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Cunliffe G, Lim YT, Chae W, Jung S. Alternative Pharmacological Strategies for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Neuromodulator Function. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123064. [PMID: 36551821 PMCID: PMC9776382 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, comprising 70% of dementia diagnoses worldwide and affecting 1 in 9 people over the age of 65. However, the majority of its treatments, which predominantly target the cholinergic system, remain insufficient at reversing pathology and act simply to slow the inevitable progression of the disease. The most recent neurotransmitter-targeting drug for AD was approved in 2003, strongly suggesting that targeting neurotransmitter systems alone is unlikely to be sufficient, and that research into alternate treatment avenues is urgently required. Neuromodulators are substances released by neurons which influence neurotransmitter release and signal transmission across synapses. Neuromodulators including neuropeptides, hormones, neurotrophins, ATP and metal ions display altered function in AD, which underlies aberrant neuronal activity and pathology. However, research into how the manipulation of neuromodulators may be useful in the treatment of AD is relatively understudied. Combining neuromodulator targeting with more novel methods of drug delivery, such as the use of multi-targeted directed ligands, combinatorial drugs and encapsulated nanoparticle delivery systems, may help to overcome limitations of conventional treatments. These include difficulty crossing the blood-brain-barrier and the exertion of effects on a single target only. This review aims to highlight the ways in which neuromodulator functions are altered in AD and investigate how future therapies targeting such substances, which act upstream to classical neurotransmitter systems, may be of potential therapeutic benefit in the sustained search for more effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Cunliffe
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138667, Singapore
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Yi Tang Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138667, Singapore
- Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, Singapore
| | - Woori Chae
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138667, Singapore
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangyong Jung
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138667, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
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2
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Gallego-Villarejo L, Wallin C, Król S, Enrich-Bengoa J, Suades A, Aguilella-Arzo M, Gomara MJ, Haro I, Wärmlander S, Muñoz FJ, Gräslund A, Perálvarez-Marín A. Big dynorphin is a neuroprotector scaffold against amyloid β-peptide aggregation and cell toxicity. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:5672-5679. [PMID: 36284704 PMCID: PMC9582793 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.10.014] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) misfolding into β-sheet structures triggers neurotoxicity inducing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Molecules able to reduce or to impair Aβ aggregation are highly relevant as possible AD treatments since they should protect against Aβ neurotoxicity. We have studied the effects of the interaction of dynorphins, a family of opioid neuropeptides, with Aβ40 the most abundant species of Aβ. Biophysical measurements indicate that Aβ40 interacts with Big Dynorphin (BigDyn), lowering the amount of hydrophobic aggregates, and slowing down the aggregation kinetics. As expected, we found that BigDyn protects against Aβ40 aggregates when studied in human neuroblastoma cells by cell survival assays. The cross-interaction between BigDyn and Aβ40 provides insight into the mechanism of amyloid pathophysiology and may open up new therapy possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Gallego-Villarejo
- Unit of Biophysics Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Facultat de Medicina, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cecilia Wallin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sylwia Król
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jennifer Enrich-Bengoa
- Unit of Biophysics Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Facultat de Medicina, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Albert Suades
- Unit of Biophysics Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Facultat de Medicina, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcel Aguilella-Arzo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, University Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - María José Gomara
- Unitat de Síntesis i Aplicacions Biomèdiques de Pèptids, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Isabel Haro
- Unitat de Síntesis i Aplicacions Biomèdiques de Pèptids, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sebastian Wärmlander
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francisco J. Muñoz
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alex Perálvarez-Marín
- Unit of Biophysics Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Facultat de Medicina, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain,Corresponding author.
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Leung HW, Foo G, VanDongen A. Arc Regulates Transcription of Genes for Plasticity, Excitability and Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081946. [PMID: 36009494 PMCID: PMC9405677 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The immediate early gene Arc is a master regulator of synaptic function and a critical determinant of memory consolidation. Here, we show that Arc interacts with dynamic chromatin and closely associates with histone markers for active enhancers and transcription in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Both these histone modifications, H3K27Ac and H3K9Ac, have recently been shown to be upregulated in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). When Arc induction by pharmacological network activation was prevented using a short hairpin RNA, the expression profile was altered for over 1900 genes, which included genes associated with synaptic function, neuronal plasticity, intrinsic excitability, and signalling pathways. Interestingly, about 100 Arc-dependent genes are associated with the pathophysiology of AD. When endogenous Arc expression was induced in HEK293T cells, the transcription of many neuronal genes was increased, suggesting that Arc can control expression in the absence of activated signalling pathways. Taken together, these data establish Arc as a master regulator of neuronal activity-dependent gene expression and suggest that it plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Foo
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Antonius VanDongen
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Correspondence:
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Muhammad JS, Siddiqui R, Khan NA. COVID-19 and alcohol use disorder: putative differential gene expression patterns that might be associated with neurological complications. Hosp Pract (1995) 2022; 50:189-195. [PMID: 35686663 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2022.2088183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several lines of evidence suggest that SARS-CoV-2 invasion of the central nervous system leads to meningitis and encephalopathy syndromes. Additionally, chronic alcoholics were found to be at a higher risk of developing mental health problems and serious neurological manifestations, if exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS Herein, we studied RNA seq data from alcoholics' brain tissue and COVID-19 patient's brain tissue to identify the common differentially expressed genes. RESULTS Overlap analysis depicted the expression of seven genes (GHRL, SLN, VGF, IL1RL1, NPTX2, PDYN, and RPRML) that were significantly upregulated in both groups. Along with these, protein-protein interaction analysis revealed 10 other key molecules with strong interactions with the aforementioned genes. CONCLUSIONS Taken together with the functional effect of these genes, we suggest a strong molecular link between COVID-19-induced severities and neurological impairment in patients suffering from alcohol abuse disorder. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying chronic alcoholism as a risk factor for developing cognitive and memory impairment in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jibran Sualeh Muhammad
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
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Dalefield ML, Scouller B, Bibi R, Kivell BM. The Kappa Opioid Receptor: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Multiple Pathologies. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:837671. [PMID: 35795569 PMCID: PMC9251383 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.837671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kappa-opioid receptors (KOR) are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system, where they modulate a range of physiological processes depending on their location, including stress, mood, reward, pain, inflammation, and remyelination. However, clinical use of KOR agonists is limited by adverse effects such as dysphoria, aversion, and sedation. Within the drug-development field KOR agonists have been extensively investigated for the treatment of many centrally mediated nociceptive disorders including pruritis and pain. KOR agonists are potential alternatives to mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists for the treatment of pain due to their anti-nociceptive effects, lack of abuse potential, and reduced respiratory depressive effects, however, dysphoric side-effects have limited their widespread clinical use. Other diseases for which KOR agonists hold promising therapeutic potential include pruritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, and ischemia. This review highlights recent drug-development efforts targeting KOR, including the development of G-protein–biased ligands, mixed opioid agonists, and peripherally restricted ligands to reduce side-effects. We also highlight the current KOR agonists that are in preclinical development or undergoing clinical trials.
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Remnestål J, Öijerstedt L, Ullgren A, Olofsson J, Bergström S, Kultima K, Ingelsson M, Kilander L, Uhlén M, Månberg A, Graff C, Nilsson P. Altered levels of CSF proteins in patients with FTD, presymptomatic mutation carriers and non-carriers. Transl Neurodegener 2020; 9:27. [PMID: 32576262 PMCID: PMC7310563 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-020-00198-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical presentations of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are diverse and overlap with other neurological disorders. There are, as of today, no biomarkers in clinical practice for diagnosing the disorders. Here, we aimed to find protein markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with FTD, presymptomatic mutation carriers and non-carriers. METHODS Antibody suspension bead arrays were used to analyse 328 proteins in CSF from patients with behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD, n = 16) and progressive primary aphasia (PPA, n = 13), as well as presymptomatic mutation carriers (PMC, n = 16) and non-carriers (NC, n = 8). A total of 492 antibodies were used to measure protein levels by direct labelling of the CSF samples. The findings were further examined in an independent cohort including 13 FTD patients, 79 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 18 healthy controls. RESULTS We found significantly altered protein levels in CSF from FTD patients compared to unaffected individuals (PMC and NC) for 26 proteins. The analysis show patterns of separation between unaffected individuals and FTD patients, especially for those with a clinical diagnosis of bvFTD. The most statistically significant differences in protein levels were found for VGF, TN-R, NPTXR, TMEM132D, PDYN and NF-M. Patients with FTD were found to have higher levels of TN-R and NF-M, and lower levels of VGF, NPTXR, TMEM132D and PDYN, compared to unaffected individuals. The main findings were reproduced in the independent cohort. CONCLUSION In this pilot study, we show a separation of FTD patients from unaffected individuals based on protein levels in CSF. Further investigation is required to explore the CSF profiles in larger cohorts, but the results presented here has the potential to enable future clinical utilization of these potential biomarkers within FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Remnestål
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Alpha 2, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linn Öijerstedt
- Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64, Solna, Sweden.,Unit for hereditary dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abbe Ullgren
- Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jennie Olofsson
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Alpha 2, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sofia Bergström
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Alpha 2, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kim Kultima
- Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Ingelsson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lena Kilander
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Alpha 2, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Anna Månberg
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Alpha 2, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Graff
- Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64, Solna, Sweden. .,Unit for hereditary dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Peter Nilsson
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Alpha 2, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Swedish FTD Initiative, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Vardarajan B, Kalia V, Manly J, Brickman A, Reyes‐Dumeyer D, Lantigua R, Ionita‐Laza I, Jones DP, Miller GW, Mayeux R. Differences in plasma metabolites related to Alzheimer's disease, APOE ε4 status, and ethnicity. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2020; 6:e12025. [PMID: 32377558 PMCID: PMC7201178 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated metabolites in plasma to capture systemic biochemical changes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS Metabolites in plasma were measured in 59 AD cases and 60 healthy participants of African American (AA), Caribbean Hispanic (CH), and non-Hispanic white (NHW) ancestry using untargeted liquid-chromatography-based ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Metabolite differences between AD and healthy, ethnic groups and apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) ε4 status were analyzed. Untargeted network analysis identified pathways enriched in AD-associated metabolites. RESULTS A total of 5929 annotated metabolites were measured. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) inferred that AD clustered separately from healthy controls (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.9816); discriminating pathways included glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, and non-essential amino acid (alanine, aspartate, glutamate) metabolism. Metabolic features in AA clustered differently from CH and NHW (AUC = 0.9275), and differed between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers (AUC = 0.9972). DISCUSSION Metabolites, specifically lipids, were associated with AD, APOE ε4, and ethnic group. Metabolite profiling can identify perturbed AD pathways, but genetic and ancestral background need to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badri Vardarajan
- College of Physicians and SurgeonsTaub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky CenterCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- Department of NeurologyCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia University and the New York Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew York
| | - Vrinda Kalia
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesMailman School of Public HealthColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Jennifer Manly
- College of Physicians and SurgeonsTaub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Adam Brickman
- College of Physicians and SurgeonsTaub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky CenterCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- Department of NeurologyCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia University and the New York Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew York
| | - Dolly Reyes‐Dumeyer
- College of Physicians and SurgeonsTaub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky CenterCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Rafael Lantigua
- Department of NeurologyCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia University and the New York Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew York
| | - Iuliana Ionita‐Laza
- Department of BiostatisticsMailman School of Public HealthColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Dean P. Jones
- Clinical Biomarkers LaboratoryDepartment of MedicineEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
- Department of Pathology and Cell BiologyCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Gary W. Miller
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesMailman School of Public HealthColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Richard Mayeux
- College of Physicians and SurgeonsTaub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky CenterCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- Department of NeurologyCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia University and the New York Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew York
- Department of EpidemiologyMailman School of Public HealthColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
- Department of PsychiatryCollege of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
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Torres-Berrio A, Nava-Mesa MO. The opioid system in stress-induced memory disorders: From basic mechanisms to clinical implications in post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 88:327-338. [PMID: 30118823 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive and emotional impairment are a serious consequence of stress exposure and are core features of neurological and psychiatric conditions that involve memory disorders. Indeed, acute and chronic stress are high-risk factors for the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), two devastating brain disorders associated with memory dysfunction. Besides the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, stress response also involves the activation of the opioid system in brain regions associated with stress regulation and memory processing. In this context, it is possible that stress-induced memory disorders may be attributed to alterations in the interaction between the neuroendocrine stress system and the opioid system. In this review, we: (1) describe the effects of acute and chronic stress on memory, and the modulatory role of the opioid system, (2) discuss the contribution of the opioid system to the pathophysiology of PTSD and AD, and (3) present evidence of current and potential therapies that target the opioid receptors to treat PTSD- and AD-associated symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mauricio O Nava-Mesa
- Neuroscience Research Group (NEUROS), School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Abstract
The failure of traditional antidepressant medications to adequately target cognitive impairment is associated with poor treatment response, increased risk of relapse, and greater lifetime disability. Opioid receptor antagonists are currently under development as novel therapeutics for major depressive disorder (MDD) and other stress-related illnesses. Although it is known that dysregulation of the endogenous opioid system is observed in patients diagnosed with MDD, the impact of opioidergic neurotransmission on cognitive impairment has not been systematically evaluated. Here we review the literature indicating that opioid manipulations can alter cognitive functions in humans. Furthermore, we detail the preclinical studies that demonstrate the ability of mu-opioid receptor and kappa-opioid receptor ligands to modulate several cognitive processes. Specifically, this review focuses on domains within higher order cognitive processing, including attention and executive functioning, which can differentiate cognitive processes influenced by motivational state.
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Takahashi K, Nakagawasai O, Sugawara M, Sato A, Nemoto W, Tadano T, Tan-No K. Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist Administration in Olfactory Bulbectomized Mice Restores Cognitive Impairment through Cholinergic Neuron Activation. Biol Pharm Bull 2018; 41:957-960. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b18-00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Takahashi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Osamu Nakagawasai
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Masae Sugawara
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Atsushi Sato
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Wataru Nemoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Takeshi Tadano
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinical Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine Sciences, Kanazawa University
| | - Koichi Tan-No
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
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Radin DP, Zhong S, Purcell R, Lippa A. Acute ampakine treatment ameliorates age-related deficits in long-term potentiation. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 84:806-809. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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12
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Liu SJ, Yang C, Zhang Y, Su RY, Chen JL, Jiao MM, Chen HF, Zheng N, Luo S, Chen YB, Quan SJ, Wang Q. Neuroprotective effect of β-asarone against Alzheimer's disease: regulation of synaptic plasticity by increased expression of SYP and GluR1. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2016; 10:1461-9. [PMID: 27143853 PMCID: PMC4841421 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s93559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Aim β-asarone, an active component of Acori graminei rhizome, has been reported to have neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer’s disease. As the underlying mechanism is not known, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of β-asarone in an APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model and in NG108 cells. Materials and methods APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic male mice were randomly assigned to a model group, β-asarone treatment groups (21.2, 42.4, or 84.8 mg/kg/d), or donepezil treatment group (2 mg/kg/d). Donepezil treatment was a positive control, and background- and age-matched wild-type B6 mice were an external control group. β-asarone (95.6% purity) was dissolved in 0.8% Tween 80 and administered by gavage once daily for 2.5 months. Control and model animals received an equal volume of vehicle. After 2.5 months of treatment, behavior of all animals was evaluated in a Morris water maze. Expression of synaptophysin (SYP) and glutamatergic receptor 1 (G1uR1) in the hippocampus and cortex of the double transgenic mice was assayed by Western blotting. The antagonistic effects of β-asarone against amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) were investigated in vitro in the NG108-15 cell line. After 24 hours of incubation, cells were treated with 10 μm Aβ with or without β-asarone at different concentrations (6.25, 12.5, or 25 μM) for an additional 36 hours. The cytotoxicity of β-asarone was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay of cell viability, and cell morphology was evaluated by bright-field microscopy after 24 hours of treatment. The expression of SYP and GluR1 in cells was detected by Western blot assay in the hippocampus and brain cortex tissues of mice. Results β-asarone at a high dose reduced escape latency and upregulated SYP and GluR1 expression at both medium and high doses. Cell morphology evaluation showed that β-asarone treatment did not result in obvious cell surface spots and cytoplasmic granularity. β-asarone had a dose-dependent effect on cell proliferation. Conclusion β-asarone antagonized the Aβ neurotoxicity in vivo, improved the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice, and increased the expression of SYP and GluR1 both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, β-asarone may be a potential drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Jun Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Yang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ru-Yu Su
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Li Chen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Meng Jiao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Fang Chen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Zheng
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Si Luo
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Bo Chen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Jian Quan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Wang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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13
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-seventh consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2014 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 (endogenous opioids and receptors), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (pain and analgesia); stress and social status (human studies); tolerance and dependence (opioid mediation of other analgesic responses); learning and memory (stress and social status); eating and drinking (stress-induced analgesia); alcohol and drugs of abuse (emotional responses in opioid-mediated behaviors); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (opioid involvement in stress response regulation); mental illness and mood (tolerance and dependence); seizures and neurologic disorders (learning and memory); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (opiates and conditioned place preferences (CPP)); general activity and locomotion (eating and drinking); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (alcohol and drugs of abuse); cardiovascular responses (opiates and ethanol); respiration and thermoregulation (opiates and THC); and immunological responses (opiates and stimulants). This paper is the thirty-seventh consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2014 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 (endogenous opioids and receptors), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (pain and analgesia); stress and social status (human studies); tolerance and dependence (opioid mediation of other analgesic responses); learning and memory (stress and social status); eating and drinking (stress-induced analgesia); alcohol and drugs of abuse (emotional responses in opioid-mediated behaviors); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (opioid involvement in stress response regulation); mental illness and mood (tolerance and dependence); seizures and neurologic disorders (learning and memory); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (opiates and conditioned place preferences (CPP)); general activity and locomotion (eating and drinking); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (alcohol and drugs of abuse); cardiovascular responses (opiates and ethanol); respiration and thermoregulation (opiates and THC); and immunological responses (opiates and stimulants).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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14
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Sirohi S, Walker BM. Maturational alterations in constitutive activity of medial prefrontal cortex kappa-opioid receptors in Wistar rats. J Neurochem 2015; 135:659-65. [PMID: 26257334 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Opioid receptors can display spontaneous agonist-independent G-protein signaling (basal signaling/constitutive activity). While constitutive κ-opioid receptor (KOR) activity has been documented in vitro, it remains unknown if KORs are constitutively active in native systems. Using [(35) S] guanosine 5'-O-[gamma-thio] triphosphate coupling assay that measures receptor functional state, we identified the presence of medial prefrontal cortex KOR constitutive activity in young rats that declined with age. Furthermore, basal signaling showed an age-related decline and was insensitive to neutral opioid antagonist challenge. Collectively, the present data are first to demonstrate age-dependent alterations in the medial prefrontal cortex KOR constitutive activity in rats and changes in the constitutive activity of KORs can differentially impact KOR ligand efficacy. These data provide novel insights into the functional properties of the KOR system and warrant further consideration of KOR constitutive activity in normal and pathophysiological behavior. Opioid receptors exhibit agonist-independent constitutive activity; however, kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) constitutive activity has not been demonstrated in native systems. Our results confirm KOR constitutive activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that declines with age. With the ability to presynaptically inhibit multiple neurotransmitter systems in the mPFC, maturational or patho-logical alterations in constitutive activity could disrupt corticofugal glutamatergic pyramidal projection neurons mediating executive function. Regulation of KOR constitutive activity could serve as a therapeutic target to treat compromised executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Sirohi
- Laboratory of Alcoholism and Addictions Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Department of Integrative Physiology & Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Brendan M Walker
- Laboratory of Alcoholism and Addictions Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Department of Integrative Physiology & Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Translational Addiction Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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15
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Ji H, Wang Y, Liu G, Xu X, Dai D, Chen Z, Zhou D, Zhou X, Han L, Li Y, Zhuo R, Hong Q, Jiang L, Zhang X, Liu Y, Xu L, Chang L, Li J, An P, Duan S, Wang Q. OPRK1 promoter hypermethylation increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 2015; 606:24-9. [PMID: 26300544 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As a member of the opioid family, κ-opioid receptors play important role in cognitive and learning functions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of OPRK1 promoter methylation with Alzheimer's disease (AD). OPRK1 DNA methylation levels of 48 cases and 58 well matched controls were measured using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology. Our results showed that there was a significant correlation between three CpG sites on the OPRK1 promoter region (r>=0.715, p<0.001). Thus, the mean methylation value of the three CpG sites was used for the case-control comparison. And our results showed there was a significantly higher OPRK1 promoter methylation in AD cases than in controls (p=0.006, adjusted p=0.012). Subsequent luciferase reporter assay showed the CpGs containing fragment of OPRK1 promoter significantly increased the expression of reporter gene (Fold=2.248, p=0.0235). In summary, our results suggested that OPRK1 promoter hypermethylation might increase the risk of AD through its regulation on the gene expression of OPRK1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Ji
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yunliang Wang
- Department of Neurology, the 148 Central Hospital of PLA, Zibo, Shandong 255000, China.
| | - Guili Liu
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Xuting Xu
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Dongjun Dai
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | | | | | - Xiaohui Zhou
- Department of Internal Medicine for Cadres, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumchi 830000, China
| | - Liyuan Han
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Ying Li
- Ningbo No. 1 Hospital, Zhejiang 315200, China
| | - Renjie Zhuo
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Qingxiao Hong
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Liting Jiang
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Lan Chang
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Jinfeng Li
- Department of Neurology, the 148 Central Hospital of PLA, Zibo, Shandong 255000, China
| | - Pengyuan An
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
| | - Qinwen Wang
- Ningbo Key Lab of Behavior Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
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16
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Yang YJ, Chen HB, Wei B, Wang W, Zhou PL, Zhan JQ, Hu MR, Yan K, Hu B, Yu B. Cognitive decline is associated with reduced surface GluR1 expression in the hippocampus of aged rats. Neurosci Lett 2015; 591:176-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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17
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Ménard C, Gaudreau P, Quirion R. Signaling pathways relevant to cognition-enhancing drug targets. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2015; 228:59-98. [PMID: 25977080 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-16522-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aging is generally associated with a certain cognitive decline. However, individual differences exist. While age-related memory deficits can be observed in humans and rodents in the absence of pathological conditions, some individuals maintain intact cognitive functions up to an advanced age. The mechanisms underlying learning and memory processes involve the recruitment of multiple signaling pathways and gene expression, leading to adaptative neuronal plasticity and long-lasting changes in brain circuitry. This chapter summarizes the current understanding of how these signaling cascades could be modulated by cognition-enhancing agents favoring memory formation and successful aging. It focuses on data obtained in rodents, particularly in the rat as it is the most common animal model studied in this field. First, we will discuss the role of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and its receptors, downstream signaling effectors [e.g., calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)], associated immediate early gene (e.g., Homer 1a, Arc and Zif268), and growth factors [insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)] in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Second, the impact of the cholinergic system and related modulators on memory will be briefly reviewed. Finally, since dynorphin neuropeptides have recently been associated with memory impairments in aging, it is proposed as an attractive target to develop novel cognition-enhancing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Ménard
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Perry Pavilion, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4H 1R3
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18
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Ménard C, Quirion R, Vigneault E, Bouchard S, Ferland G, El Mestikawy S, Gaudreau P. Glutamate presynaptic vesicular transporter and postsynaptic receptor levels correlate with spatial memory status in aging rat models. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 36:1471-82. [PMID: 25556161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Revised: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In humans, memory capacities are generally affected with aging, even without any reported neurologic disorders. The mechanisms behind cognitive decline are not well understood. We studied here whether postsynaptic glutamate receptor and presynaptic vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) levels may change in the course of aging and be related to cognitive abilities using various age-impaired (AI) or age-unimpaired rat strains. Twenty-four-month-old Long-Evans (LE) rats with intact spatial memory maintained postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptor levels in the hippocampal-adjacent cortex similar to those of young animals. In contrast, AI rats showed significantly reduced expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor GluR2, NR2A and NR2B subunits. In AI LE rats, VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 levels were increased and negatively correlated with receptor levels as shown by principal component analysis and correlation matrices. We also investigated whether glutamatergic receptors and VGLUT levels were altered in the obesity-resistant LOU/C/Jall (LOU) rat strain which is characterized by intact memory despite aging. No difference was observed between 24-month-old LOU rats and their young counterparts. Taken together, the unaltered spatial memory performance of 24-month-old age-unimpaired LE and LOU rats suggests that intact coordination of the presynaptic and postsynaptic hippocampal-adjacent cortex glutamatergic networks may be important for successful cognitive aging. Accordingly, altered expression of presynaptic and postsynaptic glutamatergic components, such as in AI LE rats, could be considered a marker of age-related cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Ménard
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rémi Quirion
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Erika Vigneault
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Bouchard
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Guylaine Ferland
- Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Salah El Mestikawy
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM U952, CNRS UMR7224, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Pierrette Gaudreau
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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19
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Faisal M, Waseem D, Ismatullah H, Taqi MM. A molecular prospective provides new insights into implication of PDYN and OPRK1 genes in alcohol dependence. Comput Biol Med 2014; 53:250-7. [PMID: 25177835 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2014.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) both in coding and non-coding regions govern gene functions prompting differential vulnerability to diseases, heterogeneous response to pharmaceutical regimes and environmental anomalies. These genetic variations, SNPs, may alter an individual׳s susceptibility for alcohol dependence by remodeling DNA-protein interaction patterns in prodynorphin (PDYN) and the κ-opioid receptor (OPRK1) genes. In order to elaborate the underlying molecular mechanism behind these susceptibility differences we used bioinformatics tools to retrieve differential DNA-protein interactions at PDYN and OPRK1 SNPs significantly associated with alcohol dependence. Our results show allele-specific DNA-protein interactions depicting allele-specific mechanisms implicated in differential regulation of gene expression. Several transcription factors, for instance, VDR, RXR-alpha, NFYA, CTF family, USF-1, USF2, ER, AR and predominantly SP family show an allele-specific binding affinity with PDYN gene; likewise, GATA, TBP, AP-1, USF-2, C/EBPbeta, Cart-1 and ER interact with OPRK1 SNPs on intron 2 in an allele-specific manner. In a nutshell, transition of a single nucleotide may modify differential DNA-protein interactions at OPRK1 and PDYN׳s SNPs, significantly associated with pathology that may lead to altered individual vulnerability for alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Faisal
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Durdana Waseem
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Humaira Ismatullah
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Malik Mumtaz Taqi
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
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20
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Ménard C, Quirion R, Bouchard S, Ferland G, Gaudreau P. Glutamatergic signaling and low prodynorphin expression are associated with intact memory and reduced anxiety in rat models of healthy aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:81. [PMID: 24847259 PMCID: PMC4019859 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The LOU/C/Jall (LOU) rat strain is considered a model of healthy aging due to its increased longevity, maintenance of stable body weight (BW) throughout life and low incidence of age-related diseases. However, aging LOU rat cognitive and anxiety status has yet to be investigated. In the present study, male and female LOU rat cognitive performances (6-42 months) were assessed using novel object recognition and Morris Water Maze tasks. Recognition memory remained intact in all LOU rats up to 42 months of age. As for spatial memory, old LOU rat performed similarly as young animals for learning acquisition, reversal learning, and retention. While LOU rat BW remained stable despite aging, 20-month-old ad-libitum-fed (OAL) male Sprague Dawley rats become obese. We determined if long-term caloric restriction (LTCR) prevents age-related BW increase and cognitive deficits in this rat strain, as observed in the obesity-resistant LOU rats. Compared to young animals, recognition memory was impaired in OAL but intact in 20-month-old calorie-restricted (OCR) rats. Similarly, OAL spatial learning acquisition was impaired but LTCR prevented the deficits. Exacerbated stress responses may favor age-related cognitive decline. In the elevated plus maze and open field tasks, LOU and OCR rats exhibited high levels of exploratory activity whereas OAL rats displayed anxious behaviors. Expression of prodynorphin (Pdyn), an endogenous peptide involved in stress-related memory impairments, was increased in the hippocampus of OAL rats. Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 and immediate early genes Homer 1a and Arc expression, both associated with successful cognitive aging, were unaltered in aging LOU rats but lower in OAL than OCR rats. Altogether, our results, supported by principal component analysis and correlation matrix, suggest that intact memory and low anxiety are associated with glutamatergic signaling and low Pdyn expression in the hippocampus of non-obese aging rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Ménard
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada ; Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rémi Quirion
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvain Bouchard
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guylaine Ferland
- Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierrette Gaudreau
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
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