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Burenkova OV, Grigorenko EL. The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the long-term effects of early-life adversity and mother-infant relationship on physiology and behavior of offspring in laboratory rats and mice. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22479. [PMID: 38470450 PMCID: PMC10959231 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22479] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Maternal care during the early postnatal period of altricial mammals is a key factor in the survival and adaptation of offspring to environmental conditions. Natural variations in maternal care and experimental manipulations with maternal-child relationships modeling early-life adversity (ELA) in laboratory rats and mice have a strong long-term influence on the physiology and behavior of offspring in rats and mice. This literature review is devoted to the latest research on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in these effects of ELA and mother-infant relationship, with a focus on the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. An important part of this review is dedicated to pharmacological interventions and epigenetic editing as tools for studying the causal role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of physiological and behavioral profiles. A special section of the manuscript will discuss the translational potential of the discussed research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V. Burenkova
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elena L. Grigorenko
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Cognitive Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Research Administration, Moscow State University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Do J. The Role of Epigenetics and Contributing Impact of Stress, Multigenerational, and Developmental Factors in Opiate Addiction. Cureus 2024; 16:e53788. [PMID: 38465047 PMCID: PMC10923639 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is characterized by maladaptive neural plasticity, particularly in vulnerable individuals exposed to drugs of abuse. Epigenetic factors include environmental influences, events during development, and stress adaptations, which seem to play an important role in the neuropathogenesis of drug addiction. This critical review hypothesizes that epigenetic modulation increases an individual's susceptibility to opiate addiction in three key areas of epigenetic study: developmental, stress-related, and transgenerational effects. The widespread use of opioids for clinical and recreational purposes raises significant societal and scientific concerns. Despite the increasing prevalence of opioid abuse, there is limited comprehensive knowledge about the impact of epigenetic factors on opiate addiction manifestation. This review hypothesizes that epigenetic modulation increases susceptibility to opiate addiction, exploring three key areas of epigenetic study: developmental, stress-related, and transgenerational effects. Current literature reveals a correlation between epigenetic influences and vulnerability to drug addiction, specifically in the context of opioid use. Epigenetics, the modulation of genetic expression beyond genotypic predisposition, plays a crucial role in an individual's susceptibility to drug addiction. Studies suggest that epigenetic mechanisms, once considered static in the adult brain, continue to influence synaptic plasticity and long-term memory, particularly in the endogenous opioid system. This review examines the effects of opioids and stress on epigenetic modifications, providing evidence of increased vulnerability to opiate addiction. Animal studies demonstrate how developmental adversities and adolescent exposure to substances can induce persistent epigenetic changes, predisposing individuals to opiate addiction in adulthood. Moreover, the review explores the transgenerational effects of opioid exposure during adolescence, suggesting that functional epigenetic neuroadaptations within the nucleus accumbens can persist for multiple generations. The examination of DNA methylation patterns in opioid addicts reveals potential markers for identifying susceptibility to opiate vulnerability. A critical analysis of research reports supports the hypothesis that developmental, transgenerational, and stress-related epigenetic mechanisms have a profound role in increasing the risk of opioid addiction susceptibility. Each study confirmed that developmental, stress-related, or transgenerational epigenetic regulations have a correlation to increased opiate sensitization and vulnerability. Unfortunately, every study reviewed was unable to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism to explain a specific neuropathogenesis of opiate drug addiction vulnerability, emphasizing our lack of knowledge in the complex pathology of epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Do
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, USA
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3
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Sex differences in addiction-relevant behavioral outcomes in rodents following early life stress. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 6. [PMID: 37101684 PMCID: PMC10124992 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In humans, exposure to early life stress (ELS) is an established risk factor for the development of substance use disorders (SUDs) during later life. Similarly, rodents exposed to ELS involving disrupted mother-infant interactions, such as maternal separation (MS) or adverse caregiving due to scarcity-adversity induced by limited bedding and nesting (LBN) conditions, also exhibit long-term alterations in alcohol and drug consumption. In both humans and rodents, there is a range of addiction-related behaviors that are associated with drug use and even predictive of subsequent SUDs. In rodents, these include increased anxiety-like behavior, impulsivity, and novelty-seeking, altered alcohol and drug intake patterns, as well as disrupted reward-related processes involving consummatory and social behaviors. Importantly, the expression of these behaviors often varies throughout the lifespan. Moreover, preclinical studies suggest that sex differences play a role in how exposure to ELS impacts reward and addiction-related phenotypes as well as underlying brain reward circuitry. Here, addiction-relevant behavioral outcomes and mesolimbic dopamine (DA) dysfunction resulting from ELS in the form of MS and LBN are discussed with a focus on age- and sex-dependent effects. Overall, these findings suggest that ELS may increase susceptibility for later life drug use and SUDs by interfering with the normal maturation of reward-related brain and behavioral function.
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4
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Cheng Z, Su J, Zhang K, Jiang H, Li B. Epigenetic Mechanism of Early Life Stress-Induced Depression: Focus on the Neurotransmitter Systems. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:929732. [PMID: 35865627 PMCID: PMC9294154 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.929732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression has an alarmingly high prevalence worldwide. A growing body of evidence indicates that environmental factors significantly affect the neural development and function of the central nervous system and then induce psychiatric disorders. Early life stress (ELS) affects brain development and has been identified as a major cause of depression. It could promote susceptibility to stress in adulthood. Recent studies have found that ELS induces epigenetic changes that subsequently affect transcriptional rates of differentially expressed genes. The epigenetic modifications involved in ELS include histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNA. Understanding of these genetic modifications may identify mechanisms that may lead to new interventions for the treatment of depression. Many reports indicate that different types of ELS induce epigenetic modifications of genes involved in the neurotransmitter systems, such as the dopaminergic system, the serotonergic system, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system, and the glutamatergic system, which further regulate gene expression and ultimately induce depression-like behaviors. In this article, we review the effects of epigenetic modifications on the neurotransmitter systems in depression-like outcomes produced by different types of ELS in recent years, aiming to provide new therapeutic targets for patients who suffer from depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqian Cheng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Engineering Lab on Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, China
| | - Jingyun Su
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Engineering Lab on Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Central Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Huiyi Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Huiyi Jiang, ; Bingjin Li,
| | - Bingjin Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Engineering Lab on Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Huiyi Jiang, ; Bingjin Li,
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5
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Saad L, Zwiller J, Kalsbeek A, Anglard P. Epigenetic Regulation of Circadian Clocks and Its Involvement in Drug Addiction. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1263. [PMID: 34440437 PMCID: PMC8394526 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on studies describing an increased prevalence of addictive behaviours in several rare sleep disorders and shift workers, a relationship between circadian rhythms and addiction has been hinted for more than a decade. Although circadian rhythm alterations and molecular mechanisms associated with neuropsychiatric conditions are an area of active investigation, success is limited so far, and further investigations are required. Thus, even though compelling evidence connects the circadian clock to addictive behaviour and vice-versa, yet the functional mechanism behind this interaction remains largely unknown. At the molecular level, multiple mechanisms have been proposed to link the circadian timing system to addiction. The molecular mechanism of the circadian clock consists of a transcriptional/translational feedback system, with several regulatory loops, that are also intricately regulated at the epigenetic level. Interestingly, the epigenetic landscape shows profound changes in the addictive brain, with significant alterations in histone modification, DNA methylation, and small regulatory RNAs. The combination of these two observations raises the possibility that epigenetic regulation is a common plot linking the circadian clocks with addiction, though very little evidence has been reported to date. This review provides an elaborate overview of the circadian system and its involvement in addiction, and we hypothesise a possible connection at the epigenetic level that could further link them. Therefore, we think this review may further improve our understanding of the etiology or/and pathology of psychiatric disorders related to drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Saad
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.S.); (J.Z.)
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean Zwiller
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.S.); (J.Z.)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 75016 Paris, France
| | - Andries Kalsbeek
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Anglard
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.S.); (J.Z.)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), 75013 Paris, France
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6
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Effect of histone acetylation on maintenance and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference and ΔFosB expression in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex of male rats. Behav Brain Res 2021; 414:113477. [PMID: 34302880 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Recently, epigenetic mechanisms are considered as the new potential targets for addiction treatment. This research was designed to explore the effect of histone acetylation on ΔFosB gene expression in morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in male rats. CPP was induced via morphine injection (5 mg/kg) for three consecutive days. Animals received low-dose theophylline (LDT) or Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic acid (SAHA), as an histone deacetylase (HDAC) activator or inhibitor, respectively, and a combination of both in subsequent extinction days. Following extinction, a priming dose of morphine (1 mg/kg) was administered to induce reinstatement. H4 acetylation and ΔFosB expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were assessed on the last day of extinction and the following CPP reinstatement. Our results demonstrated that daily administration of SAHA (25 mg/kg; i.p.), facilitated morphine-extinction and decreased CPP score in reinstatement of place preference. Conversely, injections of LDT (20 mg/kg; i.p.) prolonged extinction in animals. Co-administration of LDT and SAHA on extinction days counterbalanced each other, such that maintenance and reinstatement were no different than the control group. The gene expression of ΔFosB was increased by SAHA in NAc and mPFC compared to the control group. Administration of SAHA during extinction days, also altered histone acetylation in the NAc and mPFC on the last day of extinction, but not on reinstatement day. Collectively, administration of SAHA facilitated extinction and reduced reinstatement of morphine-induced CPP in rats. This study confirms the essential role of epigenetic mechanisms, specifically histone acetylation, in regulating drug-induced plasticity and seeking behaviors.
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7
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Park HS, Kim J, Ahn SH, Ryu HY. Epigenetic Targeting of Histone Deacetylases in Diagnostics and Treatment of Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5398. [PMID: 34065586 PMCID: PMC8160658 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a highly prevalent, disabling, and often chronic illness that places substantial burdens on patients, families, healthcare systems, and the economy. A substantial minority of patients are unresponsive to current therapies, so there is an urgent need to develop more broadly effective, accessible, and tolerable therapies. Pharmacological regulation of histone acetylation level has been investigated as one potential clinical strategy. Histone acetylation status is considered a potential diagnostic biomarker for depression, while inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) have garnered interest as novel therapeutics. This review describes recent advances in our knowledge of histone acetylation status in depression and the therapeutic potential of HDAC inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Sun Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Korea
| | - Jongmin Kim
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea;
- Research Institute for Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea
| | - Seong Hoon Ahn
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University ERICA Campus, Ansan 15588, Korea;
| | - Hong-Yeoul Ryu
- BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, School of Life Sciences, College of National Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
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8
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Scarna H. Genesis of the Heroin-Induced Addictive Process: Articulation Between Psychodynamic and Neurobiological Theories. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:524764. [PMID: 33362589 PMCID: PMC7755881 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.524764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychotherapeutic consultations of drug addict's patients in a Care, Support and Prevention Center in Addictology led us to propose several hypotheses on the genesis of addiction and its articulation with currently available neurobiological data. This care center dispenses both pharmacological maintenance medications for heroin dependence, such as methadone or buprenorphine, and psychological support. Our first hypothesis posits that the addictive process is driven by the narcissistic vulnerability of these patients, its neurobiological foundations being mainly mediated by the activation of endogenous opioid systems. Drug use/abuse could be a way to make arise the "True Self," therefore overcoming the defensive system's set up to protect oneself from early traumas. The neurobiological impact of traumas is also developed and articulated with psychodynamic concepts, particularly those of Winnicott. Additionally, functions of addiction such as defensive, anti-depressant roles and emotional regulation are discussed in relationship with their currently known neuroscientific bases. Although the experience in the psychodynamic clinic is at a level of complexity much higher than what is currently accessible to the neurosciences, most of the research in this domain stays in line with our psychological understanding of the addictive process. Finally, we outline some critically sensitive points regarding the therapeutic support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Scarna
- Centre de Recherche en Psychopathologie et Psychologie Clinique, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Bron, France.,Laboratoire de Psychologie EA 3188, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, Bron, France.,Centre de Soin, d'Accompagnement et de Prévention en Addictologie, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France
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9
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Shepard RD, Gouty S, Kassis H, Berenji A, Zhu W, Cox BM, Nugent FS. Targeting histone deacetylation for recovery of maternal deprivation-induced changes in BDNF and AKAP150 expression in the VTA. Exp Neurol 2018; 309:160-168. [PMID: 30102916 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Severe early life stressors increase the probability of developing psychiatric disorders later in life through modifications in neuronal circuits controlling brain monoaminergic signaling. Our previous work demonstrated that 24 h maternal deprivation (MD) in male Sprague Dawley rats modifies dopamine (DA) signaling from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) through changes at GABAergic synapses that were reversible by in vitro histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition which led to restoration of the scaffold A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP150) signaling and subsequently recovered GABAergic plasticity (Authement et al., 2015). Using a combination of in situ hybridization, Western blots and immunohistochemistry, we confirmed that MD-induced epigenetic modifications at the level of histone acetylation were associated with an upregulation of HDAC2. MD also increased Akap5 mRNA levels in the VTA. Western blot analysis of AKAP150 protein expression showed an increase in synaptic levels of AKAP150 protein in the VTA with an accompanying decrease in synaptic levels of protein kinase A (PKA). Moreover, the abundance of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein of VTA tissues from MD rats was significantly lower than in control groups. In vivo systemic injection with a selective class I HDAC inhibitor (CI-994) was sufficient to reverse MD-induced histone hypoacetylation in the VTA for 24 h after the injection. Furthermore, HDAC inhibition normalized the levels of mBDNF and AKAP150 proteins at 24 h. Our data suggest that HDAC-mediated targeting of BDNF and AKAP-dependent local signaling within VTA could provide novel therapeutics for prevention of later-life psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D Shepard
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Haifa Kassis
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Aylar Berenji
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - William Zhu
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Brian M Cox
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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10
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-ninth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2016 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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11
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Ajonijebu DC, Abboussi O, Russell VA, Mabandla MV, Daniels WMU. Epigenetics: a link between addiction and social environment. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:2735-2747. [PMID: 28255755 PMCID: PMC11107568 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2493-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The detrimental effects of drug abuse are apparently not limited to individuals but may also impact the vulnerability of their progenies to develop addictive behaviours. Epigenetic signatures, early life experience and environmental factors, converge to influence gene expression patterns in addiction phenotypes and consequently may serve as mediators of behavioural trait transmission between generations. The majority of studies investigating the role of epigenetics in addiction do not consider the influence of social interactions. This shortcoming in current experimental approaches necessitates developing social models that reflect the addictive behaviour in a free-living social environment. Furthermore, this review also reports on the advancement of interventions for drug addiction and takes into account the emerging roles of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in the etiology of drug addiction and that HDAC may be a potential therapeutic target at nucleosomal level to improve treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duyilemi C Ajonijebu
- Discipline of Human Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Oualid Abboussi
- Discipline of Human Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
| | - Vivienne A Russell
- Discipline of Human Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Musa V Mabandla
- Discipline of Human Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - William M U Daniels
- Discipline of Human Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa
- School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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12
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Lewis CR, Bastle RM, Manning TB, Himes SM, Fennig P, Conrad PR, Colwell J, Pagni BA, Hess LA, Matekel CG, Newbern JM, Olive MF. Interactions between Early Life Stress, Nucleus Accumbens MeCP2 Expression, and Methamphetamine Self-Administration in Male Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:2851-2861. [PMID: 27312406 PMCID: PMC5061895 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.96] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2015] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is highly related to the development of psychiatric illnesses in adulthood, including substance use disorders. A recent body of literature suggests that long-lasting changes in the epigenome may be a mechanism by which experiences early in life can alter neurobiological and behavioral phenotypes in adulthood. In this study, we replicate our previous findings that ELS, in the form of prolonged maternal separation, increases adult methamphetamine self-administration (SA) in male rats as compared with handled controls. In addition, we show new evidence that both ELS and methamphetamine SA alter the expression of the epigenetic regulator methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in key brain reward regions, particularly in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core. In turn, viral-mediated knockdown of MeCP2 expression in the NAc core reduces methamphetamine SA, as well as saccharin intake. Furthermore, NAc core MeCP2 knockdown reduces methamphetamine, but not saccharin, SA on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. These data suggest that NAc core MeCP2 may be recruited by both ELS and methamphetamine SA and promote the development of certain aspects of drug abuse-related behavior. Taken together, functional interactions between ELS, methamphetamine SA, and the expression of MeCP2 in the NAc may represent novel mechanisms that can ultimately be targeted for intervention in individuals with adverse early life experiences who are at risk for developing substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace R Lewis
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA,Arizona State University, 950 S McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA, Tel: +1 602 680 8786, E-mail:
| | - Ryan M Bastle
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Tawny B Manning
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah M Himes
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Paulette Fennig
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Phoebe R Conrad
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jenna Colwell
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Broc A Pagni
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Lyndsay A Hess
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Jason M Newbern
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - M Foster Olive
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA,Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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13
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Microinjection of histone deacetylase inhibitor into the ventrolateral orbital cortex potentiates morphine induced behavioral sensitization. Brain Res 2016; 1646:418-425. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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14
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Authement ME, Langlois LD, Kassis H, Gouty S, Dacher M, Shepard RD, Cox BM, Nugent FS. Morphine-induced synaptic plasticity in the VTA is reversed by HDAC inhibition. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:1093-103. [PMID: 27306674 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00238.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) dysfunction originating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) occurs as a result of synaptic abnormalities following consumption of drugs of abuse and underlies behavioral plasticity associated with drug abuse. Drugs of abuse can cause changes in gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms in the brain that underlie some of the lasting neuroplasticity and behavior associated with addiction. Here we investigated the function of histone acetylation and histone deacetylase (HDAC)2 in the VTA in recovery of morphine-induced synaptic modifications following a single in vivo exposure to morphine. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and whole cell patch-clamp recording in rat midbrain slices, we show that morphine increased HDAC2 activity in VTA DA neurons and reduced histone H3 acetylation at lysine 9 (Ac-H3K9) in the VTA 24 h after the injection. Morphine-induced synaptic changes at glutamatergic synapses involved endocannabinoid signaling to reduce GABAergic synaptic strength onto VTA DA neurons. Both plasticities were recovered by in vitro incubation of midbrain slices with a class I-specific HDAC inhibitor (HDACi), CI-994, through an increase in acetylation of histone H3K9. Interestingly, HDACi incubation also increased levels of Ac-H3K9 and triggered GABAergic and glutamatergic plasticities in DA neurons of saline-treated rats. Our results suggest that acute morphine-induced changes in VTA DA activity and synaptic transmission engage HDAC2 activity locally in the VTA to maintain synaptic modifications through histone hypoacetylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Authement
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ludovic D Langlois
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Haifa Kassis
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Matthieu Dacher
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ryan D Shepard
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brian M Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
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15
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Rincel M, Lépinay A, Gabory A, Théodorou V, Koehl M, Daugé V, Maccari S, Darnaudéry M. [Early life stressful experiences and neuropsychiatric vulnerability: evidences from human and animal models]. Med Sci (Paris) 2016; 32:93-9. [PMID: 26850613 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20163201015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The human newborn is highly dependent on parental care for its survival but also for the healthy development of its brain. A large body of literature demonstrates the impact of early life adversity, even during the prenatal period, on the adult's health. The susceptibility to neuropsychiatric diseases is often potentiated by early stress. If there is an agreement that a critical developmental period exists, the mechanisms underlying the long term effects of early life adversity are still poorly understood. Recent studies in animals highlight the involvement of epigenetic processes in the transmission of such vulnerabilities, notably via modifications in germ cells, which can be transmitted in the next generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Rincel
- Université de Bordeaux, Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (NUTRINEURO), UMR 1286, 146, rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France - Inra, Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (NUTRINEURO), UMR 1286, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Amandine Lépinay
- Université de Bordeaux, Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (NUTRINEURO), UMR 1286, 146, rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France - Inra, Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (NUTRINEURO), UMR 1286, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anne Gabory
- UMR 1198, biologie du développement et reproduction, Inra - Centre de recherche de Jouy en Josas, F-78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Vassilia Théodorou
- Inra, UMR 1331- Toxicologie alimentaire (TOXALIM), F-31027 Toulouse, France
| | - Muriel Koehl
- Neurocentre Magendie, université Bordeaux, F- 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Valérie Daugé
- Inra, Microbiologie de l'alimentation au service de la Santé (MICALIS), UMR 1319, équipe Alimentation, microbiote intestinal, pathologies encéphaliques et métabolique (AMIPEM) F-78352, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Stefania Maccari
- Sapienza university of Rome/ Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Istituto Neurologico Merditerraneo (NEUROMED), Italie - UMR 8576 CNRS, université de Lille, France
| | - Muriel Darnaudéry
- Université de Bordeaux, Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (NUTRINEURO), UMR 1286, 146, rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France - Inra, Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (NUTRINEURO), UMR 1286, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
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16
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Klengel T, Binder EB. Epigenetics of Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders and Gene × Environment Interactions. Neuron 2015; 86:1343-57. [PMID: 26087162 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A deeper understanding of the pathomechanisms leading to stress-related psychiatric disorders is important for the development of more efficient preventive and therapeutic strategies. Epidemiological studies indicate a combined contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the risk for disease. The environment, particularly early life severe stress or trauma, can lead to lifelong molecular changes in the form of epigenetic modifications that can set the organism off on trajectories to health or disease. Epigenetic modifications are capable of shaping and storing the molecular response of a cell to its environment as a function of genetic predisposition. This provides a potential mechanism for gene-environment interactions. Here, we review epigenetic mechanisms associated with the response to stress and trauma exposure and the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders. We also look at how they may contribute to our understanding of the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors in shaping disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Klengel
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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17
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Authement M, Kodangattil J, Gouty S, Rusnak M, Symes A, Cox B, Nugent F. Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Rescues Maternal Deprivation-Induced GABAergic Metaplasticity through Restoration of AKAP Signaling. Neuron 2015; 86:1240-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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18
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Zwiller J. [Epigenetics and drug addiction: a focus on MeCP2 and on histone acetylation]. Med Sci (Paris) 2015; 31:439-46. [PMID: 25958763 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20153104019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic drug exposure alters gene expression in the brain, which is believed to underlie compulsive drug seeking and drug taking behavior. Recent evidence shows that drug-induced long-term neuroadaptations in the brain are mediated in part by epigenetic mechanisms. By remodeling chromatin, this type of regulation contributes to drug-induced synaptic plasticity that translates into behavioral modifications. How drug-induced alterations in DNA methylation regulate gene expression is reviewed here, with a focus on MeCP2, a protein binding methylated DNA. The importance of histone modifications, especially acetylation is also discussed, with an emphasis on the effects of inhibitors of histone deacetylases on drug-induced behavioral changes. The precise identification of the epigenetic mechanisms that are under the control of drugs of abuse may help to uncover novel targets for the treatment of drug seeking and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Zwiller
- Laboratoire de neurosciences cognitives et adaptatives, UMR 7364, CNRS, université de Strasbourg, faculté de psychologie, 12 rue Goethe, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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19
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Lewis CR, Olive MF. Early-life stress interactions with the epigenome: potential mechanisms driving vulnerability toward psychiatric illness. Behav Pharmacol 2014; 25:341-51. [PMID: 25003947 PMCID: PMC4119485 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the 20th century a body of literature concerning the long-lasting effects of the early environment was produced. Adverse experiences in early life, or early-life stress (ELS), is associated with a higher risk of developing various psychiatric illnesses. The mechanisms driving the complex interplay between ELS and adult phenotype has baffled many investigators for decades. Over the last decade, the new field of neuroepigenetics has emerged as one possible mechanism by which ELS can have far-reaching effects on adult phenotype, behavior, and risk for psychiatric illness. Here we review two commonly investigated epigenetic mechanisms, histone modifications and DNA methylation, and the emerging field of neuroepigenetics as they relate to ELS. We discuss the current animal literature demonstrating ELS-induced epigenetic modulation of gene expression that results in altered adult phenotypes. We also briefly discuss other areas in which neuroepigenetics has emerged as a potential mechanism underlying environmental and genetic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace Renee Lewis
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 930 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, , Phone: (602) 680 – 8786
| | - Michael Foster Olive
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 930 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, , Phone: (480) 727-9557
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