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Shkreli L, Thoroddsen T, Kobelt M, Martens MA, Browning M, Harmer CJ, Cowen P, Reinecke A. Acute Angiotensin II Receptor Blockade Facilitates Parahippocampal Processing During Memory Encoding in High-Trait-Anxious Individuals. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100286. [PMID: 38323154 PMCID: PMC10844816 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.100286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been associated with preventing posttraumatic stress disorder symptom development and improving memory. However, the underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated ARB effects on memory encoding and hippocampal functioning that have previously been implicated in posttraumatic stress disorder development. Methods In a double-blind randomized design, 40 high-trait-anxious participants (33 women) received the ARB losartan (50 mg) or placebo. At drug peak level, participants encoded images of animals and landscapes before undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging, where they viewed the encoded familiar images and unseen novel images to be memorized and classified as animals/landscapes. Memory recognition was assessed 1 hour after functional magnetic resonance imaging. To analyze neural effects, whole-brain analysis, hippocampus region-of-interest analysis, and exploratory multivariate pattern similarity analysis were employed. Results ARBs facilitated parahippocampal processing. In the whole-brain analysis, losartan enhanced brain activity for familiar images in the parahippocampal gyrus (PHC), anterior cingulate cortex, and caudate. For novel images, losartan enhanced brain activity in the PHC only. Pattern similarity analysis showed that losartan increased neural stability in the PHC when processing novel and familiar images. However, there were no drug effects on memory recognition or hippocampal activation. Conclusions Given that the hippocampus receives major input from the PHC, our findings suggest that ARBs may modulate higher-order visual processing through parahippocampal involvement, potentially preserving intact memory input. Future research needs to directly investigate whether this effect may underlie the preventive effects of ARBs in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorika Shkreli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Malte Kobelt
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Michael Browning
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine J. Harmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Phil Cowen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Reinecke
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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2
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Kozlakidis Z, Shi P, Abarbanel G, Klein C, Sfera A. Recent Developments in Protein Lactylation in PTSD and CVD: Novel Strategies and Targets. BIOTECH 2023; 12:38. [PMID: 37218755 PMCID: PMC10204439 DOI: 10.3390/biotech12020038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1938, Corneille Heymans received the Nobel Prize in physiology for discovering that oxygen sensing in the aortic arch and carotid sinus was mediated by the nervous system. The genetics of this process remained unclear until 1991 when Gregg Semenza while studying erythropoietin, came upon hypoxia-inducible factor 1, for which he obtained the Nobel Prize in 2019. The same year, Yingming Zhao found protein lactylation, a posttranslational modification that can alter the function of hypoxia-inducible factor 1, the master regulator of cellular senescence, a pathology implicated in both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The genetic correlation between PTSD and CVD has been demonstrated by many studies, of which the most recent one utilizes large-scale genetics to estimate the risk factors for these conditions. This study focuses on the role of hypertension and dysfunctional interleukin 7 in PTSD and CVD, the former caused by stress-induced sympathetic arousal and elevated angiotensin II, while the latter links stress to premature endothelial cell senescence and early vascular aging. This review summarizes the recent developments and highlights several novel PTSD and CVD pharmacological targets. They include lactylation of histone and non-histone proteins, along with the related biomolecular actors such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, erythropoietin, acid-sensing ion channels, basigin, and Interleukin 7, as well as strategies to delay premature cellular senescence by telomere lengthening and resetting the epigenetic clock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zisis Kozlakidis
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), 69372 Lyon, France
| | - Patricia Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Ganna Abarbanel
- Patton State Hospital, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | | | - Adonis Sfera
- Patton State Hospital, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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3
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Zhang R, Zhao W, Qi Z, Xu T, Zhou F, Becker B. Angiotensin II Regulates the Neural Expression of Subjective Fear in Humans: A Precision Pharmaco-Neuroimaging Approach. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:262-270. [PMID: 36174930 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodent models and pharmacological neuroimaging studies in humans have been used to test novel pharmacological agents to reduce fear. However, these strategies are limited with respect to determining process-specific effects on the actual subjective experience of fear, which represents the key symptom that motivates patients to seek treatment. In this study, we used a novel precision pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging approach based on process-specific neuroaffective signatures to determine effects of the selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonist losartan on the subjective experience of fear. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging design, healthy participants (N = 87) were administered 50 mg losartan or placebo before they underwent an oddball paradigm that included neutral, novel, and fear oddballs. Effects of losartan on brain activity and connectivity as well as on process-specific multivariate neural signatures were examined. RESULTS AT1R blockade selectively reduced neurofunctional reactivity to fear-inducing visual oddballs in terms of attenuating dorsolateral prefrontal activity and amygdala-ventral anterior cingulate communication. Neurofunctional decoding further demonstrated fear-specific effects in that AT1R blockade reduced the neural expression of subjective fear but not of threat or nonspecific negative affect and did not influence reactivity to novel oddballs. CONCLUSIONS These results show a specific role of the AT1R in regulating the subjective fear experience and demonstrate the feasibility of a precision pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging approach to the affective characterization of novel receptor targets for fear in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Zhang
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziyu Qi
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, ChongQing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, ChongQing, China.
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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4
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Hilton JR, Simpson SR, Sherman ER, Raby‐Smith W, Azvine K, Arribas M, Zhou J, Deiana S, Hengerer B, Cahill EN. Reactivity to conditioned threat cues is distinct from exploratory drive in the elevated plus maze. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:54-63. [PMID: 36382836 PMCID: PMC10107846 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Fear and anxiety are adaptive states that allow humans and animals alike to respond appropriately to threatening cues in their environment. Commonly used tasks for studying behaviour akin to fear and anxiety in rodent models are Pavlovian threat conditioning and the elevated plus maze (EPM), respectively. In threat conditioning the rodents learn to associate an aversive event with a specific stimulus or context. The learnt association between the two stimuli (the 'memory') can then be recalled by re-exposing the subject to the conditioned stimulus. The elevated plus maze is argued to measure the agoraphobic avoidance of the brightly lit open maze arms in crepuscular rodents. These two tasks have been used extensively, yet research into whether they interact is scarce. We investigated whether recall of an aversive memory, across contextual, odour or auditory modalities, would potentiate anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus maze. The data did not support that memory recall, even over a series of time points, could influence EPM behaviour. Furthermore, there was no correlation between EPM behaviour and conditioned freezing in independent cohorts tested in the EPM before or after auditory threat conditioning. Further analysis found the production of 22 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations revealed the strongest responders to a conditioned threat cue. These results are of particular importance for consideration when using the EPM and threat conditioning to identify individual differences and the possibility to use the tasks in batteries of tests without cross-task interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe R. Hilton
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Susannah R. Simpson
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Emily R. Sherman
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Will Raby‐Smith
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Keemia Azvine
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Maite Arribas
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Jiaqi Zhou
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Serena Deiana
- CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KGBiberach an der RissGermany
| | - Bastian Hengerer
- CNS Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KGBiberach an der RissGermany
| | - Emma N. Cahill
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity of BristolBristolUK
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5
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Sfera A, Osorio C, Rahman L, Zapata-Martín del Campo CM, Maldonado JC, Jafri N, Cummings MA, Maurer S, Kozlakidis Z. PTSD as an Endothelial Disease: Insights From COVID-19. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:770387. [PMID: 34776871 PMCID: PMC8586713 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.770387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 virus, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, has affected almost every aspect of human life, precipitating stress-related pathology in vulnerable individuals. As the prevalence rate of posttraumatic stress disorder in pandemic survivors exceeds that of the general and special populations, the virus may predispose to this disorder by directly interfering with the stress-processing pathways. The SARS-CoV-2 interactome has identified several antigens that may disrupt the blood-brain-barrier by inducing premature senescence in many cell types, including the cerebral endothelial cells. This enables the stress molecules, including angiotensin II, endothelin-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, to aberrantly activate the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex, increasing the vulnerability to stress related disorders. This is supported by observing the beneficial effects of angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in both posttraumatic stress disorder and SARS-CoV-2 critical illness. In this narrative review, we take a closer look at the virus-host dialog and its impact on the renin-angiotensin system, mitochondrial fitness, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. We discuss the role of furin cleaving site, the fibrinolytic system, and Sigma-1 receptor in the pathogenesis of psychological trauma. In other words, learning from the virus, clarify the molecular underpinnings of stress related disorders, and design better therapies for these conditions. In this context, we emphasize new potential treatments, including furin and bromodomains inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Sfera
- Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
- Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
| | - Carolina Osorio
- Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Leah Rahman
- Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
| | | | - Jose Campo Maldonado
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, United States
| | - Nyla Jafri
- Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
| | | | - Steve Maurer
- Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- International Agency For Research On Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
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6
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Swiercz AP, Iyer L, Yu Z, Edwards A, Prashant NM, Nguyen BN, Horvath A, Marvar PJ. Evaluation of an angiotensin Type 1 receptor blocker on the reconsolidation of fear memory. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:363. [PMID: 33110066 PMCID: PMC7591922 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01043-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) has been shown to decrease fear responses in both humans and rodents. These effects are attributed to modulation of extinction learning, however the contribution of AT1R to alternative memory processes remains unclear. Using classic Pavlovian conditioning combined with radiotelemetry and whole-genome RNA sequencing, we evaluated the effects of the AT1R antagonist losartan on fear memory reconsolidation. Following the retrieval of conditioned auditory fear memory, animals were given a single intraperitoneal injection of losartan or saline. In response to the conditioned stimulus (CS), losartan-treated animals exhibited significantly less freezing at 24 h and 1 week; an effect that was dependent upon memory reactivation and independent of conditioned cardiovascular reactivity. Using an unbiased whole-genome RNA sequencing approach, transcriptomic analysis of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) identified losartan-dependent differences in gene expression during the reconsolidation phase. These findings demonstrate that post-retrieval losartan modifies behavioral and transcriptomic markers of conditioned fear memory, supporting an important regulatory role for this receptor in reconsolidation and as a potential pharmacotherapeutic target for maladaptive fear disorders such as PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P. Swiercz
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Laxmi Iyer
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Zhe Yu
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Allison Edwards
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - N. M. Prashant
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Bryan N. Nguyen
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Computational Biology Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Anelia Horvath
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Paul J. Marvar
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA ,grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052 USA
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7
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Moreno-Santos B, Marchi-Coelho C, Costa-Ferreira W, Crestani CC. Angiotensinergic receptors in the medial amygdaloid nucleus differently modulate behavioral responses in the elevated plus-maze and forced swimming test in rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 397:112947. [PMID: 33011187 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in anxiety and depression disorders, but the specific brain sites involved are poorly understood. The medial amygdaloid nucleus (MeA) is involved in expression of behavioral responses. However, despite evidence of the presence of all angiotensinergic receptors in this amygdaloid nucleus, regulation of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors by angiotensinergic neurotransmissions within the MeA has never been reported. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role angiotensin II (AT1 and AT2 receptors) and angiotensin-(1-7) (Mas receptor) receptors present within the MeA in behavioral responses in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST). For this, male Wistar rats had cannula-guide bilaterally implanted into the MeA, and independent sets of animals received bilateral microinjections of either the selective AT1 receptor antagonist losartan, the selective AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319, the selective Mas receptor antagonist A-779 or vehicle into the MeA before the EPM and FST. Treatment of the MeA with either PD123319 or A-779 decreased the EPM open arms exploration, while losartan did not affect behavioral responses in this apparatus. However, intra-MeA microinjection of losartan decreased immobility in the FST. Administration of either PD123319 or A-779 into the MeA did not affect the immobility during the FST, but changed the pattern of the active behaviors swimming and climbing. Altogether, these results indicate the presence of different angiotensinergic mechanisms within the MeA controlling behavioral responses in the FST and EPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Moreno-Santos
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Marchi-Coelho
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Willian Costa-Ferreira
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil; Joint UFSCar-UNESP Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos C Crestani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil; Joint UFSCar-UNESP Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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8
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Regulator of G-protein signaling 5 protein protects against anxiety- and depression-like behavior. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 30:712-721. [PMID: 31625976 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are a major health burden. Angiotensin II, via activation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R)-mediated brain oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to these emotional abnormalities. In this study, we investigated the role of a regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5) protein, which regulates AT1R activity, in angiotensin II-induced brain oxidative stress, inflammation and anxiety-, and depression-like behavior. We hypothesized that deletion of the RGS5 protein would worsen angiotensin II-induced anxiety- and depression-like behavior, cerebral vascular oxidative stress, and brain inflammation. Adult male wild-type and RGS5-deficient mice were implanted with osmotic minipumps delivering either vehicle (saline) or angiotensin II (1 mg/kg/d) for three weeks. Subsequently, mice were tested for locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior (using the elevated plus maze), and depression-like behavior (using the tail suspension test). After behavioral testing, brain tissue was collected to assess oxidative stress and inflammatory proteins. RGS5 deletion resulted in anxiety-like but not depression-like behavior when compared to wild-type mice. Combined deletion of RGS5 and angiotensin II treatment did not further worsen anxiety-like behavior observed in RGS5-deficient mice. In contrast, depression-like behavior was worsened in RGS5-deficient mice treated with angiotensin II. Interestingly, RGS5 deficiency and angiotensin II treatment had no effect on cerebral vascular oxidative stress, or on expression of the inflammatory marker vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in the brain. RGS5 deficiency was also associated with decreased blood pressure and an enhanced pressor response to angiotensin II. These data suggest that RGS5 protects against anxiety-like behavior and against angiotensin II-induced depression-like behavior.
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9
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Shkreli L, Woud ML, Ramsbottom R, Rupietta AE, Waldhauser GT, Kumsta R, Reinecke A. Angiotensin involvement in trauma processing-exploring candidate neurocognitive mechanisms of preventing post-traumatic stress symptoms. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:507-514. [PMID: 31655485 PMCID: PMC6969172 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0553-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The angiotensin-II antagonist losartan is a promising candidate that has enhanced extinction in a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) animal model and was related to reducing PTSD symptom development in humans. Here, we investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying these results, testing the effect of losartan on data-driven and contextual processing of traumatic material, mechanisms proposed to be relevant for PTSD development. In a double-blind between-subject design, 40 healthy participants were randomised to a single oral dose of losartan (50 mg) or placebo, 1 h before being exposed to distressing films as a trauma analogue while heart rate (HR) was measured. Peritraumatic processing was investigated using blurry picture stimuli from the films, which transformed into clear images. Data-driven processing was measured by the level of blurriness at which contents were recognised. Contextual processing was measured as the amount of context information retrieved when describing the pictures' contents. Negative-matched control images were used to test perceptual processing of peripheral trauma-cues. Post-traumatic stress symptoms were assessed via self-report questionnaires after analogue trauma and an intrusion diary completed over 4 days following the experiment. Compared to placebo, losartan facilitated contextual processing and enhanced detail perception in the negative-match pictures. During the films, the losartan group recorded lower HR and higher HR variability, reflecting lower autonomic stress responses. We discuss potential mechanisms of losartan in preventing PTSD symptomatology, including the role of reduced arousal and increased contextual processing during trauma exposure, as well as increased threat-safety differentiation when encountering peripheral trauma-cues in the aftermaths of traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorika Shkreli
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,0000 0004 0490 981Xgrid.5570.7Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany ,0000 0004 1936 8948grid.4991.5Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX37JX UK
| | - Marcella Lydia Woud
- 0000 0004 0490 981Xgrid.5570.7Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Roger Ramsbottom
- 0000 0001 0726 8331grid.7628.bFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Aleksandra Ewa Rupietta
- 0000 0004 0490 981Xgrid.5570.7Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany ,0000 0004 0490 981Xgrid.5570.7Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gerd Thomas Waldhauser
- 0000 0004 0490 981Xgrid.5570.7Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Robert Kumsta
- 0000 0004 0490 981Xgrid.5570.7Genetic Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Andrea Reinecke
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX37JX, UK.
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10
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Ivanova N, Tchekalarova J. The Potential Therapeutic Capacity of Inhibiting the Brain Renin-Angiotensin System in the Treatment of Co-Morbid Conditions in Epilepsy. CNS Drugs 2019; 33:1101-1112. [PMID: 31680223 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-019-00678-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases and although numerous novel anticonvulsants have been approved, the proportion of patients who are refractory to medical treatment of seizures and have progressive co-morbidities such as cognitive impairment and depression remains at about 20-30%. In the last decade, extensive research has identified a therapeutic capacity of the components of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in seizure- and epilepsy-related phenomena. Alleviating the activity of RAS in the central nervous system is considered to be a potential adjuvant strategy for the treatment of numerous detrimental consequences of epileptogenesis. One of the main advantages of RAS is associated with its modulatory influence on different neurotransmitter systems, thereby exerting a fine-tuning control mechanism for brain excitability. The most recent scientific findings regarding the involvement of the components of brain RAS show that angiotensin II (Ang II), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), Ang II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors are involved in the control of epilepsy and its accompanying complications, and therefore they are currently of therapeutic interest in the treatment of this disease. However, data on the role of different components of brain RAS on co-morbid conditions in epilepsy, including hypertension, are insufficient. Experimental and clinical findings related to the involvement of Ang II, ACE, AT1, and AT2 receptors in the control of epilepsy and accompanying complications may point to new therapeutic opportunities and adjuvants for the treatment of common co-morbid conditions of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Ivanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 23 Acad. G. Bonchev Str., 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Jana Tchekalarova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 23 Acad. G. Bonchev Str., 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
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11
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Winter A, Ahlbrand R, Sah R. Recruitment of central angiotensin II type 1 receptor associated neurocircuits in carbon dioxide associated fear. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 92:378-386. [PMID: 30776402 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with fear-associated conditions such as panic disorder (PD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) display increased emotional responses to interoceptive triggers, such as CO2 inhalation, that signal a threat to physiological homeostasis. Currently, effector systems and mechanisms underlying homeostatic modulation of fear memory are not well understood. In this regard, the renin angiotensin system (RAS), particularly the angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R), a primary homeostatic regulatory target, has gained attention. RAS polymorphisms have been reported in PD and PTSD, and recent studies report AT1R-mediated modulation of fear extinction. However, contribution of AT1Rs in fear evoked by the interoceptive threat of CO2 has not been investigated. Using pharmacological, behavioral, and AT1R/ACE gene transcription analyses, we assessed central AT1R recruitment in CO2-associated fear. CO2 inhalation led to significant AT1R and ACE mRNA upregulation in homeostatic regulatory regions, subfornical organ (SFO) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), in a temporal manner. Intracerebroventricular infusion of selective AT1R antagonist, losartan, significantly attenuated freezing during CO2 inhalation, and during re-exposure to CO2 context, suggestive of AT1R modulation of contextual fear. Regional Fos mapping in losartan-treated mice post-behavior revealed significantly attenuated labeling in areas regulating defensive behavior, contextual fear, and threat responding; such as, the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, dorsal periaqueductal gray, hypothalamic nuclei, hippocampus, and prefrontal areas such as the prelimbic, infralimbic, and anterior cingulate cortices. Sub-regions of the amygdala did not show CO2-associated AT1R regulation or altered Fos labeling. Collectively, our data suggests central AT1R recruitment in modulation of fear behaviors associated with CO2 inhalation via engagement of neurocircuits regulating homeostasis and defensive behaviors. Our data provides mechanistic insights into the interoceptive regulation of fear, relevant to fear related disorders such as PD and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Winter
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, United States
| | - Rebecca Ahlbrand
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, United States; VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, United States
| | - Renu Sah
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, United States; VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, United States.
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Genaro K, Fabris D, Fachim HA, Prado WA. Angiotensin AT1 receptors modulate the anxiogenic effects of angiotensin (5-8) injected into the rat ventrolateral periaqueductal gray. Peptides 2017; 96:8-14. [PMID: 28851568 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Losartan and PD 123,319 are non-peptide angiotensin (Ang) receptor antagonists for the AT1 and AT2 subtypes of Ang II receptors, respectively. The tetrapeptide Ang (5-8) is the smallest Ang-peptide that elicits anxiogenic effects on unconditioned and conditioned experimental models upon injection into the ventrolateral column of the periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), and Ang (5-8) can be synthesized (from Ang II or Ang III) and inactivated in this mesencephalic structure. The vlPAG is also known to play a central role in mechanisms of fear and anxiety. We therefore utilized male Wistar rats to examine the effects of losartan and PD 123,319 injections, selective antagonists of the AT1 and AT2 receptors, respectively, into the vlPAG in the elevated plus-maze, a classic rat model of anxiety, and against the anxiogenic effect of Ang (5-8) (0.4 nmol/0.25μL) upon injection into the same region. The anxiolytic profile was dependent on the dose of intra-vlPAG losartan, whereas no effects on experimental anxiety were observed in the plus-maze following PD 123,319 injection. The anxiogenic effect of Ang (5-8) injection into the vlPAG remained unchanged in the PD 123,319-pretreated rats, but the effect did not occur in losartan-pretreated rats. The results led us to suggest that the anxiogenic effect of Ang (5-8) injection into the vlPAG may depend on the local activation of AT1, but not AT2 receptors. Activation of AT1 receptors in structures nearby vlPAG may be tonically involved in fear and experimental anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Genaro
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Neurociências, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Psicologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, INeC, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Débora Fabris
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Neurociências, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Psicologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Helene A Fachim
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Neurociências, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, INeC, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Wiliam A Prado
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Farmacologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Psicologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, INeC, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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13
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Ivanova NM, Atanasova D, Pechlivanova DM, Mitreva R, Lazarov N, Stoynev AG, Tchekalarova JD. Long-term intracerebroventricular infusion of angiotensin II after kainate-induced status epilepticus: Effects on epileptogenesis, brain damage, and diurnal behavioral changes. Epilepsy Behav 2015; 51:1-12. [PMID: 26245156 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Our previous studies revealed that Angiotensin (Ang) II has anticonvulsant effects in acute seizure models. However, data on its role in experimental models of epilepsy are missing. In the present study, we tested whether posttreatment with Ang II after kainate (KA)-induced status epilepticus (SE) can affect epileptogenesis, concomitant behavioral changes, and brain damage. The Wistar rats were intracerebroventricularly infused via osmotic mini-pumps with Ang II (1.52μg/μl/day for 28days) after SE. Spontaneous motor seizures (SMS) were video-recorded for up to three months. Locomotor activity, anxiety, and depression-like behavior were evaluated during the last week of drug infusion, while spatial memory was assessed during the 3rd month after SE. Angiotensin II decreased the latency for onset of the first SMS and increased the frequency of SMS two months after SE. The continuous peptide infusion exacerbated the KA-induced hyperactivity and caused depression-like behavior. The reduced anxiety of KA-treated rats was alleviated by Ang II exposure. The KA-induced deficit in the hippocampal-dependent spatial memory was not influenced by Ang II. However, Ang II partially prevented the neuronal damage in the hippocampus, specifically in the CA1 area. The role of AT1 and AT2 receptor activation in the effects of the octapeptide is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha M Ivanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | | | - Rumyana Mitreva
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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14
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Hurt RC, Garrett JC, Keifer OP, Linares A, Couling L, Speth RC, Ressler KJ, Marvar PJ. Angiotensin type 1a receptors on corticotropin-releasing factor neurons contribute to the expression of conditioned fear. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2015; 14:526-33. [PMID: 26257395 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although generally associated with cardiovascular regulation, angiotensin II receptor type 1a (AT1a R) blockade in mouse models and humans has also been associated with enhanced fear extinction and decreased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, respectively. The mechanisms mediating these effects remain unknown, but may involve alterations in the activities of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-expressing cells, which are known to be involved in fear regulation. To test the hypothesis that AT1a R signaling in CRFergic neurons is involved in conditioned fear expression, we generated and characterized a conditional knockout mouse strain with a deletion of the AT1a R gene from its CRF-releasing cells (CRF-AT1a R((-/-)) ). These mice exhibit normal baseline heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety and locomotion, and freeze at normal levels during acquisition of auditory fear conditioning. However, CRF-AT1a R((-/-)) mice exhibit less freezing than wild-type mice during tests of conditioned fear expression-an effect that may be caused by a decrease in the consolidation of fear memory. These results suggest that central AT1a R activity in CRF-expressing cells plays a role in the expression of conditioned fear, and identify CRFergic cells as a population on which AT1 R antagonists may act to modulate fear extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Hurt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - J C Garrett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - O P Keifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - A Linares
- Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
| | - L Couling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
| | - R C Speth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - K J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - P J Marvar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medical and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
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15
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Brudey C, Park J, Wiaderkiewicz J, Kobayashi I, Mellman TA, Marvar PJ. Autonomic and inflammatory consequences of posttraumatic stress disorder and the link to cardiovascular disease. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2015; 309:R315-21. [PMID: 26062635 PMCID: PMC4538229 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00343.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Stress- and anxiety-related disorders are on the rise in both military and general populations. Over the next decade, it is predicted that treatment of these conditions, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with its associated long-term comorbidities, will challenge the health care system. Multiple organ systems are adversely affected by PTSD, and PTSD is linked to cancer, arthritis, digestive disease, and cardiovascular disease. Evidence for a strong link between PTSD and cardiovascular disease is compelling, and this review describes current clinical data linking PTSD to cardiovascular disease, via inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, and the renin-angiotensin system. Recent clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the extinction of fear memory and relevance in PTSD-related immune and autonomic dysfunction is also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chevelle Brudey
- Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jeanie Park
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, and Research Service Line, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia
| | - Jan Wiaderkiewicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Ihori Kobayashi
- Howard University College of Medicine Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Washington, DC; and the
| | - Thomas A Mellman
- Howard University College of Medicine Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Washington, DC; and the
| | - Paul J Marvar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
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