgBII (100 mg, HED); 5, PPA+MgBIII (500 mg, HED). PPA was given subcutaneously at 500 mg/kg/day for five days, followed by MgB for two weeks. PPA-exposed rats showed poor sociability and a high level of anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive impairments (p < 0.001). In a dose-dependent manner, behavioral and learning-memory disorders were significantly improved by MgB supplementation (p < 0.05). PPA decreased both the numbers and the sizes of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. However, MgB administration increased the sizes and the densities of Purkinje cells. MgB improved the brain and serum Mg, biotin, serotonin, and dopamine concentrations, as well as antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx, and GSH) (p < 0.05). In addition, MgB treatment significantly regulated the neurotoxicity-related cytokines and neurotransmission-related markers. For instance, MgB significantly decreased the expression level of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, CCL-3, CCL-5, and CXCL-16 in the brain, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that MgB may ameliorate dysfunctions in social behavior, learning and memory and reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation indexes of the brain in a rat model.
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15
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Pan W, Pan J, Zhao Y, Zhang H, Tang J. Serotonin Transporter Defect Disturbs Structure and Function of the Auditory Cortex in Mice. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:749923. [PMID: 34690685 PMCID: PMC8527018 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.749923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin transporter (SERT) modulates the level of 5-HT and significantly affects the activity of serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system. The manipulation of SERT has lasting neurobiological and behavioral consequences, including developmental dysfunction, depression, and anxiety. Auditory disorders have been widely reported as the adverse events of these mental diseases. It is unclear how SERT impacts neuronal connections/interactions and what mechanism(s) may elicit the disruption of normal neural network functions in auditory cortex. In the present study, we report on the neuronal morphology and function of auditory cortex in SERT knockout (KO) mice. We show that the dendritic length of the fourth layer (L-IV) pyramidal neurons and the second-to-third layer (L-II/III) interneurons were reduced in the auditory cortex of the SERT KO mice. The number and density of dendritic spines of these neurons were significantly less than those of wild-type neurons. Also, the frequency-tonotopic organization of primary auditory cortex was disrupted in SERT KO mice. The auditory neurons of SERT KO mice exhibited border frequency tuning with high-intensity thresholds. These findings indicate that SERT plays a key role in development and functional maintenance of auditory cortical neurons. Auditory function should be examined when SERT is selected as a target in the treatment for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlu Pan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Functional Nucleic Acid Basic and Clinical Research Center, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Pan
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Hearing Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongzheng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Hearing Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Tang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Hearing Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Shank3 Deficiency is Associated With Altered Profile of Neurotransmission Markers in Pups and Adult Mice. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:3342-3355. [PMID: 34453663 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03435-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in the balance between excitation and inhibition, especially in the brain's critical developmental periods, are considered an integral part of the pathophysiology of autism. However, the precise mechanisms have not yet been established. SH3 and multiple Ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3) deficient mice represent a well-established transgenic model of a neurodevelopmental disorder with autistic symptomatology. In this study, we characterize the consequences of Shank3 deficiency according to (1) expression of specific markers of different neuronal populations in pups and adult mice and (2) social behaviour and anxiety in adult mice. Our research found enhanced expression of serotonin transporter and choline acetyltransferase in the hippocampus and hypothalamus in Shank3-deficient pups. We demonstrated marked brain region differences in expression of excitatory glutamatergic markers in pups and adult Shank3 deficient mice. We also observed reduced expression of inhibitory GABAergic markers and GABA receptor subunits in several brain areas in both pups and adult Shank3 deficient mice. Further analysis of dopaminergic brain areas (nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area) revealed lower expression levels of GABAergic markers in adult Shank3 deficient mice. Adult Shank3- deficient mice exhibited excessive repetitive behaviour, a higher level of anxiety, and lower locomotor activity. Our data support the theory of an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in conditions of abnormal SHANK3 protein. We therefore suggest that autism-like conditions are accompanied by reduced expression of GABAergic markers in the brain during early development as well as in the adult age, which could be associated with long-lasting behavioural abnormalities.
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17
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Stilley SE, Blakely RD. Rare Opportunities for Insights Into Serotonergic Contributions to Brain and Bowel Disorders: Studies of the SERT Ala56 Mouse. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:677563. [PMID: 34149362 PMCID: PMC8210832 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.677563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered structure, expression, and regulation of the presynaptic serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) have been associated with multiple neurobehavioral disorders, including mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Opportunities to investigate mechanistic links supporting these associations were spurred with the identification of multiple, rare human SERT coding variants in a study that established a male-specific linkage of ASD to a linkage marker on chromosome 17 which encompassed the location of the SERT gene (SLC6A4). We have explored the most common of these variants, SERT Ala56, in vitro and in vivo. Results support a tonic elevation of 5-HT transport activity in transfected cells and human lymphoblasts by the variant in vitro that leads to an increased 5-HT clearance rate in vivo when studied in the SERT Ala56 mouse model, along with altered sensitivity to SERT regulatory signaling pathways. Importantly, hyperserotonemia, or an elevated whole blood 5-HT, level, was found in SERT Ala56 mice, reproducing a well-replicated trait observed in a significant fraction of ASD subjects. Additionally, we found multiple biochemical, physiological, and behavioral alterations in the SERT Ala56 mice that can be analogized to those observed in ASD and its medical comorbidities. The similarity of the functional impact of the SERT Ala56 variant to the consequences of p38α MAPK activation, ascribed to the induction of a biased conformation of the transporter toward an outward-facing conformation, has resulted in successful efforts to restore normal behavioral and bowel function via pharmacological and genetic p38α MAPK targeting. Moreover, the ability of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β to enhance SERT activity via a p38α MAPK-dependent pathway suggests that the SERT Ala56 conformation mimics that of a chronic inflammatory state, supporting findings in ASD of elevated inflammatory cytokine levels. In this report, we review studies of the SERT Ala56 variant, discussing opportunities for continued insight into how chronically altered synaptic 5-HT homeostasis can drive reversible, functional perturbations in 5-HT sensitive pathways in the brain and periphery, and how targeting the SERT regulome, particularly through activating pathways such as those involving IL-1β/p38α MAPK, may be of benefit for neurobehavioral disorders, including ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E. Stilley
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Randy D. Blakely
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, United States
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18
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Khodaverdi M, Rahdar M, Davoudi S, Hajisoltani R, Tavassoli Z, Ghasemi Z, Amini AE, Hosseinmardi N, Behzadi G, Janahmadi M. 5-HT7 receptor activation rescues impaired synaptic plasticity in an autistic-like rat model induced by prenatal VPA exposure. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 183:107462. [PMID: 34015444 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe life-long neuropsychiatric disorder. Alterations and imbalance of several neurochemical systems may be involved in ASD pathophysiology, of them, serotonergic neurotransmission dysfunction and deficiency may underlie behavioral abnormalities associated with ASD. However, the functional importance of serotonergic receptors, particularly 5HT7 receptors in ASD pathology remains poorly defined. Serotonin receptor subtype 7 (5-HT7R) plays a direct regulatory role in the development and also for the mature function of the brain, therefore, further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of these receptors in the etiology of autism. To address this issue, we combined here behavioral, electrophysiological methods to further characterize the contribution of 5-HT7Rs in the prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure-induced impairment in synaptic plasticity and their impact on the associated behavioral changes. This may help to unravel the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in ASD and can lead to new treatment and/or prevention therapies based on the role of the serotonergic system for autism. Findings revealed that compared to control, autistic-like offspring showed increased anxiety-like behavior, reduced social interaction, decreased locomotor activity, and impaired identification of the novel object. However, administration of 5-HT7Rs agonist, LP-211, for 7 consecutive days before testing from postnatal day 21 to 27 reversed all behavioral deficits induced by prenatal exposure to VPA in offspring. Also, both short-term depression and long-term potentiation were impaired in the autistic-like pups, but activation of 5-HT7Rs rescued the LTP impairment in the autistic-like group so that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Blockade of 5-HT7Rs caused LTP impairment following HFS in the autistic-like group. Besides, there was a significant difference in LTD induction following SB-269970 application between the control and the autistic-like groups measured at first 10 min following TPS. Moreover, both the number and the size of retrograde fast blue-labelled neurons in the raphe nuclei were reduced. Overall, these results provide for the first time, as far as we know, functional evidence for the restorative role of 5-HT7Rs activation against prenatal VPA exposure induced behavioral deficits and hippocampal synaptic plasticity impairment. Therefore, these receptors could be a potential and promising pharmacotherapy target for the treatment of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Khodaverdi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Rahdar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Davoudi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Hajisoltani
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Tavassoli
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghasemi
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Aeen Ebrahim Amini
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Narges Hosseinmardi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gila Behzadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahyar Janahmadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Adjimann TS, Argañaraz CV, Soiza-Reilly M. Serotonin-related rodent models of early-life exposure relevant for neurodevelopmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:280. [PMID: 33976122 PMCID: PMC8113523 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01388-6] [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: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders including depression and anxiety are continuously rising their prevalence across the globe. Early-life experience of individuals emerges as a main risk factor contributing to the developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. That is, perturbing environmental conditions during neurodevelopmental stages can have detrimental effects on adult mood and emotional responses. However, the possible maladaptive neural mechanisms contributing to such psychopathological phenomenon still remain poorly understood. In this review, we explore preclinical rodent models of developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, focusing on the impact of early-life environmental perturbations on behavioral aspects relevant to stress-related and psychiatric disorders. We limit our analysis to well-established models in which alterations in the serotonin (5-HT) system appear to have a crucial role in the pathophysiological mechanisms. We analyze long-term behavioral outcomes produced by early-life exposures to stress and psychotropic drugs such as the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or the anticonvulsant valproic acid (VPA). We perform a comparative analysis, identifying differences and commonalities in the behavioral effects produced in these models. Furthermore, this review discusses recent advances on neurodevelopmental substrates engaged in these behavioral effects, emphasizing the possible existence of maladaptive mechanisms that could be shared by the different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S. Adjimann
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla V. Argañaraz
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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20
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Ye X, Shin BC, Baldauf C, Ganguly A, Ghosh S, Devaskar SU. Developing Brain Glucose Transporters, Serotonin, Serotonin Transporter, and Oxytocin Receptor Expression in Response to Early-Life Hypocaloric and Hypercaloric Dietary, and Air Pollutant Exposures. Dev Neurosci 2021; 43:27-42. [PMID: 33774619 DOI: 10.1159/000514709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbed maternal diet and prenatal exposure to air pollution (AP) affect the fetal brain, predisposing to postnatal neurobehavioral disorders. Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are key in fueling neurotransmission; deficiency of the neuronal isoform GLUT3 culminates in autism spectrum disorders. Along with the different neurotransmitters, serotonin (5-HT) and oxytocin (OXT) are critical for the development of neural connectivity. Serotonin transporter (SERT) modulates synaptic 5-HT levels, while the OXT receptor (OXTR) mediates OXT action. We hypothesized that perturbed brain GLUT1/GLUT3 regulated 5-HT-SERT imbalance, which serves as a contributing factor to postnatal neuropsychiatric phenotypes, with OXT/OXTR providing a counterbalance. Employing maternal diet restriction (intrauterine growth restriction [IUGR]), high-fat (HF) dietary modifications, and prenatal exposure to simulated AP, fetal (E19) murine brain 5-HT was assessed by ELISA with SERT and OXTR being localized by immunohistochemistry and measured by quantitative Western blot analysis. IUGR with lower head weights led to a 48% reduction in male and female fetal brain GLUT3 with no change in GLUT1, when compared to age- and sex-matched controls, with no significant change in OXTR. In addition, a ∼50% (p = 0.005) decrease in 5-HT and SERT concentrations was displayed in fetal IUGR brains. In contrast, despite emergence of microcephaly, exposure to a maternal HF diet or AP caused no significant changes. We conclude that in the IUGR during fetal brain development, reduced GLUT3 is associated with an imbalanced 5-HT-SERT axis. We speculate that these early changes may set the stage for altering the 5HT-SERT neural axis with postnatal emergence of associated neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ye
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and the Neonatal Research Center of the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Bo-Chul Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and the Neonatal Research Center of the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Claire Baldauf
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and the Neonatal Research Center of the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Amit Ganguly
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and the Neonatal Research Center of the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shubhamoy Ghosh
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and the Neonatal Research Center of the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sherin U Devaskar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology and the Neonatal Research Center of the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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21
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Lorsung E, Karthikeyan R, Cao R. Biological Timing and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Role for Circadian Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:642745. [PMID: 33776640 PMCID: PMC7994532 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.642745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. ASDs affect nearly 2% of the United States child population and the worldwide prevalence has dramatically increased in recent years. The etiology is not clear but ASD is thought to be caused by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Circadian rhythms are the ∼24 h rhythms driven by the endogenous biological clock, and they are found in a variety of physiological processes. Growing evidence from basic and clinical studies suggest that the dysfunction of the circadian timing system may be associated with ASD and its pathogenesis. Here we review the findings that link circadian dysfunctions to ASD in both experimental and clinical studies. We first introduce the organization of the circadian system and ASD. Next, we review physiological indicators of circadian rhythms that are found disrupted in ASD individuals, including sleep-wake cycles, melatonin, cortisol, and serotonin. Finally, we review evidence in epidemiology, human genetics, and biochemistry that indicates underlying associations between circadian regulation and the pathogenesis of ASD. In conclusion, we propose that understanding the functional importance of the circadian clock in normal and aberrant neurodevelopmental processes may provide a novel perspective to tackle ASD, and clinical treatments for ASD individuals should comprise an integrative approach considering the dynamics of daily rhythms in physical, mental, and social processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Lorsung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Ramanujam Karthikeyan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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22
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Indika NLR, Deutz NEP, Engelen MPKJ, Peiris H, Wijetunge S, Perera R. Sulfur amino acid metabolism and related metabotypes of autism spectrum disorder: A review of biochemical evidence for a hypothesis. Biochimie 2021; 184:143-157. [PMID: 33675854 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
There are multiple lines of evidence for an impaired sulfur amino acid (SAA) metabolism in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For instance, the concentrations of methionine, cysteine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in body fluids of individuals with ASD is significantly lower while the concentration of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) is significantly higher as compared to healthy individuals. Reduced methionine and SAM may reflect impaired remethylation pathway whereas increased SAH may reflect reduced S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity in the catabolic direction. Reduced SAM/SAH ratio reflects an impaired methylation capacity. We hypothesize multiple mechanisms to explain how the interplay of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mercury exposure, maternal use of valproate, altered gut microbiome and certain genetic variants may lead to these SAA metabotypes. Furthermore, we also propose a number of mechanisms to explain the metabolic consequences of abnormal SAA metabotypes. For instance in the brain, reduced SAM/SAH ratio will result in melatonin deficiency and hypomethylation of a number of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and histones. In addition to previously proposed mechanisms, we propose that impaired activity of "radical SAM" enzymes will result in reduced endogenous lipoic acid synthesis, reduced molybdenum cofactor synthesis and impaired porphyrin metabolism leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, porphyrinuria and impaired sulfation capacity. Furthermore depletion of SAM may also lead to the disturbed mTOR signaling pathway in a subgroup of ASD. The proposed "SAM-depletion hypothesis" is an inclusive model to explain the relationship between heterogeneous risk factors and metabotypes observed in a subset of children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neluwa-Liyanage R Indika
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
| | - Nicolaas E P Deutz
- Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Marielle P K J Engelen
- Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hemantha Peiris
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Swarna Wijetunge
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka
| | - Rasika Perera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
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23
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Van der Knaap N, Wiedermann D, Schubert D, Hoehn M, Homberg JR. Perinatal SSRI exposure affects brain functional activity associated with whisker stimulation in adolescent and adult rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1680. [PMID: 33462357 PMCID: PMC7814075 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81327-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as fluoxetine, are used as first-line antidepressant medication during pregnancy. Since SSRIs cross the placenta the unborn child is exposed to the maternal SSRI medication, resulting in, amongst others, increased risk for autism in offspring. This likely results from developmental changes in brain function. Studies employing rats lacking the serotonin transporter have shown that elevations in serotonin levels particularly affect the development of the whisker related part of the primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex. Therefore, we hypothesized that serotonin level disturbances during development alter brain activity related to whisker stimulation. We treated female dams with fluoxetine or vehicle from gestational day 11 onwards for 21 days. We investigated offspring's brain activity during whisker stimulation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at adolescence and adulthood. Our results indicate that adolescent offspring displayed increased activity in hippocampal subareas and the mammillary body in the thalamus. Adult offspring exhibited increased functional activation of areas associated with (higher) sensory processing and memory such as the hippocampus, perirhinal and entorhinal cortex, retrospinal granular cortex, piriform cortex and secondary visual cortex. Our data imply that perinatal SSRI exposure leads to complex alterations in brain networks involved in sensory perception and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noortje Van der Knaap
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Wiedermann
- In-Vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias Hoehn
- In-Vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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24
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Bhat S, El-Kasaby A, Freissmuth M, Sucic S. Functional and Biochemical Consequences of Disease Variants in Neurotransmitter Transporters: A Special Emphasis on Folding and Trafficking Deficits. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 222:107785. [PMID: 33310157 PMCID: PMC7612411 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters, such as γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, acetyl choline, glycine and the monoamines, facilitate the crosstalk within the central nervous system. The designated neurotransmitter transporters (NTTs) both release and take up neurotransmitters to and from the synaptic cleft. NTT dysfunction can lead to severe pathophysiological consequences, e.g. epilepsy, intellectual disability, or Parkinson’s disease. Genetic point mutations in NTTs have recently been associated with the onset of various neurological disorders. Some of these mutations trigger folding defects in the NTT proteins. Correct folding is a prerequisite for the export of NTTs from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the subsequent trafficking to their pertinent site of action, typically at the plasma membrane. Recent studies have uncovered some of the key features in the molecular machinery responsible for transporter protein folding, e.g., the role of heat shock proteins in fine-tuning the ER quality control mechanisms in cells. The therapeutic significance of understanding these events is apparent from the rising number of reports, which directly link different pathological conditions to NTT misfolding. For instance, folding-deficient variants of the human transporters for dopamine or GABA lead to infantile parkinsonism/dystonia and epilepsy, respectively. From a therapeutic point of view, some folding-deficient NTTs are amenable to functional rescue by small molecules, known as chemical and pharmacological chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyas Bhat
- Institute of Pharmacology and the Gaston H. Glock Research Laboratories for Exploratory Drug Development, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ali El-Kasaby
- Institute of Pharmacology and the Gaston H. Glock Research Laboratories for Exploratory Drug Development, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Freissmuth
- Institute of Pharmacology and the Gaston H. Glock Research Laboratories for Exploratory Drug Development, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Sucic
- Institute of Pharmacology and the Gaston H. Glock Research Laboratories for Exploratory Drug Development, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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25
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Siemann JK, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Wallace MT. Approaches to Understanding Multisensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:1430-1449. [PMID: 32869933 PMCID: PMC7721996 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal sensory responses are a DSM-5 symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and research findings demonstrate altered sensory processing in ASD. Beyond difficulties with processing information within single sensory domains, including both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, difficulties in multisensory processing are becoming a core issue of focus in ASD. These difficulties may be targeted by treatment approaches such as "sensory integration," which is frequently applied in autism treatment but not yet based on clear evidence. Recently, psychophysical data have emerged to demonstrate multisensory deficits in some children with ASD. Unlike deficits in social communication, which are best understood in humans, sensory and multisensory changes offer a tractable marker of circuit dysfunction that is more easily translated into animal model systems to probe the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Paralleling experimental paradigms that were previously applied in humans and larger mammals, we and others have demonstrated that multisensory function can also be examined behaviorally in rodents. Here, we review the sensory and multisensory difficulties commonly found in ASD, examining laboratory findings that relate these findings across species. Next, we discuss the known neurobiology of multisensory integration, drawing largely on experimental work in larger mammals, and extensions of these paradigms into rodents. Finally, we describe emerging investigations into multisensory processing in genetic mouse models related to autism risk. By detailing findings from humans to mice, we highlight the advantage of multisensory paradigms that can be easily translated across species, as well as the potential for rodent experimental systems to reveal opportunities for novel treatments. LAY SUMMARY: Sensory and multisensory deficits are commonly found in ASD and may result in cascading effects that impact social communication. By using similar experiments to those in humans, we discuss how studies in animal models may allow an understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie difficulties in multisensory integration, with the ultimate goal of developing new treatments. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1430-1449. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K Siemann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark T Wallace
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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26
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Meyyazhagan A, Balasubramanian B, Easwaran M, Alagamuthu KK, Shanmugam S, Kuchi Bhotla H, Pappusamy M, Arumugam VA, Thangaraj A, Kaul T, Keshavarao S, Cacabelos R. Biomarker study of the biological parameter and neurotransmitter levels in autistics. Mol Cell Biochem 2020; 474:277-284. [PMID: 32740790 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-03851-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a prevalent developmental disorder that combines repetitive behaviours, social deficits and language abnormalities. The present study aims to assess the autistic subjects using DSM IV-TR criteria followed with the analysis of neurotransmitters, biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and its ions in two groups of autistic subjects (group I < 12 years; group II ≥ 12 years). Antioxidants show a variation of 10% increase in controls compared to autistic age < 12 years. The concentration of pyruvate kinase and hexokinase is elevated in controls approximately 60% and 45%, respectively, with the significance of 95 and 99%. Autistic subjects showed marked variation in levels of neurotransmitters, oxidative stress and its related ions. Cumulative assessment of parameters related to biochemical markers and neurotransmitters paves the way for autism-based research, although these observations draw interest in an integrated approach for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Meyyazhagan
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Centre, International Center of Neurosciences and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, 15165, Corunna, Spain. .,Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India. .,Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India.
| | - Balamuralikrishnan Balasubramanian
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, South Korea
| | - Murugesh Easwaran
- Nutritional Improvement of Crops, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Karthick Kumar Alagamuthu
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India.,Jiagsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Sureshkumar Shanmugam
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India.,Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, South Korea
| | - Haripriya Kuchi Bhotla
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Manikantan Pappusamy
- Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Vijaya Anand Arumugam
- Medical Genetics and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Arulprakash Thangaraj
- Nutritional Improvement of Crops, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Tanushri Kaul
- Nutritional Improvement of Crops, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sasikala Keshavarao
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Ramon Cacabelos
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Centre, International Center of Neurosciences and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, 15165, Corunna, Spain
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27
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Marotta R, Risoleo MC, Messina G, Parisi L, Carotenuto M, Vetri L, Roccella M. The Neurochemistry of Autism. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E163. [PMID: 32182969 PMCID: PMC7139720 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10030163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to complex neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior or interests, and altered sensory processing. Environmental, immunological, genetic, and epigenetic factors are implicated in the pathophysiology of autism and provoke the occurrence of neuroanatomical and neurochemical events relatively early in the development of the central nervous system. Many neurochemical pathways are involved in determining ASD; however, how these complex networks interact and cause the onset of the core symptoms of autism remains unclear. Further studies on neurochemical alterations in autism are necessary to clarify the early neurodevelopmental variations behind the enormous heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder, and therefore lead to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of autism. In this review, we aim to delineate the state-of-the-art main research findings about the neurochemical alterations in autism etiology, and focuses on gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, serotonin, dopamine, N-acetyl aspartate, oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin, melatonin, vitamin D, orexin, endogenous opioids, and acetylcholine. We also aim to suggest a possible related therapeutic approach that could improve the quality of ASD interventions. Over one hundred references were collected through electronic database searching in Medline and EMBASE (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), ERIC (Proquest), PubMed, and the Web of Science (ISI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Marotta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro 88100, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.R.)
| | - Maria C. Risoleo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro 88100, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.R.)
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Napoli 80138, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy;
| | - Lucia Parisi
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy; (L.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Napoli 80138, Italy;
| | - Luigi Vetri
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Michele Roccella
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy; (L.P.); (M.R.)
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28
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Balasco L, Provenzano G, Bozzi Y. Sensory Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Focus on the Tactile Domain, From Genetic Mouse Models to the Clinic. Front Psychiatry 2020; 10:1016. [PMID: 32047448 PMCID: PMC6997554 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory abnormalities are commonly recognized as diagnostic criteria in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as reported in the last edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-V). About 90% of ASD individuals have atypical sensory experiences, described as both hyper- and hypo-reactivity, with abnormal responses to tactile stimulation representing a very frequent finding. In this review, we will address the neurobiological bases of sensory processing in ASD, with a specific focus of tactile sensitivity. In the first part, we will review the most relevant sensory abnormalities detected in ASD, and then focus on tactile processing deficits through the discussion of recent clinical and experimental studies. In the search for the neurobiological bases of ASD, several mouse models have been generated with knockout and humanized knockin mutations in many ASD-associated genes. Here, we will therefore give a brief overview of the anatomical structure of the mouse somatosensory system, and describe the somatosensory abnormalities so far reported in different mouse models of ASD. Understanding the neurobiological bases of sensory processing in ASD mouse models may represent an opportunity for a better comprehension of the mechanisms underlying sensory abnormalities, and for the development of novel effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Balasco
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy
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29
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Wallace MT, Woynaroski TG, Stevenson RA. Multisensory Integration as a Window into Orderly and Disrupted Cognition and Communication. Annu Rev Psychol 2020; 71:193-219. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-051112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
During our everyday lives, we are confronted with a vast amount of information from several sensory modalities. This multisensory information needs to be appropriately integrated for us to effectively engage with and learn from our world. Research carried out over the last half century has provided new insights into the way such multisensory processing improves human performance and perception; the neurophysiological foundations of multisensory function; the time course for its development; how multisensory abilities differ in clinical populations; and, most recently, the links between multisensory processing and cognitive abilities. This review summarizes the extant literature on multisensory function in typical and atypical circumstances, discusses the implications of the work carried out to date for theory and research, and points toward next steps for advancing the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T. Wallace
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA;,
- Departments of Psychology and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA
| | - Tiffany G. Woynaroski
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA;,
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA
| | - Ryan A. Stevenson
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry and Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
- Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
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30
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Santocchi E, Guiducci L, Prosperi M, Calderoni S, Gaggini M, Apicella F, Tancredi R, Billeci L, Mastromarino P, Grossi E, Gastaldelli A, Morales MA, Muratori F. Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Gastrointestinal, Sensory and Core Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:550593. [PMID: 33101079 PMCID: PMC7546872 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.550593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The microbiota-gut-brain axis has been recently recognized as a key modulator of neuropsychiatric health. In this framework, probiotics (recently named "psychobiotics") may modulate brain activity and function, possibly improving the behavioral profiles of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We evaluated the effects of probiotics on autism in a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 85 preschoolers with ASD (mean age, 4.2 years; 84% boys). Participants were randomly assigned to probiotics (De Simone Formulation) (n=42) or placebo (n=43) for six months. Sixty-three (74%) children completed the trial. No differences between groups were detected on the primary outcome measure, the Total Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Calibrated Severity Score (ADOS-CSS). An exploratory secondary analysis on subgroups of children with or without Gastrointestinal Symptoms (GI group, n= 30; NGI group, n=55) revealed in the NGI group treated with probiotics a significant decline in ADOS scores as compared to that in the placebo group, with a mean reduction of 0.81 in Total ADOS CSS and of 1.14 in Social-Affect ADOS CSS over six months. In the GI group treated with probiotics we found greater improvements in some GI symptoms, adaptive functioning, and sensory profiles than in the GI group treated with placebo. These results suggest potentially positive effects of probiotics on core autism symptoms in a subset of ASD children independent of the specific intermediation of the probiotic effect on GI symptoms. Further studies are warranted to replicate and extend these promising findings on a wider population with subsets of ASD patients which share targets of intervention on the microbiota-gut-brain axis. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02708901.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Santocchi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Guiducci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Margherita Prosperi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Sara Calderoni,
| | - Melania Gaggini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Apicella
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tancredi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Billeci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Mastromarino
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Grossi
- Department of Autism Research, Villa Santa Maria Institute, Tavernerio, Italy
| | - Amalia Gastaldelli
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Muratori
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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31
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Garbarino VR, Gilman TL, Daws LC, Gould GG. Extreme enhancement or depletion of serotonin transporter function and serotonin availability in autism spectrum disorder. Pharmacol Res 2019; 140:85-99. [PMID: 30009933 PMCID: PMC6345621 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A variety of human and animal studies support the hypothesis that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) system dysfunction is a contributing factor to the development of autism in some patients. However, many questions remain about how developmental manipulation of various components that influence 5-HT signaling (5-HT synthesis, transport, metabolism) persistently impair social behaviors. This review will summarize key aspects of central 5-HT function important for normal brain development, and review evidence implicating perinatal disruptions in 5-HT signaling in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder. We discuss the importance, and relative dearth, of studies that explore the possible correlation to autism in the interactions between important intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may disrupt 5-HT homeostasis during development. In particular, we focus on exposure to 5-HT transport altering mechanisms such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or genetic polymorphisms in primary or auxiliary transporters of 5-HT, and how they relate to neurological stores of serotonin and its precursors. A deeper understanding of the many mechanisms by which 5-HT signaling can be disrupted, alone and in concert, may contribute to an improved understanding of the etiologies and heterogeneous nature of this disorder. We postulate that extreme bidirectional perturbations of these factors during development likely compound or synergize to facilitate enduring neurochemical changes resulting in insufficient or excessive 5-HT signaling, that could underlie the persistent behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina R Garbarino
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, United States.
| | - T Lee Gilman
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, United States.
| | - Lynette C Daws
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, United States; Department of Pharmacology, United States.
| | - Georgianna G Gould
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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32
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Blakely RD, El Mestikawy S, Robinson MB. The brain in flux: Genetic, physiologic, and therapeutic perspectives on transporters in the CNS. Neurochem Int 2018; 123:1-6. [PMID: 30571999 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The brain has specific properties that make it uniquely dependent upon transporters. This is the 3rd edition of a biennial special issue that originates from a scientific meeting devoted to studies of transporters and their relationship to brain function and to neurodevelopmental, neurologic, and psychiatric disorders. The field continues to rapidly evolve with advances in studies of structure that inform mechanism, with genetic analyses in humans revealing surprising aspects of biology, and with integrated cellular to whole animal analyses of the role of transporters in their control of physiology and pathophysiology. This special issue includes a sampling of review articles that address timely questions of the field followed by several primary research articles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy D Blakely
- Florida Atlantic University Brain Institute, Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, United States
| | - Salah El Mestikawy
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada; Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie UM 119 - CNRS UMR 8246 - INSERM U1130, Neurosciences Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - Michael B Robinson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States.
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33
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Abdulamir HA, Abdul-Rasheed OF, Abdulghani EA. Serotonin and serotonin transporter levels in autistic children. Saudi Med J 2018; 39:487-494. [PMID: 29738009 PMCID: PMC6118182 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2018.5.21751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the possible correlation between serotonin and serotonin transporter (SERT) with the autism severity and investigate the association between these parameters in autistic children to assess their possible role for diagnosis of autism severity. METHODS A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq while the samples were taken from 60 male autistic children recruited to the Department of Pediatrics at Al-Sader Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq between November 2014 amd April 2015. Levels of serotonin and serotonin transporters (SERT) were determined in 60 male autistic Iraqi patients classified into mild, moderate and severe (20 for each). These levels were compared with those of 26 healthy control children. Results: Levels of serotonin and SERT were significantly increased in autistic children than that of gender and age-matched controls. Serotonin levels were 80.63± 21.83 ng/ml in mild, 100.39±23.07 ng/ml moderate, and 188.7±31.72 ng/ml severe autistic patients. Serotonin transporter levels were 10.13±4.51 ng/ml in mild, 13.15±4.71 ng/ml moderate, and 16.32±6.7 ng/ml in severe autistic patients. The increase of both serotonin and SERT levels were associated with severity of autism. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis can be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. CONCLUSIONS High serotonin and SERT levels may indicate that these biomarkers have a role in the autism pathogenesis and support the possibility of using serotonin and SERT to diagnose autism severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidar A Abdulamir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq. E-mail.
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p38α MAPK signaling drives pharmacologically reversible brain and gastrointestinal phenotypes in the SERT Ala56 mouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E10245-E10254. [PMID: 30297392 PMCID: PMC6205438 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1809137115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder with limited treatment options. Activation of p38 MAPK signaling networks has been identified in ASD, and p38 MAPK signaling elevates serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) activity, effects mimicked by multiple, hyperfunctional SERT coding variants identified in ASD subjects. Mice expressing the most common of these variants (SERT Ala56) exhibit hyperserotonemia, a biomarker observed in ASD subjects, as well as p38 MAPK-dependent SERT hyperphosphorylation, elevated hippocampal 5-HT clearance, hypersensitivity of CNS 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/2C receptors, and behavioral and gastrointestinal perturbations reminiscent of ASD. As the α-isoform of p38 MAPK drives SERT activation, we tested the hypothesis that CNS-penetrant, α-isoform-specific p38 MAPK inhibitors might normalize SERT Ala56 phenotypes. Strikingly, 1-week treatment of adult SERT Ala56 mice with MW150, a selective p38α MAPK inhibitor, normalized hippocampal 5-HT clearance, CNS 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/2C receptor sensitivities, social interactions, and colonic motility. Conditional elimination of p38α MAPK in 5-HT neurons of SERT Ala56 mice restored 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/2C receptor sensitivities as well as social interactions, mirroring effects of MW150. Our findings support ongoing p38α MAPK activity as an important determinant of the physiological and behavioral perturbations of SERT Ala56 mice and, more broadly, supports consideration of p38α MAPK inhibition as a potential treatment for core and comorbid phenotypes present in ASD subjects.
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Nakai N, Takumi T, Nakai J, Sato M. Common Defects of Spine Dynamics and Circuit Function in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Findings From in Vivo Optical Imaging of Mouse Models. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:412. [PMID: 29970983 PMCID: PMC6018076 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo optical imaging is a powerful tool for revealing brain structure and function at both the circuit and cellular levels. Here, we provide a systematic review of findings obtained from in vivo imaging studies of mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, including the monogenic disorders fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, and Angelman syndrome, which are caused by genetic abnormalities of FMR1, MECP2, and UBE3A, as well as disorders caused by copy number variations (15q11-13 duplication and 22q11.2 deletion) and BTBR mice as an inbred strain model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most studies visualize the structural and functional responsiveness of cerebral cortical neurons to sensory stimuli and the developmental and experience-dependent changes in these responses as a model of brain functions affected by these disorders. The optical imaging techniques include two-photon microscopy of fluorescently labeled dendritic spines or neurons loaded with fluorescent calcium indicators and macroscopic imaging of cortical activity using calcium indicators, voltage-sensitive dyes or intrinsic optical signals. Studies have revealed alterations in the density, stability, and turnover of dendritic spines, aberrant cortical sensory responses, impaired inhibitory function, and concomitant failure of circuit maturation as common causes for neurological deficits. Mechanistic hypotheses derived from in vivo imaging also provide new directions for therapeutic interventions. For instance, it was recently demonstrated that early postnatal administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) restores impaired cortical inhibitory function and ameliorates the aberrant social behaviors in a mouse model of ASD. We discuss the potential use of SSRIs for treating ASDs in light of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Junichi Nakai
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
- Brain and Body System Science Institute, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masaaki Sato
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
- Brain and Body System Science Institute, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
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Marks WN, Parker ME, Zabder NK, Greba Q, Snutch TP, Howland JG. T-type calcium channels in the orbitofrontal cortex mediate sensory integration as measured using a spontaneous oddity task in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:317-324. [PMID: 29907639 PMCID: PMC6004062 DOI: 10.1101/lm.047332.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The roles of low-voltage-activated (T-type) calcium channels in brain diseases have been studied extensively. Less is known regarding the involvement of T-type channels in cognition and behavior. Sensory integration (SI) is a cognitive process whereby the brain uses unimodal or multimodal sensory features to create a comprehensive representation of the environment. The multisensory object oddity (MSO) task assesses SI using combinations of sensory features of objects, either in the same or different sensory modalities. The regulation of SI involves the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), an area which shows high levels of T-type calcium channel expression. We tested the effects of blocking T-type calcium channels on the MSO task with the selective T-type antagonist, Z944 (5 mg/kg; i.p. systemic; 100 or 500 µM OFC infusion), in male Long Evans rats. With systemic treatment, Z944 impaired the visual and visual-olfactory versions of the task. Infusion of 100 and 500 µM Z944 produced deficits in the olfactory version of the task. In addition, only vehicle-infused, but not Z944-infused, rats showed significant performance above chance for all task variants. Thus, the present results suggest that T-type calcium channels in OFC are involved in SI of features in an oddity task. Given that unimodal SI was disrupted by OFC infusions of Z944, the deficits in the multimodal task must be interpreted with caution. As SI is disrupted in psychiatric disorders, further investigations elucidating the brain regions implicated in SI regulation by T-type calcium channels may help inform therapeutic development for those suffering from SI impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendie N Marks
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Madeline E Parker
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Nadine K Zabder
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Terrance P Snutch
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
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Metaxakis A, Petratou D, Tavernarakis N. Multimodal sensory processing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Open Biol 2018; 8:180049. [PMID: 29925633 PMCID: PMC6030117 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.180049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Multisensory integration is a mechanism that allows organisms to simultaneously sense and understand external stimuli from different modalities. These distinct signals are transduced into neuronal signals that converge into decision-making neuronal entities. Such decision-making centres receive information through neuromodulators regarding the organism's physiological state and accordingly trigger behavioural responses. Despite the importance of multisensory integration for efficient functioning of the nervous system, and also the implication of dysfunctional multisensory integration in the aetiology of neuropsychiatric disease, little is known about the relative molecular mechanisms. Caenorhabditis elegans is an appropriate model system to study such mechanisms and elucidate the molecular ways through which organisms understand external environments in an accurate and coherent fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Metaxakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
| | - Dionysia Petratou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece
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Hornix BE, Havekes R, Kas MJH. Multisensory cortical processing and dysfunction across the neuropsychiatric spectrum. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 97:138-151. [PMID: 29496479 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sensory processing is affected in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Genetic and environmental factors guide the formation and fine-tuning of brain circuitry necessary to receive, organize, and respond to sensory input in order to behave in a meaningful and consistent manner. During certain developmental stages the brain is sensitive to intrinsic and external factors. For example, disturbed expression levels of certain risk genes during critical neurodevelopmental periods may lead to exaggerated brain plasticity processes within the sensory circuits, and sensory stimulation immediately after birth contributes to fine-tuning of these circuits. Here, the neurodevelopmental trajectory of sensory circuit development will be described and related to some example risk gene mutations that are found in neuropsychiatric disorders. Subsequently, the flow of sensory information through these circuits and the relationship to synaptic plasticity will be described. Research focusing on the combined analyses of neural circuit development and functioning are necessary to expand our understanding of sensory processing and behavioral deficits that are relevant across the neuropsychiatric spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty E Hornix
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert Havekes
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martien J H Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Ito S, Feldheim DA. The Mouse Superior Colliculus: An Emerging Model for Studying Circuit Formation and Function. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:10. [PMID: 29487505 PMCID: PMC5816945 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a midbrain area where visual, auditory and somatosensory information are integrated to initiate motor commands. The SC plays a central role in visual information processing in the mouse; it receives projections from 85% to 90% of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). While the mouse SC has been a long-standing model used to study retinotopic map formation, a number of technological advances in mouse molecular genetic techniques, large-scale physiological recordings and SC-dependent visual behavioral assays have made the mouse an even more ideal model to understand the relationship between circuitry and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Ito
- Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - David A Feldheim
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
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Abstract
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition, and little is known about its neurobiology. Much of autism research has focused on the social, communication and cognitive difficulties associated with the condition. However, the recent revision of the diagnostic criteria for autism has brought another key domain of autistic experience into focus: sensory processing. Here, we review the properties of sensory processing in autism and discuss recent computational and neurobiological insights arising from attention to these behaviours. We argue that sensory traits have important implications for the development of animal and computational models of the condition. Finally, we consider how difficulties in sensory processing may relate to the other domains of behaviour that characterize autism.
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