1
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Samantzis M, Wang C, Balbi M. Gamma oscillations and their role in orchestrating balance and communication following stroke. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:477-478. [PMID: 38819055 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Montana Samantzis
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia (Samantzis M, Wang C, Balbi M)
| | - Cong Wang
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia (Samantzis M, Wang C, Balbi M)
- Engineering Research Centre of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China (Wang C)
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia (Samantzis M, Wang C, Balbi M)
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2
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Asghar H, Siddiqui A, Batool L, Batool Z, Ahmed T. Post-exposure self-recovery reverses oxidative stress, ameliorates pathology and neurotransmitters imbalance and rescues spatial memory after time-dependent aluminum exposure in rat brain. Biometals 2024; 37:819-838. [PMID: 38233603 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00570-1] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Aluminum is a potent neurotoxin, responsible for memory impairment and cognitive dysfunction. The neurotoxic effect of aluminum on cognitive impairment is well documented, however, exposure to aluminum in a time-dependent manner and post-exposure self-recovery still needs to be elaborated. This research aimed to (1) study the time-dependent effect of aluminum exposure by administering a total dose of 5850 mg/kg of Al over two different time periods: 30 and 45 days (130 and 195 mg/kg of AlCl3 respectively), and (2) study 20 days post-exposure self-recovery effect in both aluminum-exposed groups by giving distilled water. Cognitive abilities were investigated through Morris water maze test and hole board test and compared in both exposure and recovery groups. Oxidative stress markers and neurotransmitter levels were measured for both exposure and recovery groups. To understand the mechanism of aluminum exposure and recovery, immunohistochemical analysis of synaptophysin (Syp) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was performed. Results showed cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress-induced damage, reduced neurotransmitter levels, decreased immunoreactivity of Syp, and increased GFAP. However, these parameters showed a larger improvement in the recovery group where rats were given aluminum for 30 days period in comparison to recovery group followed by 45 days of aluminum exposure. These results suggest that restoration of cognitive ability is affected by the duration of aluminum exposure. The study findings provide us with insight into the adverse effects of aluminum exposure and can be utilized to guide future preventive and therapeutic strategies against aluminum neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humna Asghar
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Alveena Siddiqui
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Laraib Batool
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zehra Batool
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Touqeer Ahmed
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
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3
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Jenkins AK, Ketchesin KD, Becker-Krail DD, McClung CA. Molecular Rhythmicity in Glia: Importance for Brain Health and Relevance to Psychiatric Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01298-8. [PMID: 38735357 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are approximate 24-hour rhythms present in nearly all aspects of human physiology, including proper brain function. These rhythms are produced at the cellular level through a transcriptional-translational feedback loop known as the molecular clock. Diurnal variation in gene expression has been demonstrated in brain tissue from multiple species, including humans, in both cortical and subcortical regions. Interestingly, these rhythms in gene expression have been shown to be disrupted across psychiatric disorders and may be implicated in their underlying pathophysiology. However, little is known regarding molecular rhythms in specific cell types in the brain and how they might be involved in psychiatric disease. Although glial cells (e.g., astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) have been historically understudied compared to neurons, evidence of the molecular clock is found within each of these cell subtypes. Here, we review the current literature, which suggests that molecular rhythmicity is essential to functional physiologic outputs from each glial subtype. Furthermore, disrupted molecular rhythms within these cells and the resultant functional deficits may be relevant to specific phenotypes across psychiatric illnesses. Given that circadian rhythm disruptions have been so integrally tied to psychiatric disease, the molecular mechanisms governing these associations could represent exciting new avenues for future research and potential novel pharmacologic targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron K Jenkins
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kyle D Ketchesin
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Darius D Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Colleen A McClung
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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4
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Negrón-Oyarzo I, Dib T, Chacana-Véliz L, López-Quilodrán N, Urrutia-Piñones J. Large-scale coupling of prefrontal activity patterns as a mechanism for cognitive control in health and disease: evidence from rodent models. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1286111. [PMID: 38638163 PMCID: PMC11024307 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1286111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control of behavior is crucial for well-being, as allows subject to adapt to changing environments in a goal-directed way. Changes in cognitive control of behavior is observed during cognitive decline in elderly and in pathological mental conditions. Therefore, the recovery of cognitive control may provide a reliable preventive and therapeutic strategy. However, its neural basis is not completely understood. Cognitive control is supported by the prefrontal cortex, structure that integrates relevant information for the appropriate organization of behavior. At neurophysiological level, it is suggested that cognitive control is supported by local and large-scale synchronization of oscillatory activity patterns and neural spiking activity between the prefrontal cortex and distributed neural networks. In this review, we focus mainly on rodent models approaching the neuronal origin of these prefrontal patterns, and the cognitive and behavioral relevance of its coordination with distributed brain systems. We also examine the relationship between cognitive control and neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex, and its role in normal cognitive decline and pathological mental conditions. Finally, based on these body of evidence, we propose a common mechanism that may underlie the impaired cognitive control of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Negrón-Oyarzo
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Tatiana Dib
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lorena Chacana-Véliz
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Nélida López-Quilodrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Jocelyn Urrutia-Piñones
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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5
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Iwai T, Mishima R, Hirayama S, Nakajima H, Oyama M, Watanabe S, Fujii H, Tanabe M. SYK-623, a δ Opioid Receptor Inverse Agonist, Mitigates Chronic Stress-Induced Behavioral Abnormalities and Disrupted Neurogenesis. J Clin Med 2024; 13:608. [PMID: 38276114 PMCID: PMC10817044 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The δ opioid receptor (DOR) inverse agonist has been demonstrated to improve learning and memory impairment in mice subjected to restraint stress. Here, we investigated the effects of SYK-623, a new DOR inverse agonist, on behavioral, immunohistochemical, and biochemical abnormalities in a mouse model of imipramine treatment-resistant depression. Male ddY mice received daily treatment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) combined with chronic mild stress exposure (ACMS). SYK-623, imipramine, or the vehicle was administered once daily before ACMS. After three weeks, ACMS mice showed impaired learning and memory in the Y-maze test and increased immobility time in the forced swim test. SYK-623, but not imipramine, significantly suppressed behavioral abnormalities caused by ACMS. Based on the fluorescent immunohistochemical analysis of the hippocampus, ACMS induced a reduction in astrocytes and newborn neurons, similar to the reported findings observed in the postmortem brains of depressed patients. In addition, the number of parvalbumin-positive GABA neurons, which play a crucial role in neurogenesis, was reduced in the hippocampus, and western blot analysis showed decreased glutamic acid decarboxylase protein levels. These changes, except for the decrease in astrocytes, were suppressed by SYK-623. Thus, SYK-623 mitigates behavioral abnormalities and disturbed neurogenesis caused by chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Iwai
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (T.I.); (R.M.); (H.N.); (M.O.); (S.W.)
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Rei Mishima
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (T.I.); (R.M.); (H.N.); (M.O.); (S.W.)
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Shigeto Hirayama
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Honoka Nakajima
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (T.I.); (R.M.); (H.N.); (M.O.); (S.W.)
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Misa Oyama
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (T.I.); (R.M.); (H.N.); (M.O.); (S.W.)
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Shun Watanabe
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (T.I.); (R.M.); (H.N.); (M.O.); (S.W.)
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Hideaki Fujii
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Tanabe
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (T.I.); (R.M.); (H.N.); (M.O.); (S.W.)
- Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (S.H.); (H.F.)
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6
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Ohno M. A Strategy for Allowing Earlier Diagnosis and Rigorous Evaluation of BACE1 Inhibitors in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:431-445. [PMID: 38701146 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Given continued failure of BACE1 inhibitor programs at symptomatic and prodromal stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), clinical trials need to target the earlier preclinical stage. However, trial design is complex in this population with negative diagnosis of classical hippocampal amnesia on standard memory tests. Besides recent advances in brain imaging, electroencephalogram, and fluid-based biomarkers, new cognitive markers should be established for earlier diagnosis that can optimize recruitment to BACE1 inhibitor trials in presymptomatic AD. Notably, accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) is emerging as a sensitive cognitive measure that can discriminate between asymptomatic individuals with high risks for developing AD and healthy controls. ALF is a form of declarative memory impairment characterized by increased forgetting rates over longer delays (days to months) despite normal storage within the standard delays of testing (20-60 min). Therefore, ALF may represent a harbinger of preclinical dementia and the impairment of systems memory consolidation, during which memory traces temporarily stored in the hippocampus become gradually integrated into cortical networks. This review provides an overview of the utility of ALF in a rational design of next-generation BACE1 inhibitor trials in preclinical AD. I explore potential mechanisms underlying ALF and relevant early-stage biomarkers useful for BACE1 inhibitor evaluation, including synaptic protein alterations, astrocytic dysregulation and neuron hyperactivity in the hippocampal-cortical network. Furthermore, given the physiological role of the isoform BACE2 as an AD-suppressor gene, I also discuss the possible association between the poor selectivity of BACE1 inhibitors and their side effects (e.g., cognitive worsening) in prior clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masuo Ohno
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
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7
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Miao J, Liu X, Lan J. 40 Hz Electroacupuncture relieves the memory dysfunction of 5xFAD mice by regulating neuronal electrical activity. Brain Res 2023; 1821:148576. [PMID: 37714422 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148576] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
In this investigation, we probed the impacts of 40 Hz Electroacupuncture (EA) on the cognitive function and brain activity in 5xFAD mice. Three groups of mice were constituted: the Model group of 5xFAD mice, the Wild Type (WT) group of littermate controls, and the EA group of 5xFAD mice subjected to EA treatment. Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate memory function and anxiety levels, while the presence of Aβ plaques were detected via immunostaining, and neuronal activity was measured using multichannel recordings. Our results indicated that EA therapy enhanced memory function and anxiety-like behavior in 5xFAD mice, as well as diminishing the abundance and dimensions of Aβ plaques in the hippocampus and mPFC regions. Notably, the suppression of astrocyte activation was observed, which was potentially associated with alterations in gamma oscillation. Furthermore, the synaptic transmission of neurons was amplified, suggesting a possible modulation in neural activity. These findings indicate that 40 Hz EA could influence cognitive performance and potentially affect neuronal activity in 5xFAD mice, while the direct connection between EA and neuronal electrical activity regulation requires further exploration. The potential frequency-specific effects of EA on protective mechanisms in the brain was not addressed in this study and thus presents a direction for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifei Miao
- Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiao Lan
- Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Shenzhen, China.
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8
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Ferrucci L, Cantando I, Cordella F, Di Angelantonio S, Ragozzino D, Bezzi P. Microglia at the Tripartite Synapse during Postnatal Development: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Schizophrenia. Cells 2023; 12:2827. [PMID: 38132147 PMCID: PMC10742295 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Synapses are the fundamental structures of neural circuits that control brain functions and behavioral and cognitive processes. Synapses undergo formation, maturation, and elimination mainly during postnatal development via a complex interplay with neighboring astrocytes and microglia that, by shaping neural connectivity, may have a crucial role in the strengthening and weakening of synaptic functions, that is, the functional plasticity of synapses. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have unveiled the roles of microglia and astrocytes in synapse formation, maturation, and elimination as well as in regulating synaptic function. Over the past 15 years, the mechanisms underlying the microglia- and astrocytes-dependent regulation of synaptic plasticity have been thoroughly studied, and researchers have reported that the disruption of these glial cells in early postnatal development may underlie the cause of synaptic dysfunction that leads to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ferrucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
| | - Iva Cantando
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Federica Cordella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, IIT, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, IIT, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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9
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Barnett D, Bohmbach K, Grelot V, Charlet A, Dallérac G, Ju YH, Nagai J, Orr AG. Astrocytes as Drivers and Disruptors of Behavior: New Advances in Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targeting. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7463-7471. [PMID: 37940585 PMCID: PMC10634555 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1376-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are emerging as key regulators of cognitive function and behavior. This review highlights some of the latest advances in the understanding of astrocyte roles in different behavioral domains across lifespan and in disease. We address specific molecular and circuit mechanisms by which astrocytes modulate behavior, discuss their functional diversity and versatility, and highlight emerging astrocyte-targeted treatment strategies that might alleviate behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in pathologic conditions. Converging evidence across different model systems and manipulations is revealing that astrocytes regulate behavioral processes in a precise and context-dependent manner. Improved understanding of these astrocytic functions may generate new therapeutic strategies for various conditions with cognitive and behavioral impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Barnett
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Kirsten Bohmbach
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Valentin Grelot
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Glenn Dallérac
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Paris-Saclay University, Paris-Saclay Institute for Neurosciences, Paris, 91400, France
| | - Yeon Ha Ju
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Texas-Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Jun Nagai
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Laboratory for Glia-Neuron Circuit Dynamics, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
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10
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Cha H, Choi JH, Jeon H, Kim JH, Kim M, Kim SJ, Park W, Lim JS, Lee E, Ahn JS, Kim JH, Hong SH, Park JE, Jung JH, Yoo HJ, Lee S. Aquaporin-4 Deficiency is Associated with Cognitive Impairment and Alterations in astrocyte-neuron Lactate Shuttle. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6212-6226. [PMID: 37436602 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03475-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment refers to notable declines in cognitive abilities including memory, language, and emotional stability leading to the inability to accomplish essential activities of daily living. Astrocytes play an important role in cognitive function, and homeostasis of the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) system is essential for maintaining cognitive functions. Aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) is a water channel expressed in astrocytes and has been shown to be associated with various brain disorders, but the direct relationship between learning, memory, and AQP-4 is unclear. We examined the relationship between AQP-4 and cognitive functions related to learning and memory. Mice with genetic deletion of AQP-4 showed significant behavioral and emotional changes including hyperactivity and instability, and impaired cognitive functions such as spatial learning and memory retention. 18 F-FDG PET imaging showed significant metabolic changes in the brains of AQP-4 knockout mice such as reductions in glucose absorption. Such metabolic changes in the brain seemed to be the direct results of changes in the expression of metabolite transporters, as the mRNA levels of multiple glucose and lactate transporters in astrocytes and neurons were significantly decreased in the cortex and hippocampus of AQP-4 knockout mice. Indeed, AQP-4 knockout mice showed significantly higher accumulation of both glucose and lactate in their brains compared with wild-type mice. Our results show that the deficiency of AQP-4 can cause problems in the metabolic function of astrocytes and lead to cognitive impairment, and that the deficiency of AQP4 in astrocyte endfeet can cause abnormalities in the ANLS system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeuk Cha
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Asan Medical Center, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Ho Choi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanwool Jeon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- Bio-Medical Institute of Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Moinay Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Jung Kim
- Convergence Medicine Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonhyoung Park
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Seo Lim
- Clinical Research Center, Asan Medical Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunyeup Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Asan Medical Center, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Sung Ahn
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hoon Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Ho Hong
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Eun Park
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuroradiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hwa Jung
- Convergence Medicine Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Yoo
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Convergence Medicine Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungjoo Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Medical Science, Asan Medical Center, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Bio-Medical Institute of Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Dehdar K, Raoufy MR. Brain structural and functional alterations related to anxiety in allergic asthma. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110727. [PMID: 37562517 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110727] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are common in patients with allergic asthma, and they can have a significant impact on their quality of life and disease control. Recent studies have suggested that there may be potential immune-brain communication mechanisms in asthma, which can activate inflammatory responses in different brain areas, leading to structural and functional alterations and behavioral changes. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear. In this paper, we comprehensively review the relevant research on asthma-induced brain structural and functional alterations that lead to the initiation and promotion of anxiety. We summarize the possible pathways for peripheral inflammation to affect the brain's structure and function. Our review highlights the importance of addressing neuropsychiatric disorders in the clinical guidelines of asthma, to improve the quality of life of these patients. We suggest that a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying psychiatric comorbidities in asthma could lead to the development of more effective treatments for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolsoum Dehdar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Raoufy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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12
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Sun MJ, Tang Y, Illes P. Hippocampal astrocytes relieve anxiogenic behavior by increasing, via the release of ATP, excitatory synaptic transmission in dentate gyrus granule cells. Purinergic Signal 2023:10.1007/s11302-023-09969-4. [PMID: 37725238 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-023-09969-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Juan Sun
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signaling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 61007, China
| | - Yong Tang
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signaling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 61007, China.
- School of Health and Rehabilitation, Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 61007, China.
| | - Peter Illes
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signaling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 61007, China.
- Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, 04107, Leipzig, Germany.
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13
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Gebicke-Haerter PJ. The computational power of the human brain. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1220030. [PMID: 37608987 PMCID: PMC10441807 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1220030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
At the end of the 20th century, analog systems in computer science have been widely replaced by digital systems due to their higher computing power. Nevertheless, the question keeps being intriguing until now: is the brain analog or digital? Initially, the latter has been favored, considering it as a Turing machine that works like a digital computer. However, more recently, digital and analog processes have been combined to implant human behavior in robots, endowing them with artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, we think it is timely to compare mathematical models with the biology of computation in the brain. To this end, digital and analog processes clearly identified in cellular and molecular interactions in the Central Nervous System are highlighted. But above that, we try to pinpoint reasons distinguishing in silico computation from salient features of biological computation. First, genuinely analog information processing has been observed in electrical synapses and through gap junctions, the latter both in neurons and astrocytes. Apparently opposed to that, neuronal action potentials (APs) or spikes represent clearly digital events, like the yes/no or 1/0 of a Turing machine. However, spikes are rarely uniform, but can vary in amplitude and widths, which has significant, differential effects on transmitter release at the presynaptic terminal, where notwithstanding the quantal (vesicular) release itself is digital. Conversely, at the dendritic site of the postsynaptic neuron, there are numerous analog events of computation. Moreover, synaptic transmission of information is not only neuronal, but heavily influenced by astrocytes tightly ensheathing the majority of synapses in brain (tripartite synapse). At least at this point, LTP and LTD modifying synaptic plasticity and believed to induce short and long-term memory processes including consolidation (equivalent to RAM and ROM in electronic devices) have to be discussed. The present knowledge of how the brain stores and retrieves memories includes a variety of options (e.g., neuronal network oscillations, engram cells, astrocytic syncytium). Also epigenetic features play crucial roles in memory formation and its consolidation, which necessarily guides to molecular events like gene transcription and translation. In conclusion, brain computation is not only digital or analog, or a combination of both, but encompasses features in parallel, and of higher orders of complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Gebicke-Haerter
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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14
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Ma W, Si T, Wang Z, Wen P, Zhu Z, Liu Q, Wang J, Xu F, Li Q. Astrocytic α4-containing nAChR signaling in the hippocampus governs the formation of temporal association memory. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112674. [PMID: 37352098 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Everyday episodic memories involve linking together related events that are temporally separated. However, the mechanisms of forming this temporal association have remained unclear. Here, using astrocyte-specific manipulations, we show that potentiating astrocyte Ca2+ signaling in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) enhances the strength of such temporal association, in parallel with long-term potentiation (LTP) enhancement of temporoammonic pathway to CA1, whereas attenuation of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling has the opposite effect. Moreover, we identify that these effects are mediated by astrocytic α4 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α4-nAChRs) via mechanisms involving NMDAR co-agonist supply. Finally, astrocytic α4-nAChRs underlie the cognitive enhancer nicotine's physiological effects. Together, these findings highlight the importance of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling in cognitive behavior and reveal a mechanism in governing the temporal association of episodic memory formation that operates through α4-nAChRs on hippocampal astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tengxiao Si
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Pengjie Wen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhenxiang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Qin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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15
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Dehdar K, Salimi M, Tabasi F, Dehghan S, Sumiyoshi A, Garousi M, Jamaati H, Javan M, Reza Raoufy M. Allergen induces depression-like behavior in association with altered prefrontal-hippocampal circuit in male rats. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00254-3. [PMID: 37286161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Allergic asthma is a common chronic inflammatory condition associated with psychiatric comorbidities. Notably depression, correlated with adverse outcomes in asthmatic patients. Peripheral inflammation's role in depression has been shown previously. However, evidence regarding the effects of allergic asthma on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-ventral hippocampus (vHipp) interactions, an important neurocircuitry in affective regulation, is yet to be demonstrated. Herein, we investigated the effects of allergen exposure in sensitized rats on the immunoreactivity of glial cells, depression-like behavior, brain regions volume, as well as activity and connectivity of the mPFC-vHipp circuit. We found that allergen-induced depressive-like behavior was associated with more activated microglia and astrocytes in mPFC and vHipp, as well as reduced hippocampus volume. Intriguingly, depressive-like behavior was negatively correlated with mPFC and hippocampus volumes in the allergen-exposed group. Moreover, mPFC and vHipp activity were altered in asthmatic animals. Allergen disrupted the strength and direction of functional connectivity in the mPFC-vHipp circuit so that, unlike normal conditions, mPFC causes and modulates vHipp activity. Our results provide new insight into the underlying mechanism of allergic inflammation-induced psychiatric disorders, aiming to develop new interventions and therapeutic approaches for improving asthma complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolsoum Dehdar
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Salimi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Tabasi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Brain Sciences and Cognition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Dehghan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akira Sumiyoshi
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan; National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mani Garousi
- Department of Electrical and Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Jamaati
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Brain Sciences and Cognition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Raoufy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Brain Sciences and Cognition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Purushotham SS, Buskila Y. Astrocytic modulation of neuronal signalling. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 3:1205544. [PMID: 37332623 PMCID: PMC10269688 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2023.1205544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal signalling is a key element in neuronal communication and is essential for the proper functioning of the CNS. Astrocytes, the most prominent glia in the brain play a key role in modulating neuronal signalling at the molecular, synaptic, cellular, and network levels. Over the past few decades, our knowledge about astrocytes and their functioning has evolved from considering them as merely a brain glue that provides structural support to neurons, to key communication elements. Astrocytes can regulate the activity of neurons by controlling the concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters in the extracellular milieu, as well as releasing chemicals and gliotransmitters that modulate neuronal activity. The aim of this review is to summarise the main processes through which astrocytes are modulating brain function. We will systematically distinguish between direct and indirect pathways in which astrocytes affect neuronal signalling at all levels. Lastly, we will summarize pathological conditions that arise once these signalling pathways are impaired focusing on neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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17
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Andrade-Talavera Y, Fisahn A, Rodríguez-Moreno A. Timing to be precise? An overview of spike timing-dependent plasticity, brain rhythmicity, and glial cells interplay within neuronal circuits. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2177-2188. [PMID: 36991134 PMCID: PMC10611582 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02027-w] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
In the mammalian brain information processing and storage rely on the complex coding and decoding events performed by neuronal networks. These actions are based on the computational ability of neurons and their functional engagement in neuronal assemblies where precise timing of action potential firing is crucial. Neuronal circuits manage a myriad of spatially and temporally overlapping inputs to compute specific outputs that are proposed to underly memory traces formation, sensory perception, and cognitive behaviors. Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) and electrical brain rhythms are suggested to underlie such functions while the physiological evidence of assembly structures and mechanisms driving both processes continues to be scarce. Here, we review foundational and current evidence on timing precision and cooperative neuronal electrical activity driving STDP and brain rhythms, their interactions, and the emerging role of glial cells in such processes. We also provide an overview of their cognitive correlates and discuss current limitations and controversies, future perspectives on experimental approaches, and their application in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013, Seville, Spain.
| | - André Fisahn
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition and Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Moreno
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013, Seville, Spain.
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18
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Madeira D, Lopes CR, Simões AP, Canas PM, Cunha RA, Agostinho P. Astrocytic A 2A receptors silencing negatively impacts hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory of adult mice. Glia 2023. [PMID: 37183905 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are wired to bidirectionally communicate with neurons namely with synapses, thus shaping synaptic plasticity, which in the hippocampus is considered to underlie learning and memory. Adenosine A2A receptors (A2A R) are a potential candidate to modulate this bidirectional communication, since A2A R regulate synaptic plasticity and memory and also control key astrocytic functions. Nonetheless, little is known about the role of astrocytic A2A R in synaptic plasticity and hippocampal-dependent memory. Here, we investigated the impact of genetic silencing astrocytic A2A R on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory of adult mice. The genetic A2A R silencing in astrocytes was accomplished by a bilateral injection into the CA1 hippocampal area of a viral construct (AAV5-GFAP-GFP-Cre) that inactivate A2A R expression in astrocytes of male adult mice carrying "floxed" A2A R gene, as confirmed by A2A R binding assays. Astrocytic A2A R silencing alters astrocytic morphology, typified by an increment of astrocytic arbor complexity, and led to deficits in spatial reference memory and compromised hippocampal synaptic plasticity, typified by a reduction of LTP magnitude and a shift of synaptic long-term depression (LTD) toward LTP. These data indicate that astrocytic A2A R control astrocytic morphology and influence hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory of adult mice in a manner different from neuronal A2A R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Madeira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology- University of Coimbra (CNC- UC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cátia R Lopes
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology- University of Coimbra (CNC- UC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana P Simões
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology- University of Coimbra (CNC- UC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula M Canas
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology- University of Coimbra (CNC- UC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo A Cunha
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology- University of Coimbra (CNC- UC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula Agostinho
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology- University of Coimbra (CNC- UC), Coimbra, Portugal
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19
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Barbay T, Pecchi E, Ducrocq M, Rouach N, Brocard F, Bos R. Astrocytic Kir4.1 channels regulate locomotion by orchestrating neuronal rhythmicity in the spinal network. Glia 2023; 71:1259-1277. [PMID: 36645018 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal rhythmogenesis in the spinal cord is correlated with variations in extracellular K+ levels ([K+ ]e ). Astrocytes play important role in [K+ ]e homeostasis and compute neuronal information. Yet it is unclear how neuronal oscillations are regulated by astrocytic K+ homeostasis. Here we identify the astrocytic inward-rectifying K+ channel Kir4.1 (a.k.a. Kcnj10) as a key molecular player for neuronal rhythmicity in the spinal central pattern generator (CPG). By combining two-photon calcium imaging with electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry and genetic tools, we report that astrocytes display Ca2+ transients before and during oscillations of neighboring neurons. Inhibition of astrocytic Ca2+ transients with BAPTA decreases the barium-sensitive Kir4.1 current responsible of K+ clearance. Finally, we show in mice that Kir4.1 knockdown in astrocytes progressively prevents neuronal oscillations and alters the locomotor pattern resulting in lower motor performances in challenging tasks. These data identify astroglial Kir4.1 channels as key regulators of neuronal rhythmogenesis in the CPG driving locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Barbay
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Pecchi
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Myriam Ducrocq
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Rouach
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Brocard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Rémi Bos
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
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20
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Hazra R, Pu H, Foley LM, Little-Ihrig L, Hitchens TK, Ghosh S, Ofori-Acquah SF, Hu X, Novelli EM. White-matter abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction are linked to astrocyte activation in sickle mice. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad149. [PMID: 37215630 PMCID: PMC10194090 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
White-matter injury in sickle-cell disease (SCD) includes silent cerebral infarction diagnosed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a complication associated with cognitive dysfunction in children with SCD. The link between white-matter injury and cognitive dysfunction has not been fully elucidated. The goal of this study was to define whether cerebrovascular lesions and cognitive function in SCD are linked to neuroaxonal damage and astrocyte activation in humanized Townes' SCD mice homozygous for human sickle hemoglobin S (SS) and control mice homozygous for human normal hemoglobin A (AA). Mice underwent MRI with DTI and cognitive testing, and histology sections from their brains were stained to assess microstructural tissue damage, neuroaxonal damage, and astrocyte activation. Fractional anisotropy, showing microstructural cerebrovascular abnormalities identified by DTI in the white matter, was significantly associated with neuronal demyelination in the SS mouse brain. SS mice had reduced learning and memory function with a significantly lower discrimination index compared with AA control mice in the novel object recognition tests. Neuroaxonal damage in the SS mice was synchronously correlated with impaired neurocognitive function and activation of astrocytes. The interplay between astrocyte function and neurons may modulate cognitive performance in SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimi Hazra
- To whom correspondence should be addressed:
| | - Hongjian Pu
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lesley M Foley
- Animal Imaging Center, McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Lynda Little-Ihrig
- Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - T Kevin Hitchens
- Animal Imaging Center, McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Samit Ghosh
- Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Solomon F Ofori-Acquah
- Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Xiaoming Hu
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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21
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Delgado L, Navarrete M. Shining the Light on Astrocytic Ensembles. Cells 2023; 12:1253. [PMID: 37174653 PMCID: PMC10177371 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
While neurons have traditionally been considered the primary players in information processing, the role of astrocytes in this mechanism has largely been overlooked due to experimental constraints. In this review, we propose that astrocytic ensembles are active working groups that contribute significantly to animal conduct and suggest that studying the maps of these ensembles in conjunction with neurons is crucial for a more comprehensive understanding of behavior. We also discuss available methods for studying astrocytes and argue that these ensembles, complementarily with neurons, code and integrate complex behaviors, potentially specializing in concrete functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Navarrete
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
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22
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Hess EM, Kassel SN, Simandl G, Raddatz N, Maunze B, Hurley MM, Grzybowski M, Klotz J, Geurts A, Liu QS, Choi S, Twining RC, Baker DA. Genetic Disruption of System xc-Mediated Glutamate Release from Astrocytes Increases Negative-Outcome Behaviors While Preserving Basic Brain Function in Rat. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2349-2361. [PMID: 36788029 PMCID: PMC10072291 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1525-22.2023] [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: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of neuronal glutamate to synaptic transmission throughout the brain illustrates the immense therapeutic potential and safety risks of targeting this system. Astrocytes also release glutamate, the clinical relevance of which is unknown as the range of brain functions reliant on signaling from these cells hasn't been fully established. Here, we investigated system xc- (Sxc), which is a glutamate release mechanism with an in vivo rodent expression pattern that is restricted to astrocytes. As most animals do not express Sxc, we first compared the expression and sequence of the obligatory Sxc subunit xCT among major classes of vertebrate species. We found xCT to be ubiquitously expressed and under significant negative selective pressure. Hence, Sxc likely confers important advantages to vertebrate brain function that may promote biological fitness. Next, we assessed brain function in male genetically modified rats (MSxc) created to eliminate Sxc activity. Unlike other glutamatergic mechanisms, eliminating Sxc activity was not lethal and didn't alter growth patterns, telemetry measures of basic health, locomotor activity, or behaviors reliant on simple learning. However, MSxc rats exhibited deficits in tasks used to assess cognitive behavioral control. In a pavlovian conditioned approach, MSxc rats approached a food-predicted cue more frequently than WT rats, even when this response was punished. In attentional set shifting, MSxc rats displayed cognitive inflexibility because of an increased frequency of perseverative errors. MSxc rats also displayed heightened cocaine-primed drug seeking. Hence, a loss of Sxc-activity appears to weaken control over nonreinforced or negative-outcome behaviors without altering basic brain function.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamate is essential to synaptic activity throughout the brain, which illustrates immense therapeutic potential and risk. Notably, glutamatergic mechanisms are expressed by most types of brain cells. Hence, glutamate likely encodes multiple forms of intercellular signaling. Here, we hypothesized that the selective manipulation of astrocyte to neuron signaling would alter cognition without producing widespread brain impairments. First, we eliminated activity of the astrocytic glutamate release mechanism, Sxc, in rat. This impaired cognitive flexibility and increased expression of perseverative, maladaptive behaviors. Notably, eliminating Sxc activity did not alter metrics of health or noncognitive brain function. These data add to recent evidence that the brain expresses cognition-specific molecular mechanisms that could lead to highly precise, safe medications for impaired cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Hess
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Sara N Kassel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Gregory Simandl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Nicholas Raddatz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Brian Maunze
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Matthew M Hurley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | | | | | | | - Qing-Song Liu
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
| | - SuJean Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Robert C Twining
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - David A Baker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
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23
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Kamaruzzaman MA, Romli MH, Abas R, Vidyadaran S, Hidayat Baharuldin MT, Nasaruddin ML, Thirupathirao V, Sura S, Warsito K, Mohd Nor NH, Azwaruddin MA, Alshawsh MA, Mohd Moklas MA. Regulatory role of the endocannabinoid system on glial cells toward cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1053680. [PMID: 36959856 PMCID: PMC10028478 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1053680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Over the last decade, researchers have sought to develop novel medications against dementia. One potential agent under investigation is cannabinoids. This review systematically appraised and meta-analyzed published pre-clinical research on the mechanism of endocannabinoid system modulation in glial cells and their effects on cognitive function in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A systematic review complying with PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Six databases were searched: EBSCOHost, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Web of Science, using the keywords AD, cannabinoid, glial cells, and cognition. The methodological quality of each selected pre-clinical study was evaluated using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool. A random-effects model was applied to analyze the data and calculate the effect size, while I2 and p-values were used to assess heterogeneity. Results: The analysis included 26 original articles describing (1050 rodents) with AD-like symptoms. Rodents treated with cannabinoid agonists showed significant reductions in escape latency (standard mean difference [SMD] = -1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.77 to -0.76, p < 0.00001) and ability to discriminate novel objects (SMD = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.76, p < 0.00001) compared to the control group. Furthermore, a significant decrease in Aβ plaques (SMD = -0.91; 95% CI: -1.55 to -0.27, p = 0.006) was observed in the endocannabinoid-treated group compared to the control group. Trends were observed toward neuroprotection, as represented by decreased levels of glial cell markers including glial fibrillary acid protein (SMD = -1.47; 95% CI: -2.56 to -0.38, p = 0.008) and Iba1 (SMD = -1.67; 95% CI: -2.56 to -0.79, p = 0.0002). Studies on the wild-type mice demonstrated significantly decreased levels of pro-inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 (SMD = -2.28; 95% CI: -3.15 to -1.41, p = 0.00001). Despite the non-significant decrease in pro-inflammatory marker levels in transgenic mice (SMD = -0.47; 95% CI: -1.03 to 0.08, p = 0.09), the result favored the endocannabinoid-treated group over the control group. Conclusion: The revised data suggested that endocannabinoid stimulation promotes cognitive function via modulation of glial cells by decreasing pro-inflammatory markers in AD-like rodent models. Thus, cannabinoid agents may be required to modulate the downstream chain of effect to enhance cognitive stability against concurrent neuroinflammation in AD. Population-based studies and well-designed clinical trials are required to characterize the acceptability and real-world effectiveness of cannabinoid agents. Systematic Review Registration: [https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-8-0094/], identifier [Inplasy Protocol 3770].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Hibatullah Romli
- Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Razif Abas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sharmili Vidyadaran
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Sreenivasulu Sura
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Malaysia
| | - Kabul Warsito
- Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Pembangunan Panca Budi, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Nurul Huda Mohd Nor
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Amsyar Azwaruddin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohammed Abdullah Alshawsh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas, ; Mohammed Abdullah Alshawsh,
| | - Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- *Correspondence: Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas, ; Mohammed Abdullah Alshawsh,
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24
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Vasile F, Dossi E, Moulard J, Ezan P, Lecoin L, Cohen-Salmon M, Mailly P, Le Bert M, Couillin I, Bemelmans A, Rouach N. Pannexin 1 activity in astroglia sets hippocampal neuronal network patterns. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001891. [PMID: 36477165 PMCID: PMC9728857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Astroglial release of molecules is thought to actively modulate neuronal activity, but the nature, release pathway, and cellular targets of these neuroactive molecules are still unclear. Pannexin 1, expressed by neurons and astrocytes, form nonselective large pore channels that mediate extracellular exchange of molecules. The functional relevance of these channels has been mostly studied in brain tissues, without considering their specific role in different cell types, or in neurons. Thus, our knowledge of astroglial pannexin 1 regulation and its control of neuronal activity remains very limited, largely due to the lack of tools targeting these channels in a cell-specific way. We here show that astroglial pannexin 1 expression in mice is developmentally regulated and that its activation is activity-dependent. Using astrocyte-specific molecular tools, we found that astroglial-specific pannexin 1 channel activation, in contrast to pannexin 1 activation in all cell types, selectively and negatively regulates hippocampal networks, with their disruption inducing a drastic switch from bursts to paroxysmal activity. This decrease in neuronal excitability occurs via an unconventional astroglial mechanism whereby pannexin 1 channel activity drives purinergic signaling-mediated regulation of hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide (HCN)-gated channels. Our findings suggest that astroglial pannexin 1 channel activation serves as a negative feedback mechanism crucial for the inhibition of hippocampal neuronal networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Vasile
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Elena Dossi
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Julien Moulard
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Ezan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Laure Lecoin
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Martine Cohen-Salmon
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Mailly
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Marc Le Bert
- CNRS UMR7355, Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, Orleans, France
| | - Isabelle Couillin
- CNRS UMR7355, Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, Orleans, France
| | - Alexis Bemelmans
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, CNRS, MIRCen, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Nathalie Rouach
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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25
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Cho WH, Noh K, Lee BH, Barcelon E, Jun SB, Park HY, Lee SJ. Hippocampal astrocytes modulate anxiety-like behavior. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6536. [PMID: 36344520 PMCID: PMC9640657 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34201-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes can affect animal behavior by regulating tripartite synaptic transmission, yet their influence on affective behavior remains largely unclear. Here we showed that hippocampal astrocyte calcium activity reflects mouse affective state during virtual elevated plus maze test using two-photon calcium imaging in vivo. Furthermore, optogenetic hippocampal astrocyte activation elevating intracellular calcium induced anxiolytic behaviors in astrocyte-specific channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) transgenic mice (hGFAP-ChR2 mice). As underlying mechanisms, we found ATP released from the activated hippocampal astrocytes increased excitatory synaptic transmission in dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells, which exerted anxiolytic effects. Our data uncover a role of hippocampal astrocytes in modulating mice anxiety-like behaviors by regulating ATP-mediated synaptic homeostasis in hippocampal DG granule cells. Thus, manipulating hippocampal astrocytes activity can be a therapeutic strategy to treat anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Hyun Cho
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungchul Noh
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Hun Lee
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Ellane Barcelon
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Beom Jun
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Graduate Program in Smart Factory, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Yoon Park
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea ,grid.17635.360000000419368657Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Sung Joong Lee
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
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26
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Multiple forms of working memory emerge from synapse-astrocyte interactions in a neuron-glia network model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207912119. [PMID: 36256810 PMCID: PMC9618090 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207912119] [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] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent activity in populations of neurons, time-varying activity across a neural population, or activity-silent mechanisms carried out by hidden internal states of the neural population have been proposed as different mechanisms of working memory (WM). Whether these mechanisms could be mutually exclusive or occur in the same neuronal circuit remains, however, elusive, and so do their biophysical underpinnings. While WM is traditionally regarded to depend purely on neuronal mechanisms, cortical networks also include astrocytes that can modulate neural activity. We propose and investigate a network model that includes both neurons and glia and show that glia-synapse interactions can lead to multiple stable states of synaptic transmission. Depending on parameters, these interactions can lead in turn to distinct patterns of network activity that can serve as substrates for WM.
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27
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Higinio-Rodríguez F, Rivera-Villaseñor A, Calero-Vargas I, López-Hidalgo M. From nociception to pain perception, possible implications of astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:972827. [PMID: 36159392 PMCID: PMC9492445 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.972827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are determinants for the functioning of the CNS. They respond to neuronal activity with calcium increases and can in turn modulate synaptic transmission, brain plasticity as well as cognitive processes. Astrocytes display sensory-evoked calcium responses in different brain structures related to the discriminative system of most sensory modalities. In particular, noxious stimulation evoked calcium responses in astrocytes in the spinal cord, the hippocampus, and the somatosensory cortex. However, it is not clear if astrocytes are involved in pain. Pain is a private, personal, and complex experience that warns us about potential tissue damage. It is a perception that is not linearly associated with the amount of tissue damage or nociception; instead, it is constructed with sensory, cognitive, and affective components and depends on our previous experiences. However, it is not fully understood how pain is created from nociception. In this perspective article, we provide an overview of the mechanisms and neuronal networks that underlie the perception of pain. Then we proposed that coherent activity of astrocytes in the spinal cord and pain-related brain areas could be important in binding sensory, affective, and cognitive information on a slower time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Higinio-Rodríguez
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Angélica Rivera-Villaseñor
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Isnarhazni Calero-Vargas
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Mónica López-Hidalgo
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mónica López-Hidalgo,
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28
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Ivanov VA, Michmizos KP. Astrocytes Learn to Detect and Signal Deviations from Critical Brain Dynamics. Neural Comput 2022; 34:2047-2074. [PMID: 36027803 DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are nonneuronal brain cells that were recently shown to actively communicate with neurons and are implicated in memory, learning, and regulation of cognitive states. Interestingly, these information processing functions are also closely linked to the brain's ability to self-organize at a critical phase transition. Investigating the mechanistic link between astrocytes and critical brain dynamics remains beyond the reach of cellular experiments, but it becomes increasingly approachable through computational studies. We developed a biologically plausible computational model of astrocytes to analyze how astrocyte calcium waves can respond to changes in underlying network dynamics. Our results suggest that astrocytes detect synaptic activity and signal directional changes in neuronal network dynamics using the frequency of their calcium waves. We show that this function may be facilitated by receptor scaling plasticity by enabling astrocytes to learn the approximate information content of input synaptic activity. This resulted in a computationally simple, information-theoretic model, which we demonstrate replicating the signaling functionality of the biophysical astrocyte model with receptor scaling. Our findings provide several experimentally testable hypotheses that offer insight into the regulatory role of astrocytes in brain information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir A Ivanov
- Computational Brain Lab, Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.
| | - Konstantinos P Michmizos
- Computational Brain Lab, Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.
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29
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Bauminger H, Gaisler-Salomon I. Beyond NMDA Receptors: Homeostasis at the Glutamate Tripartite Synapse and Its Contributions to Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8617. [PMID: 35955750 PMCID: PMC9368772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive deficits are core symptoms of schizophrenia but remain poorly addressed by dopamine-based antipsychotic medications. Glutamate abnormalities are implicated in schizophrenia-related cognitive deficits. While the role of the NMDA receptor has been extensively studied, less attention was given to other components that control glutamate homeostasis. Glutamate dynamics at the tripartite synapse include presynaptic and postsynaptic components and are tightly regulated by neuron-astrocyte crosstalk. Here, we delineate the role of glutamate homeostasis at the tripartite synapse in schizophrenia-related cognitive dysfunction. We focus on cognitive domains that can be readily measured in humans and rodents, i.e., working memory, recognition memory, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. We describe tasks used to measure cognitive function in these domains in humans and rodents, and the relevance of glutamate alterations in these domains. Next, we delve into glutamate tripartite synaptic components and summarize findings that implicate the relevance of these components to specific cognitive domains. These collective findings indicate that neuron-astrocyte crosstalk at the tripartite synapse is essential for cognition, and that pre- and postsynaptic components play a critical role in maintaining glutamate homeostasis and cognitive well-being. The contribution of these components to cognitive function should be considered in order to better understand the role played by glutamate signaling in cognition and develop efficient pharmacological treatment avenues for schizophrenia treatment-resistant symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagar Bauminger
- School of Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Inna Gaisler-Salomon
- School of Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
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30
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Guan A, Wang S, Huang A, Qiu C, Li Y, Li X, Wang J, Wang Q, Deng B. The role of gamma oscillations in central nervous system diseases: Mechanism and treatment. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:962957. [PMID: 35966207 PMCID: PMC9374274 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.962957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma oscillation is the synchronization with a frequency of 30–90 Hz of neural oscillations, which are rhythmic electric processes of neuron groups in the brain. The inhibitory interneuron network is necessary for the production of gamma oscillations, but certain disruptions such as brain inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic imbalances can cause this network to malfunction. Gamma oscillations specifically control the connectivity between different brain regions, which is crucial for perception, movement, memory, and emotion. Studies have linked abnormal gamma oscillations to conditions of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. Evidence suggests that gamma entrainment using sensory stimuli (GENUS) provides significant neuroprotection. This review discusses the function of gamma oscillations in advanced brain activities from both a physiological and pathological standpoint, and it emphasizes gamma entrainment as a potential therapeutic approach for a range of neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Shaoshuang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ailing Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chenyue Qiu
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yansong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xuying Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jinfei Wang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Qiang Wang,
| | - Bin Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Deng,
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31
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de Oliveira Figueiredo EC, Calì C, Petrelli F, Bezzi P. Emerging evidence for astrocyte dysfunction in schizophrenia. Glia 2022; 70:1585-1604. [PMID: 35634946 PMCID: PMC9544982 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex, chronic mental health disorder whose heterogeneous genetic and neurobiological background influences early brain development, and whose precise etiology is still poorly understood. Schizophrenia is not characterized by gross brain pathology, but involves subtle pathological changes in neuronal populations and glial cells. Among the latter, astrocytes critically contribute to the regulation of early neurodevelopmental processes, and any dysfunctions in their morphological and functional maturation may lead to aberrant neurodevelopmental processes involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, such as mitochondrial biogenesis, synaptogenesis, and glutamatergic and dopaminergic transmission. Studies of the mechanisms regulating astrocyte maturation may therefore improve our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Corrado Calì
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Francesco Petrelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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32
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Lawal O, Ulloa Severino FP, Eroglu C. The role of astrocyte structural plasticity in regulating neural circuit function and behavior. Glia 2022; 70:1467-1483. [PMID: 35535566 PMCID: PMC9233050 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Brain circuits undergo substantial structural changes during development, driven by the formation, stabilization, and elimination of synapses. Synaptic connections continue to undergo experience‐dependent structural rearrangements throughout life, which are postulated to underlie learning and memory. Astrocytes, a major glial cell type in the brain, are physically in contact with synaptic circuits through their structural ensheathment of synapses. Astrocytes strongly contribute to the remodeling of synaptic structures in healthy and diseased central nervous systems by regulating synaptic connectivity and behaviors. However, whether structural plasticity of astrocytes is involved in their critical functions at the synapse is unknown. This review will discuss the emerging evidence linking astrocytic structural plasticity to synaptic circuit remodeling and regulation of behaviors. Moreover, we will survey possible molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating the structural plasticity of astrocytes and their non‐cell‐autonomous effects on neuronal plasticity. Finally, we will discuss how astrocyte morphological changes in different physiological states and disease conditions contribute to neuronal circuit function and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwadamilola Lawal
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Francesco Paolo Ulloa Severino
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Psychology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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33
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Chirumamilla VC, Hitchings L, Mulkey SB, Anwar T, Baker R, Larry Maxwell G, De Asis-Cruz J, Kapse K, Limperopoulos C, du Plessis A, Govindan R. Electroencephalogram in low-risk term newborns predicts neurodevelopmental metrics at age two years. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 140:21-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Controlling synchronization of gamma oscillations by astrocytic modulation in a model hippocampal neural network. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6970. [PMID: 35484169 PMCID: PMC9050920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10649-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that astrocytes participate in the maintenance of cortical gamma oscillations and recognition memory. However, the mathematical understanding of the underlying dynamical mechanisms remains largely incomplete. Here we investigate how the interplay of slow modulatory astrocytic signaling with fast synaptic transmission controls coherent oscillations in the network of hippocampal interneurons that receive inputs from pyramidal cells. We show that the astrocytic regulation of signal transmission between neurons improves the firing synchrony and extends the region of coherent oscillations in the biologically relevant values of synaptic conductance. Astrocyte-mediated potentiation of inhibitory synaptic transmission markedly enhances the coherence of network oscillations over a broad range of model parameters. Astrocytic regulation of excitatory synaptic input improves the robustness of interneuron network gamma oscillations induced by physiologically relevant excitatory model drive. These findings suggest a mechanism, by which the astrocytes become involved in cognitive function and information processing through modulating fast neural network dynamics.
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35
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Oliveira JF, Araque A. Astrocyte regulation of neural circuit activity and network states. Glia 2022; 70:1455-1466. [PMID: 35460131 PMCID: PMC9232995 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are known to influence neuronal activity through different mechanisms, including the homeostatic control of extracellular levels of ions and neurotransmitters and the exchange of signaling molecules that regulate synaptic formation, structure, and function. While a great effort done in the past has defined many molecular mechanisms and cellular processes involved in astrocyte-neuron interactions at the cellular level, the consequences of these interactions at the network level in vivo have only relatively recently been identified. This review describes and discusses recent findings on the regulatory effects of astrocytes on the activity of neuronal networks in vivo. Accumulating but still limited, evidence indicates that astrocytes regulate neuronal network rhythmic activity and synchronization as well as brain states. These studies demonstrate a critical contribution of astrocytes to brain activity and are paving the way for a more thorough understanding of the cellular bases of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal.,IPCA-EST-2Ai, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Campus of IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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36
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Wang J, Gao F, Cui S, Yang S, Gao F, Wang X, Zhu G. Utility of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone in preventing astrocytic and synaptic deficits in the hippocampus elicited by PTSD. Pharmacol Res 2022; 176:106079. [PMID: 35026406 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytic functions and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling pathways are impaired in stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Previous studies have reported neuroprotective effects of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a TrkB activator. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a modified single-prolonged stress (SPS&S) model and the potential beneficial effects of 7,8-DHF. SPS&S reduced the hippocampal expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrocytes, and induced morphological changes in astrocytes. From the perspective of synaptic function, the SPS&S model displayed reduced expression of BDNF, p-TrkB, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 (GluA1), NMDA receptor subunit N2A/N2B ratio, calpain-1, phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and conversely, higher phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN) expression in the hippocampus. Acute or continuous intraperitoneal administration of 7,8-DHF (5 mg/kg) after SPS&S procedures prevented SPS&S-induced fear memory generalization and anxiety-like behaviors as well as abnormalities of hippocampal oscillations. Most importantly, 7,8-DHF attenuated SPS&S-induced abnormal BDNF-TrkB signaling and calpain-1-dependent cascade of synaptic deficits. Furthermore, treatment with a TrkB inhibitor completely blocked while an mTOR inhibitor partially blocked the effects of 7,8-DHF on behavioral changes of SPS&S model mice. Our collective findings suggest that 7,8-DHF effectively alleviates PTSD-like symptoms, including fear generalization and anxiety-like behavior, potentially by preventing astrocytic and synaptic deficits in the hippocampus through targeting of TrkB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Shuai Cui
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Shaojie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Fang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Xuncui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui 230038, China.
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37
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Schroeder ME, Bassett DS, Meaney DF. A multilayer network model of neuron-astrocyte populations in vitro reveals mGluR5 inhibition is protective following traumatic injury. Netw Neurosci 2022; 6:499-527. [PMID: 35733423 PMCID: PMC9208011 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes communicate bidirectionally with neurons, enhancing synaptic plasticity and promoting the synchronization of neuronal microcircuits. Despite recent advances in understanding neuron-astrocyte signaling, little is known about astrocytic modulation of neuronal activity at the population level, particularly in disease or following injury. We used high-speed calcium imaging of mixed cortical cultures in vitro to determine how population activity changes after disruption of glutamatergic signaling and mechanical injury. We constructed a multilayer network model of neuron-astrocyte connectivity, which captured distinct topology and response behavior from single-cell-type networks. mGluR5 inhibition decreased neuronal activity, but did not on its own disrupt functional connectivity or network topology. In contrast, injury increased the strength, clustering, and efficiency of neuronal but not astrocytic networks, an effect that was not observed in networks pretreated with mGluR5 inhibition. Comparison of spatial and functional connectivity revealed that functional connectivity is largely independent of spatial proximity at the microscale, but mechanical injury increased the spatial-functional correlation. Finally, we found that astrocyte segments of the same cell often belong to separate functional communities based on neuronal connectivity, suggesting that astrocyte segments function as independent entities. Our findings demonstrate the utility of multilayer network models for characterizing the multiscale connectivity of two distinct but functionally dependent cell populations. Astrocytes communicate bidirectionally with neurons, enhancing synaptic plasticity and promoting the synchronization of neuronal microcircuits. We constructed a multilayer network model of neuron-astrocyte connectivity based on calcium activity in mixed cortical cultures, and used this model to evaluate the effect of glutamatergic inhibition and mechanical injury on network topology. We found that injury increased the strength, clustering, and efficiency of neuronal but not astrocytic networks, an effect that was not observed in injured networks pretreated with a glutamate receptor antagonist. Our findings demonstrate the utility of multilayer network models for characterizing the multiscale connectivity of two distinct but functionally dependent cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E. Schroeder
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Danielle S. Bassett
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David F. Meaney
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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38
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Mulkey DK, Olsen ML, Ou M, Cleary CM, Du G. Putative Roles of Astrocytes in General Anesthesia. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:5-15. [PMID: 33588730 PMCID: PMC9199541 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210215120755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
General anesthetics are a mainstay of modern medicine, and although much progress has been made towards identifying molecular targets of anesthetics and neural networks contributing to endpoints of general anesthesia, our understanding of how anesthetics work remains unclear. Reducing this knowledge gap is of fundamental importance to prevent unwanted and life-threatening side-effects associated with general anesthesia. General anesthetics are chemically diverse, yet they all have similar behavioral endpoints, and so for decades, research has sought to identify a single underlying mechanism to explain how anesthetics work. However, this effort has given way to the 'multiple target hypothesis' as it has become clear that anesthetics target many cellular proteins, including GABAA receptors, glutamate receptors, voltage-independent K+ channels, and voltagedependent K+, Ca2+ and Na+ channels, to name a few. Yet, despite evidence that astrocytes are capable of modulating multiple aspects of neural function and express many anesthetic target proteins, they have been largely ignored as potential targets of anesthesia. The purpose of this brief review is to highlight the effects of anesthetic on astrocyte processes and identify potential roles of astrocytes in behavioral endpoints of anesthesia (hypnosis, amnesia, analgesia, and immobilization).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K. Mulkey
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, StorrsCT, USA;,Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT, USA; E-mail:
| | | | | | - Colin M. Cleary
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, StorrsCT, USA
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Lyon KA, Allen NJ. From Synapses to Circuits, Astrocytes Regulate Behavior. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 15:786293. [PMID: 35069124 PMCID: PMC8772456 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.786293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that regulate synapses, neuronal circuits, and behavior. Astrocytes ensheath neuronal synapses to form the tripartite synapse where astrocytes influence synapse formation, function, and plasticity. Beyond the synapse, recent research has revealed that astrocyte influences on the nervous system extend to the modulation of neuronal circuitry and behavior. Here we review recent findings on the active role of astrocytes in behavioral modulation with a focus on in vivo studies, primarily in mice. Using tools to acutely manipulate astrocytes, such as optogenetics or chemogenetics, studies reviewed here have demonstrated a causal role for astrocytes in sleep, memory, sensorimotor behaviors, feeding, fear, anxiety, and cognitive processes like attention and behavioral flexibility. Current tools and future directions for astrocyte-specific manipulation, including methods for probing astrocyte heterogeneity, are discussed. Understanding the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal circuit activity and organismal behavior will be critical toward understanding how nervous system function gives rise to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krissy A Lyon
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
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40
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Héja L, Simon Á, Szabó Z, Kardos J. Connexons Coupling to Gap Junction Channel: Potential Role for Extracellular Protein Stabilization Centers. Biomolecules 2021; 12:biom12010049. [PMID: 35053197 PMCID: PMC8773650 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexin (Cx) proteins establish intercellular gap junction channels (Cx GJCs) through coupling of two apposed hexameric Cx hemichannels (Cx HCs, connexons). Pre- and post-GJ interfaces consist of extracellular EL1 and EL2 loops, each with three conserved cysteines. Previously, we reported that known peptide inhibitors, mimicking a variety of Cx43 sequences, appear non-selective when binding to homomeric Cx43 vs. Cx36 GJC homology model subtypes. In pursuit of finding potentially Cx subtype-specific inhibitors of connexon-connexon coupling, we aimed at to understand better how the GJ interface is formed. Here we report on the discovery of Cx GJC subtype-specific protein stabilization centers (SCs) featuring GJ interface architecture. First, the Cx43 GJC homology model, embedded in two opposed membrane bilayers, has been devised. Next, we endorsed the fluctuation dynamics of SCs of the interface domain of Cx43 GJC by applying standard molecular dynamics under open and closed cystine disulfide bond (CS-SC) preconditions. The simulations confirmed the major role of the unique trans-GJ SC pattern comprising conserved (55N, 56T) and non-conserved (57Q) residues of the apposed EL1 loops in the stabilization of the GJC complex. Importantly, clusters of SC patterns residing close to the GJ interface domain appear to orient the interface formation via the numerous SCs between EL1 and EL2. These include central 54CS-S198C or 61CS-S192C contacts with residues 53R, 54C, 55N, 197D, 199F or 64V, 191P, respectively. In addition, we revealed that GJC interface formation is favoured when the psi dihedral angle of the nearby 193P residue is stable around 180° and the interface SCs disappear when this angle moves to the 0° to −45° range. The potential of the association of non-conserved residues with SC motifs in connexon-connexon coupling makes the development of Cx subtype-specific inhibitors viable.
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41
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Zaniani NR, Roohbakhsh A, Moghimi A, Mehri S. Protective effect of Toll-like receptor 4 antagonist on inflammation, EEG, and memory changes following febrile seizure in Wistar rats. Behav Brain Res 2021; 420:113723. [PMID: 34923024 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and fever are the main triggers in febrile seizures (FS). Focusing on inflammatory pathways and anti-inflammatory drugs could compensate for the limitations of existing medications. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of specific antagonizing Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), as a prominent inflammatory axis, on the consequences of FS and adulthood using animal models. Complex FS was induced on 9-11 day old male rat pups using a heated chamber. TAK-242, as a specific TLR4 inhibitor, was injected intraperitoneally before seizure induction. Seizure threshold, duration, and spike number were measured by electrocorticography. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, TLR4 protein expression, and oxidative stress markers were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assessments in the cortex and hippocampus. Also, spatial and non-spatial memory were evaluated using the novel object recognition test (NORT) and double Y-maze test during adulthood. The results revealed that provoked inflammatory responses in neonate rats, after FS, were associated with the increase of the tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and enhanced TLR4 protein expression. Meanwhile, based on performed behavioral tests, the inflammatory process was also involved in adulthood memory deficit. Pretreatment with TAK-242 reduced the inflammatory cytokines and TLR4 protein expression in the cortex and hippocampus of neonate rats and improvement in memory deficit in NORT and double Y-maze tasks. Also, pretreatment with TAK-242 elevated seizure threshold, SOD, and CAT activities, and decreased seizure duration and MDA level with no significant change in spike number. TAK-242 possibly controlled FS via inhibiting inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nosaibeh Riahi Zaniani
- Rayan Research Center for Neuroscience & Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Roohbakhsh
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Moghimi
- Rayan Research Center for Neuroscience & Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Soghra Mehri
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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42
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Mirzaei N, Davis N, Chau TW, Sastre M. Astrocyte Reactivity in Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Opportunities to Promote Repair. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 19:1-15. [PMID: 34719372 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666211029164106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are fast climbing the ladder of importance in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with the prominent presence of reactive astrocytes sur- rounding amyloid β- plaques, together with activated microglia. Reactive astrogliosis, implying morphological and molecular transformations in astrocytes, seems to precede neurodegeneration, suggesting a role in the development of the disease. Single-cell transcriptomics has recently demon- strated that astrocytes from AD brains are different from "normal" healthy astrocytes, showing dys- regulations in areas such as neurotransmitter recycling, including glutamate and GABA, and im- paired homeostatic functions. However, recent data suggest that the ablation of astrocytes in mouse models of amyloidosis results in an increase in amyloid pathology as well as in the inflammatory profile and reduced synaptic density, indicating that astrocytes mediate neuroprotective effects. The idea that interventions targeting astrocytes may have great potential for AD has therefore emerged, supported by a range of drugs and stem cell transplantation studies that have successfully shown a therapeutic effect in mouse models of AD. In this article, we review the latest reports on the role and profile of astrocytes in AD brains and how manipulation of astrocytes in animal mod- els has paved the way for the use of treatments enhancing astrocytic function as future therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048. United States
| | - Nicola Davis
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Tsz Wing Chau
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Sastre
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
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43
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Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Pryor D, Perez Garcia GS, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Hogg S, Ache B, Janssen WG, Sowa A, Tetreault T, Cook DG, Tappan SJ, Gandy S, Hof PR, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Low-level blast exposure induces chronic vascular remodeling, perivascular astrocytic degeneration and vascular-associated neuroinflammation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:167. [PMID: 34654480 PMCID: PMC8518227 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01269-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral vascular injury as a consequence of blast-induced traumatic brain injury is primarily the result of blast wave-induced mechanical disruptions within the neurovascular unit. In rodent models of blast-induced traumatic brain injury, chronic vascular degenerative processes are associated with the development of an age-dependent post-traumatic stress disorder-like phenotype. To investigate the evolution of blast-induced chronic vascular degenerative changes, Long-Evans rats were blast-exposed (3 × 74.5 kPa) and their brains analyzed at different times post-exposure by X-ray microcomputed tomography, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. On microcomputed tomography scans, regional cerebral vascular attenuation or occlusion was observed as early as 48 h post-blast, and cerebral vascular disorganization was visible at 6 weeks and more accentuated at 13 months post-blast. Progression of the late-onset pathology was characterized by detachment of the endothelial and smooth muscle cellular elements from the neuropil due to degeneration and loss of arteriolar perivascular astrocytes. Development of this pathology was associated with vascular remodeling and neuroinflammation as increased levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), collagen type IV loss, and microglial activation were observed in the affected vasculature. Blast-induced chronic alterations within the neurovascular unit should affect cerebral blood circulation, glymphatic flow and intramural periarterial drainage, all of which may contribute to development of the blast-induced behavioral phenotype. Our results also identify astrocytic degeneration as a potential target for the development of therapies to treat blast-induced brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Gama Sosa
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | - Dylan Pryor
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | - Georgina S Perez Garcia
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gissel M Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Seth Hogg
- Micro Photonics, Inc, 1550 Pond Road, Suite 110, Allentown, PA, 18104, USA
| | - Benjamin Ache
- Micro Photonics, Inc, 1550 Pond Road, Suite 110, Allentown, PA, 18104, USA
| | - William G Janssen
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Allison Sowa
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | | | - David G Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Susan J Tappan
- MBF Bioscience LLC, 185 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT, 05495, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- NFL Neurological Care Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
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44
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Akther S, Hirase H. Assessment of astrocytes as a mediator of memory and learning in rodents. Glia 2021; 70:1484-1505. [PMID: 34582594 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The classical view of astrocytes is that they provide supportive functions for neurons, transporting metabolites and maintaining the homeostasis of the extracellular milieu. This view is gradually changing with the advent of molecular genetics and optical methods allowing interrogation of selected cell types in live experimental animals. An emerging view that astrocytes additionally act as a mediator of synaptic plasticity and contribute to learning processes has gained in vitro and in vivo experimental support. Here we focus on the literature published in the past two decades to review the roles of astrocytes in brain plasticity in rodents, whereby the roles of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are considered to be comparable to those in humans. We outline established inputs and outputs of astrocytes and discuss how manipulations of astrocytes have impacted the behavior in various learning paradigms. Multiple studies suggest that the contribution of astrocytes has a considerably longer time course than neuronal activation, indicating metabolic roles of astrocytes. We advocate that exploring upstream and downstream mechanisms of astrocytic activation will further provide insight into brain plasticity and memory/learning impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Akther
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hajime Hirase
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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45
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Wu B, He L, Xiao Y, Du J, Wang X, Zhao Z. Juvenile hormone receptor Met regulates sleep and neuronal morphology via glial-neuronal crosstalk. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:706-715. [PMID: 34376377 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) is one of the most important hormones in insects since it is essential for insect development. The mechanism by which JH affects the central nervous system still remains a mystery. In this study, we demonstrate that one of the JH receptors, Methoprene-tolerant (Met), is important for the control of neurite development and sleep behavior in Drosophila. With the identification of Met-expressing glial cells, the mechanism that Met negatively controls the mushroom body (MB) β lobes fusion and positively maintains pigment-dispersing factor sLNvs projection pruning has been established. Furthermore, despite the developmental effects, Met can also maintain nighttime sleep in a development-independent manner through the α/β lobe of MB. Combining analyses of neuronal morphology and entomological behavior, this study advances our understanding of how the JH receptor regulates the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Wu
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yutong Xiao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - Zhangwu Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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46
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Nanclares C, Baraibar AM, Araque A, Kofuji P. Dysregulation of Astrocyte-Neuronal Communication in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7887. [PMID: 34360652 PMCID: PMC8346080 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies implicate astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, their role in pathogenesis is poorly understood. Astrocytes have well-established functions in supportive functions such as extracellular ionic homeostasis, structural support, and neurovascular coupling. However, emerging research on astrocytic function in the healthy brain also indicates their role in regulating synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability via the release of neuroactive substances named gliotransmitters. Here, we review how this "active" role of astrocytes at synapses could contribute to synaptic and neuronal network dysfunction and cognitive impairment in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paulo Kofuji
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (C.N.); (A.M.B.); (A.A.)
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47
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Van Horn MR, Benfey NJ, Shikany C, Severs LJ, Deemyad T. Neuron-astrocyte networking: astrocytes orchestrate and respond to changes in neuronal network activity across brain states and behaviors. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:627-636. [PMID: 34259027 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00062.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are known to play many important roles in brain function. However, research underscoring the extent to which astrocytes modulate neuronal activity is still underway. Here we review the latest evidence regarding the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal oscillations across the brain, with a specific focus on how astrocytes respond to changes in brain state (e.g., sleep, arousal, stress). We then discuss the general mechanisms by which astrocytes signal to neurons to modulate neuronal activity, ultimately driving changes in behavior, followed by a discussion of how astrocytes contribute to respiratory rhythms in the medulla. Finally, we contemplate the possibility that brain stem astrocytes could modulate brainwide oscillations by communicating the status of oxygenation to higher cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion R Van Horn
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Benfey
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Colleen Shikany
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Liza J Severs
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tara Deemyad
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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48
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Tan LL, Oswald MJ, Kuner R. Neurobiology of brain oscillations in acute and chronic pain. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:629-642. [PMID: 34176645 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pain is a complex perceptual phenomenon. Coordinated activity among local and distant brain networks is a central element of the neural underpinnings of pain. Brain oscillatory rhythms across diverse frequency ranges provide a functional substrate for coordinating activity across local neuronal ensembles and anatomically distant brain areas in pain networks. This review addresses parallels between insights from human and rodent analyses of oscillatory rhythms in acute and chronic pain and discusses recent rodent-based studies that have shed light on mechanistic underpinnings of brain oscillatory dynamics in pain-related behaviors. We highlight the potential for therapeutic modulation of oscillatory rhythms, and identify outstanding questions and challenges to be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linette Liqi Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Manfred Josef Oswald
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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49
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Lim EY, Ye L, Paukert M. Potential and Realized Impact of Astroglia Ca 2 + Dynamics on Circuit Function and Behavior. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:682888. [PMID: 34163330 PMCID: PMC8215280 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.682888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Astroglia display a wide range of spontaneous and behavioral state-dependent Ca2+ dynamics. During heightened vigilance, noradrenergic signaling leads to quasi-synchronous Ca2+ elevations encompassing soma and processes across the brain-wide astroglia network. Distinct from this vigilance-associated global Ca2+ rise are apparently spontaneous fluctuations within spatially restricted microdomains. Over the years, several strategies have been pursued to shed light on the physiological impact of these signals including deletion of endogenous ion channels or receptors and reduction of intracellular Ca2+ through buffering, extrusion or inhibition of release. Some experiments that revealed the most compelling behavioral alterations employed chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulations to modify astroglia Ca2+ signaling. However, there is considerable contrast between these findings and the comparatively modest effects of inhibiting endogenous sources of Ca2+. In this review, we describe the underlying mechanisms of various forms of astroglia Ca2+ signaling as well as the functional consequences of their inhibition. We then discuss how the effects of exogenous astroglia Ca2+ modification combined with our knowledge of physiological mechanisms of astroglia Ca2+ activation could guide further refinement of behavioral paradigms that will help elucidate the natural Ca2+-dependent function of astroglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Y. Lim
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Liang Ye
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Martin Paukert
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Martin Paukert,
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50
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Correia SS, Iyengar RR, Germano P, Tang K, Bernier SG, Schwartzkopf CD, Tobin J, Lee TWH, Liu G, Jacobson S, Carvalho A, Rennie GR, Jung J, Renhowe PA, Lonie E, Winrow CJ, Hadcock JR, Jones JE, Currie MG. The CNS-Penetrant Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator CY6463 Reveals its Therapeutic Potential in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:656561. [PMID: 34108877 PMCID: PMC8181742 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.656561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive and are critically needed since the burden of these diseases increases across an aging global population. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter that binds to soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to produce cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Impairment of this pathway has been demonstrated in neurodegenerative diseases. Normalizing deficient NO-cGMP signaling could address multiple pathophysiological features of neurodegenerative diseases. sGC stimulators are small molecules that synergize with NO, activate sGC, and increase cGMP production. Many systemic sGC stimulators have been characterized and advanced into clinical development for a variety of non-central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. Here, we disclose the discovery of CY6463, the first brain-penetrant sGC stimulator in clinical development for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and demonstrate its ability to improve neuronal activity, mediate neuroprotection, and increase cognitive performance in preclinical models. In several cellular assays, CY6463 was demonstrated to be a potent stimulator of sGC. In agreement with the known effects of sGC stimulation in the vasculature, CY6463 elicits decreases in blood pressure in both rats and mice. Relative to a non-CNS penetrant sGC stimulator, rodents treated with CY6463 had higher cGMP levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), functional-magnetic-resonance-imaging-blood-oxygen-level-dependent (fMRI-BOLD) signals, and cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) gamma-band oscillatory power. Additionally, CY6463 improved cognitive performance in a model of cognitive disruption induced by the administration of a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. In models of neurodegeneration, CY6463 treatment increased long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices from a Huntington’s disease mouse model and decreased the loss of dendritic spines in aged and Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. In a model of diet-induced obesity, CY6463 reduced markers of inflammation in the plasma. Furthermore, CY6463 elicited an additive increase in cortical gamma-band oscillatory power when co-administered with donepezil: the standard of care in Alzheimer’s disease. Together, these data support the clinical development of CY6463 as a novel treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter Germano
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Kim Tang
- Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Jenny Tobin
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Guang Liu
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Glen R Rennie
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Joon Jung
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Juli E Jones
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Mark G Currie
- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
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