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Phadke RA, Brack A, Fournier LA, Kruzich E, Sha M, Picard I, Johnson C, Stroumbakis D, Salgado M, Yeung C, Escude Velasco B, Liu YY, Cruz-Martín A. The schizophrenia risk gene C4 induces pathological synaptic loss by impairing AMPAR trafficking. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02701-7. [PMID: 39227431 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02701-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Neuroimmune interactions play a significant role in regulating synaptic plasticity in both the healthy and diseased brain. The complement pathway, an extracellular proteolytic cascade, exemplifies these interactions. Its activation triggers microglia-dependent synaptic elimination via the complement receptor 3 (CR3). Current models of pathological complement activity in the brain propose that accelerated synaptic loss resulting from overexpression of C4 (C4-OE), a gene associated with schizophrenia, follows this pathway. Here, we report that C4-mediated cortical hypoconnectivity is CR3-independent. Instead, C4-OE triggers impaired GluR1 trafficking through an intracellular mechanism involving the endosomal protein SNX27, resulting in pathological synaptic loss. Moreover, C4 circuit alterations in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, were rescued by increasing neuronal levels of SNX27, which we identify as an interacting partner of this neuroimmune protein. Our results link excessive complement activity to an intracellular endo-lysosomal trafficking pathway altering synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhushikesh A Phadke
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alison Brack
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke A Fournier
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ezra Kruzich
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingqi Sha
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ines Picard
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor Johnson
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dimitri Stroumbakis
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Salgado
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charlotte Yeung
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Berta Escude Velasco
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yen Yu Liu
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alberto Cruz-Martín
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- NeuroTechnology Center (NTC), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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2
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Mäki-Marttunen T, Blackwell KT, Akkouh I, Shadrin A, Valstad M, Elvsåshagen T, Linne ML, Djurovic S, Einevoll GT, Andreassen OA. Genetic mechanisms for impaired synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia revealed by computational modeling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312511121. [PMID: 39141354 PMCID: PMC11348150 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312511121] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia phenotypes are suggestive of impaired cortical plasticity in the disease, but the mechanisms of these deficits are unknown. Genomic association studies have implicated a large number of genes that regulate neuromodulation and plasticity, indicating that the plasticity deficits have a genetic origin. Here, we used biochemically detailed computational modeling of postsynaptic plasticity to investigate how schizophrenia-associated genes regulate long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). We combined our model with data from postmortem RNA expression studies (CommonMind gene-expression datasets) to assess the consequences of altered expression of plasticity-regulating genes for the amplitude of LTP and LTD. Our results show that the expression alterations observed post mortem, especially those in the anterior cingulate cortex, lead to impaired protein kinase A (PKA)-pathway-mediated LTP in synapses containing GluR1 receptors. We validated these findings using a genotyped electroencephalogram (EEG) dataset where polygenic risk scores for synaptic and ion channel-encoding genes as well as modulation of visual evoked potentials were determined for 286 healthy controls. Our results provide a possible genetic mechanism for plasticity impairments in schizophrenia, which can lead to improved understanding and, ultimately, treatment of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomo Mäki-Marttunen
- Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere33720, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo0371, Norway
| | - Kim T. Blackwell
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA52242
| | - Ibrahim Akkouh
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
| | - Alexey Shadrin
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
| | - Mathias Valstad
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo0456, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Elvsåshagen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
| | - Marja-Leena Linne
- Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere33720, Finland
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
| | - Gaute T. Einevoll
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås1433, Norway
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo0316, Norway
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo0450, Norway
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3
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Wang X, Ma J, Dong Y, Ren X, Li R, Yang G, She G, Tan Y, Chen S. Exploration on the potential efficacy and mechanism of methyl salicylate glycosides in the treatment of schizophrenia based on bioinformatics, molecular docking and dynamics simulation. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:64. [PMID: 39019913 PMCID: PMC11255270 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00484-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
The etiological and therapeutic complexities of schizophrenia (SCZ) persist, prompting exploration of anti-inflammatory therapy as a potential treatment approach. Methyl salicylate glycosides (MSGs), possessing a structural parent nucleus akin to aspirin, are being investigated for their therapeutic potential in schizophrenia. Utilizing bioinformation mining, network pharmacology, molecular docking and dynamics simulation, the potential value and mechanism of MSGs (including MSTG-A, MSTG-B, and Gaultherin) in the treatment of SCZ, as well as the underlying pathogenesis of the disorder, were examined. 581 differentially expressed genes related to SCZ were identified in patients and healthy individuals, with 349 up-regulated genes and 232 down-regulated genes. 29 core targets were characterized by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, with the top 10 core targets being BDNF, VEGFA, PVALB, KCNA1, GRIN2A, ATP2B2, KCNA2, APOE, PPARGC1A and SCN1A. The pathogenesis of SCZ primarily involves cAMP signaling, neurodegenerative diseases and other pathways, as well as regulation of ion transmembrane transport. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the three candidates exhibited binding activity with certain targets with binding affinities ranging from -4.7 to -109.2 kcal/mol. MSTG-A, MSTG-B and Gaultherin show promise for use in the treatment of SCZ, potentially through their ability to modulate the expression of multiple genes involved in synaptic structure and function, ion transport, energy metabolism. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed good binding abilities between MSTG-A, MSTG-B, Gaultherin and ATP2B2. It suggests new avenues for further investigation in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhuan Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, 100096, PR China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, PR China
| | - Jiamu Ma
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, PR China
| | - Ying Dong
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, PR China
| | - Xueyang Ren
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, PR China
| | - Ruoming Li
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, 100096, PR China
| | - Guigang Yang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, 100096, PR China
| | - Gaimei She
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, PR China.
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, 100096, PR China.
| | - Song Chen
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, 100096, PR China.
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4
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Chen S, Lu H, Cheng C, Ye Z, Hua T. Rapidly repeated visual stimulation induces long-term potentiation of VEPs and increased content of membrane AMPA and NMDA receptors in the V1 cortex of cats. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1386801. [PMID: 38831757 PMCID: PMC11144871 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1386801] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies report that rapidly repeated sensory stimulation can evoke LTP-like improvement of neural response in the sensory cortex. Whether this neural response potentiation is similar to the classic LTP induced by presynaptic electrical stimulation remains unclear. This study examined the effects of repeated high-frequency (9 Hz) versus low-frequency (1 Hz) visual stimulation on visually-evoked field potentials (VEPs) and the membrane protein content of AMPA / NMDA receptors in the primary visual cortex (V1) of cats. The results showed that repeated high-frequency visual stimulation (HFS) caused a long-term improvement in peak-to-peak amplitude of V1-cortical VEPs in response to visual stimuli at HFS-stimulated orientation (SO: 90°) and non-stimulated orientation (NSO: 180°), but the effect exhibited variations depending on stimulus orientation: the amplitude increase of VEPs in response to visual stimuli at SO was larger, reached a maximum earlier and lasted longer than at NSO. By contrast, repeated low-frequency visual stimulation (LFS) had not significantly affected the amplitude of V1-cortical VEPs in response to visual stimuli at both SO and NSO. Furthermore, the membrane protein content of the key subunit GluA1 of AMPA receptors and main subunit NR1 of AMPA receptors in V1 cortex was significantly increased after HFS but not LFS when compared with that of control cats. Taken together, these results indicate that HFS can induce LTP-like improvement of VEPs and an increase in membrane protein of AMPA and NMDA receptors in the V1 cortex of cats, which is similar to but less specific to stimulus orientation than the classic LTP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tianmiao Hua
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, China
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5
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Zak N, Moberget T, Bøen E, Boye B, Rygvold TW, Malt UF, Andreassen OA, Andersson S, Westlye LT, Elvsåshagen T. Baseline long-term potentiation-like cortical plasticity is associated with longitudinal cortical thinning in healthy adults and in adults with bipolar disorder type II. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:2824-2837. [PMID: 37163975 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16038] [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: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The precise neurobiological processes underlying cerebral cortical thinning in aging and psychiatric illnesses remain undetermined, yet aging- and synaptic dysfunction-related loss of synapses are potentially important mechanisms. We used long-term potentiation-like plasticity of the visual evoked potential as an index of synaptic function in the cortex and hypothesized that plasticity at baseline would be negatively associated with future cortical thinning in healthy adults and in adults with bipolar disorder type II. Thirty-two healthy adults and 15 adults with bipolar disorder type II underwent electroencephalography-based measurement of visual evoked potential plasticity and 3T magnetic resonance imaging of the brain at baseline and a follow-up brain scan on average 2.3 years later. The relationships between visual evoked potential plasticity at baseline and longitudinal cortical thickness changes were examined using Freesurfer and the Permutation Analysis of Linear Models tool. The analyses showed a negative association between the plasticity of the N1 visual evoked potential amplitude at baseline and thinning rate in the medial and lateral parietal and medial occipital cortices in healthy adults and in the right medial occipital cortex in the total sample of healthy adults and adults with bipolar disorder type II, indicating greater thinning over time in subjects with less N1 plasticity (pFWER < .05). Although preliminary, the results indicate an association between visual evoked potential plasticity and the future rate of cortical thinning in healthy adults and in bipolar disorder type II, supporting the hypothesis that cortical thinning might be related to synaptic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Zak
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erlend Bøen
- Unit for Psychosomatics and C-L psychiatry for adults, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgitte Boye
- Unit for Psychosomatics and C-L psychiatry for adults, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ulrik F Malt
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Research and Education, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Lars T Westlye
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Elvsåshagen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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6
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Slapø NB, Jørgensen KN, Elvsåshagen T, Nerland S, Roelfs D, Valstad M, Timpe CMF, Richard G, Beck D, Sæther LS, Frogner Werner MC, Lagerberg TV, Andreassen OA, Melle I, Agartz I, Westlye LT, Moberget T, Jönsson EG. Relationship between function and structure in the visual cortex in healthy individuals and in patients with severe mental disorders. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 332:111633. [PMID: 37028226 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111633] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZspect) and bipolar disorders (BD) show impaired function in the primary visual cortex (V1), indicated by altered visual evoked potential (VEP). While the neural substrate for altered VEP in these patients remains elusive, altered V1 structure may play a role. One previous study found a positive relationship between the amplitude of the P100 component of the VEP and V1 surface area, but not V1 thickness, in a small sample of healthy individuals. Here, we aimed to replicate these findings in a larger healthy control (HC) sample (n = 307) and to examine the same relationship in patients with SCZspect (n = 30) or BD (n = 45). We also compared the mean P100 amplitude, V1 surface area and V1 thickness between controls and patients and found no significant group differences. In HC only, we found a significant positive P100-V1 surface area association, while there were no significant P100-V1 thickness relationships in HC, SCZspect or BD. Together, our results confirm previous findings of a positive P100-V1 surface area association in HC, whereas larger patient samples are needed to further clarify the function-structure relationship in V1 in SCZspect and BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Berz Slapø
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Kjetil Nordbø Jørgensen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Elvsåshagen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Stener Nerland
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel Roelfs
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Mathias Valstad
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Clara M F Timpe
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Dani Beck
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Trine Vik Lagerberg
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University hospital, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University hospital, Norway
| | - Ingrid Melle
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University hospital, Norway; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Sciences, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars T Westlye
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, OsloMet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erik G Jönsson
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Sciences, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Salem D, Fecek RJ. Role of microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) in bipolar disorder pathophysiology and potential in lithium therapeutic mechanism. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:221. [PMID: 37353479 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) are life-long disorders that account for significant morbidity in afflicted patients. The etiology of BPAD is complex, combining genetic and environmental factors to increase the risk of disease. Genetic studies have pointed toward cytoskeletal dysfunction as a potential molecular mechanism through which BPAD may arise and have implicated proteins that regulate the cytoskeleton as risk factors. Microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) is a giant cytoskeletal crosslinking protein that can coordinate the different aspects of the mammalian cytoskeleton with a wide variety of actions. In this review, we seek to highlight the functions of MACF1 in the nervous system and the molecular mechanisms leading to BPAD pathogenesis. We also offer a brief perspective on MACF1 and the role it may be playing in lithium's mechanism of action in treating BPAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Salem
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill, Department of Microbiology, Greensburg, USA
- University of Maryland Medical Center/Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Residency Program, Baltimore, USA
| | - Ronald J Fecek
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill, Department of Microbiology, Greensburg, USA.
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8
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Mäki-Marttunen T, Blackwell KT, Akkouh I, Shadrin A, Valstad M, Elvsåshagen T, Linne ML, Djurovic S, Einevoll GT, Andreassen OA. Genetic mechanisms for impaired synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia revealed by computational modelling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544920. [PMID: 37398070 PMCID: PMC10312778 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia phenotypes are suggestive of impaired cortical plasticity in the disease, but the mechanisms of these deficits are unknown. Genomic association studies have implicated a large number of genes that regulate neuromodulation and plasticity, indicating that the plasticity deficits have a genetic origin. Here, we used biochemically detailed computational modelling of post-synaptic plasticity to investigate how schizophrenia-associated genes regulate long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). We combined our model with data from post-mortem mRNA expression studies (CommonMind gene-expression datasets) to assess the consequences of altered expression of plasticity-regulating genes for the amplitude of LTP and LTD. Our results show that the expression alterations observed post mortem, especially those in anterior cingulate cortex, lead to impaired PKA-pathway-mediated LTP in synapses containing GluR1 receptors. We validated these findings using a genotyped EEG dataset where polygenic risk scores for synaptic and ion channel-encoding genes as well as modulation of visual evoked potentials (VEP) were determined for 286 healthy controls. Our results provide a possible genetic mechanism for plasticity impairments in schizophrenia, which can lead to improved understanding and, ultimately, treatment of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomo Mäki-Marttunen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kim T Blackwell
- The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Ibrahim Akkouh
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexey Shadrin
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mathias Valstad
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tobjørn Elvsåshagen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Marja-Leena Linne
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gaute T Einevoll
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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9
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Dias JW, McClaskey CM, Rumschlag JA, Harris KC. Sensory tetanisation to induce long-term-potentiation-like plasticity: A review and reassessment of the approach. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:6115-6140. [PMID: 36227258 PMCID: PMC9772088 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15847] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There is great interest in developing non-invasive approaches for studying cortical plasticity in humans. High-frequency presentation of auditory and visual stimuli, or sensory tetanisation, can induce long-term-potentiation-like (LTP-like) changes in cortical activity. However, contrasting effects across studies suggest that sensory tetanisation may be unreliable. We review these contrasting effects, conduct our own study of auditory and visual tetanisation, and perform meta-analyses to determine the average effect of sensory tetanisation across studies. We measured auditory-evoked amplitude changes in a group of younger (18-29 years of age) and older (55-83 years of age) adults following tetanisation to 1 and 4 kHz tone bursts and following a slow-presentation control. We also measured visual-evoked amplitude changes following tetanisation to horizontal and vertical sign gradients. Auditory and visual response amplitudes decreased following tetanisation, consistent with some studies but contrasting with others finding amplitude increases (i.e. LTP-like changes). Older adults exhibited more modest auditory-evoked amplitude decreases, but visual-evoked amplitude decreases like those of younger adults. Changes in response amplitude were not specific to tetanised stimuli. Importantly, slow presentation of auditory tone bursts produced response amplitude changes approximating those observed following tetanisation in younger adults. Meta-analyses of visual and auditory tetanisation studies found that the overall effect of sensory tetanisation was not significant across studies or study sites. The results suggest that sensory tetanisation may not produce reliable changes in cortical responses and more work is needed to determine the validity of sensory tetanisation as a method for inducing human cortical plasticity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Dias
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Carolyn M McClaskey
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly C Harris
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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10
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Rygvold TW, Hatlestad-Hall C, Elvsåshagen T, Moberget T, Andersson S. Long-Term Potentiation-Like Visual Synaptic Plasticity Is Negatively Associated With Self-Reported Symptoms of Depression and Stress in Healthy Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:867675. [PMID: 35601905 PMCID: PMC9119023 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.867675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one of the most extensively studied forms of neuroplasticity and is considered the strongest candidate mechanism for memory and learning. The use of event-related potentials and sensory stimulation paradigms has allowed for the translation from animal studies to non-invasive studies of LTP-like synaptic plasticity in humans. Accumulating evidence suggests that synaptic plasticity as measured by stimulus-specific response modulation is reduced in neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorders and schizophrenia, suggesting that impaired synaptic plasticity plays a part in the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders. This is in line with the neuroplasticity hypothesis of depression, which postulate that deficits in neuroplasticity might be a common pathway underlying depressive disorders. The current study aims to replicate and confirm earlier reports that visual stimulus-specific response modulation is a viable probe into LTP-like synaptic plasticity in a large sample of healthy adults (n = 111). Further, this study explores whether impairments in LTP-like synaptic plasticity is associated with self-reported subclinical depressive symptoms and stress in a healthy population. Consistent with prior research, the current study replicated and confirmed reports demonstrating significant modulation of visual evoked potentials (VEP) following visual high-frequency stimulation. Current results further indicate that reduced LTP-like synaptic plasticity is associated with higher levels of self-reported symptoms of depression and perceived stress. This indicate that LTP-like plasticity is sensitive to sub-clinical levels of psychological distress, and might represent a vulnerability marker for the development of depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trine Waage Rygvold
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Torgeir Moberget
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stein Andersson
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Hua JPY, Abram SV, Ford JM. Cerebellar stimulation in schizophrenia: A systematic review of the evidence and an overview of the methods. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1069488. [PMID: 36620688 PMCID: PMC9815121 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1069488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellar structural and functional abnormalities underlie widespread deficits in clinical, cognitive, and motor functioning that are observed in schizophrenia. Consequently, the cerebellum is a promising target for novel schizophrenia treatments. Here we conducted an updated systematic review examining the literature on cerebellar stimulation efficacy and tolerability for mitigating symptoms of schizophrenia. We discuss the purported mechanisms of cerebellar stimulation, current methods for implementing stimulation, and future directions of cerebellar stimulation for intervention development with this population. METHODS Two independent authors identified 20 published studies (7 randomized controlled trials, 7 open-label studies, 1 pilot study, 4 case reports, 1 preclinical study) that describe the effects of cerebellar circuitry modulation in patients with schizophrenia or animal models of psychosis. Published studies up to October 11, 2022 were identified from a search within PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo. RESULTS Most studies stimulating the cerebellum used transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct-current stimulation, specifically targeting the cerebellar vermis/midline. Accounting for levels of methodological rigor across studies, these studies detected post-cerebellar modulation in schizophrenia as indicated by the alleviation of certain clinical symptoms (mainly negative and depressive symptoms), as well as increased frontal-cerebellar connectivity and augmentation of canonical neuro-oscillations known to be abnormal in schizophrenia. In contrast to a prior review, we did not find consistent evidence for cognitive improvements following cerebellar modulation stimulation. Modern cerebellar stimulation methods appear tolerable for individuals with schizophrenia, with only mild and temporary side effects. CONCLUSION Cerebellar stimulation is a promising intervention for individuals with schizophrenia that may be more relevant to some symptom domains than others. Initial results highlight the need for continued research using more methodologically rigorous designs, such as additional longitudinal and randomized controlled trials. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022346667].
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica P Y Hua
- Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Samantha V Abram
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Judith M Ford
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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