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Arraes GC, Barreto FS, Vasconcelos GS, Lima CNDC, da Silva FER, Ribeiro WLC, de Sousa FCF, Furtado CLM, Macêdo DS. Long-term Environmental Enrichment Normalizes Schizophrenia-like Abnormalities and Promotes Hippocampal Slc6a4 Promoter Demethylation in Mice Submitted to a Two-hit Model. Neuroscience 2024; 551:205-216. [PMID: 38843988 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Here, we explored the impact of prolonged environmental enrichment (EE) on behavioral, neurochemical, and epigenetic changes in the serotonin transporter gene in mice subjected to a two-hit schizophrenia model. The methodology involved administering the viral mimetic PolyI:C to neonatal Swiss mice as a first hit during postnatal days (PND) 5-7, or a sterile saline solution as a control. At PND21, mice were randomly assigned either to standard environment (SE) or EE housing conditions. Between PND35-44, the PolyI:C-treated group was submitted to various unpredictable stressors, constituting the second hit. Behavioral assessments were conducted on PND70, immediately after the final EE exposure. Following the completion of behavioral assessments, we evaluated the expression of proteins in the hippocampus that are indicative of microglial activation, such as Iba-1, as well as related to neurogenesis, including doublecortin (Dcx). We also performed methylation analysis on the serotonin transporter gene (Slc6a4) to investigate alterations in serotonin signaling. The findings revealed that EE for 50 days mitigated sensorimotor gating deficits and working memory impairments in two-hit mice and enhanced their locomotor and exploratory behaviors. EE also normalized the overexpression of hippocampal Iba-1 and increased the expression of hippocampal Dcx. Additionally, we observed hippocampal demethylation of the Slc6a4 gene in the EE-exposed two-hit group, indicating epigenetic reprogramming. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the protective effects of long-term EE in counteracting behavioral disruptions caused by the two-hit schizophrenia model, pointing to enhanced neurogenesis, diminished microglial activation, and epigenetic modifications of serotonergic pathways as underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greicy Coelho Arraes
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Christus University Center (Unichristus-CE), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Francisco Stefânio Barreto
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Drug Research and Development Center, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Germana Silva Vasconcelos
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Camila Nayane de Carvalho Lima
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Translational Psychiatry Program, Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health), Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Francisco Eliclécio Rodrigues da Silva
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - Cristiana Libardi Miranda Furtado
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Drug Research and Development Center, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Experimental Biology Center - NUBEX, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Danielle S Macêdo
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM. CNPq), Brazil.
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2
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Gallo MT, Brivio P, Dolci B, Fumagalli F, Calabrese F. Perinatal serotonergic manipulation shapes anhedonic and cognitive behaviors in a sex- and age-dependent manner: Identification of related biological functions at central and peripheral level. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:118-130. [PMID: 37595877 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor knowledge about psychiatric disorders often results in similar diagnoses for patients with different symptoms, thus limiting the effectiveness of the available medications. As suggested by several lines of evidence, to improve these shortcomings, it is essential to identify biomarkers associated with specific symptoms and to stratify patients into more homogeneous populations taking a further step toward personalized medicine. Here, we aimed to associate specific behavioral phenotypes with specific molecular alterations by employing an animal model based on the pharmacological manipulation of the serotonergic system, which mimics a condition of vulnerability to develop psychiatric disorders. In particular, we treated female and male rats with fluoxetine (FLX 15 mg/kg dissolved in drinking water) during prenatal or early postnatal life, and we evaluated different pathological-like phenotypes (cognitive deficit, anhedonia, and anxiety) by exposing the rats to a battery of behavioral tests during adolescence and adulthood. In addition, we carried out molecular analyses on specific brain areas and in the blood. Our results showed that perinatal FLX administration determined age- and sex-dependent effects, with males being more sensitive to prenatal manipulation and manifesting anhedonic-like behavior and females to early postnatal exposure, exhibiting cognitive deficits and a less anxious phenotype. Furthermore, we identified, peripherally and centrally, biological functions altered by perinatal serotonin modulation regardless of the timing of exposure and sex, and other pathways specific for the pathological-like phenotypes. The results presented here provide new insights into potential biomarkers associated with specific behavioral phenotypes that may be useful for broadening knowledge about psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Gallo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Dolci
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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3
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Xu H, Zhang XY, Wang WW, Wang J. Hydroxychloroquine Increased Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Disrupted the Expression of Some Related Genes in the Mouse Brain. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:633112. [PMID: 33953673 PMCID: PMC8089481 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.633112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which has been proposed as a therapeutic or prophylactic drug for COVID-19, has been administered to thousands of individuals with varying efficacy; however, our understanding of its adverse effects is insufficient. It was reported that HCQ induced psychiatric symptoms in a few patients with autoimmune diseases, but it is still uncertain whether HCQ poses a risk to mental health. Therefore, in this study, we treated healthy mice with two different doses of HCQ that are comparable to clinically administered doses for 7 days. Psychiatric-like behaviors and the expression of related molecules in the brain were evaluated at two time points, i.e., 24 h and 10 days after drug administration. We found that HCQ increased anxiety behavior at both 24 h and 10 days. Furthermore, HCQ decreased the mRNA expression of interleukin-1beta, corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh), a serotonin transporter (Slc6a4), and a microglia maker (Aif1) in the hippocampus and decreased the mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) in both the hippocampus and amygdala. Lots of these behavioral and molecular changes were sustained beyond 10 days after drug administration, and some of them were dose-dependent. Although this animal study does not prove that HCQ has a similar effect in humans, it indicates that HCQ poses a significant risk to mental health and suggests that further clinical investigation is essential. According to our data, we recommend that HCQ be carefully used as a prophylactic drug in people who are susceptible to mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Yang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiesi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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4
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Rossetti AC, Paladini MS, Trepci A, Mallien A, Riva MA, Gass P, Molteni R. Differential Neuroinflammatory Response in Male and Female Mice: A Role for BDNF. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:166. [PMID: 31379496 PMCID: PMC6658805 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence supports the close relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD), a severe psychiatric disease more common among women than men, and alterations of the immune/inflammatory system. However, despite the large number of studies aimed at understanding the molecular bases of this association, a lack of information exists on the potential cross-talk between systems known to be involved in depression and components of the inflammatory response, especially with respect to sex differences. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin with a well-established role in MDD etiopathology: it is altered in depressed patients as well as in animal models of the disease and its changes are restored by antidepressant drugs. Interestingly, this neurotrophin is also involved in the inflammatory response. Indeed, it can be secreted by microglia, the primary innate immune cells in the central nervous system whose functions may be in turn regulated by BDNF. With these premises, in this study, we investigated the reciprocal impact of BDNF and the immune system by evaluating the neuroinflammatory response in male and female BDNF-heterozygous mutant mice acutely treated with the cytokine-inducer lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Specifically, we assessed the potential onset of an LPS-induced sickness behavior as well as changes of inflammatory mediators in the mouse hippocampus and frontal cortex, with respect to both genotype and sex. We found that the increased inflammatory response induced by LPS in the brain of male mice was independent of the genotype, whereas in the female, it was restricted to the heterozygous mice with no changes in the wild-type group, suggestive of a role for BDNF in the sex-dependent effect of the inflammatory challenge. Considering the involvement of both BDNF and neuroinflammation in several psychiatric diseases and the diverse incidence of such pathologies in males and females, a deeper investigation of the mechanisms underlying their interaction may have a critical translational relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Carlo Rossetti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Serena Paladini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ada Trepci
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anne Mallien
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter Gass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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5
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Rossetti AC, Paladini MS, Racagni G, Riva MA, Cattaneo A, Molteni R. Genome-wide analysis of LPS-induced inflammatory response in the rat ventral hippocampus: Modulatory activity of the antidepressant agomelatine. World J Biol Psychiatry 2018; 19:390-401. [PMID: 28337940 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2017.1298839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Several studies reported that antidepressant drugs have immune-regulatory effects by acting on specific inflammatory mediators. However, considering the highly complex nature of the inflammatory response, we have adopted an unbiased genome-wide strategy to investigate the immune-regulatory activity of the antidepressant agomelatine in modulating the response to an acute inflammatory challenge. METHODS Microarray analysis was used to identify genes modulated in the ventral hippocampus of adult rats chronically treated with agomelatine (40 mg/kg, os) before being challenged with a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 250 μg/kg, i.p.). RESULTS The administration of LPS induced the transcription of 284 genes mainly associated with pathways related to the immune/inflammatory system. Agomelatine modulated pathways not only connected to its antidepressant activity, but was also able to prevent the activation of genes induced by LPS. Further comparisons between gene lists of the diverse experimental groups led to the identification of a few transcripts modulated by LPS on which agomelatine has the larger effect of normalisation. Among them, we found the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-1β and, interestingly, the metabotropic glutamatergic transporter Grm2. CONCLUSIONS These results are useful to better characterise the association between depression and inflammation, revealing new potential targets for pharmacological intervention for depression associated to inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Carlo Rossetti
- a Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - Maria Serena Paladini
- b Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - Giorgio Racagni
- a Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- a Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- c Biological Psychiatry Unit , IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio - Fatebenefratelli , Brescia , Italy.,d Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience , King's College London , London , UK
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- b Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
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6
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Dragh MA, Xu Z, Al-Allak ZS, Hong L. Vitamin K2 Prevents Lymphoma in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17047. [PMID: 29213118 PMCID: PMC5719063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17270-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have established the anticancer effect of vitamin K2 (VK2). However, its effect on lymphoma induced by UBIAD1/heix mutation in Drosophila remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to develop an in vivo model of lymphoma for the precise characterization of lymphoma phenotypes. We also aimed to improve the understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the preventative effects of VK2 on lymphoma. Our results demonstrated that VK2 prevents lymphoma by acting as an electron carrier and by correcting the function and structure of mitochondria by inhibiting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production mtROS. Our work identifies mitochondria as a key player in cancer therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maytham A Dragh
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China.,Department of Biology College of Life Science, Misan University, Amarah, Iraq
| | - Zhiliang Xu
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Zainab S Al-Allak
- Department of Biology College of Life Science, Misan University, Amarah, Iraq
| | - Ling Hong
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China.
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7
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Mazarati AM, Lewis ML, Pittman QJ. Neurobehavioral comorbidities of epilepsy: Role of inflammation. Epilepsia 2017; 58 Suppl 3:48-56. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.13786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey M. Mazarati
- Neurology Division; Department of Pediatrics; David Geffen School of Medicine; University of California Los Angeles; Los Angeles California U.S.A
| | - Megan L. Lewis
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary; Calgary Alberta Canada
| | - Quentin J. Pittman
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary; Calgary Alberta Canada
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8
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Haarman BCM'B, Burger H, Doorduin J, Renken RJ, Sibeijn-Kuiper AJ, Marsman JBC, de Vries EFJ, de Groot JC, Drexhage HA, Mendes R, Nolen WA, Riemersma-Van der Lek RF. Volume, metabolites and neuroinflammation of the hippocampus in bipolar disorder - A combined magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography study. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 56:21-33. [PMID: 26348581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hippocampus is one of the brain regions that is involved in several pathophysiological theories about bipolar disorder (BD), such as the neuroinflammation theory and the corticolimbic metabolic dysregulation theory. We compared hippocampal volume and hippocampal metabolites in bipolar I disorder (BD-I) patients versus healthy controls (HCs) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). We post hoc investigated whether hippocampal volume and hippocampal metabolites were associated with microglial activation and explored if potential illness modifying factors affected these hippocampal measurements and whether these were associated with experienced mood and functioning. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-two BD-I patients and twenty-four HCs were included in the analyses. All subjects underwent psychiatric interviews as well as an MRI scan, including a T1 scan and PRESS magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Volumetric analysis was performed with Freesurfer. MRS quantification was performed with LC Model. A subgroup of 14 patients and 11 HCs also underwent a successful [(11)C]-(R)-PK11195 neuroinflammation positron emission tomography scan. RESULTS In contrast to our hypothesis, hippocampal volumes were not decreased in patients compared to HC after correcting for individual whole-brain volume variations. We demonstrated decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA)+N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG) and creatine (Cr)+phosphocreatine (PCr) concentrations in the left hippocampus. In the explorative analyses in the left hippocampus we identified positive associations between microglial activation and the NAA+NAAG concentration, between alcohol use and NAA+NAAG concentration, between microglial activation and the depression score and a negative relation between Cr+PCr concentration and experienced occupational disability. Duration of illness associated positively with volume bilaterally. CONCLUSION Compared to HCs, the decreased NAA+NAAG concentration in the left hippocampus of BD-I patients suggests a decreased neuronal integrity in this region. In addition we found a positive relation between microglial activation and neuronal integrity in vivo, corresponding to a differentiated microglial function where some microglia induce apoptosis while others stimulate neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartholomeus C M 'Benno' Haarman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands; Radiology Morphological Solutions, Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands.
| | - Huibert Burger
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of General Practice, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Doorduin
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Remco J Renken
- University of Groningen, Neuroimaging Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Erik F J de Vries
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Cees de Groot
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Radiology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hemmo A Drexhage
- Erasmus MC, Department of Immunology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Mendes
- Radiology Morphological Solutions, Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands
| | - Willem A Nolen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rixt F Riemersma-Van der Lek
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Santos LE, Beckman D, Ferreira ST. Microglial dysfunction connects depression and Alzheimer's disease. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 55:151-165. [PMID: 26612494 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are highly prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions with intriguing epidemiological overlaps. Depressed patients are at increased risk of developing late-onset AD, and around one in four AD patients are co-diagnosed with MDD. Microglia are the main cellular effectors of innate immunity in the brain, and their activation is central to neuroinflammation - a ubiquitous process in brain pathology, thought to be a causal factor of both AD and MDD. Microglia serve several physiological functions, including roles in synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, which may be disrupted in neuroinflammation. Following early work on the 'sickness behavior' of humans and other animals, microglia-derived inflammatory cytokines have been shown to produce depressive-like symptoms when administered exogenously or released in response to infection. MDD patients consistently show increased circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory drugs show promise for treating depression. Activated microglia are abundant in the AD brain, and concentrate around senile plaques, hallmark lesions composed of aggregated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). The Aβ burden in affected brains is regulated largely by microglial clearance, and the complex activation state of microglia may be crucial for AD progression. Intriguingly, recent reports have linked soluble Aβ oligomers, toxins that accumulate in AD brains and are thought to cause memory impairment, to increased brain cytokine production and depressive-like behavior in mice. Here, we review recent findings supporting the inflammatory hypotheses of AD and MDD, focusing on microglia as a common player and therapeutic target linking these devastating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Eduardo Santos
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21944-590, Brazil
| | - Danielle Beckman
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21944-590, Brazil
| | - Sergio T Ferreira
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21944-590, Brazil; Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21944-590, Brazil.
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10
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Couch Y, Trofimov A, Markova N, Nikolenko V, Steinbusch HW, Chekhonin V, Schroeter C, Lesch KP, Anthony DC, Strekalova T. Low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits aggressive and augments depressive behaviours in a chronic mild stress model in mice. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:108. [PMID: 27184538 PMCID: PMC4867526 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0572-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aggression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, helplessness and anhedonia are all signs of depressive-like disorders in humans and are often reported to be present in animal models of depression induced by stress or by inflammatory challenges. However, chronic mild stress (CMS) and clinically silent inflammation, during the recovery period after an infection, for example, are often coincident, but comparison of the behavioural and molecular changes that underpin CMS vs a mild inflammatory challenge and impact of the combined challenge is largely unexplored. Here, we examined whether stress-induced behavioural and molecular responses are analogous to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced behavioural and molecular effects and whether their combination is adaptive or maladaptive. Methods Changes in measures of hedonic sensitivity, helplessness, aggression, impulsivity and CNS and systemic cytokine and 5-HT-system-related gene expression were investigated in C57BL/6J male mice exposed to chronic stress alone, low-dose LPS alone or a combination of LPS and stress. Results When combined with a low dose of LPS, chronic stress resulted in an enhanced depressive-like phenotype but significantly reduced manifestations of aggression and hyperactivity. At the molecular level, LPS was a strong inducer of TNFα, IL-1β and region-specific 5-HT2A mRNA expression in the brain. There was also increased serum corticosterone as well as increased TNFα expression in the liver. Stress did not induce comparable levels of cytokine expression to an LPS challenge, but the combination of stress with LPS reduced the stress-induced changes in 5-HT genes and the LPS-induced elevated IL-1β levels. Conclusions It is evident that when administered independently, both stress and LPS challenges induced distinct molecular and behavioural changes. However, at a time when LPS alone does not induce any overt behavioural changes per se, the combination with stress exacerbates depressive and inhibits aggressive behaviours. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0572-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Couch
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander Trofimov
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, NL 6229, ER, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Natalyia Markova
- Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, NL 6229, ER, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Moscow Region, Russia
| | | | - Harry W Steinbusch
- Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, NL 6229, ER, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Vladimir Chekhonin
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, Serbsky Federal Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Careen Schroeter
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Maastricht Medical Centre Annadal, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, NL 6229, ER, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Daniel C Anthony
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT, Oxford, UK.
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, NL 6229, ER, Maastricht, Netherlands.
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11
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Schwamborn R, Brown E, Haase J. Elevation of cortical serotonin transporter activity upon peripheral immune challenge is regulated independently of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and transporter phosphorylation. J Neurochem 2016; 137:423-35. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Schwamborn
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science; UCD Conway Institute; University College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
| | - Eric Brown
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science; UCD Conway Institute; University College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
| | - Jana Haase
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science; UCD Conway Institute; University College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
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Rossetti AC, Papp M, Gruca P, Paladini MS, Racagni G, Riva MA, Molteni R. Stress-induced anhedonia is associated with the activation of the inflammatory system in the rat brain: Restorative effect of pharmacological intervention. Pharmacol Res 2016; 103:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Giovanoli S, Notter T, Richetto J, Labouesse MA, Vuillermot S, Riva MA, Meyer U. Late prenatal immune activation causes hippocampal deficits in the absence of persistent inflammation across aging. J Neuroinflammation 2015; 12:221. [PMID: 26602365 PMCID: PMC4659211 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-015-0437-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to infection and/or inflammation is increasingly recognized to play an important role in neurodevelopmental brain disorders. It has recently been postulated that prenatal immune activation, especially when occurring during late gestational stages, may also induce pathological brain aging via sustained effects on systemic and central inflammation. Here, we tested this hypothesis using an established mouse model of exposure to viral-like immune activation in late pregnancy. METHODS Pregnant C57BL6/J mice on gestation day 17 were treated with the viral mimetic polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (poly(I:C)) or control vehicle solution. The resulting offspring were first tested using cognitive and behavioral paradigms known to be sensitive to hippocampal damage, after which they were assigned to quantitative analyses of inflammatory cytokines, microglia density and morphology, astrocyte density, presynaptic markers, and neurotrophin expression in the hippocampus throughout aging (1, 5, and 22 months of age). RESULTS Maternal poly(I:C) treatment led to a robust increase in inflammatory cytokine levels in late gestation but did not cause persistent systemic or hippocampal inflammation in the offspring. The late prenatal manipulation also failed to cause long-term changes in microglia density, morphology, or activation, and did not induce signs of astrogliosis in pubescent, adult, or aged offspring. Despite the lack of persistent inflammatory or glial anomalies, offspring of poly(I:C)-exposed mothers showed marked and partly age-dependent deficits in hippocampus-regulated cognitive functions as well as impaired hippocampal synaptophysin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. CONCLUSIONS Late prenatal exposure to viral-like immune activation in mice causes hippocampus-related cognitive and synaptic deficits in the absence of chronic inflammation across aging. These findings do not support the hypothesis that this form of prenatal immune activation may induce pathological brain aging via sustained effects on systemic and central inflammation. We further conclude that poly(I:C)-based prenatal immune activation models are reliable in their effectiveness to induce (hippocampal) neuropathology across aging, but they appear unsuited for studying the role of chronic systemic or central inflammation in brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Giovanoli
- Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marie A Labouesse
- Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | | | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Urs Meyer
- Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Integrating the monoamine, neurotrophin and cytokine hypotheses of depression--a central role for the serotonin transporter? Pharmacol Ther 2014; 147:1-11. [PMID: 25444754 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Monoamine, in particular serotonergic neurotransmission has long been recognized as an important factor in the aetiology of depression. The serotonin transporter (SERT) is the primary regulator of serotonin levels in the brain and a key target for widely used antidepressant drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In realising the limitations of current antidepressant therapy, depression research has branched out to encompass other areas such as synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis and brain structural remodelling as factors which influence mood and behaviour. More recently, the immune system has been implicated in the development of depression and various intriguing observations have inspired the cytokine hypothesis of depression. Over the past two decades evidence of in vitro and in vivo regulation of SERT function by pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as by mechanisms of synaptic plasticity has been accumulating, offering a mechanistic link between the monoamine, neurotrophin and cytokine theories of depression. This review will focus firstly on the interconnected roles of serotonin and neurotrophins in depression and antidepressant therapy, secondly on the impact of the immune system on serotonin transporter regulation and neurotrophin signalling and finally we propose a model of reciprocal regulation of serotonin and neurotrophin signalling in the context of inflammation-induced depression.
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Kinnally EL. Epigenetic plasticity following early stress predicts long-term health outcomes in rhesus macaques. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2014; 155:192-9. [PMID: 25100197 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 06/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Early life stress has been linked with poorer lifelong health outcomes across species, including modern and ancient humans. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation patterning of stress pathway genes in stress-responsive tissue, may play an important role in the long-term health effects of early stress across species. The relationships among early maternal care quality, DNA methylation patterns in a candidate stress pathway gene (serotonin transporter, 5-HTT) linked region in blood DNA, and adult health outcomes were examined in male and female rhesus macaques, excellent models of human health. Male (n = 12) and female (n = 32) infants were observed with their mothers for the first 12 weeks of life and 5-HTT linked DNA methylation was measured in blood at 12 weeks of age. Approximately 8 years later, health-related measures were collected for the 25 animals (6 male and 19 female) that were available for study. Health composite scores were generated using factor analysis of body condition, body weight, and diagnosis of diarrhea during the lifespan. Better quality maternal care predicted lower 5-HTT linked methylation at 12 weeks of age. Lower 5-HTT methylation, in turn, predicted better health composite scores in adulthood, including better body condition, greater body weight and absence of lifetime diarrhea. These data suggest that the epigenetic regulation of 5-HTT may be one biomarker of the link between early stress and lifetime health trajectories. Future studies will examine whether epigenetic signatures in modern and ancient human DNA lends insight into stress and health and natural selection in human evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Kinnally
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, CA, 95616
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16
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Haarman BCMB, Riemersma-Van der Lek RF, de Groot JC, Ruhé HGE, Klein HC, Zandstra TE, Burger H, Schoevers RA, de Vries EFJ, Drexhage HA, Nolen WA, Doorduin J. Neuroinflammation in bipolar disorder - A [(11)C]-(R)-PK11195 positron emission tomography study. Brain Behav Immun 2014; 40:219-25. [PMID: 24703991 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The "monocyte-T-cell theory of mood disorders" regards neuroinflammation, i.e. marked activation of microglia, as a driving force in bipolar disorder. Microglia activation can be visualized in vivo using [(11)C]-(R)-PK11195 PET. Indirect evidence suggests the hippocampus as a potential focus of neuroinflammation in bipolar disorder. We aim to determine if there is increased [(11)C]-(R)-PK11195 binding to activated microglia in the hippocampus of patients with bipolar I disorder when compared to healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fourteen patients with bipolar I disorder and eleven healthy controls were included in the analyses. Dynamic 60-min PET scans were acquired after the injection of [(11)C]-(R)-PK11195. All subjects underwent psychiatric interviews as well as an MRI scan, which was used for anatomic co-registration in the data analysis. The data from the PET scans was analyzed with a two-tissue-compartment model to calculate the binding potential, using the metabolite-corrected plasma and blood curve as input. RESULTS A significantly increased [(11)C]-(R)-PK11195 binding potential, which is indicative of neuroinflammation, was found in the right hippocampus of the patients when compared to the healthy controls (1.66 (CI 1.45-1.91) versus 1.33 (CI 1.16-1.53); p=0.033, respectively). Although the same trend was observed in the left hippocampus, this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of focal neuroinflammation in the right hippocampus in bipolar I disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rixt F Riemersma-Van der Lek
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Cees de Groot
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Radiology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henricus G Eric Ruhé
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans C Klein
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tjitske E Zandstra
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Huibert Burger
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of General Practice, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert A Schoevers
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik F J de Vries
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hemmo A Drexhage
- Erasmus MC, Department of Immunology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem A Nolen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Doorduin
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands
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ROS and brain diseases: the good, the bad, and the ugly. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2013; 2013:963520. [PMID: 24381719 PMCID: PMC3871919 DOI: 10.1155/2013/963520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The brain is a major metabolizer of oxygen and yet has relatively feeble protective antioxidant mechanisms. This paper reviews the Janus-faced properties of reactive oxygen species. It will describe the positive aspects of moderately induced ROS but it will also outline recent research findings concerning the impact of oxidative and nitrooxidative stress on neuronal structure and function in neuropsychiatric diseases, including major depression. A common denominator of all neuropsychiatric diseases including schizophrenia and ADHD is an increased inflammatory response of the brain caused either by an exposure to proinflammatory agents during development or an accumulation of degenerated neurons, oxidized proteins, glycated products, or lipid peroxidation in the adult brain. Therefore, modulation of the prooxidant-antioxidant balance provides a therapeutic option which can be used to improve neuroprotection in response to oxidative stress. We also discuss the neuroprotective role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) in the aged brain in response to oxidative stressors and nanoparticle-mediated delivery of ROS-scavenging drugs. The antioxidant therapy is a novel therapeutic strategy. However, the available drugs have pleiotropic actions and are not fully characterized in the clinic. Additional clinical trials are needed to assess the risks and benefits of antioxidant therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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