1
|
Lockett J, Inder WJ, Clifton VL. The Glucocorticoid Receptor: Isoforms, Functions, and Contribution to Glucocorticoid Sensitivity. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:593-624. [PMID: 38551091 PMCID: PMC11244253 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnae008] [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: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids exert pleiotropic effects on all tissues to regulate cellular and metabolic homeostasis. Synthetic forms are used therapeutically in a wide range of conditions for their anti-inflammatory benefits, at the cost of dose and duration-dependent side effects. Significant variability occurs between tissues, disease states, and individuals with regard to both the beneficial and deleterious effects. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is the site of action for these hormones and a vast body of work has been conducted understanding its function. Traditionally, it was thought that the anti-inflammatory benefits of glucocorticoids were mediated by transrepression of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, while the adverse metabolic effects resulted from direct transactivation. This canonical understanding of the GR function has been brought into question over the past 2 decades with advances in the resolution of scientific techniques, and the discovery of multiple isoforms of the receptor present in most tissues. Here we review the structure and function of the GR, the nature of the receptor isoforms, and the contribution of the receptor to glucocorticoid sensitivity, or resistance in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Lockett
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4101, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Warrick J Inder
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Vicki L Clifton
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4101, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ji W, Li G, Hu Y, Zhang W, Wang J, Jiang F, Zhang Y, Wu F, Wei X, Li Y, Gao X, Manza P, Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Zhang Y. Associations among birthweight, adrenarche, brain morphometry and cognitive function in preterm children aged 9-11 years. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00063-6. [PMID: 38417787 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm infants with low birthweight are at heightened risk of developmental sequelae, including neurological and cognitive dysfunction that can persist into adolescence or adulthood. In addition, preterm birth and low birthweight can provoke changes in endocrine and metabolic processes that likely impact brain health throughout development. However, few studies have examined associations among birthweight, pubertal endocrine process, long-term neurological and cognitive development. METHODS We investigated the associations between birthweight and brain morphometry, cognitive function, and onset of adrenarche assessed 9 to 11 years later in 3571 preterm and full-term children using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development dataset. RESULTS The preterm children showed lower birthweight and early adrenarche, as expected. Birthweight was positively associated with cognitive function (all︱Cohen's d︱> 0.154, P < 0.005), global brain volumes (all︱Cohen's d︱> 0.170, P < 0.008) and regional volumes in frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices in preterm and full-term children (all︱Cohen's d︱> 0.170, P < 0.0007); and cortical volume in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) partially mediated the effect of low birthweight on cognitive function in preterm children. In addition, adrenal score and cortical volume in the lOFC mediated the associations between birthweight and cognitive function only in preterm children. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the impact of low birthweight on long-term brain structural and cognitive function development, and showed important associations with early onset of adrenarche during the puberty. This understanding may help with prevention and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weibin Ji
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Guanya Li
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Wenchao Zhang
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Fukun Jiang
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Feifei Wu
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Xiaorong Wei
- Kindergarten affiliated to Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yuefeng Li
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Xinbo Gao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Image Cognition, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain: a journal of neurology and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China
| | - Peter Manza
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nora D Volkow
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gene-Jack Wang
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Methylation and expression of glucocorticoid receptor exon-1 variants and FKBP5 in teenage suicide-completers. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:53. [PMID: 36781843 PMCID: PMC9925759 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02345-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has repeatedly been demonstrated to play a fundamental role in psychiatric disorders and suicide, yet the mechanisms underlying this dysregulation are not clear. Decreased expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene, which is also susceptible to epigenetic modulation, is a strong indicator of impaired HPA axis control. In the context of teenage suicide-completers, we have systematically analyzed the 5'UTR of the GR gene to determine the expression levels of all GR exon-1 transcript variants and their epigenetic state. We also measured the expression and the epigenetic state of the FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5/FKBP51), an important modulator of GR activity. Furthermore, steady-state DNA methylation levels depend upon the interplay between enzymes that promote DNA methylation and demethylation activities, thus we analyzed DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), ten-eleven translocation enzymes (TETs), and growth arrest- and DNA-damage-inducible proteins (GADD45). Focusing on both the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, our results show decreased expression in specific GR exon-1 variants and a strong correlation of DNA methylation changes with gene expression in the PFC. FKBP5 expression is also increased in both areas suggesting a decreased GR sensitivity to cortisol binding. We also identified aberrant expression of DNA methylating and demethylating enzymes in both brain regions. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex transcriptional regulation of GR, providing evidence of epigenetically mediated reprogramming of the GR gene, which could lead to possible epigenetic influences that result in lasting modifications underlying an individual's overall HPA axis response and resilience to stress.
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen Y, Dai J, Tang L, Mikhailova T, Liang Q, Li M, Zhou J, Kopp RF, Weickert C, Chen C, Liu C. Neuroimmune transcriptome changes in patient brains of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:710-721. [PMID: 36424395 PMCID: PMC9911365 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01854-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has been implicated in multiple brain disorders but the extent and the magnitude of change in immune-related genes (IRGs) across distinct brain disorders has not been directly compared. In this study, 1275 IRGs were curated and their expression changes investigated in 2467 postmortem brains of controls and patients with six major brain disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major depressive disorder (MDD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). There were 865 IRGs present across all microarray and RNA-seq datasets. More than 60% of the IRGs had significantly altered expression in at least one of the six disorders. The differentially expressed immune-related genes (dIRGs) shared across disorders were mainly related to innate immunity. Moreover, sex, tissue, and putative cell type were systematically evaluated for immune alterations in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Co-expression networks revealed that transcripts of the neuroimmune systems interacted with neuronal-systems, both of which contribute to the pathology of brain disorders. However, only a few genes with expression changes were also identified as containing risk variants in genome-wide association studies. The transcriptome alterations at gene and network levels may clarify the immune-related pathophysiology and help to better define neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jiacheng Dai
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Longfei Tang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tatiana Mikhailova
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Qiuman Liang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Miao Li
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhou
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Richard F Kopp
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia Weickert
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chao Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yoshino Y, Kumon H, Shimokawa T, Yano H, Ochi S, Funahashi Y, Iga JI, Matsuda S, Tanaka J, Ueno SI. Impact of Gestational Haloperidol Exposure on miR-137-3p and Nr3c1 mRNA Expression in Hippocampus of Offspring Mice. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 25:853-862. [PMID: 35859315 PMCID: PMC9593222 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a mental disorder caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Prenatal exposure to antipsychotics, an environmental factor for the fetal brain, induces apoptotic neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment of offspring similar to schizophrenia. The aim was to investigate molecular biological changes in the fetal hippocampus exposed to haloperidol (HAL) by RNA expression as a model of the disorder. METHODS HAL (1 mg/kg/d) was administered to pregnant mice. Upregulated and downregulated gene expressions in the hippocampus of offspring were studied with RNA-sequencing and validated with the qPCR method, and micro-RNA (miR) regulating mRNA expressional changes was predicted by in silico analysis. An in vitro experiment was used to identify the miRNA using a dual-luciferase assay. RESULTS There were significant gene expressional changes (1370 upregulated and 1260 downregulated genes) in the HAL group compared with the control group on RNA-sequencing analysis (P < .05 and q < 0.05). Of them, the increase of Nr3c1 mRNA expression was successfully validated, and in silico analysis predicted that microRNA-137-3p (miR-137-3p) possibly regulates that gene's expression. The expression of miR-137-3p in the hippocampus of offspring was significantly decreased in the first generation, but it increased in the second generation. In vitro experiments with Neuro2a cells showed that miR-137-3p inversely regulated Nr3c1 mRNA expression, which was upregulated in the HAL group. CONCLUSIONS These findings will be key for understanding the impact of the molecular biological effects of antipsychotics on the fetal brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Yoshino
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kumon
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Shimokawa
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Hajime Yano
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Ochi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Yu Funahashi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Jun-ichi Iga
- Correspondence: Jun-ichi Iga, MD, PhD, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan ()
| | - Seiji Matsuda
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Junya Tanaka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Shu-ichi Ueno
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shao S, Wang Y, Zhao Y, Xu Y, Wang T, Du K, Bao S, Wang X, Zhang L. Identification of multiple isoforms of glucocorticoid receptor in nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 51:25. [PMID: 35690807 PMCID: PMC9188707 DOI: 10.1186/s40463-022-00561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The conventional belief that glucocorticosteroid (GC) acts through a single brand glucocorticoid receptor (GR)α protein has changed dramatically with the discovery of multiple GR isoforms. We aimed to evaluate whether multiple GR protein isoforms are expressed in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and whether GR protein isoform expression profiles differ between different endotypes of CRSwNP. Methods Thirty-eight patients with CRSwNP and ten healthy volunteers were included. The protein expression of multiple GR isoforms in nasal polyps (NPs) tissue and control mucosae was examined by western blot analysis with different GR antibodies. Results Five bands, including three bands for known proteins (GRα-A/B, GRα-C, and GRα-D) and two bands for unidentified proteins at 67 kilodaltons (kDa) and 60 kDa, were identified with both total GR antibody (PA1-511A) and GRα-specific antibody (PA1-516). GRα-D intensity, which was abundant in nasal mucosa, was significantly increased in the CRSwNP group and was especially elevated in the noneosinophilic CRSwNP (NE-CRSwNP) group (PA1-511A: P < 0.001 and P = 0.0018; PA1-516: P < 0.003 and P = 0.006, respectively). Additionally, the intensities of the newly recognized 67 kDa and 60 kDa bands were much greater in the NE-CRSwNP subgroup than in the eosinophilic CRSwNP (E-CRSwNP) subgroup; in the E-CRSwNP subgroup, the median intensities were even lower than those in the control group. Conclusions This study provides evidence that nasal tissues express multiple GR protein isoforms. GR protein isoforms presented disease and tissue-specific expression profiles that differed between the CRSwNP and control groups and between the E-CRSwNP and NE-CRSwNP subgroups. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40463-022-00561-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Departments of Oncology, Community Health Sciences, and Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, and The Center for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Tie Wang
- MIID Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kun Du
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China
| | - Shiping Bao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Luo Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100005, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Grasso EM, Majumdar A, Wrabl JO, Frueh DP, Hilser VJ. Conserved allosteric ensembles in disordered proteins using TROSY/anti-TROSY R 2-filtered spectroscopy. Biophys J 2021; 120:2498-2510. [PMID: 33901472 PMCID: PMC8390865 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining the role of intrinsic disorder in proteins in the myriad of biological processes with which it is involved represents a significant goal in modern biophysics. Toward this end, NMR is uniquely suited for molecular studies of dynamic and disordered regions, but studying these regions in concert with their more structured domains and binding partners presents spectroscopic challenges. Here, we investigate the interactions between the structured and disordered regions of the human glucocorticoid receptor (GR). To do this, we developed an NMR strategy that relies on a novel relaxation filter for the simultaneous study of structured and unstructured regions. Using this approach, we conducted a comparative analysis of three translational isoforms of GR containing a folded DNA-binding domain (DBD) and two disordered regions that flank the DBD, one of which varies in size in the different isoforms. Notably, we were able to assign resonances that had previously been inaccessible because of the spectral complexity of the translational isoforms, which in turn allowed us to 1) identify a region of the structured DBD that undergoes significant changes in the local chemical environment in the presence of the disordered region and 2) determine differences in the conformational ensembles of the disordered regions of the translational isoforms. Furthermore, an ensemble-based thermodynamic analysis of the isoforms reveals conserved patterns of stability within the N-terminal domain of GR that persist despite low sequence conservation. These studies provide an avenue for further investigations of the mechanistic underpinnings of the functional relevance of the translational isoforms of GR while also providing a general NMR strategy for studying systems containing both structured and disordered regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Grasso
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ananya Majumdar
- The Biomolecular NMR Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James O Wrabl
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Dominique P Frueh
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Vincent J Hilser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ji E, Weickert CS, Purves-Tyson T, White C, Handelsman DJ, Desai R, O'Donnell M, Liu D, Galletly C, Lenroot R, Weickert TW. Cortisol-dehydroepiandrosterone ratios are inversely associated with hippocampal and prefrontal brain volume in schizophrenia. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 123:104916. [PMID: 33169678 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
While high levels of glucocorticoids are generally neuro-damaging, a related adrenal steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), has anti-glucocorticoid and neuroprotective properties. Previous work has shown increased circulating levels of DHEA and abnormal cortisol/DHEA ratios in people with schizophrenia, however reports are limited and their relationship to neuropathology is unclear. We performed the largest study to date to compare levels of serum DHEA and cortisol/DHEA ratios in people with schizophrenia and healthy controls, and investigated the extent to which cortisol/DHEA ratios predict brain volume. Serum cortisol and DHEA were assayed in 94 people with schizophrenia and 81 healthy controls. T1-weighted high-resolution anatomical scans were obtained using a 3 T Achieva scanner on a subset of 59 people with schizophrenia and 60 healthy controls. Imaging data were preprocessed and analyzed using SPM12. People with schizophrenia had significantly increased serum DHEA levels (p = 0.002), decreased cortisol/DHEA ratios (p = 0.02) and no difference in cortisol levels compared to healthy controls. Cortisol/DHEA ratios were inversely correlated with hippocampal (r = -0.33 p = 0.01) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (r = -0.30, p = 0.02) volumes in patients. Our findings suggest that the cortisol/DHEA ratio may be a molecular blood signature of hippocampal and cortical damage. These results further implicate the role of DHEA and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Ji
- University of Zurich Psychiatric Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, 13210, New York, USA
| | - Tertia Purves-Tyson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Christopher White
- Department of Endocrinology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - David J Handelsman
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - Reena Desai
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - Maryanne O'Donnell
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Dennis Liu
- Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Cherrie Galletly
- Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Ramsay Health Care (SA) Mental Health Services, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Rhoshel Lenroot
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Thomas W Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, 13210, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Weissleder C, Webster MJ, Barry G, Shannon Weickert C. Reduced Insulin-Like Growth Factor Family Member Expression Predicts Neurogenesis Marker Expression in the Subependymal Zone in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:1168-1178. [PMID: 33274367 PMCID: PMC8266571 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The generation of inhibitory interneurons from neural stem cells in the subependymal zone is regulated by trophic factors. Reduced levels of trophic factors are associated with inhibitory interneuron dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in psychiatric disorders, yet the extent to which altered trophic support may underpin deficits in inhibitory interneuron generation in the neurogenic niche remains unexplored in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We determined whether the expression of ligands, bioavailability-regulating binding proteins, and cognate receptors of 4 major trophic factor families (insulin-like growth factor [IGF], epidermal growth factor [EGF], fibroblast growth factor [FGF], and brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]) are changed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared to controls. We used robust linear regression analyses to determine whether altered expression of trophic factor family members predicts neurogenesis marker expression across diagnostic groups. We found that IGF1 mRNA was decreased in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared with controls (P ≤ .006), whereas both IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) and IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) mRNAs were reduced in schizophrenia compared with controls (P ≤ .02). EGF, FGF, and BDNF family member expression were all unchanged in both psychiatric disorders compared with controls. IGF1 expression positively predicted neuronal progenitor and immature neuron marker mRNAs (P ≤ .01). IGFBP2 expression positively predicted neural stem cell and neuronal progenitor marker mRNAs (P ≤ .001). These findings provide the first molecular evidence of decreased IGF1, IGF1R, and IGFBP2 mRNA expression in the subependymal zone in psychiatric disorders, which may potentially impact neurogenesis in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christin Weissleder
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Maree J Webster
- Laboratory of Brain Research, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Kensington, MD
| | - Guy Barry
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia,School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Margarete Ainsworth Building, 139 Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; tel: +61-2-9399-1717, e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kaul D, Smith CC, Stevens J, Fröhlich AS, Binder EB, Mechawar N, Schwab SG, Matosin N. Severe childhood and adulthood stress associates with neocortical layer-specific reductions of mature spines in psychiatric disorders. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100270. [PMID: 33344723 PMCID: PMC7739192 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100270] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe stress exposure causes the loss of dendritic spines on cortical pyramidal neurons and induces psychiatric-like symptoms in rodent models. These effects are strongest following early-life stress and are most persistent on apical dendrites. However, the long-term impacts and temporal effects of stress exposure on the human brain remain poorly understood. Using a novel postmortem cohort of psychiatric cases with severe stress experienced in childhood, adulthood, or no severe stress, and matched controls, we aimed to determine the impact of stress timing on pyramidal neuron structure in the human orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). We performed Golgi Cox staining and manually measured the morphology and density of over 22,000 dendritic spines on layer-specific pyramidal neuron apical dendrites. We also quantified glucocorticoid receptor mRNA and protein as a marker of stress dysregulation. Both childhood and adulthood stress were associated with large reductions in mature mushroom spine density (up to 56% loss) in both the superficial (II/III) and deeper layers (V) of the OFC. However, childhood stress caused more substantial reductions to both total and mature mushroom spines. No difference in glucocorticoid receptor mRNA and protein were seen between groups, although both negatively correlated with total spine density within the whole cohort. These findings indicate that severe stress, especially when experienced during childhood, persistently affects the fine morphological properties of neurons in the human OFC. This may impact on cell connectivity in this brain area, and at least partly explain the social and emotional symptoms that originate in the OFC in psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Kaul
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522, Australia
| | - Caine C Smith
- NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julia Stevens
- NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anna S Fröhlich
- Dept. of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Dept. of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Blvd, Verdun, Qc, Canada, H4H 1R3
| | - Sibylle G Schwab
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522, Australia
| | - Natalie Matosin
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522, Australia.,Dept. of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Grillault Laroche D, Curis E, Bellivier F, Nepost C, Courtin C, Etain B, Marie-Claire C. Childhood maltreatment and HPA axis gene expression in bipolar disorders: A gene network analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 120:104753. [PMID: 32634746 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bipolar disorder (BD) is highly associated with childhood maltreatment (CM), the exposure to such early adversity being suggested to disrupt the expression of several biological pathways. This study aims at exploring associations between the mRNA levels of 9 HPA axis genes in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with BD according to their self-reported exposure to CM. METHODS The sample consisted of 33 Caucasian patients with a diagnosis of BD type 1, assessed for the exposure to CM with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Quantitative RT-PCR was performed on 9 transcripts of the HPA axis genes: DGKH, FKBP5, NR3C1, SGK1, SGK2, SGK3, SKA2, STAT5A and UCN. RT-qPCR data were analyzed using the method of disjoint gene networks with SARP.compo package for R. RESULTS We found no associations between CTQ total score and the amount of HPA axis transcripts neither in univariate analyses, nor with network analyses. Emotional abuse (EA) was associated with a significant decreased expression of two transcripts, DGKH (p = 0.009) and NR3C1 (p = 0.04). This was confirmed by the disjoint network analysis, which showed that NR3C1 and DGKH were expressed differently from the rest of the HPA axis network in presence of emotional abuse. DISCUSSION This study described the expression levels of a comprehensive set of HPA axis genes according to childhood maltreatment in a sample of patients with BD type 1 and suggested that emotional abuse decreased the expression of NR3C1 and DGKH. Our results require further replication in independent larger samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Grillault Laroche
- Unité INSERM UMR-S 1144 Optimisation thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Paris, France; AP-HP, GHU Saint-Louis - Lariboisière-F. Widal, Pôle de Psychiatrie et de Médecine Addictologique, Paris, France; Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - E Curis
- Laboratoire de Biomathématiques, EA 7537 BioSTM, Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Service de Bioinformatique et Information Médicale, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - F Bellivier
- Unité INSERM UMR-S 1144 Optimisation thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Paris, France; AP-HP, GHU Saint-Louis - Lariboisière-F. Widal, Pôle de Psychiatrie et de Médecine Addictologique, Paris, France; Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - C Nepost
- Unité INSERM UMR-S 1144 Optimisation thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Paris, France
| | - C Courtin
- Unité INSERM UMR-S 1144 Optimisation thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Paris, France
| | - B Etain
- Unité INSERM UMR-S 1144 Optimisation thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Paris, France; AP-HP, GHU Saint-Louis - Lariboisière-F. Widal, Pôle de Psychiatrie et de Médecine Addictologique, Paris, France; Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - C Marie-Claire
- Unité INSERM UMR-S 1144 Optimisation thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Comer AL, Carrier M, Tremblay MÈ, Cruz-Martín A. The Inflamed Brain in Schizophrenia: The Convergence of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors That Lead to Uncontrolled Neuroinflammation. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:274. [PMID: 33061891 PMCID: PMC7518314 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a disorder with a heterogeneous etiology involving complex interplay between genetic and environmental risk factors. The immune system is now known to play vital roles in nervous system function and pathology through regulating neuronal and glial development, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. In this regard, the immune system is positioned as a common link between the seemingly diverse genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia. Synthesizing information about how the immune-brain axis is affected by multiple factors and how these factors might interact in schizophrenia is necessary to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease. Such knowledge will aid in the development of more translatable animal models that may lead to effective therapeutic interventions. Here, we provide an overview of the genetic risk factors for schizophrenia that modulate immune function. We also explore environmental factors for schizophrenia including exposure to pollution, gut dysbiosis, maternal immune activation and early-life stress, and how the consequences of these risk factors are linked to microglial function and dysfunction. We also propose that morphological and signaling deficits of the blood-brain barrier, as observed in some individuals with schizophrenia, can act as a gateway between peripheral and central nervous system inflammation, thus affecting microglia in their essential functions. Finally, we describe the diverse roles that microglia play in response to neuroinflammation and their impact on brain development and homeostasis, as well as schizophrenia pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L. Comer
- Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alberto Cruz-Martín
- Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kennedy CLM, Carter SD, Mifsud KR, Reul JMHM. Unexpected effects of metyrapone on corticosteroid receptor interaction with the genome and subsequent gene transcription in the hippocampus of male rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12820. [PMID: 31820828 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) play a pivotal role in many stress-related biological processes. In the hippocampus, GCs act through mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) to modify gene transcription. The involvement of GCs in biological processes has been investigated using the corticosterone (CORT)-synthesis blocker metyrapone. How metyrapone affects the action of GC at the genomic level still remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of this enzyme blocker on plasma CORT levels and hippocampal MR and GR binding to GC responsive elements (GREs) within the GC target genes Fkbp5 (FK506-binding protein 5), Per1 (Period 1) and Sgk1 (Serum- and glucocorticoid-activated kinase 1), as well as the transcriptional responses of these genes under control and acute stress conditions in rats. For comparison, we also investigated these endpoints in rats that had undergone adrenalectomy (ADX). Although metyrapone had no effect on baseline levels of CORT, the drug increased MR and GR to GRE binding within the GC target genes and the transcriptional activity of these genes. As expected, acute forced swim (FS) stress strongly increased plasma CORT levels, hippocampal MR and GR to GRE binding within Fkbp5, Per1 and Sgk1, and the transcriptional activity (mainly hnRNA levels) of these genes. Metyrapone attenuated, but did not abolish, these effects of stress on plasma CORT and MR and GR to GRE binding. The drug effects on FS-induced transcriptional activity were gene-dependent with a reduction seen in Fkbp5 hnRNA (but not Fkbp5 mRNA), an enhancement in Per1 hnRNA (but not Per1 mRNA), and no effect on both Sgk1 hnRNA and mRNA levels. ADX however completely abrogated the effects of FS on plasma CORT, as well as hippocampal MR and GR to GRE binding and transcriptional responses. Thus, in contrast to ADX, metyrapone produced inconsistent effects on GC-sensitive genomic endpoints that question its suitability as a tool in neuroendocrine and other research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clare L M Kennedy
- Neuro-Epigenetics Research Group, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sylvia D Carter
- Neuro-Epigenetics Research Group, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Karen R Mifsud
- Neuro-Epigenetics Research Group, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Johannes M H M Reul
- Neuro-Epigenetics Research Group, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Williams S, Ghosh C. Neurovascular glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoids: implications in health, neurological disorders and drug therapy. Drug Discov Today 2019; 25:89-106. [PMID: 31541713 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are ubiquitous transcription factors widely studied for their role in controlling events related to inflammation, stress and homeostasis. Recently, GRs have reemerged as crucial targets of investigation in neurological disorders, with a focus on pharmacological strategies to direct complex mechanistic GR regulation and improve therapy. In the brain, GRs control functions necessary for neurovascular integrity, including responses to stress, neurological changes mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain-specific responses to corticosteroids. Therefore, this review will examine GR regulation at the neurovascular interface in normal and pathological conditions, pharmacological GR modulation and glucocorticoid insensitivity in neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherice Williams
- Brain Physiology Laboratory/Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chaitali Ghosh
- Brain Physiology Laboratory/Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Poppa T, Droutman V, Amaro H, Black D, Arnaudova I, Monterosso J. Sexual trauma history is associated with reduced orbitofrontal network strength in substance-dependent women. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 24:101973. [PMID: 31472330 PMCID: PMC6728879 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly comorbid with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD-SUD comorbidity is associated with greater functional impairments and relapse risk. Women with SUDs experience markedly higher rates of trauma and PTSD compared to men with SUDs, particularly due to sexual and domestic abuse. Despite the strong association between trauma exposure and SUDs, the neurobiological correlates are understudied, particularly among females with SUDs. However, there is indication of abnormal somatic and interoceptive processing in women with PTSD. The present study examines interoception-linked differences in intrinsic brain networks in a group of women with SUDs and varying histories of trauma exposure, some of whom have a current PTSD diagnosis. METHODS Pre-intervention data were analyzed from a subset (N = 43) of women in SUD residential treatment recruited for a mindfulness-based intervention efficacy clinical trial. Participants diagnosed with PTSD (n = 14) or not (n = 29) performed a task which involved attending to the somatic and visceral sensations of the breathing cycle (interoception) while undergoing a functional MRI (fMRI) scan. FMRI analysis employed independent components analysis and dual regression. First, we assessed differences in functional connectivity of interoception-modulated functional networks among those with and without PTSD. Second, we tested associations between network strength and lifetime sexual violence exposure across all participants on networks that showed significant group differences. RESULTS PTSD diagnosis was associated with reduced functional connectivity of an orbitofrontal network with the precuneus, mid-posterior insula, lateral prefrontal cortex and angular gyrus. OFC network strength was inversely associated with sexual violence exposure over-and-above the contribution of PTSD status alone. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide a novel network-level account of brain activity associated with PTSD among women with SUDs, which may inform treatment response in this subpopulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tasha Poppa
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States of America.
| | - Vita Droutman
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Hortensia Amaro
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - David Black
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Inna Arnaudova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - John Monterosso
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Blood and brain protein levels of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2K (UBE2K) are elevated in individuals with schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 113:51-57. [PMID: 30901725 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A number of recent studies have suggested the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in schizophrenia is dysfunctional. The purpose of this study was to investigate UBE2K, a ubiquitin-conjugating (E2) enzyme within the UPS that has been associated with psychosis symptom severity, in the blood and brain of individuals with schizophrenia. Whole blood and erythrocytes from 128 (71 treatment-resistant schizophrenia, 57 healthy controls) individuals as well as frozen dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) post-mortem samples from 74 (37 schizophrenia, 37 controls) individuals were obtained. UBE2K gene expression was assayed in whole blood and DLPFC samples, whereas protein levels were assayed in erythrocytes and OFC samples. Elevated levels of UBE2K mRNA were observed in whole blood of individuals with schizophrenia (p = 0.03) but not in the DLPFC, while protein levels were raised in erythrocytes and the OFC (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002 respectively). Findings were not better explained by age, smoking, clozapine plasma levels or duration of illness. Although blood and brain samples were derived from independent samples, our findings suggest peripheral protein levels of UBE2K may serve as a surrogate of brain levels and further supports the notion of UPS dysfunction in schizophrenia. Future studies to determine the pathophysiological effects of elevated UBE2K protein levels in the brain of those with schizophrenia are warranted.
Collapse
|
17
|
Adzic M, Glavonic E, Nesic MJ, Milosavljevic M, Mihaljevic M, Petrovic Z, Pavlovic Z, Brkic Z, Francija E, Soldatovic I, Mitic M, Radulovic J, Maric NP. Glucocorticoid receptor alpha translational isoforms as mediators of early adversities and negative emotional states. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 90:288-299. [PMID: 30580022 PMCID: PMC6383671 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Childhood trauma (CT) increases the risk for psychopathology through disturbed acquisition and extinction of fear. The effects of CT are mediated by abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Since, the alterations in GRα translational isoforms have been documented in psychiatric disorders we sought to: 1) explore whether multiple GRα isoforms in the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two independent cohorts (whole cell n = 40; and nuclear extracts n = 43, adult subjects) mediate the effect of CT on negative affectivity (NA) measured by Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), and 2) examine their role/function during fear extinction in the animal model. In multiple regression analysis, CT, nuclear 40-kDa GRα, their interactions and FKBP5 explained 22%-35% of variance in DASS scores. Structural equation modeling showed that CT had a significant direct effect on 40-kDa and DASS in both cohorts, and on the nuclear 25-kDa GRα. The association between 40-kDa and total DASS was significantly mediated by nuclear FKBP5, whereas on DASS anxiety, over FKBP5 in both cohorts and nuclear full length GRα. Nuclear 40-kDa GRα and its interaction with CT had a significant direct effect on DASS anxiety. In mice, the successful extinction learning was followed by nuclear translocation of 40-kDa GRα and induction of BDNF exon IV expression. Our data revealed that the association between CT and adult NA in non-clinical subjects is mediated by the GRα translational isoforms, in particular 40-kDa GRα, and emphasized its role in fear extinction and neural plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Adzic
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Emilija Glavonic
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica J Nesic
- Clinical Centre of Serbia, Clinic for Psychiatry, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Minja Milosavljevic
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marina Mihaljevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinical Centre of Serbia, Clinic for Psychiatry, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Petrovic
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorana Pavlovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinical Centre of Serbia, Clinic for Psychiatry, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zeljka Brkic
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ester Francija
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Soldatovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Mitic
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Nadja P Maric
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinical Centre of Serbia, Clinic for Psychiatry, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Scott MR, Meador-Woodruff JH. Intracellular compartment-specific proteasome dysfunction in postmortem cortex in schizophrenia subjects. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 25:776-790. [PMID: 30683941 PMCID: PMC6658356 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0359-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is an emerging component of schizophrenia (SZ) pathophysiology. Proteomic alterations in SZ are well-documented and changes in transcript expression are frequently not associated with changes in protein expression in SZ brain. The underlying mechanism driving these changes remains unknown, though altered expression of ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) components have implicated protein degradation. Previous studies have been limited to protein and transcript expression, however, and do not directly test the function of the proteasome. To address this gap in knowledge, we measured enzymatic activity associated with the proteasome (chymotrypsin-, trypsin-, and caspase-like) in the superior temporal gyrus (STG) of 25 SZ and 25 comparison subjects using flourogenic substrates. As localization regulates which cellular processes the proteasome contributes to, we measured proteasome activity and subunit expression in fractions enriched for nucleus, cytosolic, and membrane compartments. SZ subjects had decreased trypsin-like activity in total homogenate. This finding was specific to the nucleus-enriched fraction and was not associated with changes in proteasome subunit expression. Interestingly, both chymotrypsin-like activity and protein expression of 19S RP subunits, which facilitate ubiquitin-dependent degradation, were decreased in the cytosol-enriched fraction of SZ subjects. Intracellular compartment-specific proteasome dysfunction implicates dysregulation of protein expression both through altered ubiquitin-dependent degradation of cytosolic proteins and regulation of protein synthesis due to degradation of transcription factors and transcription machinery in the nucleus. Together, these findings implicate proteasome dysfunction in SZ, which likely has a broad impact on the proteomic landscape and cellular function in the pathophysiology of this illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline R. Scott
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - James H. Meador-Woodruff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nery TGM, Silva EM, Tavares R, Passetti F. The Challenge to Search for New Nervous System Disease Biomarker Candidates: the Opportunity to Use the Proteogenomics Approach. J Mol Neurosci 2018; 67:150-164. [PMID: 30554402 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1220-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, prion diseases, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis are the most common nervous system diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide. The current scientific literature associates these pathological conditions to abnormal expression levels of certain proteins, which in turn improved the knowledge concerning normal and affected brains. However, there is no available cure or preventive therapy for any of these disorders. Proteogenomics is a recent approach defined as the data integration of both nucleotide high-throughput sequencing and protein mass spectrometry technologies. In the last years, proteogenomics studies in distinct diseases have emerged as a strategy for the identification of uncharacterized proteoforms, which are all the different protein forms derived from a single gene. For many of these diseases, at least one protein used as biomarker presents more than one proteoform, which fosters the analysis of publicly available data focusing proteoforms. Given this context, we describe the most important biomarkers for each neurodegenerative disease and how genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics separately contributed to unveil them. Finally, we present a selection of proteogenomics studies in which the combination of nucleotide and proteome high-throughput data, from cell lines or brain tissue samples, is used to uncover proteoforms not previously described. We believe that this new approach may improve our knowledge about nervous system diseases and brain function and an opportunity to identify new biomarker candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thais Guimarães Martins Nery
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Expression Regulation, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Esdras Matheus Silva
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Expression Regulation, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Raphael Tavares
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fabio Passetti
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Gene Expression Regulation, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Oakley RH, Ramamoorthy S, Foley JF, Busada JT, Lu NZ, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoid receptor isoform-specific regulation of development, circadian rhythm, and inflammation in mice. FASEB J 2018; 32:5258-5271. [PMID: 29672221 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201701153r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones, and their synthetic derivatives are widely used clinically. The therapeutic efficacy of these steroids is limited by side effects and glucocorticoid resistance. Multiple glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoforms are produced from a single gene by alternative translation initiation; however, the role individual isoforms play in tissue-specific responses to glucocorticoids is unknown. We have generated knockin mice that exclusively express the most active receptor isoform, GR-C3. GR-C3 knockin mice die at birth due to respiratory distress. Microarray analysis of fibroblasts from wild-type and GR-C3 mice indicated that most genes regulated by GR-C3 were unique to this isoform. Antenatal glucocorticoid administration rescued GR-C3 knockin mice from neonatal death. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry revealed no major alterations in body composition for rescued knockin mice. Rescued female, but not male, GR-C3 mice exhibited increased wheel running activity in the light portion of the day. LPS administration induced premature mortality in rescued GR-C3 knockin mice, and gene expression studies revealed a deficiency in the ability of GR-C3 to repress a large cohort of immune and inflammatory response genes. These findings demonstrate that specific GR translational isoforms can influence development, circadian rhythm, and inflammation through the regulation of distinct gene networks.-Oakley, R. H., Ramamoorthy, S., Foley, J. F., Busada, J. T., Lu, N. Z., Cidlowski, J. A. Glucocorticoid receptor isoform-specific regulation of development, circadian rhythm, and inflammation in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Oakley
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sivapriya Ramamoorthy
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julie F Foley
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan T Busada
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nick Z Lu
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - John A Cidlowski
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Weickert CS, Rothmond DA, Purves-Tyson TD. Considerations for optimal use of postmortem human brains for molecular psychiatry: lessons from schizophrenia. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2018; 150:221-235. [PMID: 29496143 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63639-3.00016-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a disabling disease impacting millions of people around the world, for which there is no known cure. Current antipsychotic treatments for schizophrenia mainly target psychotic symptoms, do little to ameliorate social or cognitive deficits, have side-effects that cause weight gain, and diabetes and 30% of people do not respond. Thus, better therapeutics for schizophrenia aimed at the route biologic changes are needed and discovering the underlying neurobiology is key to this quest. Postmortem brain studies provide the most direct and detailed way to determine the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This chapter outlines steps that can be taken to ensure the best-quality molecular data from postmortem brain tissue are obtained. In this chapter, we also discuss targeted and high-throughput methods for examining gene and protein expression and some of the strengths and limitations of each method. We briefly consider why gene and protein expression changes may not always concur within brain tissue. We conclude that postmortem brain research that investigates gene and protein expression in well-characterized and matched brain cohorts provides an important foundation to be considered when interpreting data obtained from studies of living schizophrenia patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Debora A Rothmond
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tertia D Purves-Tyson
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Mareckova K, Holsen L, Admon R, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Seidman LJ, Buka SL, Klibanski A, Goldstein J. Neural - hormonal responses to negative affective stimuli: Impact of dysphoric mood and sex. J Affect Disord 2017; 222:88-97. [PMID: 28688266 PMCID: PMC5560420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maladaptive responses to negative affective stimuli are pervasive, including clinically ill and healthy people, and men and women respond differently at neural and hormonal levels. Inspired by the Research Domain Criteria initiative, we used a transdiagnostic approach to investigate the impact of sex and dysphoric mood on neural-hormonal responses to negative affective stimuli. METHODS Participants included 99 individuals with major depressive disorder, psychosis and healthy controls. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was complemented with real-time acquisition of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and -gonadal (HPG) hormones. fMRI data were analyzed in SPM8 and task-related connectivity was assessed using generalized psychophysiological interaction. RESULTS Across all participants, elevated cortisol response predicted lower brain activity in orbitofrontal cortex and hypothalamus-amygdala connectivity. In those with worse dysphoric mood, elevated cortisol response predicted lower activity in hypothalamus and hippocampus. In women, elevated cortisol response was associated with lower activity in medial prefrontal cortex and low hypothalamo-hippocampal connectivity. In women with high dysphoric mood, elevated cortisol response was associated with low hypothalamo-hippocampal connectivity. There were no interactions with diagnosis or medication. LIMITATIONS There was limited power to correct for multiple comparisons across total number of ROIs and connectivity targets; cortisol responses were relatively low. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the pathophysiology in neural-hormonal responses to negative affective stimuli is shared across healthy and clinical populations and varies as a function of sex and dysphoric mood. Our findings may contribute to the development of hormonal adjunctive therapeutics that are sex-dependent, underscoring the importance of one's sex to precision medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K. Mareckova
- Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA,CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - L. Holsen
- Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - R. Admon
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, HMS, Boston, MA USA
| | - S. Whitfield-Gabrieli
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - LJ Seidman
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Public Psychiatry, Massachusetts Mental Health Center; Department of Psychiatry, HMS, Boston, MA, USA
| | - SL Buka
- Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - A. Klibanski
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medicine, Neuroendocrine Unit; HMS, Department of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J.M. Goldstein
- Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA,Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Chen X, Long F, Cai B, Chen X, Chen G. A novel relationship for schizophrenia, bipolar and major depressive disorder Part 5: a hint from chromosome 5 high density association screen. Am J Transl Res 2017; 9:2473-2491. [PMID: 28559998 PMCID: PMC5446530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Familial clustering of schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BPD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) was systematically reported (Aukes, M. F. Genet Med 2012, 14, 338-341) and any two or even three of these disorders could co-exist in some families. In addition, evidence from symptomatology and psychopharmacology also imply that there are intrinsic connections between these three major disorders. A total of 56,569 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) on chromosome 5 were genotyped by Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP array 6.0 on 119 SCZ, 253 BPD (type-I), 177 MDD patients and 1000 controls. Associated SNPs and flanking genes was screen out systematically, and cadherin pathway genes (CDH6, CDH9, CDH10, CDH12, and CDH18) belong to outstanding genes. Unexpectedly, nearly all flanking genes of the associated SNPs distinctive for BPD and MDD were replicated in an enlarged cohort of 986 SCZ patients (P ≤ 9.9E-8). Considering multiple bits of evidence, our chromosome 5 analyses implicated that bipolar and major depressive disorder might be subtypes of schizophrenia rather than two independent disease entities. Also, cadherin pathway genes play important roles in the pathogenesis of the three major mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences18877 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250062, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Long
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences18877 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250062, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Cai
- Capital Bio Corporation18 Life Science Parkway, Changping District, Beijing 102206, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohong Chen
- Capital Bio Corporation18 Life Science Parkway, Changping District, Beijing 102206, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences18877 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250062, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Chu W, Wei W, Han H, Gao Y, Liu K, Tian Y, Jiang Z, Zhang L, Chen J. Muscle-specific downregulation of GR levels inhibits adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular adipocyte tissue. Sci Rep 2017; 7:510. [PMID: 28360421 PMCID: PMC5428816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intramuscular adipose is conducive to good pork quality, whereas subcutaneous adipose is considered as waste in pig production. So uncovering the regulation differences between these two adiposes is helpful to tissue-specific control of fat deposition. In this study, we found the sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs) was lower in intramuscular adipocytes (IMA) compared with subcutaneous adipocytes (SA). Comparison of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) revealed that IMA had lower GR level which contributed to its reduced GCs sensitivity. Higher methylation levels of GR promotor 1-C and 1-H were detected in IMA compared with SA. GR expression decrease was also found in adipocytes when treated with muscle conditioned medium (MCM) in vitro, which resulted in significant inhibition of adipocytes proliferation and differentiation. Since abundant myostatin (MSTN) was detected in MCM by ELISA assay, we further investigated the effect of this myokine on adipocytes. MSTN treatment suppressed adipocytes GR expression, cell proliferation and differentiation, which mimicked the effects of MCM. The methylation levels of GR promotor 1-C and 1-H were also elevated after MSTN treatment. Our study reveals the role of GR in muscle fiber inhibition on intramuscular adipocytes, and identifies myostatin as a muscle-derived modulator for adipose GR level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Chu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.,Precision Medicine and Healthcare, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, 518055, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Haiyin Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Ying Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Kaiqing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Ye Tian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Zaohang Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Lifan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Jie Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Corley SM, Tsai SY, Wilkins MR, Shannon Weickert C. Transcriptomic Analysis Shows Decreased Cortical Expression of NR4A1, NR4A2 and RXRB in Schizophrenia and Provides Evidence for Nuclear Receptor Dysregulation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166944. [PMID: 27992436 PMCID: PMC5161508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many genes are differentially expressed in the cortex of people with schizophrenia, implicating factors that control transcription more generally. Hormone nuclear receptors dimerize to coordinate context-dependent changes in gene expression. We hypothesized that members of two families of nuclear receptors (NR4As), and retinoid receptors (RARs and RXRs), are altered in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of people with schizophrenia. We used next generation sequencing and then qPCR analysis to test for changes in mRNA levels for transcripts encoding nuclear receptors: orphan nuclear receptors (3 in the NR4A, 3 in the RAR, 3 in the RXR families and KLF4) in total RNA extracted from the DLPFC from people with schizophrenia compared to controls (n = 74). We also correlated mRNA levels with demographic factors and with estimates of antipsychotic drug exposure (schizophrenia group only). We tested for correlations between levels of transcription factor family members and levels of genes putatively regulated by these transcription factors. We found significantly down regulated expression of NR4A1 (Nurr 77) and KLF4 mRNAs in people with schizophrenia compared to controls, by both NGS and qPCR (p = or <0.01). We also detected decreases in NR4A2 (Nurr1) and RXRB mRNAs by using qPCR in the larger cohort (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). We detected decreased expression of RARG and NR4A2 mRNAs in females with schizophrenia (p<0.05). The mRNA levels of NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3 were all negative correlated with lifetime estimates of antipsychotic exposure. These novel findings, which may be influenced by antipsychotic drug exposure, implicate the orphan and retinoid nuclear receptors in the cortical pathology found in schizophrenia. Genes down stream of these receptors can be dysregulated as well, but the direction of change is not immediately predictable based on the putative transcription factor changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Corley
- Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shan-Yuan Tsai
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marc R. Wilkins
- Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones that regulate a variety of physiologic processes and are essential for life. The actions of glucocorticoids are predominantly mediated through the classic glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GRs are expressed throughout the body, but there is considerable heterogeneity in glucocorticoid sensitivity and biologic responses across tissues. The conventional belief that glucocorticoids act through a single GR protein has changed dramatically with the discovery of a diverse collection of receptor isoforms. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms that regulate glucocorticoid actions, highlights the dynamic nature of hormone signaling, and discusses the molecular properties of the GR isoforms.
Collapse
|
27
|
Shannon Weickert C, Webster MJ, Boerrigter D, Sinclair D. FKBP5 Messenger RNA Increases After Adolescence in Human Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 80:e29-31. [PMID: 26805584 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick; School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | | | - Danny Boerrigter
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick
| | - Duncan Sinclair
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Consistently altered expression of gene sets in postmortem brains of individuals with major psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e890. [PMID: 27622934 PMCID: PMC5048210 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The measurement of gene expression in postmortem brain is an important tool for understanding the pathogenesis of serious psychiatric disorders. We hypothesized that major molecular deficits associated with psychiatric disease would affect the entire brain, and such deficits may be shared across disorders. We performed RNA sequencing and quantified gene expression in the hippocampus of 100 brains in the Stanley Array Collection followed by replication in the orbitofrontal cortex of 57 brains in the Stanley Neuropathology Consortium. We then identified genes and canonical pathway gene sets with significantly altered expression in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the hippocampus and in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression in the orbitofrontal cortex. Although expression of individual genes varied, gene sets were significantly enriched in both of the brain regions, and many of these were consistent across diagnostic groups. Further examination of core gene sets with consistently increased or decreased expression in both of the brain regions and across target disorders revealed that ribosomal genes are overexpressed while genes involved in neuronal processes, GABAergic signaling, endocytosis and antigen processing have predominantly decreased expression in affected individuals compared to controls without a psychiatric disorder. Our results highlight pathways of central importance to psychiatric health and emphasize messenger RNA processing and protein synthesis as potential therapeutic targets for all three of the disorders.
Collapse
|
29
|
Xu C, Ma XM, Chen HB, Zhou MH, Qiao H, An SC. Orbitofrontal cortex 5-HT2A receptor mediates chronic stress-induced depressive-like behaviors and alterations of spine density and Kalirin7. Neuropharmacology 2016; 109:7-17. [PMID: 26921771 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies show that patients with major depression have reduced volume of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Although the serotonin (5-HT) 2A receptor, which is abundant in the OFC, has been implicated in depression, the underlying mechanisms in the development of stress-induced depression remain unclear. Kalirin-7 (Kal7) is an essential component of mature excitatory synapses for maintaining dendritic spines density, size and synaptic functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of orbitofrontal 5-HT and 5-HT2A receptors in depressive-like behaviors and their associations with Kal7 and dendritic spines using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), an established animal model of depression. CUMS had no effect on the levels of 5-HT or the 5-HT2A receptor in the OFC. However, CUMS or microinjection of the 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist (±)-1-(2, 5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)- 2-aminopropane hydrochloride (DOI, 5 μg/0.5 μL) into the OFC induced depressive-like behaviors, including anhedonia in the sucrose preference test and behavioral despair in the tail suspension test, a significant reduction in body weight gain and locomotor activity in the open field test, which were accompanied by decreased expression of Kal7 and PSD95 as well as decreased density of dendritic spines in the OFC. These alterations induced by CUMS were reversed by pretreatment with the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist Ketanserin (Ket, 5 μg/0.5 μL into the OFC). These results suggest that CUMS alters structural plasticity through activation of the orbital 5-HT2A receptor and is associated with decreased expression of Kal7, thereby resulting in depressive-like behaviors in rats, suggesting an important role of Kal7 in the OFC in depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Xu
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Xin-Ming Ma
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China; University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Neuroscience, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Hui-Bin Chen
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Meng-He Zhou
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Hui Qiao
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Shu-Cheng An
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Hirakawa H, Akiyoshi J, Muronaga M, Tanaka Y, Ishitobi Y, Inoue A, Oshita H, Aizawa S, Masuda K, Higuma H, Kanehisa M, Ninomiya T, Kawano Y. FKBP5 is associated with amygdala volume in the human brain and mood state: A voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2016; 20:106-15. [PMID: 26982819 DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2016.1144772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The present study was to investigate the effects of 6 FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on brain structure using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and the psychological tests to psychological stress. We genotyped 112 healthy controls with respect to 6 SNPs (rs) of FKBP5. We examined the Beck Depression Inventory and the State (STAI-S) and Trait (STAI-T) versions of the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) to evaluate mood. The right amygdala was larger in subjects with the minor allele (C) of rs3800373 and rs992105 and the minor allele (T) of rs1360780. The right middle orbitofrontal region in those with the minor allele (C) of rs3800373 and the right inferior orbitofrontal region in those with the minor allele (T) of rs9470080 was larger. Both the amygdala volumes were associated significantly with FKBP5 SNPs. We found significant relationships between factors in POMS and the right and left amygdala and left insula. Our results suggest that FKBP5 SNPs are associated with the alternations of volumes in right amygdala and the right middle and inferior orbitofrontal region. Genetic variants of FKBP5 may be associated with depressive and anxiety state via differential effects on amygdala and orbitofrontal region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Hirakawa
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Jotaro Akiyoshi
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Masaaki Muronaga
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Tanaka
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Ishitobi
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Ayako Inoue
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Harumi Oshita
- b Department of Applied Linguistics , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Saeko Aizawa
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Koji Masuda
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Haruka Higuma
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Masayuki Kanehisa
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | - Taiga Ninomiya
- a Department of Neuropsychiatry , Oita University Faculty of Medicine , Hasama-Machi , Oita , Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Simões SN, Martins DC, Pereira CAB, Hashimoto RF, Brentani H. NERI: network-medicine based integrative approach for disease gene prioritization by relative importance. BMC Bioinformatics 2015; 16 Suppl 19:S9. [PMID: 26696568 PMCID: PMC4686785 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-16-s19-s9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Complex diseases are characterized as being polygenic and multifactorial, so this poses a challenge regarding the search for genes related to them. With the advent of high-throughput technologies for genome sequencing, gene expression measurements (transcriptome), and protein-protein interactions, complex diseases have been sistematically investigated. Particularly, Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks have been used to prioritize genes related to complex diseases according to its topological features. However, PPI networks are affected by ascertainment bias, in which more studied proteins tend to have more connections, degrading the results quality. Additionally, methods using only PPI networks can provide only static and non-specific results, since the topologies of these networks are not specific of a given disease. Results The goal of this work is to develop a methodology that integrates PPI networks with disease specific data sources, such as GWAS and gene expression, to find genes more specific of a given complex disease. After the integration of PPI networks and gene expression data, the resulting network is used to connect genes related to the disease through the shortest paths that have the greatest concordance between their gene expressions. Both case and control expression data are used separately and, at the end, the most altered genes between the two conditions are selected. To evaluate the method, schizophrenia was adopted as case study. Conclusion Results show that the proposed method successfully retrieves differentially coexpressed genes in two conditions, while avoiding the bias from literature. Moreover we were able to achieve a greater concordance in the selection of important genes from different microarray studies of the same disease and to produce a more specific gene set related to the studied disease.
Collapse
|
32
|
Lopes R, Soares R, Coelho R, Figueiredo-Braga M. Angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia — A comprehensive review and a conceptual hypothesis. Life Sci 2015; 128:79-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
|
33
|
The role of glucocorticoid receptor-dependent activity in the amygdala central nucleus and reversibility of early-life stress programmed behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2015; 5:e542. [PMID: 25849981 PMCID: PMC4462600 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2015.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life stress (ELS) leads to sustained changes in gene expression and behavior, increasing the likelihood of developing a psychiatric disorder in adulthood. The neurobiological basis for the later-in-life psychopathology is relatively unknown. The current study used a mouse model of ELS, achieved by daily maternal separations during the first 2 weeks of postnatal life, to test the role of amygdalar glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function in mediating the persistent increase in risk-taking behaviors. ELS produced a decrease in GR mRNA in the brain, with a notable reduction in the amygdala that was associated with sustained alterations in anxiety, fear and sociability-like behaviors. Lentiviral-mediated restoration of the GR mRNA deficit, specifically within the adult central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), reversed the enduring changes in anxiety and social behavior after ELS. These results provide evidence of lasting changes in CeA GR neural circuitry following ELS and suggest a mechanistic role for GR-regulated processes in the CeA in mediating the lifelong maladaptive behaviors of ELS. We demonstrate that the long-lasting behavioral effects of ELS are reversible later in life and implicate the involvement of CeA GR-dependent activity in the sustained dysregulation of emotion following ELS.
Collapse
|
34
|
Morning cortisol levels in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2014; 49:187-206. [PMID: 25108162 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Increased peripheral levels of morning cortisol have been reported in people with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), but findings are inconsistent and few studies have conducted direct comparisons of these disorders. We undertook a meta-analysis of studies examining single measures of morning cortisol (before 10 a.m.) levels in SZ or BD, compared to controls, and to each other; we also sought to examine likely moderators of any observed effects by clinical and demographic variables. Included studies were obtained via systematic searches conducted using Medline, BIOSIS Previews and Embase databases, as well as hand searching. The decision to include or exclude studies, data extraction and quality assessment was completed in duplicate by LG, SM and AS. The initial search revealed 1459 records. Subsequently, 914 were excluded on reading the abstract because they did not meet one or more of the inclusion criteria; of the remaining 545 studies screened in full, included studies were 44 comparing SZ with controls, 19 comparing BD with controls, and 7 studies directly comparing schizophrenia with bipolar disorder. Meta-analysis of SZ (N=2613, g=0.387, p=0.001) and BD (N=704, g=0.269, p=0.004) revealed moderate quality evidence of increased morning cortisol levels in each group compared to controls, but no difference between the two disorders (N=392, g=0.038, p=0.738). Subgroup analyses revealed greater effect sizes for schizophrenia samples with an established diagnosis (as opposed to 'first-episode'), those that were free of medication, and those sampled in an inpatient setting (perhaps reflecting an acute illness phase). In BD, greater morning cortisol levels were found in outpatient and non-manic participants (as opposed to those in a manic state), relative to controls. Neither age nor sex affected cortisol levels in any group. However, earlier greater increases in SZ morning cortisol were evident in samples taken before 8 a.m. (relative to those taken after 8 a.m.). Multiple meta-regression showed that medication status was significantly associated with morning cortisol levels in SZ, when the effects of assay method, sampling time and illness stage were held constant. Heightened levels of morning cortisol in SZ and BD suggest long-term pathology of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that may reflect a shared process of illness development in line with current stress-vulnerability models.
Collapse
|
35
|
The effects of HPA axis function on cognition and its implications for the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2014; 22:331-3. [PMID: 25377604 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorders (BDs) are common and complex diseases. Recent findings have provided the basis for an integrated approach linking seemingly disparate findings, based on a greater understanding of the effects of stress on those vulnerable to these illnesses and the brain's consequent responses. Genes are associated with this disorder, although their integration into current pathophysiological models is unclear. Manic states are associated with enhanced dopaminergic transmission, and experimental stress enhances dopamine neurotransmission and impairs cognition. Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and dysfunction of this axis and impairments in neurocognitive function have both been demonstrated in BD. Glucocorticoid receptors are abnormal in postmortem brain studies in BD and play an important role in the HPA axis. The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486 has been shown to improve aspects of cognitive function in BD. The implications of these findings for models of pathophysiology are discussed. Future efforts should focus on further integrating the current and emerging research findings into a coherent pathophysiological model that generates testable hypotheses.
Collapse
|
36
|
Vandevyver S, Dejager L, Libert C. Comprehensive overview of the structure and regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor. Endocr Rev 2014; 35:671-93. [PMID: 24937701 DOI: 10.1210/er.2014-1010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are among the most prescribed drugs worldwide for the treatment of numerous immune and inflammatory disorders. They exert their actions by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. There are several GR isoforms resulting from alternative RNA splicing and translation initiation of the GR transcript. Additionally, these isoforms are all subject to several transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational modifications, all of which affect the protein's stability and/or function. In this review, we summarize recent knowledge on the distinct GR isoforms and the processes that generate them. We also review the importance of all known transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational modifications, including the regulation of GR by microRNAs. Moreover, we discuss the crucial role of the putative GR-bound DNA sequence as an allosteric ligand influencing GR structure and activity. Finally, we describe how the differential composition and distinct regulation at multiple levels of different GR species could account for the wide and diverse effects of glucocorticoids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Vandevyver
- Inflammation Research Center (S.V., L.D., C.L.), Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, B9052 Ghent, Belgium; and Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology (S.V., L.D., C.L.), Ghent University, B9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Fung SJ, Fillman SG, Webster MJ, Shannon Weickert C. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder show both common and distinct changes in cortical interneuron markers. Schizophr Res 2014; 155:26-30. [PMID: 24674775 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are often viewed as distinct clinical disorders, however there is substantial overlap in their neuropathologies. While compromised cortical interneurons are implicated in both diseases, few studies have examined the relative contribution of the distinct interneuron populations to each psychotic disorder. We report reductions in somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal peptide mRNAs in prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices in bipolar disorder (n=31) and schizophrenia (n=35) compared to controls (n=34) and increased calbindin mRNA in schizophrenia. We show, at the molecular level, shared deficits in interneuron markers in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and a unique interneuron marker increase in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Fung
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Stu G Fillman
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Sinclair D, Fillman SG, Webster MJ, Weickert CS. Dysregulation of glucocorticoid receptor co-factors FKBP5, BAG1 and PTGES3 in prefrontal cortex in psychotic illness. Sci Rep 2013; 3:3539. [PMID: 24345775 PMCID: PMC3866598 DOI: 10.1038/srep03539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular abnormalities within the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) stress signaling pathway may confer, or reflect, susceptibility to stress in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but the extent of such abnormalities in the brain is not known. Using RNA-Seq and qPCR in two postmortem cohorts totaling 55 schizophrenia, 34 bipolar disorder and 55 control individuals, we identified increased FKBP5 and PTGES3 mRNA expression, and decreased BAG1 mRNA expression, in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia cases relative to controls (68.0% [p < 0.001], 26.0% [p < 0.01] and 12.1% [p < 0.05] respectively). We also observed increased FKBP5 and decreased BAG1 mRNA expression in bipolar disorder (47.5% [p < 0.05] and 14.9% [p < 0.005]). There were no diagnostic differences in steady-state FKBP51 protein levels, nor in HSPA1A, HSP90AA1, DNAJB1 or HSPB1 mRNA levels. GR, co-factor and chaperone mRNA levels were strongly correlated. These results reveal coordinated cortical dysregulation of FKBP5, PTGES3, BAG1 and GR genes within the glucocorticoid signaling pathway in psychotic illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duncan Sinclair
- 1] Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [2] Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [3] School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [4] Neuropsychiatric Signaling Program, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Stu G Fillman
- 1] Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [2] Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [3] School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maree J Webster
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- 1] Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [2] Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [3] School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Leszczyńska-Rodziewicz A, Maciukiewicz M, Szczepankiewicz A, Pogłodziński A, Hauser J. Association between OPCRIT dimensions and polymorphisms of HPA axis genes in bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2013; 151:744-747. [PMID: 24012103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the possible association between polymorphisms of HPA axis genes-CRHR1 (corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor), NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) and AVPR1B (arginine vasopressin receptor) and dimensions of bipolar disorder assessed by OPCRIT. We examined 560 patients with diagnosis of bipolar disorder (n=457) and unipolar disorder (n=103). Diagnosis was established by SCID and OPCRIT. We found association between polymorphisms of AVPR1b gene and psychotic dimension and CRHR1 polymorphisms and excitement and psychotic dimension. Our results suggest possible involvement of the AVPR1b and CRHR1 genes in the ethiology of psychotic features in the course of affective disorders, and possible involvement of CRHR1 gene in the ethiology of bipolar disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Leszczyńska-Rodziewicz
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Maciukiewicz
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szczepankiewicz
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland; Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Pulmonology, Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pogłodziński
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Hauser
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Cao-Lei L, Suwansirikul S, Jutavijittum P, Mériaux SB, Turner JD, Muller CP. Glucocorticoid receptor gene expression and promoter CpG modifications throughout the human brain. J Psychiatr Res 2013; 47:1597-607. [PMID: 23948638 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids and the glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptors have been implicated in many processes, particularly in negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Epigenetically programmed GR alternative promoter usage underlies transcriptional control of GR levels, generation of GR 3' splice variants, and the overall GC response in the brain. No detailed analysis of GR first exons or GR transcript variants throughout the human brain has been reported. Therefore we investigated post mortem tissues from 28 brain regions of 5 individuals. GR first exons were expressed throughout the healthy human brain with no region-specific usage patterns. First exon levels were highly inter-correlated suggesting that they are co-regulated. GR 3' splice variants (GRα and GR-P) were equally distributed in all regions, and GRβ expression was always low. GR/MR ratios showed significant differences between the 28 tissues with the highest ratio in the pituitary gland. Modification levels of individual CpG dinucleotides, including 5-mC and 5-hmC, in promoters 1D, 1E, 1F, and 1H were low, and diffusely clustered; despite significant heterogeneity between the donors. In agreement with this clustering, sum modification levels rather than individual CpG modifications correlated with GR expression. Two-way ANOVA showed that this sum modification was both promoter and brain region specific, but that there was however no promoter*tissue interaction. The heterogeneity between donors may however hide such an interaction. In both promoters 1F and 1H modification levels correlated with GRα expression suggesting that 5-mC and 5-hmC play an important role in fine tuning GR expression levels throughout the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cao-Lei
- Institute of Immunology, Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé, Laboratoire National de Santé, 20A rue Auguste Lumière, L-1950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, D-54290 Trier, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Auta J, Smith R, Dong E, Tueting P, Sershen H, Boules S, Lajtha A, Davis J, Guidotti A. DNA-methylation gene network dysregulation in peripheral blood lymphocytes of schizophrenia patients. Schizophr Res 2013; 150:312-8. [PMID: 23938174 PMCID: PMC4121849 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The epigenetic dysregulation of the brain genome associated with the clinical manifestations of schizophrenia (SZ) includes altered DNA promoter methylation of several candidate genes. We and others have reported that two enzymes that belong to the DNA-methylation/demethylation network pathways-DNMT1 (DNA-methyltransferase) and ten-eleven translocator-1(TET1) methylcytosine deoxygenase are abnormally increased in corticolimbic structures of SZ postmortem brain. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the expression of these components of the DNA-methylation-demethylation pathways known to be altered in the brain of SZ patients are also altered in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The data show that increases in DNMT1 and TET1 and in glucocorticoid receptor (GCortR) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNAs in PBL of SZ patients are comparable to those reported in the brain of SZ patients. The finding that the expressions of DNMT1 and TET1 are increased and SZ candidate genes such as BDNF and GCortR are altered in the same direction in both the brain and PBL together with recent studies showing highly correlated patterns of DNA methylation across the brain and blood, support the hypothesis that a common epigenetic dysregulation may be operative in the brain and peripheral tissues of SZ patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Auta
- Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - R.C. Smith
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY,Dept of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, NY, N.Y
| | - E. Dong
- Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - P. Tueting
- Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - H. Sershen
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY,Dept of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, NY, N.Y
| | - S. Boules
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY
| | - A. Lajtha
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY,Dept of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, NY, N.Y
| | - J. Davis
- Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - A. Guidotti
- Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
The biology of the glucocorticoid receptor: new signaling mechanisms in health and disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132:1033-44. [PMID: 24084075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 650] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones necessary for life that regulate numerous physiologic processes in an effort to maintain homeostasis. Synthetic derivatives of these hormones have been mainstays in the clinic for treating inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and hematologic cancers. The physiologic and pharmacologic actions of glucocorticoids are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors. Ligand-occupied GR induces or represses the transcription of thousands of genes through direct binding to DNA response elements, physically associating with other transcription factors, or both. The traditional view that glucocorticoids act through a single GR protein has changed dramatically with the discovery of a large cohort of receptor isoforms with unique expression, gene-regulatory, and functional profiles. These GR subtypes are derived from a single gene by means of alternative splicing and alternative translation initiation mechanisms. Posttranslational modification of these GR isoforms further expands the diversity of glucocorticoid responses. Here we discuss the origin and molecular properties of the GR isoforms and their contribution to the specificity and sensitivity of glucocorticoid signaling in healthy and diseased tissues.
Collapse
|
43
|
Kasote DM, Hegde MV, Katyare SS. Mitochondrial dysfunction in psychiatric and neurological diseases: cause(s), consequence(s), and implications of antioxidant therapy. Biofactors 2013; 39:392-406. [PMID: 23460132 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is at the base of development and progression of several psychiatric and neurologic diseases with different etiologies. MtDNA/nDNA mutational damage, failure of endogenous antioxidant defenses, hormonal malfunction, altered membrane permeability, metabolic dysregulation, disruption of calcium buffering capacity and ageing have been found to be the root causes of mitochondrial dysfunction in psychatric and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the overall consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction are only limited to increase in oxidative/nitrosative stress and cellular energy crises. Thus far, extensive efforts have been made to improve mitochondrial function through specific cause-dependent antioxidant therapy. However, owing to complex genetic and interlinked causes of mitochondrial dysfunction, it has not been possible to achieve any common, unique supportive antioxidant therapeutic strategy for the treatment of psychiatric and neurologic diseases. Hence, we propose an antioxidant therapeutic strategy for management of consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction in psychiatric and neurologic diseases. It is expected that this will not only reduces oxidative stress, but also promote anaerobic energy production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepak M Kasote
- MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune, MS, India.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Distribution of the glucocorticoid receptor in the human amygdala; changes in mood disorder patients. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:1615-26. [PMID: 23748930 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0589-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that stimulates glucocorticoid (GC) release from the adrenal. These hormones exert numerous effects in the body and brain and bind to a.o. glucocorticoid receptors (GR) expressed in the limbic system, including the hippocampus and amygdala. Hyperactivity of the HPA axis and disturbed stress feedback are common features in major depression. GR protein is present in the human hypothalamus and hippocampus, but little is known-neither in healthy subjects nor in depressed patients-about GR expression in the amygdala, a brain structure involved in fear and anxiety. Since chronic stress in rodents affects GR expression in the amygdala, altered GR protein level in depressed versus healthy controls can be expected. To test this, we investigated GR-α protein expression in the post-mortem human amygdala and assessed changes in ten major or bipolar depressed patients and eight non-depressed controls. Abundant GR immunoreactivity was observed in the human amygdala, both in neurons and astrocytes, with a similar pattern in its different anatomical subnuclei. In major depression, GR protein level as well as the percentage of GR-containing astrocytes was significantly higher than in bipolar depressed patients or in control subjects. Taken together, the prominent expression of GR protein in the human amygdala indicates that this region can form an important target for corticosteroids and stress, while the increased GR expression in major, but not bipolar, depression suggests possible involvement in the etiology of major depression.
Collapse
|