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Murata T, Uno K, Nagamine T. Guanfacine Used With Antipsychotics May Cause Bradycardia to Become Apparent After Discontinuation of Antipsychotics. Am J Ther 2024; 31:e440-e444. [PMID: 38241083 DOI: 10.1097/mjt.0000000000001654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
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Koyama E, Kant T, Takata A, Kennedy JL, Zai CC. Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:252. [PMID: 38862490 PMCID: PMC11167064 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02870-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive and persistent aggressiveness is the most common behavioral problem that leads to psychiatric referrals among children. While half of the variance in childhood aggression is attributed to genetic factors, the biological mechanism and the interplay between genes and environment that results in aggression remains elusive. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an overview of studies examining the genetics of childhood aggression irrespective of psychiatric diagnosis. PubMed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE databases were searched using predefined search terms for aggression, genes and the specific age group. From the 652 initially yielded studies, eighty-seven studies were systematically extracted for full-text review and for further quality assessment analyses. Findings show that (i) investigation of candidate genes, especially of MAOA (17 studies), DRD4 (13 studies), and COMT (12 studies) continue to dominate the field, although studies using other research designs and methods including genome-wide association and epigenetic studies are increasing, (ii) the published articles tend to be moderate in sizes, with variable methods of assessing aggressive behavior and inconsistent categorizations of tandem repeat variants, resulting in inconclusive findings of genetic main effects, gene-gene, and gene-environment interactions, (iii) the majority of studies are conducted on European, male-only or male-female mixed, participants. To our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically review the effects of genes on youth aggression. To understand the genetic underpinnings of childhood aggression, more research is required with larger, more diverse sample sets, consistent and reliable assessments and standardized definition of the aggression phenotypes. The search for the biological mechanisms underlying child aggression will also benefit from more varied research methods, including epigenetic studies, transcriptomic studies, gene system and genome-wide studies, longitudinal studies that track changes in risk/ameliorating factors and aggression-related outcomes, and studies examining causal mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Koyama
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Laboratory for Molecular Pathology of Psychiatric Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Tuana Kant
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Atsushi Takata
- Laboratory for Molecular Pathology of Psychiatric Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - James L Kennedy
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Lian M, Hueffer K, Weltzin MM. Interactions between the rabies virus and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: A potential role in rabies virus induced behavior modifications. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10434. [PMID: 36091963 PMCID: PMC9450143 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Lian
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Veterinary Medicine, 2141 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Koppang, NO-2480, Norway
| | - Karsten Hueffer
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Veterinary Medicine, 2141 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Maegan M. Weltzin
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1930 Yukon Dr. Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
- Corresponding author.
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Letsinger AC, Gu Z, Yakel JL. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampal circuit: taming complexity. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:145-157. [PMID: 34916082 PMCID: PMC8914277 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) to coordinate neuronal circuit activity while simultaneously influencing the function of non-neuronal cell types. The α7 nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) subtype is highly expressed throughout the hippocampus, has the highest calcium permeability compared with other subtypes of nAChRs, and is of high therapeutic interest due to its association with a variety of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we synthesize research describing α7 nAChR properties, function, and relationship to cognitive dysfunction within the hippocampal circuit and highlight approaches to help improve therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayland C. Letsinger
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Zhenglin Gu
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jerrel L. Yakel
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA,Corresponding Author,
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Lewis AS, Picciotto MR. Regulation of aggressive behaviors by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: Animal models, human genetics, and clinical studies. Neuropharmacology 2020; 167:107929. [PMID: 32058178 PMCID: PMC7080580 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders are frequently complicated by aggressive behaviors. For some individuals, existing behavioral and psychopharmacological treatments are ineffective or confer significant side effects, necessitating development of new ways to treat patients with severe aggression. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a large and diverse family of ligand-gated ion channels expressed throughout the brain that influence behaviors highly relevant for neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention, mood, and impulsivity. Nicotine and other drugs targeting nAChRs can reduce aggression in animal models of offensive, defensive, and predatory aggression, as well as in human laboratory studies. Human genetic studies have suggested a relationship between the CHRNA7 gene encoding the alpha-7 nAChR and aggressive behavior, although these effects are heterogeneous and strongly influenced by genetic background and environment. Here we review animal, human genetic, and clinical studies supporting a consistent role of nicotine and nAChR signaling in modulation of aggressive behaviors. We integrate findings from recent studies of aggression neuroscience, discuss the circuitry that may be involved in these effects of nAChRs, and identify multiple key questions that must be answered prior to safe and effective translation for human patients. This article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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McClain L, Segreti AM, Nau S, Shaw P, Finegold DN, Pan LA, Peters DG. Chromosome 15q13.3 microduplications are associated with treatment refractory major depressive disorder. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12628. [PMID: 31828948 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects approximately 15 million Americans. Approximately 2 million of these are classified as being refractory to treatment (TR-MDD). Because of the lack of available therapies for TR-MDD, and the high risk of suicide, there is interest in identifying new treatment modalities and diagnostic methods. Understanding of the impact of genomic copy number variation in the etiology of a variety of neuropsychiatric phenotypes is increasing. Low copy repeat elements at 15q13.3 facilitate non-allelic homologous recombination, resulting in recurrent copy number variants (CNVs). Numerous reports have described association between microdeletions in this region and a variety of neuropsychiatric phenotypes, with CHRNA7 implicated as a candidate gene. However, the pathogenicity of 15q13.3 duplications is less clear. As part of an ongoing study, in which we have identified a number of metabolomic anomalies in spinal fluid from TR-MDD patients, we also evaluated genomic copy number variation in patients (n = 125) and controls (n = 26) via array-based copy number genomic hybridization (CGH); the case frequency was compared with frequencies reported in a prior study as well as a larger population-sized cohort. We identified five TR-MDD patients with microduplications involving CHRNA7. CHRNA7 duplications are the most common CNVs identified by clinical CGH in this cohort. Therefore, this study provides insight into the potential involvement of CHRNA7 duplications in the etiology of TR-MDD and informs those involved with care of affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora McClain
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Anna M Segreti
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sharon Nau
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Patricia Shaw
- Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David N Finegold
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lisa A Pan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David G Peters
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Lewis AS, van Schalkwyk GI, Lopez MO, Volkmar FR, Picciotto MR, Sukhodolsky DG. An Exploratory Trial of Transdermal Nicotine for Aggression and Irritability in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019. [PMID: 29536216 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3536-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), particularly the α7 nAChR, are implicated in the pathophysiology of both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and aggressive behavior. We explored the feasibility, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of targeting nAChRs using transdermal nicotine to reduce aggressive symptoms in adults with ASD. Eight subjects were randomized in a double-blind crossover trial of 7 mg transdermal nicotine or placebo, each for 1 week. All participants tolerated nicotine treatment well. Five subjects contributed data to the primary outcome, Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability (ABC-I) subscale change from baseline, which was improved by nicotine compared to placebo. Sleep ratings were also improved by nicotine and correlated with ABC-I improvement. These findings support further investigation of nAChR agonists for aggression and sleep in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 184 Liberty Street, Room LV120, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA.
| | - Gerrit Ian van Schalkwyk
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Mayra Ortiz Lopez
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Fred R Volkmar
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marina R Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Gillentine MA, White JJ, Grochowski CM, Lupski JR, Schaaf CP, Calarge CA, Calarge CA. CHRNA7 copy number gains are enriched in adolescents with major depressive and anxiety disorders. J Affect Disord 2018; 239:247-252. [PMID: 30029151 PMCID: PMC6273479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), specifically the α7 nAChR encoded by the gene CHRNA7, have been implicated in behavior regulation in animal models. In humans, copy number variants (CNVs) of CHRNA7 are found in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including mood and anxiety disorders. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence of CHRNA7 CNVs among adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders. METHODS Twelve to 21 year-old participants with MDD and/or anxiety disorders (34% males, mean ± std age: 18.9 ± 1.8 years) were assessed for CHRNA7 copy number state using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and genomic quantitative PCR (qPCR). Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data, including the Beck Anxiety Index (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (IDS) were collected and compared across individuals with and without a CHRNA7 CNV. RESULTS Of 205 individuals, five (2.4%) were found to carry a CHRNA7 gain, significantly higher than the general population. No CHRNA7 deletions were identified. Clinically, the individuals carrying CHRNA7 duplications did not differ significantly from copy neutral individuals with MDD and/or anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS CHRNA7 gains are relatively prevalent among young individuals with MDD and anxiety disorders (odds ratio = 4.032) without apparent distinguishing clinical features. Future studies should examine the therapeutic potential of α7 nAChR targeting drugs to ameliorate depressive and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelyn A. Gillentine
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Jan and Dan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Janson J. White
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - James R. Lupski
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Christian P. Schaaf
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Jan and Dan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Chadi A. Calarge
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chadi A Calarge
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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Lewis AS, Pittenger ST, Mineur YS, Stout D, Smith PH, Picciotto MR. Bidirectional Regulation of Aggression in Mice by Hippocampal Alpha-7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1267-1275. [PMID: 29114104 PMCID: PMC5916354 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Humans with 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome (15q13.3DS) are typically hemizygous for CHRNA7, the gene coding for the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), and manifest a variable neuropsychiatric phenotype that frequently includes persistent aggression. In mice, nAChR activation by nicotine is anti-aggressive, or 'serenic,' an effect which requires α7 nAChRs and is recapitulated by GTS-21, an α7 nAChR partial agonist. Pharmacotherapies potentiating α7 nAChR signaling have also been shown to reduce aggression in human 15q13.3DS. These findings identify the α7 nAChR as an important regulator of aggressive behavior, but the underlying neurobiological substrates remain to be determined. We therefore investigated the brain regions and potential neural circuits in which α7 nAChRs regulate aggressive behavior in male mice. As in 15q13.3DS, mice heterozygous for Chrna7 were significantly more aggressive compared to wild-type controls in the resident-intruder test. We subsequently examined the hippocampus, where α7 nAChRs are highly expressed, particularly in GABAergic interneurons. Resident-intruder interactions strongly activated granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG). In contrast, GTS-21, which reduces aggression in mice, reduced DG granule cell activity during resident-intruder interactions. Short hairpin RNA knockdown of Chrna7 in the DG enhanced baseline aggression and eliminated the serenic effects of both nicotine and GTS-21 on attack latency. These data further implicate α7 nAChRs in regulation of aggression, and demonstrate that hippocampal α7 nAChR signaling is necessary and sufficient to limit aggression. These findings suggest that nAChR-mediated regulation of hippocampal excitatory-inhibitory balance could be a promising therapeutic intervention for aggression arising in certain forms of neuropsychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Steven T Pittenger
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yann S Mineur
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dawson Stout
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Philip H Smith
- Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marina R Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, 3rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT 06508, USA, Tel: +203-737-2041, Fax: +203-737-2043, E-mail:
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