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Fogaça MV, Daher F, Picciotto MR. Effects of ketamine on GABAergic and glutamatergic activity in the mPFC: biphasic recruitment of GABA function in antidepressant-like responses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.29.605610. [PMID: 39131322 PMCID: PMC11312475 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.29.605610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with disruptions in glutamatergic and GABAergic activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), leading to altered synaptic formation and function. Low doses of ketamine rapidly rescue these deficits, inducing fast and sustained antidepressant effects. While it is suggested that ketamine produces a rapid glutamatergic enhancement in the mPFC, the temporal dynamics and the involvement of GABA interneurons in its sustained effects remain unclear. Using simultaneous photometry recordings of calcium activity in mPFC pyramidal and GABA neurons, as well as chemogenetic approaches in Gad1-Cre mice, we explored the hypothesis that initial effects of ketamine on glutamate signaling trigger subsequent enhancement of GABAergic responses, contributing to its sustained antidepressant responses. Calcium recordings revealed a biphasic effect of ketamine on activity of mPFC GABA neurons, characterized by an initial transient decrease (phase 1, <30 min) followed by an increase (phase 2, >60 min), in parallel with a transient increase in excitation/inhibition levels (10 min) and lasting enhancement of glutamatergic activity (30-120 min). Previous administration of ketamine enhanced GABA neuron activity during the sucrose splash test (SUST) and novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), 24 h and 72 h post-treatment, respectively. Chemogenetic inhibition of GABA interneurons during the surge of GABAergic activity (phase 2), or immediately before the SUST or NSFT, occluded ketamine's behavioral actions. These results indicate that time-dependent modulation of GABAergic activity is required for the sustained antidepressant-like responses induced by ketamine, suggesting that approaches to enhance GABAergic plasticity and function are promising therapeutic targets for antidepressant development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoela V. Fogaça
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Fernanda Daher
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Marina R. Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
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Thompson SM. Modulators of GABA A receptor-mediated inhibition in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders: past, present, and future. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:83-95. [PMID: 37709943 PMCID: PMC10700661 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01728-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acts at ionotropic GABAA receptors to counterbalance excitation and regulate neuronal firing. GABAA receptors are heteropentameric channels comprised from subunits derived from 19 different genes. GABAA receptors have one of the richest and well-developed pharmacologies of any therapeutic drug target, including agonists, antagonists, and positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs, NAMs). Currently used PAMs include benzodiazepine sedatives and anxiolytics, barbiturates, endogenous and synthetic neurosteroids, and general anesthetics. In this article, I will review evidence that these drugs act at several distinct binding sites and how they can be used to alter the balance between excitation and inhibition. I will also summarize existing literature regarding (1) evidence that changes in GABAergic inhibition play a causative role in major depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and schizophrenia and (2) whether and how GABAergic drugs exert beneficial effects in these conditions, focusing on human studies where possible. Where these classical therapeutics have failed to exert benefits, I will describe recent advances in clinical and preclinical drug development. I will also highlight opportunities to advance a generation of GABAergic therapeutics, such as development of subunit-selective PAMs and NAMs, that are engendering hope for novel tools to treat these devastating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Thompson
- Center for Novel Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12700 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Lu K, Hong Y, Tao M, Shen L, Zheng Z, Fang K, Yuan F, Xu M, Wang C, Zhu D, Guo X, Liu Y. Depressive patient-derived GABA interneurons reveal abnormal neural activity associated with HTR2C. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 15:e16364. [PMID: 36373384 PMCID: PMC9832822 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202216364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder with suicide behavior (sMDD) is a server mood disorder, bringing tremendous burden to family and society. Although reduced gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) level has been observed in postmortem tissues of sMDD patients, the molecular mechanism by which GABA levels are altered remains elusive. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from five sMDD patients and differentiated the iPSCs to GABAergic interneurons (GINs) and ventral forebrain organoids. sMDD GINs exhibited altered neuronal morphology and increased neural firing, as well as weakened calcium signaling propagation, compared with controls. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed that a decreased expression of serotoninergic receptor 2C (5-HT2C) may cause the defected neuronal activity in sMDD. Furthermore, targeting 5-HT2C receptor, using a small molecule agonist or genetic approach, restored neuronal activity deficits in sMDD GINs. Our findings provide a human cellular model for studying the molecular mechanisms and drug discoveries for sMDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqin Lu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yuan Hong
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Mengdan Tao
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Luping Shen
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhilong Zheng
- Department of NeurobiologyKey Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu ProvinceNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Kaiheng Fang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Fang Yuan
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Min Xu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chun Wang
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Dongya Zhu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of NeurobiologyKey Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu ProvinceNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina,Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityJiangsuChina
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineSchool of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
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Distinct patterns of altered quantitative T1ρ and functional BOLD response associated with history of suicide attempts in bipolar disorder. Brain Imaging Behav 2022; 16:820-833. [PMID: 34601647 PMCID: PMC8975910 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00552-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite the high risk for suicide, relatively few studies have explored the relationship between suicide and brain imaging measures in bipolar disorder. In addition, fewer studies have explored the possibility that altered brain metabolism may be associated with suicide attempt. To begin to fill in these gaps, we evaluated functional (task based fMRI) and metabolic (quantitative T1ρ) differences associated with suicide attempt in participants with bipolar disorder. Thirty-nine participants with bipolar disorder underwent fMRI during a flashing checkerboard task and 27 also underwent quantitative T1ρ. The relationship between neuroimaging and history of suicide attempt was tested using multiple regression while adjusting for age, sex, and current mood state. Differences between two measures of suicide attempt (binary: yes/no and continuous: number of attempts) were quantified using the corrected Akaike Information Criterion. Participants who had attempted suicide had greater fMRI task-related activation in visual areas and the cerebellum. The number of suicide attempts was associated with a difference in BOLD response in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. Increased quantitative T1ρ was associated with number of suicide attempts in limbic, basal ganglia, and prefrontal cortex regions. This study is a secondary analysis with a modest sample size. Differences between measures of suicide history may be due to differences in statistical power. History of suicide was associated with limbic, prefrontal, and cerebellar alterations. Results comparing those with and without suicide attempts differed from results using number of suicide attempts, suggesting that these variables have different neurobiological underpinnings.
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Schmaal L, van Harmelen AL, Chatzi V, Lippard ETC, Toenders YJ, Averill LA, Mazure CM, Blumberg HP. Imaging suicidal thoughts and behaviors: a comprehensive review of 2 decades of neuroimaging studies. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:408-427. [PMID: 31787757 PMCID: PMC6974434 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0587-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Identifying brain alterations that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are important to develop more targeted and effective strategies to prevent suicide. In the last decade, and especially in the last 5 years, there has been exponential growth in the number of neuroimaging studies reporting structural and functional brain circuitry correlates of STBs. Within this narrative review, we conducted a comprehensive review of neuroimaging studies of STBs published to date and summarize the progress achieved on elucidating neurobiological substrates of STBs, with a focus on converging findings across studies. We review neuroimaging evidence across differing mental disorders for structural, functional, and molecular alterations in association with STBs, which converges particularly in regions of brain systems that subserve emotion and impulse regulation including the ventral prefrontal cortex (VPFC) and dorsal PFC (DPFC), insula and their mesial temporal, striatal and posterior connection sites, as well as in the connections between these brain areas. The reviewed literature suggests that impairments in medial and lateral VPFC regions and their connections may be important in the excessive negative and blunted positive internal states that can stimulate suicidal ideation, and that impairments in a DPFC and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) system may be important in suicide attempt behaviors. A combination of VPFC and DPFC system disturbances may lead to very high risk circumstances in which suicidal ideation is converted to lethal actions via decreased top-down inhibition of behavior and/or maladaptive, inflexible decision-making and planning. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula may play important roles in switching between these VPFC and DPFC systems, which may contribute to the transition from suicide thoughts to behaviors. Future neuroimaging research of larger sample sizes, including global efforts, longitudinal designs, and careful consideration of developmental stages, and sex and gender, will facilitate more effectively targeted preventions and interventions to reduce loss of life to suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne Schmaal
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Vasiliki Chatzi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Yara J Toenders
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lynnette A Averill
- Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carolyn M Mazure
- Psychiatry and Women's Health Research at Yale, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hilary P Blumberg
- Psychiatry, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Fogaça MV, Duman RS. Cortical GABAergic Dysfunction in Stress and Depression: New Insights for Therapeutic Interventions. Front Cell Neurosci 2019. [PMID: 30914923 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00087/full] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness characterized by neuroanatomical and functional alterations in limbic structures, notably the prefrontal cortex (PFC), that can be precipitated by exposure to chronic stress. For decades, the monoaminergic deficit hypothesis of depression provided the conceptual framework to understand the pathophysiology of MDD. However, accumulating evidence suggests that MDD and chronic stress are associated with an imbalance of excitation-inhibition (E:I) within the PFC, generated by a deficit of inhibitory synaptic transmission onto principal glutamatergic neurons. MDD patients and chronically stressed animals show a reduction in GABA and GAD67 levels in the brain, decreased expression of GABAergic interneuron markers, and alterations in GABAA and GABAB receptor levels. Moreover, genetically modified animals with deletion of specific GABA receptors subunits or interneuron function show depressive-like behaviors. Here, we provide further evidence supporting the role of cortical GABAergic interneurons, mainly somatostatin- and parvalbumin-expressing cells, required for the optimal E:I balance in the PFC and discuss how the malfunction of these cells can result in depression-related behaviors. Finally, considering the relatively low efficacy of current available medications, we review new fast-acting pharmacological approaches that target the GABAergic system to treat MDD. We conclude that deficits in cortical inhibitory neurotransmission and interneuron function resulting from chronic stress exposure can compromise the integrity of neurocircuits and result in the development of MDD and other stress-related disorders. Drugs that can establish a new E:I balance in the PFC by targeting the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems show promising as fast-acting antidepressants and represent breakthrough strategies for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoela V Fogaça
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ronald S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Fogaça MV, Duman RS. Cortical GABAergic Dysfunction in Stress and Depression: New Insights for Therapeutic Interventions. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:87. [PMID: 30914923 PMCID: PMC6422907 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness characterized by neuroanatomical and functional alterations in limbic structures, notably the prefrontal cortex (PFC), that can be precipitated by exposure to chronic stress. For decades, the monoaminergic deficit hypothesis of depression provided the conceptual framework to understand the pathophysiology of MDD. However, accumulating evidence suggests that MDD and chronic stress are associated with an imbalance of excitation-inhibition (E:I) within the PFC, generated by a deficit of inhibitory synaptic transmission onto principal glutamatergic neurons. MDD patients and chronically stressed animals show a reduction in GABA and GAD67 levels in the brain, decreased expression of GABAergic interneuron markers, and alterations in GABAA and GABAB receptor levels. Moreover, genetically modified animals with deletion of specific GABA receptors subunits or interneuron function show depressive-like behaviors. Here, we provide further evidence supporting the role of cortical GABAergic interneurons, mainly somatostatin- and parvalbumin-expressing cells, required for the optimal E:I balance in the PFC and discuss how the malfunction of these cells can result in depression-related behaviors. Finally, considering the relatively low efficacy of current available medications, we review new fast-acting pharmacological approaches that target the GABAergic system to treat MDD. We conclude that deficits in cortical inhibitory neurotransmission and interneuron function resulting from chronic stress exposure can compromise the integrity of neurocircuits and result in the development of MDD and other stress-related disorders. Drugs that can establish a new E:I balance in the PFC by targeting the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems show promising as fast-acting antidepressants and represent breakthrough strategies for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoela V Fogaça
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ronald S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Abdallah CG, Sanacora G, Duman RS, Krystal JH. The neurobiology of depression, ketamine and rapid-acting antidepressants: Is it glutamate inhibition or activation? Pharmacol Ther 2018; 190:148-158. [PMID: 29803629 PMCID: PMC6165688 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the antidepressant effects of ketamine has opened a breakthrough opportunity to develop a truly novel class of safe, effective, and rapid-acting antidepressants (RAADs). In addition, the rapid and robust biological and behavioral effects of ketamine offered a unique opportunity to utilize the drug as a tool to thoroughly investigate the neurobiology of stress and depression in animals, and to develop sensitive and reproducible biomarkers in humans. The ketamine literature over the past two decades has considerably enriched our understanding of the mechanisms underlying chronic stress, depression, and RAADs. However, considering the complexity of the pharmacokinetics and in vivo pharmacodynamics of ketamine, several questions remain unanswered and, at times, even answered questions continue to be considered controversial or at least not fully understood. The current perspective paper summarizes our understanding of the neurobiology of depression, and the mechanisms of action of ketamine and other RAADs. The review focuses on the role of glutamate neurotransmission - reviewing the history of the "glutamate inhibition" and "glutamate activation" hypotheses, proposing a synaptic connectivity model of chronic stress pathology, and describing the mechanism of action of ketamine. It will also summarize the clinical efficacy findings of putative RAADs, present relevant human biomarker findings, and discuss current challenges and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadi G Abdallah
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA; Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA.
| | - Gerard Sanacora
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA; Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, USA
| | - Ronald S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA; Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA; Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA; Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA; Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, USA
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