1
|
Dagher M, Alayoubi M, Sigal GH, Cahill CM. Unveiling the link between chronic pain and misuse of opioids and cannabis. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:563-580. [PMID: 38570361 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02765-3] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Over 50 million Americans endure chronic pain where many do not receive adequate treatment and self-medicate to manage their pain by taking substances like opioids and cannabis. Research has shown high comorbidity between chronic pain and substance use disorders (SUD) and these disorders share many common neurobiological underpinnings, including hypodopaminergic transmission. Drugs commonly used for self-medication such as opioids and cannabis relieve emotional, bothersome components of pain as well as negative emotional affect that perpetuates misuse and increases the risk of progressing towards drug abuse. However, the causal effect between chronic pain and the development of SUDs has not been clearly established. In this review, we discuss evidence that affirms the proposition that chronic pain is a risk factor for the development of opioid and cannabis use disorders by outlining the clinical evidence and detailing neurobiological mechanisms that link pain and drug misuse. Central to the link between chronic pain and opioid and cannabis misuse is hypodopaminergic transmission and the modulation of dopamine signaling in the mesolimbic pathway by opioids and cannabis. Moreover, we discuss the role of kappa opioid receptor activation and neuroinflammation in the context of dopamine transmission, their contribution to opioid and cannabis withdrawal, along with potential new treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merel Dagher
- MacDonald Research Laboratory Building, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Shirley and Stefan Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Drive South, Office 2774, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Myra Alayoubi
- MacDonald Research Laboratory Building, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Shirley and Stefan Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Drive South, Office 2774, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Gabriella H Sigal
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Catherine M Cahill
- MacDonald Research Laboratory Building, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Shirley and Stefan Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Drive South, Office 2774, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Navarrete J, Schneider KN, Smith BM, Goodwin NL, Zhang YY, Salazar AS, Gonzalez YE, Anumolu P, Gross E, Tsai VS, Heshmati M, Golden SA. Individual Differences in Volitional Social Self-Administration and Motivation in Male and Female Mice Following Social Stress. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)00033-7. [PMID: 38244753 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A key challenge in developing treatments for neuropsychiatric illness is the disconnect between preclinical models and the complexity of human social behavior. We integrate voluntary social self-administration into a rodent model of social stress as a platform for the identification of fundamental brain and behavior mechanisms underlying stress-induced individual differences in social motivation. METHODS Here, we introduced an operant social stress procedure in male and female mice composed of 3 phases: 1) social self-administration training, 2) social stress exposure concurrent with reinforced self-administration testing, and 3) poststress operant testing under nonreinforced and reinforced conditions. We used social-defeat and witness-defeat stress in male and female mice. RESULTS Social defeat attenuated social reward seeking in males but not females, whereas witness defeat had no effect in males but promoted seeking behavior in females. We resolved social stress-induced changes to social motivation by aggregating z-scored operant metrics into a cumulative social index score to describe the spectrum of individual differences exhibited during operant social stress. Clustering does not adequately describe the relative distributions of social motivation following stress and is better described as a nonbinary behavioral distribution defined by the social index score, capturing a dynamic range of stress-related alterations in social motivation inclusive of sex as a biological variable. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that operant social stress can detect stable individual differences in stress-induced changes to social motivation. The inclusion of volitional behavior in social procedures may enhance the understanding of behavioral adaptations that promote stress resiliency and their mechanisms under more naturalistic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Navarrete
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kevin N Schneider
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Briana M Smith
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nastacia L Goodwin
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yizhe Y Zhang
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Axelle S Salazar
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yahir E Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Pranav Anumolu
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ethan Gross
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Valerie S Tsai
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Mitra Heshmati
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sam A Golden
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jelen LA, Young AH, Mehta MA. Opioid Mechanisms and the Treatment of Depression. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37923934 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_448] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Opioid receptors are widely expressed in the brain, and the opioid system has a key role in modulating mood, reward processing and stress responsivity. There is mounting evidence that the endogenous opioid system may be dysregulated in depression and that drug treatments targeting mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors may show antidepressant potential. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of opioid system engagement are complex and likely multi-factorial. This chapter explores various pathways through which the modulation of the opioid system may influence depression. These include impacts on monoaminergic systems, the regulation of stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the immune system and inflammation, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, social pain and social reward, as well as expectancy and placebo effects. A greater understanding of the diverse mechanisms through which opioid system modulation may improve depressive symptoms could ultimately aid in the development of safe and effective alternative treatments for individuals with difficult-to-treat depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Jelen
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Allan H Young
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Mitul A Mehta
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hisey EE, Fritsch EL, Newman EL, Ressler KJ, Kangas BD, Carlezon WA. Early life stress in male mice blunts responsiveness in a translationally-relevant reward task. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1752-1759. [PMID: 37258714 PMCID: PMC10579416 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01610-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Early-life stress (ELS) leaves signatures upon the brain that persist throughout the lifespan and increase the risk of psychiatric illnesses including mood and anxiety disorders. In humans, myriad forms of ELS-including childhood abuse, bullying, poverty, and trauma-are increasingly prevalent. Understanding the signs of ELS, including those associated with psychiatric illness, will enable improved treatment and prevention. Here, we developed a novel procedure to model human ELS in mice and identify translationally-relevant biomarkers of mood and anxiety disorders. We exposed male mice (C57BL/6 J) to an early-life (juvenile) chronic social defeat stress (jCSDS) and examined social interaction and responsivity to reward during adulthood. As expected, jCSDS-exposed mice showed a socially avoidant phenotype in open-field social interaction tests. However, sucrose preference tests failed to demonstrate ELS-induced reductions in choice for the sweetened solution, suggesting no effect on reward function. To explore whether other tasks might be more sensitive to changes in motivation, we tested the mice in the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT), a procedure often used in humans to study reward learning deficits associated with depressive illness. In a touchscreen PRT variant that was reverse-translated to maximize alignment with the version used in human subjects, mice exposed to jCSDS displayed significant reductions in the tendency to develop response biases for the more richly-rewarded stimulus, a hallmark sign of anhedonia when observed in humans. Our findings suggest that translationally-relevant procedures that utilize the same endpoints across species may enable the development of improved model systems that more accurately predict outcomes in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Hisey
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.
| | - Emma L Fritsch
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Emily L Newman
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Brian D Kangas
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - William A Carlezon
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bershad AK, de Wit H. Social Psychopharmacology: Novel Approaches to Treat Deficits in Social Motivation in Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1161-1173. [PMID: 37358825 PMCID: PMC10483474 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Diminished social motivation is a negative symptom of schizophrenia and leads to severe functional consequences for many patients suffering from the illness. However, there are no effective medications available to treat this symptom. Despite the lack of approved treatments for patients, there is a growing body of literature on the effects of several classes of drugs on social motivation in healthy volunteers that may be relevant to patients. The aim of this review is to synthesize these results in an effort to identify novel directions for the development of medications to treat reduced social motivation in schizophrenia. STUDY DESIGN In this article, we review pharmacologic challenge studies addressing the acute effects of psychoactive drugs on social motivation in healthy volunteers and consider how these findings may be applied to deficits in social motivation in schizophrenia. We include studies testing amphetamines and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), opioids, cannabis, serotonergic psychedelics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and neuropeptides. STUDY RESULTS We report that amphetamines, MDMA, and some opioid medications enhance social motivation in healthy adults and may represent promising avenues of investigation in schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS Given the acute effects of these drugs on behavioral and performance-based measures of social motivation in healthy volunteers, they may be particularly beneficial as an adjunct to psychosocial training programs in patient populations. It remains to be determined how these medications affect patients with deficits in social motivation, and in which contexts they may be most effectively administered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anya K Bershad
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CAUSA
| | - Harriet de Wit
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, ILUSA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jiang Y, Zou M, Wang Y, Wang Y. Nucleus accumbens in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder: A brief review. Brain Res Bull 2023; 196:68-75. [PMID: 36889362 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.03.004] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent mental disorder characterized by anhedonia, loss of motivation, avolition, behavioral despair and cognitive abnormalities. Despite substantial advancements in the pathophysiology of MDD in recent years, the pathogenesis of this disorder is not fully understood. Meanwhile,the treatment of MDD with currently available antidepressants is inadequate, highlighting the urgent need for clarifying the pathophysiology of MDD and developing novel therapeutics. Extensive studies have demonstrated the involvement of nuclei such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP), nucleus accumbens (NAc), hypothalamus, etc., in MDD. NAc,a region critical for reward and motivation,dysregulation of its activity seems to be a hallmark of this mood disorder. In this paper, we present a review of NAc related circuits, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying MDD and share an analysis of the gaps in current research and possible future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Jiang
- Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention & Treatment of Depressive Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Manshu Zou
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention & Treatment of Depressive Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Yeqing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Intestinal Function and Regulation, Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Human Health, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention & Treatment of Depressive Diseases, Changsha, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Short-Term Consequences of Single Social Defeat on Accumbal Dopamine and Behaviors in Rats. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010035. [PMID: 36671420 PMCID: PMC9855991 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the consequences of a single exposure to a social defeat on dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens measured with a fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. We found that 24 h after a social defeat, accumbal dopamine responses, evoked by a high frequency electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area, were more profound in socially defeated rats in comparison with non-defeated control animals. The enhanced dopamine release was associated with the prolonged immobility time in the forced swim test. The use of the dopamine depletion protocol revealed no alteration in the reduction and recovery of the amplitude of dopamine release following social defeat stress. However, administration of dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride (2 mg/kg, i.p.), resulted in significant increase of the electrically evoked dopamine release in both groups of animals, nevertheless exhibiting less manifested effect in the defeated rats comparing to control animals. Taken together, our data demonstrated profound alterations in the dopamine transmission in the association with depressive-like behavior following a single exposure to stressful environment. These voltammetric findings pointed to a promising path for the identification of neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress-promoted behavioral abnormalities.
Collapse
|
8
|
Bales KL, Rogers FD. Interactions between the
κ
opioid system, corticotropin-releasing hormone and oxytocin in partner loss. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210061. [PMID: 35858099 PMCID: PMC9272146 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective adult social attachments, or ‘pair bonds’, represent central relationships for individuals in a number of social species, including humans. Loss of a pair mate has emotional consequences that may or may not diminish over time, and that often translate into impaired psychological and physical health. In this paper, we review the literature on the neuroendocrine mechanisms for the emotional consequences of partner loss, with a special focus on hypothesized interactions between oxytocin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and the κ opioid system. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours’.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Forrest D. Rogers
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, NJ 08540, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08540, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
The Opioid System in Depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 140:104800. [PMID: 35914624 PMCID: PMC10166717 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Opioid receptors are widely distributed throughout the brain and play an essential role in modulating aspects of human mood, reward, and well-being. Accumulating evidence indicates the endogenous opioid system is dysregulated in depression and that pharmacological modulators of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors hold potential for the treatment of depression. Here we review animal and clinical data, highlighting evidence to support: dysregulation of the opioid system in depression, evidence for opioidergic modulation of behavioural processes and brain regions associated with depression, and evidence for opioidergic modulation in antidepressant responses. We evaluate clinical trials that have examined the safety and efficacy of opioidergic agents in depression and consider how the opioid system may be involved in the effects of other treatments, including ketamine, that are currently understood to exert antidepressant effects through non-opioidergic actions. Finally, we explore key neurochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic effects of opioid system engagement, that together provides a rationale for further investigation into this relevant target in the treatment of depression.
Collapse
|
10
|
Vitale EM, Smith AS. Neurobiology of Loneliness, Isolation, and Loss: Integrating Human and Animal Perspectives. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:846315. [PMID: 35464141 PMCID: PMC9029604 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.846315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In social species such as humans, non-human primates, and even many rodent species, social interaction and the maintenance of social bonds are necessary for mental and physical health and wellbeing. In humans, perceived isolation, or loneliness, is not only characterized by physical isolation from peers or loved ones, but also involves negative perceptions about social interactions and connectedness that reinforce the feelings of isolation and anxiety. As a complex behavioral state, it is no surprise that loneliness and isolation are associated with dysfunction within the ventral striatum and the limbic system - brain regions that regulate motivation and stress responsiveness, respectively. Accompanying these neural changes are physiological symptoms such as increased plasma and urinary cortisol levels and an increase in stress responsivity. Although studies using animal models are not perfectly analogous to the uniquely human state of loneliness, studies on the effects of social isolation in animals have observed similar physiological symptoms such as increased corticosterone, the rodent analog to human cortisol, and also display altered motivation, increased stress responsiveness, and dysregulation of the mesocortical dopamine and limbic systems. This review will discuss behavioral and neuropsychological components of loneliness in humans, social isolation in rodent models, and the neurochemical regulators of these behavioral phenotypes with a neuroanatomical focus on the corticostriatal and limbic systems. We will also discuss social loss as a unique form of social isolation, and the consequences of bond disruption on stress-related behavior and neurophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika M. Vitale
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Adam S. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zan GY, Sun X, Wang YJ, Liu R, Wang CY, Du WJ, Guo LB, Chai JR, Li QL, Liu ZQ, Liu JG. Amygdala dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system modulates depressive-like behavior in mice following chronic social defeat stress. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:577-587. [PMID: 34035484 PMCID: PMC8888759 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depression disorder is a severe and recurrent neuropsychological disorder characterized by lowered mood and social activity and cognitive impairment. Owing to unclear molecular mechanisms of depression, limited interventions are available in clinic. In this study we investigated the role of dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system in the development of depression. Mice were subjected to chronic social defeat stress for 14 days. Chronic social defeat stress induced significant social avoidance in mice characterized by decreased time duration in the interaction zone and increased time duration in the corner zone. Pre-administration of a κ opioid receptor antagonist norBNI (10 mg/kg, i.p.) could prevent the development of social avoidance induced by chronic social defeat stress. Social avoidance was not observed in κ opioid receptor knockout mice subjected to chronic social defeat stress. We further revealed that social defeat stress activated c-fos and ERK signaling in the amygdala without affecting the NAc, hippocampus and hypothalamus, and ERK activation was blocked by systemic injection of norBNI. Finally, the expression of dynorphin A, the endogenous ligand of κ opioid receptor, was significantly increased in the amygdala following social defeat stress; microinjection of norBNI into the amygdala prevented the development of depressive-like behaviors caused by social defeat stress. The present study demonstrates that upregulated dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system in the amygdala leads to the emergence of depression following chronic social defeat stress, and sheds light on κ opioid receptor antagonists as potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of depression following chronic stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gui-ying Zan
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201204, China ,grid.419093.60000 0004 0619 8396Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiang Sun
- grid.252251.30000 0004 1757 8247Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of R&D of Chinese Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Yu-jun Wang
- grid.419093.60000 0004 0619 8396Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Rui Liu
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Chen-yao Wang
- grid.419093.60000 0004 0619 8396Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei-jia Du
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Liu-bin Guo
- grid.419093.60000 0004 0619 8396Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jing-rui Chai
- grid.419093.60000 0004 0619 8396Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qing-lin Li
- grid.252251.30000 0004 1757 8247Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of R&D of Chinese Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Zhi-qiang Liu
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Jing-gen Liu
- grid.419093.60000 0004 0619 8396Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Estave PM, Spodnick MB, Karkhanis AN. KOR Control over Addiction Processing: An Exploration of the Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2022; 271:351-377. [PMID: 33301050 PMCID: PMC8192597 DOI: 10.1007/164_2020_421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Drug addiction is a complex, persistent, and chronically relapsing neurological disorder exacerbated by acute and chronic stress. It is well known that the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system regulates stress perception and responsivity, while the mesolimbic dopamine system plays a role in reward and reinforcement associated with alcohol and substance use disorders. Interestingly, the dopamine and dynorphin/KOR systems are highly integrated in mesolimbic areas, with KOR activation leading to inhibition of dopamine release, further altering the perception of reinforcing and aversive stimuli. Chronic or repeated exposure to stress or drugs potentiates KOR function ultimately contributing to a hypodopaminergic state. This hypodopaminergic state is one of the hallmarks of hyperkatifeia, defined as the hypersensitivity to emotional distress that is exacerbated during drug withdrawal and abstinence. The relationship between stress and drug addiction is bidirectional; repeated/chronic stress promotes pro-addictive behaviors, and repeated cycles of drug exposure and withdrawal, across various drug classes, produces stress. Neuroadaptations driven by this bidirectional relationship ultimately influence the perception of the reinforcing value of rewarding stimuli. In this chapter, we address the involvement of the dopamine and dynorphin/KOR systems and their interactions in shaping reinforcement value processing after drug and stress exposure, as well as a combinatorial impact of both drugs and stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paige M Estave
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Mary B Spodnick
- Department of Psychology, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Center for Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University - SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Anushree N Karkhanis
- Department of Psychology, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Center for Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University - SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Pain is complex and is a unique experience for individuals in that no two people will have exactly the same physiological and emotional response to the same noxious stimulus or injury. Pain is composed of two essential processes: a sensory component that allows for discrimination of the intensity and location of a painful stimulus and an emotional component that underlies the affective, motivational, unpleasant, and aversive response to a painful stimulus. Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) activation in the periphery and throughout the neuroaxis modulates both of these components of the pain experience. In this chapter we focus on recent findings that KORs contribute to the emotional, aversive nature of chronic pain, including how expression in the limbic circuitry contributes to anhedonic states and components of opioid misuse disorder. While the primary focus is on preclinical pain models, we also highlight clinical or human research where there is strong evidence for KOR involvement in negative affective states associated with chronic pain and opioid misuse.
Collapse
|
14
|
Kappa Opioid Receptors in the Pathology and Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 271:493-524. [PMID: 33580854 DOI: 10.1007/164_2020_432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) is thought to regulate neural systems associated with anhedonia and aversion and mediate negative affective states that are associated with a number of psychiatric disorders, but especially major depressive disorder (MDD). Largely because KOR antagonists mitigate the effects of stress in preclinical studies, KOR antagonists have been recommended as novel drugs for treating MDD. The purpose of this review is to examine the role of KORs and its endogenous ligand dynorphins (DYNs) in the pathology and treatment of MDD derived from different types of clinical studies. Evidence pertaining to the role of KOR and MDD will be reviewed from (1) post mortem mRNA expression patterns in MDD, (2) the utility of KOR neuroimaging agents and serum biomarkers in MDD, and (3) evidence from the recent Fast Fail clinical trial that established KOR antagonism as a potential therapeutic strategy for the alleviation of anhedonia, a core feature of MDD. These findings are compared with a focused evaluation of stress-induced alterations in OPRK and PDYN mRNA expression. Finally, the current status of the effects of KOR antagonists on behavioral phenotypes of stress in preclinical studies related to MDD is summarized.
Collapse
|
15
|
Nikbakhsh R, Nikbakhsh R, Radmard M, Tafazolimoghadam A, Haj-Mirzaian A, Pirri F, Noormohammady P, Sabouri M, Shababi N, Ziai SA, Dehpour AR. The possible role of nitric oxide in anti-convulsant effects of Naltrindole in seizure-induced by social isolation stress in male mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 129:110453. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
|
16
|
Effects of Kappa opioid receptor blockade by LY2444296 HCl, a selective short-acting antagonist, during chronic extended access cocaine self-administration and re-exposure in rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1147-1160. [PMID: 31915862 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05444-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cocaine addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive drug intake and dysregulation of brain reward systems. Few preclinical studies have modeled the natural longitudinal course of cocaine addiction. Extended access self-administration protocols are powerful tools for modeling the advanced stages of addiction; however, few studies have duration of drug access longer than 12 h/session, potentially limiting their construct validity. Identification of changes in cocaine intake patterns during the development of addictive-like states may allow better treatments for vulnerable subjects. The kappa opioid receptor (KOPr) system has been implicated in the neurobiological regulation of addictive states as well as mood and stress disorders, with selective KOPr antagonists proposed as possible pharmacotherapeutic agents. Chronic cocaine exposure increases the expression of KOPr and its endogenous agonists, the dynorphins, in several brain areas in rodents. OBJECTIVES To examine the behavioral pattern of intake during chronic (14 days) 18 h intravenous cocaine self-administration (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) and the effect of a novel short-acting KOPr antagonist LY2444296 HCl (3 mg/kg) administered during sessions 8 to 14 of chronic 18 h/day cocaine self-administration and prior to a single re-exposure session after 2 cocaine-free withdrawal days. RESULTS Both daily and hourly cocaine intake patterns changed over 14 days of 18 h self-administration. LY pretreatment affected the pattern of self-administration across the second week of extended access cocaine self-administration and prevented the increase in cocaine intake during re-exposure. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the KOPr antagonist attenuated escalated cocaine consumption in a rat model of extended access cocaine self-administration.
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are leading causes of disability and loss of life by suicide. Currently, there are less than satisfactory medical solutions to treat these mental disorders. Here, we explore recent preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the potential of using buprenorphine to treat major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and PTSD. METHOD Bibliographic databases were searched to include preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the therapeutic potential of buprenorphine and the involvement of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in mediating these effects. RESULTS Original clinical studies examining the effectiveness of buprenorphine to treat depression were mixed. The majority of participants in the PTSD studies were males and suffer from chronic pain and/or substance use disorders. Nonetheless, these recent studies and analyses established proof of concept warranting farther investigations. Additionally, KOR likely mediates the antidepressant and some of the anxiolytic effects of buprenorphine. Still, it appears that the full spectrum of buprenorphine's beneficial effects might be due to activity at other opioid receptors as well. CONCLUSIONS Pharmaceuticals' abilities to treat medical conditions directly relates to their ability to act upon the endogenous biological systems related to the conditions. Thus, these recent findings are likely a reflection of the central role that the endogenous opioid system has in these mental illnesses. Further studies are necessary to study the involvement of endogenous opioid systems, and specifically KOR, in mediating buprenorphine's beneficial effects and the ability to treat these medical conditions while minimizing risks for misuse and diversion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin A Madison
- Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX77843, USA
| | - Shoshana Eitan
- Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX77843, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Karkhanis AN, Al-Hasani R. Dynorphin and its role in alcohol use disorder. Brain Res 2020; 1735:146742. [PMID: 32114059 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The dynorphin / kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system has been implicated in many aspects that influence neuropsychiatric disorders. Namely, this system modulates neural circuits that primarily regulate reward seeking, motivation processing, stress responsivity, and pain sensitivity, thus affecting the development of substance and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The effects of this system are often bidirectional and depend on projection targets. To date, a majority of the studies focusing on this system have examined the KOR function using agonists and antagonists. Indeed, there are studies that have examined prodynorphin and dynorphin levels by measuring mRNA and tissue content levels; however, static levels of the neuropeptide and its precursor do not explain complete and online function of the peptide as would be explained by measuring dynorphin transmission in real time. New and exciting methods using optogenetics, chemogenetics, genetic sensors, fast scan cyclic voltammetry are now being developed to detect various neuropeptides with a focus on opioid peptides, including dynorphin. In this review we discuss studies that examine dynorphin projections in areas involved in AUD, its functional involvement in AUD and vulnerability to develop AUD at various ages. Moreover, we discuss dynorphin's role in promoting AUD by dysregulation motivation circuits and how advancements in opioid peptide detection will further our understanding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anushree N Karkhanis
- Department of Psychology, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Center for Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University - SUNY, 4400 Vestal Parkway East, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
| | - Ream Al-Hasani
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Department of Anesthesiology Washington University in St. Louis, Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine & St. Louis College of Pharmacy 660 S.Euclid, Box 8054, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Jacobson ML, Browne CA, Lucki I. Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonists as Potential Therapeutics for Stress-Related Disorders. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2020; 60:615-636. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010919-023317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to stressful stimuli activates kappa opioid receptor (KOR) signaling, a process known to produce aversion and dysphoria in humans and other species. This endogenous opioid system is dysregulated in stress-related disorders, specifically in major depressive disorder (MDD). These findings serve as the foundation for a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of KOR antagonists as novel antidepressants. In this review, data supporting the hypothesis of dysregulated KOR function in MDD are considered. The clinical data demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy and safety of selective and mixed opioid antagonists are then presented. Finally, the preclinical evidence illustrating the induction of behaviors relevant to the endophenotypes of MDD and KOR antagonist activity in stress-naïve and stress-exposed animals is evaluated. Overall, this review highlights the emergent literature supporting the pursuit of KOR antagonists as novel therapeutics for MDD and other stress-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moriah L. Jacobson
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Caroline A. Browne
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Page S, Mavrikaki MM, Lintz T, Puttick D, Roberts E, Rosen H, Carroll FI, Carlezon WA, Chartoff EH. Behavioral Pharmacology of Novel Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonists in Rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 22:735-745. [PMID: 31613314 PMCID: PMC7145521 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyz054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New treatments for stress-related disorders including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder are greatly needed. Kappa opioid receptors are expressed in the central nervous system, including areas implicated in analgesia and affective state. Although kappa opioid receptor agonists share the antinociceptive effects of mu opioid receptor agonists, they also tend to produce negative affective states. In contrast, selective kappa opioid receptor antagonists have antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects, stimulating interest in their therapeutic potential. The prototypical kappa opioid receptor antagonists (e.g., norBNI, JDTic) have an exceptionally long duration of action that complicates their use in humans, particularly in tests to establish safety. This study was designed to test dose- and time-course effects of novel kappa opioid receptor antagonists with the goal of identifying short-acting lead compounds for future medication development. METHODS We screened 2 novel, highly selective kappa opioid receptor antagonists (CYM-52220 and CYM-52288) with oral efficacy in the warm water tail flick assay in rats to determine initial dose and time course effects. For comparison, we tested existing kappa opioid receptor antagonists JDTic and LY-2456302 (also known as CERC-501 or JNJ-67953964). RESULTS In the tail flick assay, the rank order of duration of action for the antagonists was LY-2456302 < CYM-52288 < CYM-52220 << JDTic. Furthermore, LY-2456302 blocked the depressive (anhedonia-producing) effects of the kappa opioid receptor agonist U50,488 in the intracranial self-stimulation paradigm, albeit at a higher dose than that needed for analgesic blockade in the tail flick assay. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that structurally diverse kappa opioid receptor antagonists can have short-acting effects and that LY-2456302 reduces anhedonia as measured in the intracranial self-stimulation test.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Page
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
| | - Maria M Mavrikaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
| | - Tania Lintz
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
| | - Daniel Puttick
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
| | - Edward Roberts
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Hugh Rosen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
| | - William A Carlezon
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
| | - Elena H Chartoff
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC,Correspondence: Dr E. H. Chartoff, PhD, McLean Hospital, MRC 218, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478 ()
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Nam H, Chandra R, Francis TC, Dias C, Cheer JF, Lobo MK. Reduced nucleus accumbens enkephalins underlie vulnerability to social defeat stress. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1876-1885. [PMID: 31132785 PMCID: PMC6784997 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0422-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Enkephalins, endogenous ligands for delta opioid receptors (DORs), are highly enriched in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). They are implicated in depression but their role in the NAc, a critical brain region for motivated behavior, is not fully investigated. To provide insight into enkephalin function we used a chronic social defeat stress paradigm, where animals are either categorized as susceptible or resilient to stress based on their performance in a social interaction test. Compared to controls, susceptible animals showed reduced enkephalin levels in the NAc. Such decrease in enkephalin levels is not due to a change in mRNA of its precursor protein, proenkephalin, in susceptible mice but is consistent with increased mRNA levels of enkephalinases in the NAc of susceptible animals. Systemic administration of enkephalinase inhibitors or NAc infusion of the DOR agonist, SNC80, caused a resilient outcome to CSDS. Both treatments increased phosphorylation of ERK, which was downregulated by social defeat stress. To further validate these results, we also used Q175 knock-in mice, an animal model of Huntington's disease in which enkephalin levels are reduced in striatum and comorbidity with mood disorders is common. Consistent with data in wild-type mice, Q175 animals showed reduced enkephalin levels in the NAc and enhanced susceptibility to a social defeat stress. Overall, our data implicate that depression-like behavior induced by social defeat stress arises from disrupted DOR signaling resulting from lowered levels of enkephalins, which is partly mediated through elevated expression of enkephalinases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyungwoo Nam
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - T Chase Francis
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caroline Dias
- Department of Neuroscience, ICAHN School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph F Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Social status and demographic effects of the kappa opioid receptor: a PET imaging study with a novel agonist radiotracer in healthy volunteers. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1714-1719. [PMID: 30928993 PMCID: PMC6785144 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0379-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) have been characterized as an aversive system in the brain and implicated in social behavior in preclinical models. This work investigated the effect of social status on the KOR system in humans using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the novel KOR agonist radiotracer [11C]EKAP. Eighteen healthy participants (mean age 41.2 ± 9.3) completed the Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status (BSMSS), an MRI and an [11C]EKAP PET scan on the High Resolution Research Tomograph. Arterial blood sampling and metabolite analysis were conducted to obtain the input function. Regions of interest were based upon an MR template and included the reward/aversion areas of the brain. The multilinear analysis-1 (MA1) method was applied to the regional time-activity curves (TACs) to calculate [11C]EKAP regional volume of distribution (VT). Mixed models and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for body mass index (BMI), gender and age, with age being dropped in subsequent analyses because of nonsignificance. An overall effect of primary ROIs (F7, 112 7.43, p < 0.0001), BSMSS score (F1, 13 7.45, p = 0.02), BMI (F1, 13 23.5, p < 0.001), and gender (F1, 13 23.75, p < 0.001), but not age (F1, 13 1.12, p = 0.35) was observed. Regional [11C]EKAP VT and BSMSS were found to be negatively correlated in the amygdala (r = -0.69, p < 0.01), anterior cingulate cortex (r = -0.56, p = 0.02), caudate (r = -0.66, p < 0.01), frontal cortex (r = -0.52, p = 0.04), hippocampus (r = -0.60, p = 0.01), pallidum (r = -0.59, p = 0.02), putamen (r = -0.62, p = 0.01), and ventral striatum (r = -0.66, p < 0.01). In secondary (non-reward) regions, correlations of [11C]EKAP VT and BSMSS were nonsignificant with the exception of the insula. There was an inverse correlation between social status and KOR levels that was largely specific to the reward/aversion (e.g., saliency) areas of the brain. This finding suggests the KOR system may act as a mediator for the negative effects of social behaviors in humans.
Collapse
|
23
|
Margolis EB, Karkhanis AN. Dopaminergic cellular and circuit contributions to kappa opioid receptor mediated aversion. Neurochem Int 2019; 129:104504. [PMID: 31301327 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.104504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neural circuits that enable an organism to protect itself by promoting escape from immediate threat and avoidance of future injury are conceptualized to carry an "aversive" signal. One of the key molecular elements of these circuits is the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and its endogenous peptide agonist, dynorphin. In many cases, the aversive response to an experimental manipulation can be eliminated by selective blockade of KOR function, indicating its necessity in transmitting this signal. The dopamine system, through its contributions to reinforcement learning, is also involved in processing of aversive stimuli, and KOR control of dopamine in the context of aversive behavioral states has been intensely studied. In this review, we have discussed the multiple ways in which the KORs regulate dopamine dynamics with a central focus on dopamine neurons and projections from the ventral tegmental area. At the neuronal level, KOR agonists inhibit dopamine neurons both in the somatodendritic region as well as at terminal release sites, through various signaling pathways and ion channels, and these effects are specific to different synaptic sites. While the dominant hypotheses are that aversive states are driven by decreases in dopamine and increases in dynorphin, reported exceptions to these patterns indicate these ideas require refinement. This is critical given that KOR is being considered as a target for development of new therapeutics for anxiety, depression, pain, and other psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elyssa B Margolis
- Department of Neurology, Alcohol and Addiction Research Group, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Box 0444, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Anushree N Karkhanis
- Department of Psychology, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Center for Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University - SUNY, 4400 Vestal Parkway East, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dynorphin/kappa-opioid receptor control of dopamine dynamics: Implications for negative affective states and psychiatric disorders. Brain Res 2019; 1713:91-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
25
|
Castro DC, Bruchas MR. A Motivational and Neuropeptidergic Hub: Anatomical and Functional Diversity within the Nucleus Accumbens Shell. Neuron 2019; 102:529-552. [PMID: 31071288 PMCID: PMC6528838 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The mesocorticolimbic pathway is canonically known as the "reward pathway." Embedded within the center of this circuit is the striatum, a massive and complex network hub that synthesizes motivation, affect, learning, cognition, stress, and sensorimotor information. Although striatal subregions collectively share many anatomical and functional similarities, it has become increasingly clear that it is an extraordinarily heterogeneous region. In particular, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) medial shell has repeatedly demonstrated that the rules dictated by more dorsal aspects of the striatum do not apply or are even reversed in functional logic. These discrepancies are perhaps most easily captured when isolating the functions of various neuromodulatory peptide systems within the striatum. Endogenous peptides are thought to play a critical role in modulating striatal signals to either amplify or dampen evoked behaviors. Here we describe the anatomical-functional backdrop upon which several neuropeptides act within the NAc to modulate behavior, with a specific emphasis on nucleus accumbens medial shell and stress responsivity. Additionally, we propose that, as the field continues to dissect fast neurotransmitter systems within the NAc, we must also provide considerable contextual weight to the roles local peptides play in modulating these circuits to more comprehensively understand how this important subregion gates motivated behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Castro
- Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Browne CA, Lucki I. Targeting opioid dysregulation in depression for the development of novel therapeutics. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 201:51-76. [PMID: 31051197 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Since the serendipitous discovery of the first class of modern antidepressants in the 1950's, all pharmacotherapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration for major depressive disorder (MDD) have shared a common mechanism of action, increased monoaminergic neurotransmission. Despite the widespread availability of antidepressants, as many as 50% of depressed patients are resistant to these conventional therapies. The significant length of time required to produce meaningful symptom relief with these medications, 4-6 weeks, indicates that other mechanisms are likely involved in the pathophysiology of depression which may yield more viable targets for drug development. For decades, no viable candidate target with a different mechanism of action to that of conventional therapies proved successful in clinical studies. Now several exciting avenues for drug development are under intense investigation. One of these emerging targets is modulation of endogenous opioid tone. This review will evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence pertaining to opioid dysregulation in depression, focusing on the role of the endogenous ligands endorphin, enkephalin, dynorphin, and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and their respective receptors, mu (MOR), delta (DOR), kappa (KOR), and the N/OFQ receptor (NOP) in mediating behaviors relevant to depression and anxiety. Finally, putative opioid based antidepressants that are under investigation in clinical trials, ALKS5461, JNJ-67953964 (formerly LY2456302 and CERC-501) and BTRX-246040 (formerly LY-2940094) will be discussed. This review will illustrate the potential therapeutic value of targeting opioid dysregulation in developing novel therapies for MDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Involvement of opioid system in behavioral despair induced by social isolation stress in mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 109:938-944. [PMID: 30551548 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Social isolation stress (SIS) as a type of chronic stress could induce depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Our study evaluates the role of opioid system on negative behavioral impacts of SIS in male NMRI mice. We investigated effects of morphine, a nonselective opioid receptor (OR) agonist, naltrexone (NLX), an OR antagonist, naltrindole (NLT), a delta opioid receptor (DOR) antagonist, SNC80, a DOR agonist, U-69593, a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist, nor-Binaltorphimine, a selective KOR antagonist and cyprodime hydrochloride a selective mu opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Using RT-PCR we evaluated ORs gene expression in mice brain. Our findings showed that SIS induced anxiety- and depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test, open field test, splash test and hole-board test. Moreover, administration of SNC-80 significantly mitigated anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. NLT decreased grooming-activity in the splash test. Excitingly, administration of agents affecting KOR failed to alter the negative effects of SIS. RT-PCR demonstrated that MOR and KOR gene expression decreased in socially isolated mice; however, SIS did not affect DORs expression. Our findings suggest that SIS at least in part, probably via altering endogenous opioids particularly MORs and KORs but not DORs mediated negative impacts on behavior; also, it could be concluded that DORs might be considered as a novel target for studying depression and anxiety.
Collapse
|
28
|
Wright EC, Parks TV, Alexander JO, Supra R, Trainor BC. Activation of kappa opioid receptors in the dorsal raphe have sex dependent effects on social behavior in California mice. Behav Brain Res 2018; 351:83-92. [PMID: 29768187 PMCID: PMC6120584 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Kappa opioid receptor activation has been linked to stress and anxiety behavior, thus leading to kappa antagonists being popularized in research as potential anxiolytics. However, while these findings may hold true in standard models, the neuromodulatory effects of social defeat may change the behavioral outcome of kappa opioid receptor activation. Previous research has shown that social defeat can lead to hyperactivity of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus, and that inhibition of this increase blocks the social deficits caused by defeat. Kappa opioid receptor activation in the dorsal raphe nucleus works to decrease serotonergic activity. We injected the kappa opioid receptor U50,488 directly into the dorsal raphe nucleus of male and female, defeat and control adult California mice. Here we show evidence that U50,488 induces anxiety behavior in control male California mice, but helps relieve it in defeated males. Consistent with previous literature, we find little effect in females adding evidence that there are marked and important sex differences in the kappa opioid system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Wright
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tiffany V Parks
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Rajesh Supra
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Williams AV, Laman-Maharg A, Armstrong CV, Ramos-Maciel S, Minie VA, Trainor BC. Acute inhibition of kappa opioid receptors before stress blocks depression-like behaviors in California mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 86:166-174. [PMID: 29879438 PMCID: PMC6054130 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Kappa opioid receptors (KOR) are considered to be a promising therapeutic target for stress-induced psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. Preclinical data show that KOR antagonists have greater efficacy if administered before stressful experiences as opposed to afterwards. However, almost all of these studies use long-acting antagonists, leaving it unclear whether inhibition of KOR after stress is required for efficacy. Here we show that administration of the short-acting KOR antagonist AZ-MTAB before episodes of social defeat stress block the induction of anhedonia (both males and females) and social avoidance responses (females) that persist two weeks after stress. In both males and females pre-stress AZ-MTAB treatment also blunted anticipatory autogrooming behavior immediately prior to the third episode of defeat. In contrast when AZ-MTAB was administered two weeks after defeat (immediately before behavior testing) in female California mice, it was ineffective at reversing anhedonia and social avoidance. These results suggest that short-acting KOR antagonists may have greater therapeutic potential if administered before exposure to psychosocial stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexia V Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Abigail Laman-Maharg
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Crystal V Armstrong
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Vanessa A Minie
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Shimamoto A. Social Defeat Stress, Sex, and Addiction-Like Behaviors. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2018; 140:271-313. [PMID: 30193707 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Social confrontation is a form of social interaction in animals where two conspecific individuals confront each other in dispute over territory, during the formation of hierarchies, and during breeding seasons. Typically, a social confrontation involves a prevailing individual and a yielding individual. The prevailing individual often exhibits aggressive postures and launches attacks, whereas the yielding individual often adopts postures of defeat. The yielding or defeated animals experience a phenomenon known as social defeat stress, in which they show exaggerated stress as well as autonomic and endocrine responses that cause impairment of both the brain and body. In laboratory settings, one can reliably generate social defeat stress by allowing a naïve (or already defeated) animal to intrude into a home cage in which its resident has already established a territory or is nursing. This resident-intruder paradigm has been widely used in both males and females to study mechanisms in the brain that underlie the stress responses. Stress has profound effects on drug reward for cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and opioids. Particularly, previous experiences with social defeat can exaggerate subsequent addiction-like behaviors. The extent of these addiction-like behaviors depends on the intensity, duration, frequency, and intermittency of the confrontation episodes. This chapter describes four types of social defeat stress: acute, repeated, intermittent, and chronic. Specifically, it focuses on social defeat stress models used in laboratories to study individual, sex, and animal strain differences in addiction-like behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Shimamoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wilson‐Poe AR, Morón JA. The dynamic interaction between pain and opioid misuse. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:2770-2777. [PMID: 28602044 PMCID: PMC6016619 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2014, drug overdose surpassed automobile accidents as the number one cause of accidental death for the first time in the history of the United States. The overdose epidemic is largely driven by opioids, and genuine prescription opioid analgesics play the biggest role in this phenomenon. Despite advancements in abuse deterrent formulations, prescription drug monitoring programmes and clinical assessments for the detection of abuse potential, drug overdoses continue to escalate. The Center for Disease Control has recently issued new guidelines for opioid prescription, yet even these recommendations have their shortcomings. Furthermore, undertreated pain in patients with comorbid substance use disorder poses a major clinical challenge, particularly for patients on opioid replacement therapy. Despite the seemingly obvious interaction between the presence of pain and the abuse of pain-relieving opioids, there is surprisingly little mechanistic data to further our understanding of this vitally important topic. The need for novel pain interventions that minimize abuse liability is critical. Without a fundamental characterization of pain neurobiology and the interaction between chronic pain and the brain's reward system, we are unlikely to make progress in the alleviation of the opioid epidemic. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Areas of Opioid Pharmacology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.14/issuetoc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne R Wilson‐Poe
- Pain Center, Department of AnesthesiologyWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - Jose A Morón
- Pain Center, Department of AnesthesiologyWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMOUSA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Williams AV, Trainor BC. The impact of sex as a biological variable in the search for novel antidepressants. Front Neuroendocrinol 2018; 50:107-117. [PMID: 29859882 PMCID: PMC6139050 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A roadblock to successful treatment for anxiety and depression is the high proportion of individuals that do not respond to existing treatments. Different underlying neurobiological mechanisms may drive similar symptoms, so a more personalized approach to treatment could be more successful. There is increasing evidence that sex is an important biological variable modulating efficacy of antidepressants and anxiolytics. We review evidence for sex-specific effects of traditional monoamine based antidepressants and newer pharmaceuticals targeting kappa opioid receptors (KOR), oxytocin receptors (OTR), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (ketamine). In some cases, similar behavioral effects are observed in both sexes while in other cases strong sex-specific effects are observed. Most intriguing are cases such as ketamine which has similar behavioral effects in males and females, perhaps through sex-specific neurobiological mechanisms. These results show how essential it is to include both males and females in both clinical and preclinical evaluations of novel antidepressants and anxiolytics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexia V Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
A Central Extended Amygdala Circuit That Modulates Anxiety. J Neurosci 2018; 38:5567-5583. [PMID: 29844022 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0705-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) have been implicated in maladaptive anxiety characteristics of anxiety disorders. However, the underlying circuit and cellular mechanisms have remained elusive. Here we show that mice with Erbb4 gene deficiency in somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) neurons exhibit heightened anxiety as measured in the elevated plus maze test and the open field test, two assays commonly used to assess anxiety-related behaviors in rodents. Using a combination of electrophysiological, molecular, genetic, and pharmacological techniques, we demonstrate that the abnormal anxiety in the mutant mice is caused by enhanced excitatory synaptic inputs onto SOM+ neurons in the central amygdala (CeA), and the resulting reduction in inhibition onto downstream SOM+ neurons in the BNST. Notably, our results indicate that an increase in dynorphin signaling in SOM+ CeA neurons mediates the paradoxical reduction in inhibition onto SOM+ BNST neurons, and that the consequent enhanced activity of SOM+ BNST neurons is both necessary for and sufficient to drive the elevated anxiety. Finally, we show that the elevated anxiety and the associated synaptic dysfunctions and increased dynorphin signaling in the CeA-BNST circuit of the Erbb4 mutant mice can be recapitulated by stress in wild-type mice. Together, our results unravel previously unknown circuit and cellular processes in the central extended amygdala that can cause maladaptive anxiety.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The central extended amygdala has been implicated in anxiety-related behaviors, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we found that somatostatin-expressing neurons in the central amygdala (CeA) controls anxiety through modulation of the stria terminalis, a process that is mediated by an increase in dynorphin signaling in the CeA. Our results reveal circuit and cellular dysfunctions that may account for maladaptive anxiety.
Collapse
|
34
|
Reed B, Butelman ER, Fry RS, Kimani R, Kreek MJ. Repeated Administration of Opra Kappa (LY2456302), a Novel, Short-Acting, Selective KOP-r Antagonist, in Persons with and without Cocaine Dependence. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:739-750. [PMID: 28857070 PMCID: PMC5809790 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The κ-opioid receptor (KOP-r) system and its endogenous ligands, the dynorphins, are involved in the neurobiological regulation of addictive states, and of mood. There are limited data on the impact of selective KOP-r antagonism in humans on basic biobehavioral functions, or on addictive diseases and mood disorders. Previously studied selective KOP-r antagonists have unusual pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties (slow development of KOP-r selectivity, extremely long duration of action) that limit translation to human studies. A recently developed selective KOP-r-antagonist, Opra Kappa (LY2456302; CERC-501), has medication-like duration of action, oral bioavailability, and target engagement. The current study is the first investigation of the effects of a KOP-r-antagonist in cocaine-dependent persons in comparison with normal volunteers. In a stress-minimized inpatient setting, we determined the neuroendocrine and neurobehavioral effects of repeated administration of an active dose of Opra Kappa (10 mg p.o. daily, four consecutive days in comparison with an initial baseline day). Healthy volunteers (n=40), persons diagnosed with cocaine dependence in early abstinence (<2 months, EACD) (n=23), and drug-free former cocaine-dependent persons (7-month to 25-year abstinence, DFFCD) (n=7) were studied, with measurements including circulating neuroendocrine hormones, affect, and, in cocaine-dependent persons, cocaine craving. Modest adverse events related to Opra Kappa included pruritus, observed in a subset of individuals. No significant change was observed in serum prolactin levels following Opra Kappa administration, but modest increases in circulating adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol were observed. No significant changes were noted in measures of depression or cocaine craving in this stress-minimized setting. Overall, these studies demonstrate that effects of 10 mg Opra Kappa are largely consistent with those predicted for a selective KOP-r antagonist. This medication regimen was tolerable, and is therefore feasible for further studies in cocaine-dependent persons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Reed
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA,Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, Box 171, New York, NY 10065, USA, Tel: 212 327 8247, Fax: 212 327 8574, E-mail:
| | - Eduardo R Butelman
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca S Fry
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Kimani
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Jeanne Kreek
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Laman-Maharg A, Williams AV, Zufelt MD, Minie VA, Ramos-Maciel S, Hao R, Ordoñes Sanchez E, Copeland T, Silverman JL, Leigh A, Snyder R, Carroll FI, Fennell TR, Trainor BC. Sex Differences in the Effects of a Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist in the Forced Swim Test. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:93. [PMID: 29491835 PMCID: PMC5817081 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonists could be a useful class of therapeutics for treating depression and anxiety. However, the overwhelming majority of preclinical investigations examining the behavioral effects of KOR antagonists have been in male rodents. Here, we examined the effects of the long-acting KOR antagonist nor-binaltophimine (norBNI) on immobility in the forced swim test in males and females of two different rodent species (C57Bl/6J and California mice). Consistent with previous reports, norBNI (10 mg/kg) decreased immobility in the forced swim test for male C57Bl/6J and California mice. Surprisingly, dose-response studies in female C57Bl/6J and California mice showed that norBNI did not reduce immobility. Pharmacokinetic analyses showed that metabolism and brain concentrations of norBNI were similar in male and female C57Bl/6J. In the nucleus accumbens of male but not female C57Bl/6J, norBNI increased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (pJNK), a putative mechanism for norBNI action. However, no differences in pJNK were observed in male or female California mice. Together, these results suggest that immobility in the forced swim test is less dependent on endogenous KOR signaling in female rodents and highlight the importance of examining the effects of possible therapeutic agents in both males and females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Laman-Maharg
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Alexia V Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mikaela D Zufelt
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Vanessa A Minie
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Rebecca Hao
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Tiffany Copeland
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jill L Silverman
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Angelina Leigh
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Rodney Snyder
- Research Triangle Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Research Triangle Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Brian C Trainor
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Sachs BD, Tran HL, Folse E, Caron MG. Brain-region-specific Molecular Responses to Maternal Separation and Social Defeat Stress in Mice. Neuroscience 2018; 373:122-136. [PMID: 29341883 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The association between stress and mental illness has been well documented, but the molecular consequences of repeated exposure to stress have not been completely identified. The present study sought to elucidate the combinatorial effects of early-life maternal separation stress and adult social defeat stress on alterations in signal transduction and gene expression that have been previously implicated in susceptibility to psychosocial stress. Molecular analyses were performed in the prelimbic/infralimbic cortex, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens, three brain regions that have been suggested to play critical roles in determining stress responses. The current data reveal that both maternal separation and social defeat significantly impact the expression of genes involved in histone methylation and the β-catenin-, endogenous opioid-, neurotrophin-, and glucocorticoid signaling pathways. Although the effects of maternal separation and social defeat were largely non-overlapping, a subset of genes in each brain region were governed by additive, opposing, or other types of interactions between these stress paradigms, thus highlighting potential molecular mechanisms through which these stressors might coordinately regulate brain function and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Sachs
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Villanova University, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Villanova, PA 19085, United States.
| | - Ha L Tran
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Emily Folse
- Villanova University, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Villanova, PA 19085, United States
| | - Marc G Caron
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Duke University Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Duke University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Deal AL, Konstantopoulos JK, Weiner JL, Budygin EA. Exploring the consequences of social defeat stress and intermittent ethanol drinking on dopamine dynamics in the rat nucleus accumbens. Sci Rep 2018; 8:332. [PMID: 29321525 PMCID: PMC5762836 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18706-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study aimed to explore how presynaptic dopamine (DA) function is altered following brief stress episodes and chronic ethanol self-administration and whether these neuroadaptations modify the acute effects of ethanol on DA dynamics. We used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to evaluate changes in DA release and uptake parameters in rat nucleus accumbens brain slices by analyzing DA transients evoked through single pulse electrical stimulation. Adult male rats were divided into four groups: ethanol-naïve or ethanol drinking (six week intermittent two-bottle choice) and stressed (mild social defeat) or nonstressed. Results revealed that the mild stress significantly increased DA release and uptake in ethanol-naïve subjects, compared to nonstressed controls. Chronic ethanol self-administration increased the DA uptake rate and occluded the effects of stress on DA release dynamics. Bath-applied ethanol decreased stimulated DA efflux in a concentration-dependent manner in all groups; however, the magnitude of this effect was blunted by either stress or chronic ethanol, or by a combination of both procedures. Together, these findings suggest that stress and ethanol drinking may promote similar adaptive changes in accumbal presynaptic DA release measures and that these changes may contribute to the escalation in ethanol intake that occurs during the development of alcohol use disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex L Deal
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Jeff L Weiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Evgeny A Budygin
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
The pineal gland has a romantic history, from pharaonic Egypt, where it was equated with the eye of Horus, through various religious traditions, where it was considered the seat of the soul, the third eye, etc. Recent incarnations of these notions have suggested that N,N-dimethyltryptamine is secreted by the pineal gland at birth, during dreaming, and at near death to produce out of body experiences. Scientific evidence, however, is not consistent with these ideas. The adult pineal gland weighs less than 0.2 g, and its principal function is to produce about 30 µg per day of melatonin, a hormone that regulates circadian rhythm through very high affinity interactions with melatonin receptors. It is clear that very minute concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine have been detected in the brain, but they are not sufficient to produce psychoactive effects. Alternative explanations are presented to explain how stress and near death can produce altered states of consciousness without invoking the intermediacy of N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Collapse
|
39
|
Browne CA, Falcon E, Robinson SA, Berton O, Lucki I. Reversal of Stress-Induced Social Interaction Deficits by Buprenorphine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 21:164-174. [PMID: 29020387 PMCID: PMC5793841 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyx079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder frequently report persistent problems with social interactions, emerging after a traumatic experience. Chronic social defeat stress is a widely used rodent model of stress that produces robust and sustained social avoidance behavior. The avoidance of other rodents can be reversed by 28 days of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the only pharmaceutical class approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. In this study, the sensitivity of social interaction deficits evoked by 10 days of chronic social defeat stress to prospective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder was examined. METHODS The effects of acute and repeated treatment with a low dose of buprenorphine (0.25 mg/kg/d) on social interaction deficits in male C57BL/6 mice by chronic social defeat stress were studied. Another cohort of mice was used to determine the effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/d), the NMDA antagonist ketamine (10 mg/kg/d), and the selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist CERC-501 (1 mg/kg/d). Changes in mRNA expression of Oprm1 and Oprk1 were assessed in a separate cohort. RESULTS Buprenorphine significantly reversed social interaction deficits produced by chronic social defeat stress following 7 days of administration, but not after acute injection. Treatment with fluoxetine for 7 days, but not 24 hours, also reinstated social interaction behavior in mice that were susceptible to chronic social defeat. In contrast, CERC-501 and ketamine failed to reverse social avoidance. Gene expression analysis found: (1) Oprm1 mRNA expression was reduced in the hippocampus and increased in the frontal cortex of susceptible mice and (2) Oprk1 mRNA expression was reduced in the amygdala and increased in the frontal cortex of susceptible mice compared to non-stressed controls and stress-resilient mice. CONCLUSIONS Short-term treatment with buprenorphine and fluoxetine normalized social interaction after chronic social defeat stress. In concert with the changes in opioid receptor expression produced by chronic social defeat stress, we speculate that buprenorphine's efficacy in this model of post-traumatic stress disorder may be associated with the ability of this compound to engage multiple opioid receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Irwin Lucki
- Departments of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,Correspondence: Irwin Lucki, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 ()
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
"Effects of the novel relatively short-acting kappa opioid receptor antagonist LY2444296 in behaviors observed after chronic extended-access cocaine self-administration in rats". Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:2219-2231. [PMID: 28550455 PMCID: PMC5591939 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4647-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The recruitment of the stress circuitry contributes to a shift from positive to negative reinforcement mechanisms sustaining long-term cocaine addiction. The kappa opioid receptor (KOPr) signaling is upregulated by stress and chronic cocaine exposure. While KOPr agonists induce anhedonia and dysphoria, KOPr antagonists display antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Most of the knowledge on KOPr antagonism is based on drugs with unusual pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, complicating interpretation of results. Here we characterized in vivo behavioral and neuroendocrine effects of the novel relatively short-acting KOPr antagonist LY2444296. To date, no study has investigated whether systemic KOPr blockade reduced anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in animals previously exposed to chronic extended access cocaine self-administration. OBJECTIVES We tested the effect of LY2444296 in blocking KOPr-mediated aversive and neuroendocrine effects. Then, we tested acute systemic LY2444296 in reducing anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, as well as releasing the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT), observed after chronic extended access (18 h/day for 14 days) cocaine self-administration. RESULTS LY2444296 blocked U69,593-induced place aversion and -reduced motor activity as well as U69,593-induced release of serum CORT, confirming its major site of action, without exerting an effect per se. Acute systemic administration of LY2444296 reduced anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors, as well as CORT release, in rats tested after chronic extended access cocaine self-administration, but not in cocaine-naïve rats. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that acute blockade of KOPr by a relatively short-acting antagonist produces therapeutic-like effects selectively in rats with a history of chronic extended access cocaine self-administration.
Collapse
|
41
|
Effects of Chronic Social Defeat Stress on Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Are Mitigated by Kappa-Opioid Receptor Antagonism. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7656-7668. [PMID: 28674176 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0885-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress plays a critical role in the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders. Sleep and circadian rhythms are affected in many of these conditions. Here we examined the effects of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), an ethological form of stress, on sleep and circadian rhythms. We exposed male mice implanted with wireless telemetry transmitters to a 10 day CSDS regimen known to produce anhedonia (a depressive-like effect) and social avoidance (an anxiety-like effect). EEG, EMG, body temperature, and locomotor activity data were collected continuously during the CSDS regimen and a 5 day recovery period. CSDS affected numerous endpoints, including paradoxical sleep (PS) and slow-wave sleep (SWS), as well as the circadian rhythmicity of body temperature and locomotor activity. The magnitude of the effects increased with repeated stress, and some changes (PS bouts, SWS time, body temperature, locomotor activity) persisted after the CSDS regimen had ended. CSDS also altered mRNA levels of the circadian rhythm-related gene mPer2 within brain areas that regulate motivation and emotion. Administration of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist JDTic (30 mg/kg, i.p.) before CSDS reduced stress effects on both sleep and circadian rhythms, or hastened their recovery, and attenuated changes in mPer2 Our findings show that CSDS produces persistent disruptions in sleep and circadian rhythmicity, mimicking attributes of stress-related conditions as they appear in humans. The ability of KOR antagonists to mitigate these disruptions is consistent with previously reported antistress effects. Studying homologous endpoints across species may facilitate the development of improved treatments for psychiatric illness.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Stress plays a critical role in the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders. We show that chronic social defeat stress in mice produces progressive alterations in sleep and circadian rhythms that resemble features of depression as it appears in humans. Whereas some of these alterations recover quickly upon cessation of stress, others persist. Administration of a kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist reduced stress effects or hastened recovery, consistent with the previously reported antistress effects of this class of agents. Use of endpoints, such as sleep and circadian rhythm, that are homologous across species will facilitate the implementation of translational studies that better predict clinical outcomes in humans, improve the success of clinical trials, and facilitate the development of more effective therapeutics.
Collapse
|
42
|
The long-term effects of stress and kappa opioid receptor activation on conditioned place aversion in male and female California mice. Behav Brain Res 2017. [PMID: 28625549 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress leads to the activation of kappa opioid receptors (KORs), which induce dysphoria and facilitate depression-like behaviors. However, less is known about the long-term effects of stress and KORs in females. We examined the long-term effects of social defeat stress on the aversive properties of KOR activation in male and female California mice (Peromyscus californicus) using a conditioned place aversion paradigm. Female California mice naïve to social defeat, formed a place aversion following treatment with 2.5mg/kg of the KOR agonist U50,488, but females exposed to defeat did not form a place aversion to this dose. This supports the finding by others that social defeat weakens the aversive properties of KOR agonists. In contrast, both control and stressed males formed an aversion to 10mg/kg of U50,488. We also examined EGR1 immunoreactivity, an indirect marker of neuronal activity, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and found that stress and treatment with 10mg/kg of U50,488 increased EGR1 immunoreactivity in the NAc core in females but reduced activation in males. The effects of stress and U50,488 on EGR1 were specific to the NAc, as we found no differences in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In summary, our data indicate important sex differences in the long-term effects of stress and indicate the need for further study of the molecular mechanisms mediating the behavioral effects of KOR in both males and females.
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
This paper is the thirty-eighth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2015 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Carlezon WA, Krystal AD. Kappa-Opioid Antagonists for Psychiatric Disorders: From Bench to Clinical Trials. Depress Anxiety 2016; 33:895-906. [PMID: 27699938 PMCID: PMC5288841 DOI: 10.1002/da.22500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonists are currently being considered for the treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, including depressive, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. A general ability to mitigate the effects of stress, which can trigger or exacerbate these conditions, may explain their putative efficacy across such a broad array of conditions. The discovery of their potentially therapeutic effects evolved from preclinical research designed to characterize the molecular mechanisms by which experience causes neuroadaptations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key element of brain reward circuitry. This research established that exposure to drugs of abuse or stress increases the activity of the transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) in the NAc, which leads to elevated expression of the opioid peptide dynorphin that in turn causes core signs of depressive- and anxiety-related disorders. Disruption of KORs-the endogenous receptors for dynorphin-produces antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like actions in screening procedures that identify standard drugs of these classes, and reduces stress effects in tests used to study addiction and stress-related disorders. Although interest in this target is high, prototypical KOR antagonists have extraordinarily persistent pharmacodynamic effects that complicate clinical trials. The development of shorter acting KOR antagonists together with more rapid designs for clinical trials may soon provide insight on whether these drugs are efficacious as would be predicted by preclinical work. If successful, KOR antagonists would represent a unique example in psychiatry where the therapeutic mechanism of a drug class is understood before it is shown to be efficacious in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William A. Carlezon
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont MA
| | - Andrew D. Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Karkhanis AN, Rose JH, Weiner JL, Jones SR. Early-Life Social Isolation Stress Increases Kappa Opioid Receptor Responsiveness and Downregulates the Dopamine System. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:2263-74. [PMID: 26860203 PMCID: PMC4946054 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chronic early-life stress increases vulnerability to alcoholism and anxiety disorders during adulthood. Similarly, rats reared in social isolation (SI) during adolescence exhibit augmented ethanol intake and anxiety-like behaviors compared with group housed (GH) rats. Prior studies suggest that disruption of dopamine (DA) signaling contributes to SI-associated behaviors, although the mechanisms underlying these alterations are not fully understood. Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) have an important role in regulating mesolimbic DA signaling, and other kinds of stressors have been shown to augment KOR function. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that SI-induced increases in KOR function contribute to the dysregulation of NAc DA and the escalation in ethanol intake associated with SI. Our ex vivo voltammetry experiments showed that the inhibitory effects of the kappa agonist U50,488 on DA release were significantly enhanced in the NAc core and shell of SI rats. Dynorphin levels in NAc tissue were observed to be lower in SI rats. Microdialysis in freely moving rats revealed that SI was also associated with reduced baseline DA levels, and pretreatment with the KOR antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) increased DA levels selectively in SI subjects. Acute ethanol elevated DA in SI and GH rats and nor-BNI pretreatment augmented this effect in SI subjects, while having no effect on ethanol-stimulated DA release in GH rats. Together, these data suggest that KORs may have increased responsiveness following SI, which could lead to hypodopaminergia and contribute to an increased drive to consume ethanol. Indeed, SI rats exhibited greater ethanol intake and preference and KOR blockade selectively attenuated ethanol intake in SI rats. Collectively, the findings that nor-BNI reversed SI-mediated hypodopaminergic state and escalated ethanol intake suggest that KOR antagonists may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of alcohol use disorders, particularly in cases linked to chronic early-life stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anushree N Karkhanis
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA,Translational Center for the Neurobehavioral Study of Alcohol, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jamie H Rose
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Weiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA,Translational Center for the Neurobehavioral Study of Alcohol, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sara R Jones
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA,Translational Center for the Neurobehavioral Study of Alcohol, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA, Tel: +1 336 716 8533, Fax: +1 336 716 8501, E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|