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Sal-Sarria S, Conejo NM, González-Pardo H. Maternal immune activation and its multifaceted effects on learning and memory in rodent offspring: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105844. [PMID: 39106940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105844] [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: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
This systematic review explored the impact of maternal immune activation (MIA) on learning and memory behavior in offspring, with a particular focus on sexual dimorphism. We analyzed 20 experimental studies involving rodent models (rats and mice) exposed to either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or POLY I:C during gestation following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our findings reveal that most studies report a detrimental impact of MIA on the learning and memory performance of offspring, highlighting the significant role of prenatal environmental factors in neurodevelopment. Furthermore, this review underscores the complex effects of sex, with males often exhibiting more pronounced cognitive impairment compared to females. Notably, a small subset of studies report enhanced cognitive function following MIA, suggesting complex, context-dependent outcomes of prenatal immune challenges. This review also highlights sex differences caused by the effects of MIA in terms of cytokine responses, alterations in gene expression, and differences in microglial responses as factors that contribute to the cognitive outcomes observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saúl Sal-Sarria
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Nélida M Conejo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Héctor González-Pardo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
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2
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Schaer R, Mueller FS, Notter T, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U. Intrauterine position effects in a mouse model of maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 120:391-402. [PMID: 38897330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.015] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of maternal immune activation (MIA) are increasingly used as experimental tools in preclinical research of immune-mediated neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Using a viral-like MIA model that is based on prenatal poly(I:C) exposure in mice, we have recently identified the existence of subgroups of MIA-exposed offspring that show dissociable behavioral, transcriptional, brain network and inflammatory profiles even under conditions of genetic homogeneity and identical MIA. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the intrauterine positions of fetuses, which are known to shape individual variability in litter-bearing mammals through variations in fetal hormone exposure, may contribute to the variable outcomes of MIA in mice. MIA was induced by maternal administration of poly(I:C) on gestation day 12 in C57BL/6N mice. Determining intrauterine positions using delivery by Cesarean section (C-section), we found that MIA-exposed offspring developing between female fetuses only (0M-MIA offspring) displayed significant deficits in sociability and sensorimotor gating at adult age, whereas MIA-exposed offspring developing between one or two males in utero (1/2M-MIA offspring) did not show the same deficits. These intrauterine position effects similarly emerged in male and female offspring. Furthermore, while MIA elevated fetal brain levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines independently of the precise intrauterine position and sex of adjacent fetuses during the acute phase, fetal brain levels of TNF-α remained elevated in 0M-MIA but not 1/2M-MIA offspring until the post-acute phase in late gestation. As expected, 1/2M offspring generally showed higher testosterone levels in the fetal brain during late gestation as compared to 0M offspring, confirming the transfer of testosterone from male fetuses to adjacent male or female fetuses. Taken together, our findings identify a novel source of within-litter variability contributing to heterogeneous outcomes of short- and long-term effects in a mouse model of MIA. In broader context, our findings highlight that individual differences in fetal exposure to hormonal and inflammatory signals may be a perinatal factor that shapes risk and resilience to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Schaer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Yotova AY, Li LL, O'Leary A, Tegeder I, Reif A, Courtney MJ, Slattery DA, Freudenberg F. Synaptic proteome perturbations after maternal immune activation: Identification of embryonic and adult hippocampal changes. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 121:351-364. [PMID: 39089536 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immune activation (MIA) triggers neurobiological changes in offspring, potentially reshaping the molecular synaptic landscape, with the hippocampus being particularly vulnerable. However, critical details regarding developmental timing of these changes and whether they differ between males and females remain unclear. METHODS We induced MIA in C57BL/6J mice on gestational day nine using the viral mimetic poly(I:C) and performed mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses on hippocampal synaptoneurosomes of embryonic (E18) and adult (20 ± 1 weeks) MIA offspring. RESULTS In the embryonic synaptoneurosomes, MIA led to lipid, polysaccharide, and glycoprotein metabolism pathway disruptions. In the adult synaptic proteome, we observed a dynamic shift toward transmembrane trafficking, intracellular signalling cascades, including cell death and growth, and cytoskeletal organisation. In adults, many associated pathways overlapped between males and females. However, we found distinct sex-specific enrichment of dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways. We identified 50 proteins altered by MIA in both embryonic and adult samples (28 with the same directionality), mainly involved in presynaptic structure and synaptic vesicle function. We probed human phenome-wide association study data in the cognitive and psychiatric domains, and 49 of the 50 genes encoding these proteins were significantly associated with the investigated phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS Our data emphasise the dynamic effects of viral-like MIA on developing and mature hippocampi and provide novel targets for study following prenatal immune challenges. The 22 proteins that changed directionality from the embryonic to adult hippocampus, suggestive of compensatory over-adaptions, are particularly attractive for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Y Yotova
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Li-Li Li
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Aet O'Leary
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael J Courtney
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - David A Slattery
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian Freudenberg
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Topchiy I, Mohbat J, Folorunso OO, Wang ZZ, Lazcano-Etchebarne C, Engin E. GABA system as the cause and effect in early development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105651. [PMID: 38579901 PMCID: PMC11081854 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105651] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain and through its actions on GABAARs, it protects against excitotoxicity and seizure activity, ensures temporal fidelity of neurotransmission, and regulates concerted rhythmic activity of neuronal populations. In the developing brain, the development of GABAergic neurons precedes that of glutamatergic neurons and the GABA system serves as a guide and framework for the development of other brain systems. Despite this early start, the maturation of the GABA system also continues well into the early postnatal period. In this review, we organize evidence around two scenarios based on the essential and protracted nature of GABA system development: 1) disruptions in the development of the GABA system can lead to large scale disruptions in other developmental processes (i.e., GABA as the cause), 2) protracted maturation of this system makes it vulnerable to the effects of developmental insults (i.e., GABA as the effect). While ample evidence supports the importance of GABA/GABAAR system in both scenarios, large gaps in existing knowledge prevent strong mechanistic conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Topchiy
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Julie Mohbat
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Oluwarotimi O Folorunso
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ziyi Zephyr Wang
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Elif Engin
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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5
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Chen T, Meng H, Fang N, Shi P, Chen M, Liu Q, Lv L, Li W. Age-related changes in behavior profile in male offspring of rats treated with poly I:C-induced maternal immune activation in early gestation. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38741390 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12417] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism and schizophrenia are environmental risk factors associated with prenatal viral infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear whether behavior phenotypes change at different developmental stages in offspring following the activation of the maternal immune system. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received a single caudal vein injection of 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 9 and the offspring were comprehensively tested for behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. RESULTS Maternal serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in poly I:C-treated dams. The offspring of maternal poly I:C-induced rats showed increased anxiety, impaired social approach, and progressive impaired cognitive and sensorimotor gating function. CONCLUSION Maternal immune activation led to developmental specificity behavioral impairment in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huadan Meng
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ni Fang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Peiling Shi
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mengxue Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorder, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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Gillespie B, Panthi S, Sundram S, Hill RA. The impact of maternal immune activation on GABAergic interneuron development: A systematic review of rodent studies and their translational implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 156:105488. [PMID: 38042358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105488] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Mothers exposed to infections during pregnancy disproportionally birth children who develop autism and schizophrenia, disorders associated with altered GABAergic function. The maternal immune activation (MIA) model recapitulates this risk factor, with many studies also reporting disruptions to GABAergic interneuron expression, protein, cellular density and function. However, it is unclear if there are species, sex, age, region, or GABAergic subtype specific vulnerabilities to MIA. Furthermore, to fully comprehend the impact of MIA on the GABAergic system a synthesised account of molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioural findings was required. To this end we conducted a systematic review of GABAergic interneuron changes in the MIA model, focusing on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We reviewed 102 articles that revealed robust changes in a number of GABAergic markers that present as gestationally-specific, region-specific and sometimes sex-specific. Disruptions to GABAergic markers coincided with distinct behavioural phenotypes, including memory, sensorimotor gating, anxiety, and sociability. Findings suggest the MIA model is a valid tool for testing novel therapeutics designed to recover GABAergic function and associated behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Sandesh Panthi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel A Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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Yotova AY, Li LL, O’Leary A, Tegeder I, Reif A, Courtney MJ, Slattery DA, Freudenberg F. Embryonic and adult synaptic proteome perturbations after maternal immune activation: Identification of persistent changes relevant for early intervention. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3100753. [PMID: 37461513 PMCID: PMC10350178 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3100753/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Maternal infections during pregnancy pose an increased risk for neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders (NPDs) in the offspring. Here, we examined age- and sex-dependent dynamic changes of the hippocampal synaptic proteome after maternal immune activation (MIA) in embryonic and adult mice. Adult male and female MIA offspring exhibited social deficits and sex-specific depression-like behaviours, among others, validating the model. Furthermore, we observed dose-, age-, and sex-dependent synaptic proteome differences. Analysis of the embryonic synaptic proteome implicates sphingolipid and ketoacid metabolism pathway disruptions during neurodevelopment for NPD-pertinent sequelae. In the embryonic hippocampus, prenatal immune activation also led to changes in neuronal guidance, glycosphingolipid metabolism important for signalling and myelination, and post-translational modification of proteins that regulate intercellular interaction and developmental timing. In adulthood, the observed changes in synaptoneurosomes revealed a dynamic shift toward transmembrane trafficking, intracellular signalling cascades, and hormone-mediated metabolism. Importantly, 68 of the proteins with differential abundance in the embryonic brains of MIA offspring were also altered in adulthood, 75% of which retained their directionality. These proteins are involved in synaptic organisation, neurotransmitter receptor regulation, and the vesicle cycle. A cluster of persistently upregulated proteins, including AKT3, PAK1/3, PPP3CA, formed a functional network enriched in the embryonic brain that is involved in cellular responses to environmental stimuli. To infer a link between the overlapping protein alterations and cognitive and psychiatric traits, we probed human phenome-wise association study data for cognitive and psychiatric phenotypes and all, but PORCN were significantly associated with the investigated domains. Our data provide insights into the dynamic effects of an early prenatal immune activation on developing and mature hippocampi and highlights targets for early intervention in individuals exposed to such immune challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Y. Yotova
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Li-Li Li
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Aet O’Leary
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael J Courtney
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - David A. Slattery
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian Freudenberg
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
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8
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Woods R, Lorusso J, Fletcher J, ElTaher H, McEwan F, Harris I, Kowash H, D'Souza SW, Harte M, Hager R, Glazier JD. Maternal immune activation and role of placenta in the prenatal programming of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuronal Signal 2023; 7:NS20220064. [PMID: 37332846 PMCID: PMC10273029 DOI: 10.1042/ns20220064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy, leading to maternal immune activation (mIA) and cytokine release, increases the offspring risk of developing a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including schizophrenia. Animal models have provided evidence to support these mechanistic links, with placental inflammatory responses and dysregulation of placental function implicated. This leads to changes in fetal brain cytokine balance and altered epigenetic regulation of key neurodevelopmental pathways. The prenatal timing of such mIA-evoked changes, and the accompanying fetal developmental responses to an altered in utero environment, will determine the scope of the impacts on neurodevelopmental processes. Such dysregulation can impart enduring neuropathological changes, which manifest subsequently in the postnatal period as altered neurodevelopmental behaviours in the offspring. Hence, elucidation of the functional changes that occur at the molecular level in the placenta is vital in improving our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of NDDs. This has notable relevance to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, where inflammatory responses in the placenta to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and NDDs in early childhood have been reported. This review presents an integrated overview of these collective topics and describes the possible contribution of prenatal programming through placental effects as an underlying mechanism that links to NDD risk, underpinned by altered epigenetic regulation of neurodevelopmental pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Woods
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Jarred M. Lorusso
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Jennifer Fletcher
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Heidi ElTaher
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Francesca McEwan
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Isabella Harris
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Hager M. Kowash
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, U.K
| | - Stephen W. D'Souza
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, U.K
| | - Michael Harte
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Jocelyn D. Glazier
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
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9
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Neurotransmitters in Type 2 Diabetes and the Control of Systemic and Central Energy Balance. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030384. [PMID: 36984824 PMCID: PMC10058084 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient signal transduction is important in maintaining the function of the nervous system across tissues. An intact neurotransmission process can regulate energy balance through proper communication between neurons and peripheral organs. This ensures that the right neural circuits are activated in the brain to modulate cellular energy homeostasis and systemic metabolic function. Alterations in neurotransmitters secretion can lead to imbalances in appetite, glucose metabolism, sleep, and thermogenesis. Dysregulation in dietary intake is also associated with disruption in neurotransmission and can trigger the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. In this review, we highlight the various roles of neurotransmitters in regulating energy balance at the systemic level and in the central nervous system. We also address the link between neurotransmission imbalance and the development of T2D as well as perspectives across the fields of neuroscience and metabolism research.
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10
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Raymann S, Schalbetter SM, Schaer R, Bernhardt AC, Mueller FS, Meyer U, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Late prenatal immune activation in mice induces transgenerational effects via the maternal and paternal lineages. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2273-2286. [PMID: 36857721 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac207] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infectious or noninfectious immune activation is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Recent research using animal models suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) during early to middle stages of pregnancy can induce transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, likely via inducing stable epigenetic modifications across generations. Using a mouse model of viral-like MIA, which is based on gestational treatment with poly(I:C), the present study explored whether transgenerational effects can also emerge when MIA occurs in late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate that the direct descendants born to poly(I:C)-treated mothers display deficits in temporal order memory, which are similarly present in second- and third-generation offspring. These transgenerational effects were mediated via both the maternal and paternal lineages and were accompanied by transient changes in maternal care. In addition to the cognitive effects, late prenatal immune activation induced generation-spanning effects on the prefrontal expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic genes, including parvalbumin and distinct alpha-subunits of the GABAA receptor. Together, our results suggest that MIA in late pregnancy has the potential to affect cognitive functions and prefrontal gene expression patterns in multiple generations, highlighting its role in shaping disease risk across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Raymann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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11
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Webster MJ. Infections, Inflammation, and Psychiatric Illness: Review of Postmortem Evidence. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 61:35-48. [PMID: 35505055 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
While there is an abundance of epidemiological evidence implicating infectious agents in the etiology of severe mental illnesses, postmortem studies have not yet detected an increased incidence of microbial nucleic acid or proteins in the brains of people with mental illness. Nevertheless, abnormally expressed immune and inflammatory markers have consistently been found in the postmortem brain of patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders. Some of these abnormalities may be the result of an infection in utero or early in life that not only impacted the developing immune system but also the developing neurons of the brain. Some of the immune markers that are consistently found to be upregulated in schizophrenia implicate a possible viral infection and the blood brain barrier in the etiology and neuropathology of the disorder.
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12
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Meyer U. Sources and Translational Relevance of Heterogeneity in Maternal Immune Activation Models. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 61:71-91. [PMID: 36306055 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The epidemiological literature reporting increased risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders after prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) is still evolving, and so are the attempts to model this association in animals. Epidemiological studies of MIA offer the advantage of directly evaluating human populations but are often limited in their ability to uncover pathogenic mechanisms. Animal models, on the other hand, are limited in their generalizability to psychiatric disorders but have made significant strides toward discovering causal relationships and biological pathways between MIA and neurobiological phenotypes. Like in any other model system, both planned and unplanned sources of variability exist in animal models of MIA. Therefore, the design, implementation, and interpretation of MIA models warrant a careful consideration of these sources, so that appropriate strategies can be developed to handle them satisfactorily. While every research group may have its own strategy to this aim, it is essential to report the methodological details of the chosen MIA model in order to enhance the transparency and comparability of models across research laboratories. Even though it poses a challenge for attempts to compare experimental findings across laboratories, variability does not undermine the utility of MIA models for translational research. In fact, variability and heterogenous outcomes in MIA models offer unique opportunities for new discoveries and developments in this field, including the identification of disease pathways and molecular mechanisms determining susceptibility and resilience to MIA. This review summarizes the most important sources of variability in animal models of MIA and discusses how model variability can be used to investigate neurobiological and immunological factors causing phenotypic heterogeneity in offspring exposed to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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13
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Effects of Risperidone and Prenatal Poly I:C Exposure on GABA A Receptors and AKT-GSK3β Pathway in the Ventral Tegmental Area of Female Juvenile Rats. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050732. [PMID: 35625659 PMCID: PMC9139019 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the ventral midbrain is the origin of the dopaminergic neurotransmission pathways. Although GABAA receptors and AKT-GSK3β signaling are involved in the pathophysiology of mental disorders and are modulated by antipsychotics, an unmet task is to reveal the pathological changes in these biomarkers and antipsychotic modulations in the VTA. Using a juvenile polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) psychiatric rat model, this study investigated the effects of adolescent risperidone treatment on GABAA receptors and AKT/GSK3β in the VTA. Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered Poly I:C (5mg/kg; i.p) or saline at gestational day 15. Juvenile female offspring received risperidone (0.9 mg/kg, twice per day) or a vehicle from postnatal day 35 for 25 days. Poly I:C offspring had significantly decreased mRNA expression of GABAA receptor β3 subunits and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD2) in the VTA, while risperidone partially reversed the decreased GAD2 expression. Prenatal Poly I:C exposure led to increased expression of AKT2 and GSK3β. Risperidone decreased GABAA receptor β2/3, but increased AKT2 mRNA expression in the VTA of healthy rats. This study suggests that Poly I:C-elicited maternal immune activation and risperidone differentially modulate GABAergic neurotransmission and AKT-GSK3β signaling in the VTA of adolescent rats.
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14
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Cattane N, Vernon AC, Borsini A, Scassellati C, Endres D, Capuron L, Tamouza R, Benros ME, Leza JC, Pariante CM, Riva MA, Cattaneo A. Preclinical animal models of mental illnesses to translate findings from the bench to the bedside: Molecular brain mechanisms and peripheral biomarkers associated to early life stress or immune challenges. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 58:55-79. [PMID: 35235897 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Animal models are useful preclinical tools for studying the pathogenesis of mental disorders and the effectiveness of their treatment. While it is not possible to mimic all symptoms occurring in humans, it is however possible to investigate the behavioral, physiological and neuroanatomical alterations relevant for these complex disorders in controlled conditions and in genetically homogeneous populations. Stressful and infection-related exposures represent the most employed environmental risk factors able to trigger or to unmask a psychopathological phenotype in animals. Indeed, when occurring during sensitive periods of brain maturation, including pre, postnatal life and adolescence, they can affect the offspring's neurodevelopmental trajectories, increasing the risk for mental disorders. Not all stressed or immune challenged animals, however, develop behavioral alterations and preclinical animal models can explain differences between vulnerable or resilient phenotypes. Our review focuses on different paradigms of stress (prenatal stress, maternal separation, social isolation and social defeat stress) and immune challenges (immune activation in pregnancy) and investigates the subsequent alterations in several biological and behavioral domains at different time points of animals' life. It also discusses the "double-hit" hypothesis where an initial early adverse event can prime the response to a second negative challenge. Interestingly, stress and infections early in life induce the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, alter the levels of neurotransmitters, neurotrophins and pro-inflammatory cytokines and affect the functions of microglia and oxidative stress. In conclusion, animal models allow shedding light on the pathophysiology of human mental illnesses and discovering novel molecular drug targets for personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Cattane
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anthony C Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Borsini
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Catia Scassellati
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Dominique Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lucile Capuron
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Département Medico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU ADAPT), Laboratoire Neuro-psychiatrie translationnelle, AP-HP, UniversitéParis Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Fondation FondaMental, F-94010 Créteil, France
| | - Michael Eriksen Benros
- Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte Hospitalsvej 15, 4th floor, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Juan C Leza
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12), IUIN-UCM. Spain
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Marco A Riva
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
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15
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Transgenerational epigenetic impacts of parental infection on offspring health and disease susceptibility. Trends Genet 2022; 38:662-675. [PMID: 35410793 PMCID: PMC8992946 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) and infection during pregnancy are known to reprogramme offspring phenotypes. However, the epigenetic effects of preconceptual paternal infection and paternal immune activation (PIA) are not currently well understood. Recent reports show that paternal infection and immune activation can affect offspring phenotypes, particularly brain function, behaviour, and immune system functioning, across multiple generations without re-exposure to infection. Evidence from other environmental exposures indicates that epigenetic inheritance also occurs in humans. Given the growing impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is imperative that we investigate all of the potential epigenetic mechanisms and multigenerational phenotypes that may arise from both maternal and paternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, as well as associated MIA, PIA, and inflammation. This will allow us to understand and, if necessary, mitigate any potential changes in disease susceptibility in the children, and grandchildren, of affected parents.
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16
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Zhao H, Mao X, Zhu C, Zou X, Peng F, Yang W, Li B, Li G, Ge T, Cui R. GABAergic System Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:781327. [PMID: 35198562 PMCID: PMC8858939 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.781327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a series of neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by two hallmark symptoms, social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the most important inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS). GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission is critical for the regulation of brain rhythm and spontaneous neuronal activities during neurodevelopment. Genetic evidence has identified some variations of genes associated with the GABA system, indicating an abnormal excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission ratio implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD. However, the specific molecular mechanism by which GABA and GABAergic synaptic transmission affect ASD remains unclear. Transgenic technology enables translating genetic variations into rodent models to further investigate the structural and functional synaptic dysregulation related to ASD. In this review, we summarized evidence from human neuroimaging, postmortem, and genetic and pharmacological studies, and put emphasis on the GABAergic synaptic dysregulation and consequent E/I imbalance. We attempt to illuminate the pathophysiological role of structural and functional synaptic dysregulation in ASD and provide insights for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ranji Cui
- *Correspondence: Tongtong Ge, ; Ranji Cui,
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17
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Stress induced microglial activation contributes to depression. Pharmacol Res 2022; 179:106145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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18
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Abnormal mTOR Activity in Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric and MIA-Associated Autism Spectrum Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020967. [PMID: 35055151 PMCID: PMC8781199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020967] [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: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by the early onset of communication and behavioral problems. ASD is highly heritable; however, environmental factors also play a considerable role in this disorder. A significant part of both syndromic and idiopathic autism cases could be attributed to disorders caused by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent translation deregulation. This narrative review analyzes both bioinformatic and experimental evidence that connects mTOR signaling to the maternal autoantibody-related (MAR) autism spectrum and autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders simultaneously. In addition, we reconstruct a network presenting the interactions between the mTOR signaling and eight MAR ASD genes coding for ASD-specific maternal autoantibody target proteins. The research discussed in this review demonstrates novel perspectives and validates the need for a subtyping of ASD on the grounds of pathogenic mechanisms. The utter necessity of designing ELISA-based test panels to identify all antibodies related to autism-like behavior is also considered.
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19
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Vlasova RM, Iosif AM, Ryan AM, Funk LH, Murai T, Chen S, Lesh TA, Rowland DJ, Bennett J, Hogrefe CE, Maddock RJ, Gandal MJ, Geschwind DH, Schumann CM, Van de Water J, McAllister AK, Carter CS, Styner MA, Amaral DG, Bauman MD. Maternal Immune Activation during Pregnancy Alters Postnatal Brain Growth and Cognitive Development in Nonhuman Primate Offspring. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9971-9987. [PMID: 34607967 PMCID: PMC8638691 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0378-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epidemiological studies implicate exposure to infection during gestation in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA) have identified the maternal immune response as the critical link between maternal infection and aberrant offspring brain and behavior development. Here we evaluate neurodevelopment of male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) born to MIA-treated dams (n = 14) injected with a modified form of the viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid at the end of the first trimester. Control dams received saline injections at the same gestational time points (n = 10) or were untreated (n = 4). MIA-treated dams exhibited a strong immune response as indexed by transient increases in sickness behavior, temperature, and inflammatory cytokines. Although offspring born to control or MIA-treated dams did not differ on measures of physical growth and early developmental milestones, the MIA-treated animals exhibited subtle changes in cognitive development and deviated from species-typical brain growth trajectories. Longitudinal MRI revealed significant gray matter volume reductions in the prefrontal and frontal cortices of MIA-treated offspring at 6 months that persisted through the final time point at 45 months along with smaller frontal white matter volumes in MIA-treated animals at 36 and 45 months. These findings provide the first evidence of early postnatal changes in brain development in MIA-exposed nonhuman primates and establish a translationally relevant model system to explore the neurodevelopmental trajectory of risk associated with prenatal immune challenge from birth through late adolescence.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Women exposed to infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will later be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Preclinical maternal immune activation (MIA) models have demonstrated that the effects of maternal infection on fetal brain development are mediated by maternal immune response. Since the majority of MIA models are conducted in rodents, the nonhuman primate provides a unique system to evaluate the MIA hypothesis in a species closely related to humans. Here we report the first longitudinal study conducted in a nonhuman primate MIA model. MIA-exposed offspring demonstrate subtle changes in cognitive development paired with marked reductions in frontal gray and white matter, further supporting the association between prenatal immune challenge and alterations in offspring neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roza M Vlasova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Amy M Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Lucy H Funk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Takeshi Murai
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Shuai Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Douglas J Rowland
- Center for Genomic and Molecular Imaging, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Jeffrey Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Richard J Maddock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Judy Van de Water
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - A Kimberley McAllister
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California, 95618
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
| | - David G Amaral
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, 95817
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
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20
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Haddad FL, Lu L, Baines KJ, Schmid S. Sensory filtering disruption caused by poly I:C - Timing of exposure and other experimental considerations. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 9:100156. [PMID: 34589898 PMCID: PMC8474281 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) in response to infection during pregnancy has been linked through various epidemiological and preclinical studies to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia in exposed offspring. Sensory filtering disruptions occur in both of these disorders and are typically measured using the acoustic startle response in both humans and rodents. Our study focuses on characterizing the baseline reactivity, habituation and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response following exposure to MIA. We induced MIA using polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) at gestational day (GD) 9.5 or 14.5, and we tested sensory filtering phenotypes in adolescent and adult offspring. Our results show that startle reactivity was robustly increased in adult GD9.5 but not GD14.5 poly I:C offspring. In contrast to some previous studies, we found no consistent changes in short-term habituation, long-term habituation or prepulse inhibition of startle. Our study highlights the importance of MIA exposure timing and discusses sensory filtering phenotypes as they relate to ASD, schizophrenia and the poly I:C MIA model. Moreover, we analyze and discuss the potential impact of between- and within-litter variability on behavioural findings in poly I:C studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L Haddad
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Lu Lu
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kelly J Baines
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
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21
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Seo S, Sizemore RJ, Reader KL, Smither RA, Wicky HE, Hughes SM, Bilkey DK, Parr-Brownlie LC, Oorschot DE. A schizophrenia risk factor induces marked anatomical deficits at GABAergic-dopaminergic synapses in the rat ventral tegmental area: Essential evidence for new targeted therapies. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:3946-3973. [PMID: 34338311 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25225] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
To develop new therapies for schizophrenia, evidence accumulated over decades highlights the essential need to investigate the GABAergic synapses that presynaptically influence midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Since current technology restricts these studies to animals, and evidence accumulated in recent decades indicates a developmental origin of schizophrenia, we investigated synaptic changes in male rat offspring exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA), a schizophrenia risk factor. Using a novel combination of lentiviruses, peroxidase-immunogold double labeling, three-dimensional serial section transmission electron microscopy and stereology, we observed clear anatomical alterations in synaptic inputs on dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA). These changes relate directly to a characteristic feature of schizophrenia: increased dopamine release. In 3-month-old and 14-month-old MIA rats, we found a marked decrease in the volume of presynaptic GABAergic terminals from the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) and in the length of the synapses they made, when innervating pVTA dopaminergic neurons. In MIA rats in the long-term, we also discovered a decrease in the volume of the postsynaptic density (PSD) and in the maximum thickness of the PSD at the same synapses. These marked deficits were evident in conventional GABA-dopamine synapses and in synaptic triads that we discovered involving asymmetric synapses that innervated RMTg GABAergic presynaptic terminals, which in turn innervated pVTA dopaminergic neurons. In triads, the PSD thickness of asymmetric synapses was significantly decreased in MIA rats in the long-term cohort. The extensive anatomical deficits provide a potential basis for new therapies targeted at synaptic inputs on midbrain pVTA dopaminergic neurons, in contrast to current striatum-targeted antipsychotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Seo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Rachel J Sizemore
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Karen L Reader
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Roseanna A Smither
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand
| | - Hollie E Wicky
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David K Bilkey
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Louise C Parr-Brownlie
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand
| | - Dorothy E Oorschot
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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22
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Kassotaki I, Valsamakis G, Mastorakos G, Grammatopoulos DK. Placental CRH as a Signal of Pregnancy Adversity and Impact on Fetal Neurodevelopment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:714214. [PMID: 34408727 PMCID: PMC8366286 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.714214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life is a period of considerable plasticity and vulnerability and insults during that period can disrupt the homeostatic equilibrium of the developing organism, resulting in adverse developmental programming and enhanced susceptibility to disease. Fetal exposure to prenatal stress can impede optimum brain development and deranged mother's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) stress responses can alter the neurodevelopmental trajectories of the offspring. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoids, regulate fetal neurogenesis and while CRH exerts neuroprotective actions, increased levels of stress hormones have been associated with fetal brain structural alterations such as reduced cortical volume, impoverishment of neuronal density in the limbic brain areas and alterations in neuronal circuitry, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmission and G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling. Emerging evidence highlight the role of epigenetic changes in fetal brain programming, as stress-induced methylation of genes encoding molecules that are implicated in HPA axis and major neurodevelopmental processes. These serve as molecular memories and have been associated with long term modifications of the offspring's stress regulatory system and increased susceptibility to psychosomatic disorders later in life. This review summarises our current understanding on the roles of CRH and other mediators of stress responses on fetal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Kassotaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, 2nd Internal Medicine Clinic, Venizeleio Pananeio General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Georgios Valsamakis
- Second University Department of Obs and Gynae, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Translational Medicine, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - George Mastorakos
- Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris K. Grammatopoulos
- Translational Medicine, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Institute of Precision Diagnostics and Translational Medicine, Pathology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, Coventry, United Kingdom
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23
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Yang Y, Wang B, Zhong Z, Chen H, Ding W, Hoi MPM. Clonazepam attenuates neurobehavioral abnormalities in offspring exposed to maternal immune activation by enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 192:114711. [PMID: 34324871 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114711] [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] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ample evidence indicates that maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation is linked to an increased risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), anxiety and depression, in offspring. However, the underlying mechanism for such a link remains largely elusive. Here, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to examine the transcriptional profiles changes in mice in response to MIA and identified that the expression of Scn1a gene, encoding the pore-forming α-subunit of the brain voltage-gated sodium channel type-1 (NaV1.1) primarily in fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons, was significantly decreased in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of juvenile offspring after MIA. Moreover, diminished excitatory drive onto interneurons causes reduction of spontaneous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission in the mPFC of MIA offspring, leading to hyperactivity in this brain region. Remarkably, treatment with low-dose benzodiazepines clonazepam, an agonist of GABAA receptors, completely prevented the behavioral abnormalities, including stereotypies, social deficits, anxiety- and depression-like behavior, via increasing inhibitory neurotransmission as well as decreasing neural activity in the mPFC of MIA offspring. Our results demonstrate that decreased expression of NaV1.1 in the mPFC leads to abnormalities in maternal inflammation-related behaviors and provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the abnormal behavioral phenotypes observed in the offspring exposed to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Baojia Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Zhanqion Zhong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Hanbin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Weijun Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Maggie Pui Man Hoi
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China.
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24
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Woods RM, Lorusso JM, Potter HG, Neill JC, Glazier JD, Hager R. Maternal immune activation in rodent models: A systematic review of neurodevelopmental changes in gene expression and epigenetic modulation in the offspring brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 129:389-421. [PMID: 34280428 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (mIA) during pregnancy is hypothesised to disrupt offspring neurodevelopment and predispose offspring to neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia. Rodent models of mIA have explored possible mechanisms underlying this paradigm and provide a vital tool for preclinical research. However, a comprehensive analysis of the molecular changes that occur in mIA-models is lacking, hindering identification of robust clinical targets. This systematic review assesses mIA-driven transcriptomic and epigenomic alterations in specific offspring brain regions. Across 118 studies, we focus on 88 candidate genes and show replicated changes in expression in critical functional areas, including elevated inflammatory markers, and reduced myelin and GABAergic signalling proteins. Further, disturbed epigenetic markers at nine of these genes support mIA-driven epigenetic modulation of transcription. Overall, our results demonstrate that current outcome measures have direct relevance for the hypothesised pathology of schizophrenia and emphasise the importance of mIA-models in contributing to the understanding of biological pathways impacted by mIA and the discovery of new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Woods
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Jarred M Lorusso
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Harry G Potter
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna C Neill
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Jocelyn D Glazier
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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25
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Scarborough J, Mattei D, Dorner-Ciossek C, Sand M, Arban R, Rosenbrock H, Richetto J, Meyer U. Symptomatic and preventive effects of the novel phosphodiesterase-9 inhibitor BI 409306 in an immune-mediated model of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1526-1534. [PMID: 33941860 PMCID: PMC8209175 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01016-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BI 409306, a phosphodiesterase-9 inhibitor under development for treatment of schizophrenia and attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS), promotes synaptic plasticity and cognition. Here, we explored the effects of BI 409306 treatment in the polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (poly[I:C])-based mouse model of maternal immune activation (MIA), which is relevant to schizophrenia and APS. In Study 1, adult offspring received BI 409306 0.2, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg or vehicle to establish an active dose. In Study 2, adult offspring received BI 409306 1 mg/kg and/or risperidone 0.025 mg/kg, risperidone 0.05 mg/kg, or vehicle, to evaluate BI 409306 as add-on to standard therapy for schizophrenia. In Study 3, offspring received BI 409306 1 mg/kg during adolescence only, or continually into adulthood to evaluate preventive effects of BI 409306. We found that BI 409306 significantly mitigated MIA-induced social interaction deficits and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, but not prepulse inhibition impairments, in a dose-dependent manner (Study 1). Furthermore, BI 409306 1 mg/kg alone or in combination with risperidone 0.025 mg/kg significantly reversed social interaction deficits and attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in MIA offspring (Study 2). Finally, we revealed that BI 409306 1 mg/kg treatment restricted to adolescence prevented adult deficits in social interaction, whereas continued treatment into adulthood also significantly reduced amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion (Study 3). Taken together, our findings suggest that symptomatic treatment with BI 409306 can restore social interaction deficits and dopaminergic dysfunctions in a MIA model of neurodevelopmental disruption, lending preclinical support to current clinical trials of BI 409306 in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, BI 409306 given during adolescence has preventive effects on adult social interaction deficits in this model, supporting its use in people with APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Scarborough
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Mattei
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Dorner-Ciossek
- Department of CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Michael Sand
- Department of Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Roberto Arban
- Department of CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Holger Rosenbrock
- Department of CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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26
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Page NF, Gandal MJ, Estes ML, Cameron S, Buth J, Parhami S, Ramaswami G, Murray K, Amaral DG, Van de Water JA, Schumann CM, Carter CS, Bauman MD, McAllister AK, Geschwind DH. Alterations in Retrotransposition, Synaptic Connectivity, and Myelination Implicated by Transcriptomic Changes Following Maternal Immune Activation in Nonhuman Primates. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:896-910. [PMID: 33386132 PMCID: PMC8052273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a proposed risk factor for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. However, the molecular mechanisms through which MIA imparts risk remain poorly understood. A recently developed nonhuman primate model of exposure to the viral mimic poly:ICLC during pregnancy shows abnormal social and repetitive behaviors and elevated striatal dopamine, a molecular hallmark of human psychosis, providing an unprecedented opportunity for studying underlying molecular correlates. METHODS We performed RNA sequencing across psychiatrically relevant brain regions (prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, hippocampus) and primary visual cortex for comparison from 3.5- to 4-year-old male MIA-exposed and control offspring-an age comparable to mid adolescence in humans. RESULTS We identify 266 unique genes differentially expressed in at least one brain region, with the greatest number observed in hippocampus. Co-expression networks identified region-specific alterations in synaptic signaling and oligodendrocytes. Although we observed temporal and regional differences, transcriptomic changes were shared across first- and second-trimester exposures, including for the top differentially expressed genes-PIWIL2 and MGARP. In addition to PIWIL2, several other regulators of retrotransposition and endogenous transposable elements were dysregulated following MIA, potentially connecting MIA to retrotransposition. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results begin to elucidate the brain-level molecular processes through which MIA may impart risk for psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F Page
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Myka L Estes
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Scott Cameron
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Jessie Buth
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sepideh Parhami
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Gokul Ramaswami
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California
| | - Karl Murray
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - David G Amaral
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Judy A Van de Water
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - A Kimberley McAllister
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Los Angeles, California; Department of Human Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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27
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Vasistha NA, Khodosevich K. The impact of (ab)normal maternal environment on cortical development. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 202:102054. [PMID: 33905709 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The cortex in the mammalian brain is the most complex brain region that integrates sensory information and coordinates motor and cognitive processes. To perform such functions, the cortex contains multiple subtypes of neurons that are generated during embryogenesis. Newly born neurons migrate to their proper location in the cortex, grow axons and dendrites, and form neuronal circuits. These developmental processes in the fetal brain are regulated to a large extent by a great variety of factors derived from the mother - starting from simple nutrients as building blocks and ending with hormones. Thus, when the normal maternal environment is disturbed due to maternal infection, stress, malnutrition, or toxic substances, it might have a profound impact on cortical development and the offspring can develop a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we first describe the major developmental processes which generate neuronal diversity in the cortex. We then review our knowledge of how most common maternal insults affect cortical development, perturb neuronal circuits, and lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. We further present a concept of selective vulnerability of cortical neuronal subtypes to maternal-derived insults, where the vulnerability of cortical neurons and their progenitors to an insult depends on the time (developmental period), place (location in the developing brain), and type (unique features of a cell type and an insult). Finally, we provide evidence for the existence of selective vulnerability during cortical development and identify the most vulnerable neuronal types, stages of differentiation, and developmental time for major maternal-derived insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet A Vasistha
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Konstantin Khodosevich
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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28
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Canales CP, Estes ML, Cichewicz K, Angara K, Aboubechara JP, Cameron S, Prendergast K, Su-Feher L, Zdilar I, Kreun EJ, Connolly EC, Seo JM, Goon JB, Farrelly K, Stradleigh TW, van der List D, Haapanen L, Van de Water J, Vogt D, McAllister AK, Nord AS. Sequential perturbations to mouse corticogenesis following in utero maternal immune activation. eLife 2021; 10:e60100. [PMID: 33666173 PMCID: PMC7979158 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In utero exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Animal models provide an opportunity to identify mechanisms driving neuropathology associated with MIA. We performed time-course transcriptional profiling of mouse cortical development following induced MIA via poly(I:C) injection at E12.5. MIA-driven transcriptional changes were validated via protein analysis, and parallel perturbations to cortical neuroanatomy were identified via imaging. MIA-induced acute upregulation of genes associated with hypoxia, immune signaling, and angiogenesis, by 6 hr following exposure. This acute response was followed by changes in proliferation, neuronal and glial specification, and cortical lamination that emerged at E14.5 and peaked at E17.5. Decreased numbers of proliferative cells in germinal zones and alterations in neuronal and glial populations were identified in the MIA-exposed cortex. Overall, paired transcriptomic and neuroanatomical characterization revealed a sequence of perturbations to corticogenesis driven by mid-gestational MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Myka L Estes
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | - Kartik Angara
- Department of Pediatrics & Human Development, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | | | | | | | | | - Iva Zdilar
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Jack B Goon
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Lori Haapanen
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Daniel Vogt
- Department of Pediatrics & Human Development, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | | | - Alex S Nord
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
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29
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Purves-Tyson TD, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Richetto J, Rothmond DA, Labouesse MA, Polesel M, Robinson K, Shannon Weickert C, Meyer U. Increased levels of midbrain immune-related transcripts in schizophrenia and in murine offspring after maternal immune activation. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:849-863. [PMID: 31168068 PMCID: PMC7910216 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0434-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia involves alterations at the ventral midbrain level. Given that inflammatory mediators such as cytokines influence the functional properties of midbrain dopamine neurons, midbrain inflammation may play a role in schizophrenia by contributing to presynaptic dopamine abnormalities. Thus, we quantified inflammatory markers in dopaminergic areas of the midbrain of people with schizophrenia and matched controls. We also measured these markers in midbrain of mice exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy, an established risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. We found diagnostic increases in SERPINA3, TNFα, IL1β, IL6, and IL6ST transcripts in schizophrenia compared with controls (p < 0.02-0.001). The diagnostic differences in these immune markers were accounted for by a subgroup of schizophrenia cases (~ 45%, 13/28) showing high immune status. Consistent with the human cohort, we identified increased expression of immune markers in the midbrain of adult MIA offspring (SERPINA3, TNFα, and IL1β mRNAs, all p ≤ 0.01), which was driven by a subset of MIA offspring (~ 40%, 13/32) with high immune status. There were no diagnostic (human cohort) or group-wise (mouse cohort) differences in cellular markers indexing the density and/or morphology of microglia or astrocytes, but an increase in the transcription of microglial and astrocytic markers in schizophrenia cases and MIA offspring with high inflammation. These data demonstrate that immune-related changes in schizophrenia extend to dopaminergic areas of the midbrain and exist in the absence of changes in microglial cell number, but with putative evidence of microglial and astrocytic activation in the high immune subgroup. MIA may be one of the contributing factors underlying persistent neuroimmune changes in the midbrain of people with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tertia D Purves-Tyson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Debora A Rothmond
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Marie A Labouesse
- Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, NYC, 10032, NY, USA
| | | | - Kate Robinson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia.
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, 13210, New York, USA.
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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30
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Neurodevelopmental signatures of narcotic and neuropsychiatric risk factors in 3D human-derived forebrain organoids. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7760-7783. [PMID: 34158620 PMCID: PMC8873021 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that narcotic use during pregnancy and specific environmental factors (e.g., maternal immune activation and chronic stress) may increase risk of neuropsychiatric illness in offspring. However, little progress has been made in defining human-specific in utero neurodevelopmental pathology due to ethical and technical challenges associated with accessing human prenatal brain tissue. Here we utilized human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate reproducible organoids that recapitulate dorsal forebrain development including early corticogenesis. We systemically exposed organoid samples to chemically defined "enviromimetic" compounds to examine the developmental effects of various narcotic and neuropsychiatric-related risk factors within tissue of human origin. In tandem experiments conducted in parallel, we modeled exposure to opiates (μ-opioid agonist endomorphin), cannabinoids (WIN 55,212-2), alcohol (ethanol), smoking (nicotine), chronic stress (human cortisol), and maternal immune activation (human Interleukin-17a; IL17a). Human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids were consequently analyzed via an array of unbiased and high-throughput analytical approaches, including state-of-the-art TMT-16plex liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry (LC/MS) proteomics, hybrid MS metabolomics, and flow cytometry panels to determine cell-cycle dynamics and rates of cell death. This pipeline subsequently revealed both common and unique proteome, reactome, and metabolome alterations as a consequence of enviromimetic modeling of narcotic use and neuropsychiatric-related risk factors in tissue of human origin. However, of our 6 treatment groups, human-derived organoids treated with the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 exhibited the least convergence of all groups. Single-cell analysis revealed that WIN 55,212-2 increased DNA fragmentation, an indicator of apoptosis, in human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids. We subsequently confirmed induction of DNA damage and apoptosis by WIN 55,212-2 within 3D human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids. Lastly, in a BrdU pulse-chase neocortical neurogenesis paradigm, we identified that WIN 55,212-2 was the only enviromimetic treatment to disrupt newborn neuron numbers within human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids. Cumulatively this study serves as both a resource and foundation from which human 3D biologics can be used to resolve the non-genomic effects of neuropsychiatric risk factors under controlled laboratory conditions. While synthetic cannabinoids can differ from naturally occurring compounds in their effects, our data nonetheless suggests that exposure to WIN 55,212-2 elicits neurotoxicity within human-derived developing forebrain tissue. These human-derived data therefore support the long-standing belief that maternal use of cannabinoids may require caution so to avoid any potential neurodevelopmental effects upon developing offspring in utero.
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31
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Fernandez A, Dumon C, Guimond D, Tyzio R, Bonifazi P, Lozovaya N, Burnashev N, Ferrari DC, Ben-Ari Y. The GABA Developmental Shift Is Abolished by Maternal Immune Activation Already at Birth. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:3982-3992. [PMID: 30395185 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that maternal immune activation (MIA) leads to developmental brain disorders, but whether the pathogenic mechanism impacts neurons already at birth is not known. We now report that MIA abolishes in mice the oxytocin-mediated delivery γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing in CA3 pyramidal neurons, and this is restored by the NKCC1 chloride importer antagonist bumetanide. Furthermore, MIA hippocampal pyramidal neurons at birth have a more exuberant apical arbor organization and increased apical dendritic length than age-matched controls. The frequency of spontaneous glutamatergic postsynaptic currents is also increased in MIA offspring, as well as the pairwise correlation of the synchronized firing of active cells in CA3. These alterations produced by MIA persist, since at P14-15 GABA action remains depolarizing, produces excitatory action, and network activity remains elevated with a higher frequency of spontaneous glutamatergic postsynaptic currents. Therefore, the pathogenic actions of MIA lead to important morphophysiological and network alterations in the hippocampus already at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Fernandez
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France.,Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), INSERM UMR1249, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University UMR 1249, Marseille, France
| | - Camille Dumon
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France.,Aix-Marseille University UMR 1249, Marseille, France
| | - Damien Guimond
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France
| | - Roman Tyzio
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France.,Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), INSERM UMR1249, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University UMR 1249, Marseille, France
| | - Paolo Bonifazi
- Biocruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,IKERBASQUE: The Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Natalia Lozovaya
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France
| | - Nail Burnashev
- Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), INSERM UMR1249, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University UMR 1249, Marseille, France
| | - Diana C Ferrari
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France
| | - Yehezkel Ben-Ari
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology (IBEN), Bâtiment Beret-Delaage, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, MARSEILLE Cedex 09, France.,Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), INSERM UMR1249, Marseille, France
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Brain Structural and Functional Alterations in Mice Prenatally Exposed to LPS Are Only Partially Rescued by Anti-Inflammatory Treatment. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10090620. [PMID: 32906830 PMCID: PMC7564777 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10090620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant immune activity during neurodevelopment could participate in the generation of neurological dysfunctions characteristic of several neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Numerous epidemiological studies have shown a link between maternal infections and NDDs risk; animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA) have confirmed this association. Activation of maternal immune system during pregnancy induces behavioral and functional alterations in offspring but the biological mechanisms at the basis of these effects are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in peripheral and central inflammation, cortical cytoarchitecture and behavior of offspring (LPS-mice). LPS-mice reported a significant increase in interleukin-1β (IL-1β) serum level, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive cells in the cortex. Furthermore, cytoarchitecture analysis in specific brain areas, showed aberrant alterations in minicolumns’ organization in LPS-mice adult brain. In addition, we demonstrated that LPS-mice presented behavioral alterations throughout life. In order to better understand biological mechanisms whereby LPS induced these alterations, dams were treated with meloxicam. We demonstrated for the first time that exposure to LPS throughout pregnancy induces structural permanent alterations in offspring brain. LPS-mice also present severe behavioral impairments. Preventive treatment with meloxicam reduced inflammation in offspring but did not rescue them from structural and behavioral alterations.
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Haddad FL, Patel SV, Schmid S. Maternal Immune Activation by Poly I:C as a preclinical Model for Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A focus on Autism and Schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:546-567. [PMID: 32320814 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) in response to a viral infection during early and mid-gestation has been linked through various epidemiological studies to a higher risk for the child to develop autism or schizophrenia-related symptoms.. This has led to the establishment of the pathogen-free poly I:C-induced MIA animal model for neurodevelopmental disorders, which shows relatively high construct and face validity. Depending on the experimental variables, particularly the timing of poly I:C administration, different behavioural and molecular phenotypes have been described that relate to specific symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and/or schizophrenia. We here review and summarize epidemiological evidence for the effects of maternal infection and immune activation, as well as major findings in different poly I:C MIA models with a focus on poly I:C exposure timing, behavioural and molecular changes in the offspring, and characteristics of the model that relate it to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L Haddad
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Salonee V Patel
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
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Di T, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Sha S, Zeng Y, Chen L. Dopaminergic afferents from midbrain to dorsolateral bed nucleus of stria terminalis inhibit release and expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone in paraventricular nucleus. J Neurochem 2020; 154:218-234. [PMID: 32096869 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons of the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) are known to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis but have no direct projections to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. This study investigated whether VTA DAergic afferents modulate glutamatergic transmission-dependent GABAergic neurons in dorsolateral bed nucleus of stria terminalis (dlBNST) to affect the activity of the HPA-axis. Herein, we demonstrate that systemic administration of the neurotoxicant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or the VTA-injection of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) in male mice (MPTP-mice and MPP+mice) caused a decline of tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH+) cells in VTA with a reduction in TH+fibers in the dlBNST. MPTP-mice and MPP+mice displayed a clear increase in serum levels of corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression, and CRH neuron activity in PVN. The presynaptic glutamate release, glutamatergic synaptic transmission and induction of long-term potentiation in dlBNST of MPTP-mice were suppressed, and these effects were rescued by a D1-like DAergic receptor (D1R) agonist and mimicked in control dlBNST by blockade of D1R. MPTP-mice exhibited low expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase and dysfunction of the excitatory-dependent GABAergic circuit in dlBNST, and these effects were recovered by the administration of D1R agonist. Furthermore, either dlBNST-injection of D1R agonist or PVN-injection of GABAA receptor (GABAA R) agonist could correct the increased secretion and expression of CRH in MPTP-mice. The results indicate that the DAergic afferents from VTA enhance excitatory-dependent activation of GABAergic neurons in dlBNST, which suppress the activity of the HPA-axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Di
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sha Sha
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanying Zeng
- Department of Gerontology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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35
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Rahman T, Weickert CS, Harms L, Meehan C, Schall U, Todd J, Hodgson DM, Michie PT, Purves-Tyson T. Effect of Immune Activation during Early Gestation or Late Gestation on Inhibitory Markers in Adult Male Rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1982. [PMID: 32029751 PMCID: PMC7004984 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
People with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in inhibitory neurons and cognition. The timing of maternal immune activation (MIA) may present distinct schizophrenia-like phenotypes in progeny. We investigated whether early gestation [gestational day (GD) 10] or late gestation (GD19) MIA, via viral mimetic polyI:C, produces deficits in inhibitory neuron indices (GAD1, PVALB, SST, SSTR2 mRNAs) within cortical, striatal, and hippocampal subregions of male adult rat offspring. In situ hybridisation revealed that polyI:C offspring had: (1) SST mRNA reductions in the cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens shell, regardless of MIA timing; (2) SSTR2 mRNA reductions in the cortex and striatum of GD19, but not GD10, MIA; (3) no alterations in cortical or striatal GAD1 mRNA of polyI:C offspring, but an expected reduction of PVALB mRNA in the infralimbic cortex, and; (4) no alterations in inhibitory markers in hippocampus. Maternal IL-6 response negatively correlated with adult offspring SST mRNA in cortex and striatum, but not hippocampus. These results show lasting inhibitory-related deficits in cortex and striatum in adult offspring from MIA. SST downregulation in specific cortical and striatal subregions, with additional deficits in somatostatin-related signalling through SSTR2, may contribute to some of the adult behavioural changes resulting from MIA and its timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim Rahman
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Lauren Harms
- School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Crystal Meehan
- School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Division of Psychology, School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Ulrich Schall
- Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Juanita Todd
- School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Deborah M Hodgson
- School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Patricia T Michie
- School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Tertia Purves-Tyson
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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36
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Immune activation during gestation: Developmental trajectories and the risk for psychopathology. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 83:5-6. [PMID: 31682971 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Kreitz S, Zambon A, Ronovsky M, Budinsky L, Helbich TH, Sideromenos S, Ivan C, Konerth L, Wank I, Berger A, Pollak A, Hess A, Pollak DD. Maternal immune activation during pregnancy impacts on brain structure and function in the adult offspring. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 83:56-67. [PMID: 31526827 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational infection constitutes a risk factor for the occurrence of psychiatric disorders in the offspring. Activation of the maternal immune system (MIA) with subsequent impact on the development of the fetal brain is considered to form the neurobiological basis for aberrant neural wiring and the psychiatric manifestations later in offspring life. The examination of validated animal models constitutes a premier resource for the investigation of the neural underpinnings. Here we used a mouse model of MIA based upon systemic treatment of pregnant mice with Poly(I:C) (polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid), for the unbiased and comprehensive analysis of the impact of MIA on adult offspring brain activity, morphometry, connectivity and function by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach. Overall lower neural activity, smaller brain regions and less effective fiber structure were observed for Poly(I:C) offspring compared to the control group. The corpus callosum was significantly smaller and presented with a disruption in myelin/ fiber structure in the MIA progeny. Subsequent resting-state functional MRI experiments demonstrated a paralleling dysfunctional interhemispheric connectivity. Additionally, while the overall flow of information was intact, cortico-limbic connectivity was hampered and limbic circuits revealed hyperconnectivity in Poly(I:C) offspring. Our study sheds new light on the impact of maternal infection during pregnancy on the offspring brain and identifies aberrant resting-state functional connectivity patterns as possible correlates of the behavioral phenotype with relevance for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Kreitz
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Alice Zambon
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Marianne Ronovsky
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Lubos Budinsky
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas H Helbich
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Spyros Sideromenos
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudiu Ivan
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Laura Konerth
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Isabel Wank
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Angelika Berger
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Arnold Pollak
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Hess
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany.
| | - Daniela D Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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Maternal inflammation has a profound effect on cortical interneuron development in a stage and subtype-specific manner. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2313-2329. [PMID: 31595033 PMCID: PMC7515848 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0539-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Severe infections during pregnancy are one of the major risk factors for cognitive impairment in the offspring. It has been suggested that maternal inflammation leads to dysfunction of cortical GABAergic interneurons that in turn underlies cognitive impairment of the affected offspring. However, the evidence comes largely from studies of adult or mature brains and how the impairment of inhibitory circuits arises upon maternal inflammation is unknown. Here we show that maternal inflammation affects multiple steps of cortical GABAergic interneuron development, i.e., proliferation of precursor cells, migration and positioning of neuroblasts, as well as neuronal maturation. Importantly, the development of distinct subtypes of cortical GABAergic interneurons was discretely impaired as a result of maternal inflammation. This translated into a reduction in cell numbers, redistribution across cortical regions and layers, and changes in morphology and cellular properties. Furthermore, selective vulnerability of GABAergic interneuron subtypes was associated with the stage of brain development. Thus, we propose that maternally derived insults have developmental stage-dependent effects, which contribute to the complex etiology of cognitive impairment in the affected offspring.
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39
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Osborne AL, Solowij N, Babic I, Lum JS, Newell KA, Huang XF, Weston-Green K. Effect of cannabidiol on endocannabinoid, glutamatergic and GABAergic signalling markers in male offspring of a maternal immune activation (poly I:C) model relevant to schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 95:109666. [PMID: 31202911 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The mainstay treatment for schizophrenia is antipsychotic drugs (APDs), which are mostly effective against the positive symptoms (e.g. hallucinations), but provide minimal benefits for the negative symptoms (e.g. social withdrawal) and cognitive deficits. We have recently shown that treatment with the non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), can improve cognition and social interaction deficits in a maternal immune activation (MIA) model relevant to the aetiology of schizophrenia, however, the mechanisms underlying this effect are unknown. An imbalance in the main excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmitter systems in the brain plays a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Therefore, the endocannabinoid system could represent a therapeutic target for schizophrenia as a regulator of glutamate and GABA release via the CB1 receptor (CB1R). This study investigated the effects of chronic CBD treatment on markers of glutamatergic, GABAergic and endocannabinoid signalling in brain regions implicated in social behaviour and cognitive function, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC). Time-mated pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 16) were administered poly I:C (4 mg/kg, i.v.) or saline (control) on gestational day 15. Male offspring were injected with CBD (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle twice daily from postnatal day 56 for 3 weeks. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC) were collected for post-mortem receptor binding and Western blot analyses (n = 8 per group). CBD treatment attenuated poly I:C-induced deficits in cannabinoid CB1 receptor binding in the PFC and glutamate decarboxylase 67, the enzyme that converts glutamate to GABA, in the HPC. CBD treatment increased parvalbumin levels in the HPC, regardless of whether offspring were exposed to poly I:C in utero. Conversely, CBD did not affect N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor binding or protein levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase, the enzyme that degrades the endocannabinoid, anandamide. Overall, these findings show that CBD can restore cannabinoid/GABAergic signalling deficits in regions of the brain implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology following maternal poly I:C exposure. These findings provide novel evidence for the potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of CBD treatment in the poly I:C model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh L Osborne
- Neuropharmacology and Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Nadia Solowij
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Ilijana Babic
- Neuropharmacology and Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Illawarra and Shoalhaven Health District, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Lum
- Neuropharmacology and Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Kelly A Newell
- Neuropharmacology and Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Katrina Weston-Green
- Neuropharmacology and Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
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Watkins JM, von Chamier M, Brown MB, Reyes L, Hayward LF. Prenatal infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis in rats exaggerates the angiotensin II pressor response in adult offspring. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2019; 318:R338-R350. [PMID: 31850818 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00194.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to different stressors in utero is linked to adult diseases such as obesity and hypertension. In this study, the impact of prenatal infection (PNI) on adult body weight and cardiovascular function was evaluated using a naturally occurring rodent pathogen, Mycoplasma pulmonis (MP). Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with MP on gestational day 14 and gave birth naturally. Adult PNI offspring weighed more than controls, but resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) was unchanged. Subcutaneous injection of angiotensin II (10 μg/kg) elicited a rise in MAP that was greater in both male and female PNI offspring compared with controls (P < 0.03). The accompanying reflex bradycardia was similar to the controls, suggesting that PNI induced baroreflex dysfunction. Subcutaneous nicotine administration, a potent cardiorespiratory stimulus, also elicited a transient rise in MAP that was generally greater in the PNI group, but the change in MAP from baseline was only significant in the PNI females compared with controls (P < 0.03). Elevated body weight and cardiovascular reactivity in the PNI offspring was associated with an increase in the ratio of hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptors type 1 to type 2 gene expression in both sexes compared with controls. These findings support previous studies demonstrating that PNI induces alterations in cardiovascular function and body weight. Yet, unlike previous studies utilizing other models of PNI (e.g., endotoxin), MP PNI did not induce resting hypertension. Thus, our study provides a foundation for future studies evaluating the cardiovascular risks of offspring exposed to microbial challenges in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Watkins
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - M von Chamier
- Department of Infectious Disease and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - M B Brown
- Department of Infectious Disease and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - L Reyes
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - L F Hayward
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Duchatel RJ, Harms LR, Meehan CL, Michie PT, Bigland MJ, Smith DW, Jobling P, Hodgson DM, Tooney PA. Reduced cortical somatostatin gene expression in a rat model of maternal immune activation. Psychiatry Res 2019; 282:112621. [PMID: 31648143 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in GABAergic interneurons and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) are observed in the brains of people with schizophrenia. Studies also show increased density of interstitial white matter neurons (IWMN), including those containing GAD and somatostatin (SST) in the brain in schizophrenia. Maternal immune activation can be modelled in rodents to investigate the relationship between prenatal exposure to infections and increased risk of developing schizophrenia. We reported that maternal immune activation induced an increase in density of somatostatin-positive IWMN in the adult rat offspring. Here we hypothesised that maternal immune activation induced in pregnant rats by polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid would alter SST and GAD gene expression as well as increase the density of GAD-positive IWMNs in the adult offspring. SST gene expression was significantly reduced in the cingulate cortex of adult offspring exposed to late gestation maternal immune activation. There was no change in cortical GAD gene expression nor GAD-positive IWMN density in adults rats exposed to maternal immune activation at either early or late gestation. This suggests that our model of maternal immune activation induced by prenatal exposure of rats to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid during late gestation is able to recapitulate changes in SST but not other GABAergic neuropathologies observed in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Duchatel
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Lauren R Harms
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Crystal L Meehan
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Patricia T Michie
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Mark J Bigland
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Doug W Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Phillip Jobling
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Deborah M Hodgson
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
| | - Paul A Tooney
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305 Australia.
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Nakamura JP, Schroeder A, Hudson M, Jones N, Gillespie B, Du X, Notaras M, Swaminathan V, Reay WR, Atkins JR, Green MJ, Carr VJ, Cairns MJ, Sundram S, Hill RA. The maternal immune activation model uncovers a role for the Arx gene in GABAergic dysfunction in schizophrenia. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 81:161-171. [PMID: 31175998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A hallmark feature of schizophrenia is altered high frequency neural oscillations, including reduced auditory-evoked gamma oscillatory power, which is underpinned by parvalbumin (PV) interneuron dysfunction. Maternal immune activation (MIA) in rodents models an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia and recapitulates these PV interneuron changes. This study sought to link reduced PV expression in the MIA model with alterations to auditory-evoked gamma oscillations and transcript expression. We further aligned transcriptional findings from the animal model with human genome sequencing data. We show that MIA, induced by the viral mimetic, poly-I:C in C57Bl/6 mice, caused in adult offspring reduced auditory-evoked gamma and theta oscillatory power paralleled by reduced PV protein levels. We then showed the Arx gene, critical to healthy neurodevelopment of PV interneurons, is reduced in the forebrain of MIA exposed mice. Finally, in a whole-genome sequenced patient cohort, we identified a novel missense mutation of ARX in a patient with schizophrenia and in the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium 2 cohort, a nominal association of proximal ARX SNPs with the disorder. This suggests MIA, as a risk factor for schizophrenia, may be influencing Arx expression to induce the GABAergic dysfunction seen in schizophrenia and that the ARX gene may play a role in the prenatal origins of schizophrenia pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay P Nakamura
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Anna Schroeder
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew Hudson
- University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Nigel Jones
- University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Xin Du
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Michael Notaras
- Centre for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York 10021, USA
| | - Vaidy Swaminathan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - William R Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Joshua R Atkins
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Barker St, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Barker St, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel A Hill
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
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Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U. Challenges and opportunities of a-priori and a-posteriori variability in maternal immune activation models. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Dabbah-Assadi F, Alon D, Golani I, Doron R, Kremer I, Beloosesky R, Shamir A. The influence of immune activation at early vs late gestation on fetal NRG1-ErbB4 expression and behavior in juvenile and adult mice offspring. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 79:207-215. [PMID: 30738182 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal inflammation during pregnancy is associated with a higher incidence of mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia and autism) in the offspring. In our study, we investigate the involvement of the NRG-ErbB signaling pathway in rodent fetal brains four hours following maternal immune activation (MIA) insult at two different gestational days (i.e. early vs late). Furthermore, we test the long-term behavioral alteration of the exposed MIA mice at juvenile and adulthood. We demonstrate that MIA at late, but not at early gestation day, altered the expression of NRG1, its receptor ErbB4, and the dopamine D2 receptor four hours post injection of viral or bacterial mimic material in fetal brain. At the behavioral levels, adult late-MIA-exposed female offspring, but not juvenile, display lack preference to a novel object. While working memory alteration observed only in adult male MIA-exposed offspring at late gestation day. In addition, we found that adult females MIA-exposed mice spent more time in the center of the open field than female-saline groups. On the other hand, juvenile male offspring exposed to MIA at early, but not late, gestation day displayed a significant alteration in social interaction. Our results suggest that MIA during late gestation immediately influences the expression levels of the NRG1 and ErbB4 genes, and affects long-term behavioral changes at adulthood. These behavioral changes are time related and sex-specific. Thus, immune activation at late stages of the embryonic brain development initiates the activation of the NRG1-ErbB4 pathway and this disturbance might result in cognitive dysfunction in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Dabbah-Assadi
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - D Alon
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel
| | - I Golani
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
| | - R Doron
- Psychobiology Laboratory, School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel; Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University, Raanana, Israel
| | - I Kremer
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - R Beloosesky
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - A Shamir
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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Hao K, Su X, Luo B, Cai Y, Chen T, Yang Y, Shao M, Song M, Zhang L, Zhong Z, Li W, Lv L. Prenatal immune activation induces age-related alterations in rat offspring: Effects upon NMDA receptors and behaviors. Behav Brain Res 2019; 370:111946. [PMID: 31112730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C) results in psychotic-like behavior in mature rat offspring as well as enduring modifications of glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission. However, little is known about the dynamic behavioral and glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor changes in rat offspring following poly I:C treatment of pregnant dams. In this study, poly I:C was administered to rats intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/kg on gestational day 9 in order to assess changes in behavior and NMDA receptors in offspring over time. Results demonstrate progressive worsening behaviors in adolescents and adults that manifest as increased anxiety, cognitive impairment, and pre-pulse inhibition deficits. Age-related alteration of NMDA receptors in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, either total number or distribution, were observed from weaning to adulthood. These results suggest that abnormalities of NMDA receptors occur prior to obvious schizophrenia-like behavioral manifestations. Hence, NMDA receptors may be potential therapeutic targets to prevent disease development during asymptomatic periods of schizophrenia, and may serve as targets for preventive and/or therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia. Further, PSD95, a scaffolding protein that is a component of the NMDA receptor signaling complex, is increased in the hippocampus of adult offspring, when serious behavioral abnormalities emerge. This result suggests that PSD95 may be involved in behavioral abnormalities of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keke Hao
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Xinxiang Medical University.
| | - Xi Su
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Binbin Luo
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Yaqi Cai
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Minglong Shao
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Meng Song
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Luwen Zhang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Zhaoxi Zhong
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
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Da Silva T, Hafizi S, Rusjan PM, Houle S, Wilson AA, Prce I, Sailasuta N, Mizrahi R. GABA levels and TSPO expression in people at clinical high risk for psychosis and healthy volunteers: a PET-MRS study. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2019; 44:111-119. [PMID: 30255837 PMCID: PMC6397035 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.170201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND γ-Aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) dysfunction and immune activation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Preclinical evidence suggests that inflammation-related abnormalities may contribute to GABAergic alterations in the brain, but this has never been investigated in vivo in humans. In this multimodal imaging study, we quantified cerebral GABA plus macromolecule (GABA+) levels in antipsychotic-naive people at clinical high risk for psychosis and in healthy volunteers. We investigated for the first time the association between GABA+ levels and expression of translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO; a marker of microglial activation) using positron emission tomography (PET). METHODS Thirty-five people at clinical high risk for psychosis and 18 healthy volunteers underwent 3 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to obtain GABA+ levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). A subset (29 people at clinical high risk for psychosis and 15 healthy volunteers) also underwent a high-resolution [18F]FEPPA PET scan to quantify TSPO expression. Each participant was genotyped for the TSPO rs6971 polymorphism. RESULTS We found that GABA+ levels were significantly associated with TSPO expression in the mPFC (F1,40 = 10.45, p = 0.002). We found no significant differences in GABA+ levels in the mPFC (F1,51 = 0.00, p > 0.99) between people at clinical high risk for psychosis and healthy volunteers. We found no significant correlations between GABA+ levels or residuals of the association with TSPO expression and the severity of prodromal symptoms or cognition. LIMITATIONS Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, we could determine no cause-and-effect relationships for GABA alterations and TSPO expression. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that TSPO expression is negatively associated with GABA+ levels in the prefrontal cortex, independent of disease status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Da Silva
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Sina Hafizi
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Pablo M Rusjan
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Sylvain Houle
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Alan A Wilson
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Ivana Prce
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Napapon Sailasuta
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
| | - Romina Mizrahi
- From the Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Hafizi, Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Prce, Sailasuta, Mizrahi); the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Silva, Rusjan, Mizrahi); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Wilson, Mizrahi); and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada (Rusjan, Houle, Sailasuta, Mizrahi)
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Impaired Interneuron Development in a Novel Model of Neonatal Brain Injury. eNeuro 2019; 6:eN-NWR-0300-18. [PMID: 30809588 PMCID: PMC6390196 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0300-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prematurity is associated with significantly increased risk of neurobehavioral pathologies, including autism and schizophrenia. A common feature of these psychiatric disorders is prefrontal cortex (PFC) inhibitory circuit disruption due to GABAergic interneuron alteration. Cortical interneurons are generated and migrate throughout late gestation and early infancy, making them highly susceptible to perinatal insults such as preterm birth. Term and preterm PFC pathology specimens were assessed using immunohistochemical markers for interneurons. Based on the changes seen, a new preterm encephalopathy mouse model was developed to produce similar PFC interneuron loss. Maternal immune activation (MIA; modeling chorioamnionitis, associated with 85% of extremely preterm births) was combined with chronic sublethal hypoxia (CSH; modeling preterm respiratory failure), with offspring of both sexes assessed anatomically, molecularly and neurobehaviorally. In the PFC examined from the human preterm samples compared to matched term samples at corrected age, a decrease in somatostatin (SST) and calbindin (CLB) interneurons was seen in upper cortical layers. This pattern of interneuron loss in upper cortical layers was mimicked in the mouse PFC following the combination of MIA and CSH, but not after either insult alone. This persistent interneuron loss is associated with postnatal microglial activation that occurs during CSH only after MIA. The combined insults lead to long-term neurobehavioral deficits which parallel human psychopathologies that may be seen after extremely preterm birth. This new preclinical model supports a paradigm in which specific cellular alterations seen in preterm encephalopathy can be linked with a risk of neuropsychiatric sequela. Specific interneuron subtypes may provide therapeutic targets to prevent or ameliorate these neurodevelopmental risks.
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Coiro P, Pollak DD. Sex and gender bias in the experimental neurosciences: the case of the maternal immune activation model. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:90. [PMID: 30765690 PMCID: PMC6375995 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent and rapidly developing movements relating to the increasing awareness and reports of gender bias, discrimination, and abuse have reached the academic environments. The consideration that negative attitudes toward women and abuse of power creates a hostile environment for female scientists, facilitating sexual harassment and driving women out of science, can be easily related to. Rationally inaccessible gender biases are not only evident at the level of the researchers, but are also paralleled by a corresponding imbalance at the level of the research subjects. Here, we focus on the maternal immune activation (MIA) animal model to illustrate exemplarily the current state of ex-/inclusion of female research subjects and the consideration of sex as biological variable in the basic neurosciences. We demonstrate a strong sex disparity with a major emphasis on male animals in studies examining behavioral and neurochemical alterations in MIA offspring. We put forward the hypothesis that this neglect of female subjects in basic research may stem from a hard-wired sex/gender bias, which may also be reflected in a similar attitude toward female scientists. We suggest exploring the possibility that by dismantling sex bias and male dominance in basic research one would get an additional handle on favorably modifying the perception and appreciation for women in science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluca Coiro
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela D Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Kolesnik A, Begum Ali J, Gliga T, Guiraud J, Charman T, Johnson MH, Jones EJH. Increased cortical reactivity to repeated tones at 8 months in infants with later ASD. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:46. [PMID: 30700699 PMCID: PMC6353960 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0393-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of cortical excitation/inhibition (E/I) has been proposed as a neuropathological mechanism underlying core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Determining whether dysregulated E/I could contribute to the emergence of behavioural symptoms of ASD requires evidence from human infants prior to diagnosis. In this prospective longitudinal study, we examine differences in neural responses to auditory repetition in infants later diagnosed with ASD. Eight-month-old infants with (high-risk: n = 116) and without (low-risk: n = 27) an older sibling with ASD were tested in a non-linguistic auditory oddball paradigm. Relative to high-risk infants with typical development (n = 44), infants with later ASD (n = 14) showed reduced repetition suppression of 40-60 Hz evoked gamma and significantly greater 10-20 Hz inter-trial coherence (ITC) for repeated tones. Reduced repetition suppression of cortical gamma and increased phase-locking to repeated tones are consistent with cortical hyper-reactivity, which could in turn reflect disturbed E/I balance. Across the whole high-risk sample, a combined index of cortical reactivity (cortical gamma amplitude and ITC) was dimensionally associated with reduced growth in language skills between 8 months and 3 years, as well as elevated levels of parent-rated social communication symptoms at 3 years. Our data show that cortical 'hyper-reactivity' may precede the onset of behavioural traits of ASD in development, potentially affecting experience-dependent specialisation of the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kolesnik
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.
| | - Jannath Begum Ali
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Teodora Gliga
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Jeanne Guiraud
- Core CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), Brookside Family Consultation Clinic, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Psychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.
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Kentner AC, Bilbo SD, Brown AS, Hsiao EY, McAllister AK, Meyer U, Pearce BD, Pletnikov MV, Yolken RH, Bauman MD. Maternal immune activation: reporting guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the model. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:245-258. [PMID: 30188509 PMCID: PMC6300528 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 2017 American College of Neuropychopharmacology (ACNP) conference hosted a Study Group on 4 December 2017, Establishing best practice guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the maternal immune activation (MIA) animal model of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The goals of this session were to (a) evaluate the current literature and establish a consensus on best practices to be implemented in MIA studies, (b) identify remaining research gaps warranting additional data collection and lend to the development of evidence-based best practice design, and (c) inform the MIA research community of these findings. During this session, there was a detailed discussion on the importance of validating immunogen doses and standardizing the general design (e.g., species, immunogenic compound used, housing) of our MIA models both within and across laboratories. The consensus of the study group was that data does not currently exist to support specific evidence-based model selection or methodological recommendations due to lack of consistency in reporting, and that this issue extends to other inflammatory models of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This launched a call to establish a reporting checklist focusing on validation, implementation, and transparency modeled on the ARRIVE Guidelines and CONSORT (scientific reporting guidelines for animal and clinical research, respectively). Here we provide a summary of the discussions in addition to a suggested checklist of reporting guidelines needed to improve the rigor and reproducibility of this valuable translational model, which can be adapted and applied to other animal models as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Kentner
- 0000 0001 0021 3995grid.416498.6School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA USA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- 000000041936754Xgrid.38142.3cDepartment of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,0000 0004 0386 9924grid.32224.35Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alan S. Brown
- 0000000419368729grid.21729.3fDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,0000 0000 8499 1112grid.413734.6New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Elaine Y. Hsiao
- 0000 0000 9632 6718grid.19006.3eDepartment of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - A. Kimberley McAllister
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bCenter for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Urs Meyer
- 0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland ,0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Brad D. Pearce
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, and Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Mikhail V. Pletnikov
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pediatrics, Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bThe UC Davis MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, USA
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