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Kemp ET, Zandberg L, Harvey BH, Smuts CM, Baumgartner J. Iron and n-3 fatty acid depletion, alone and in combination, during early development provoke neurochemical changes, anhedonia, anxiety and social dysfunction in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2024; 27:698-714. [PMID: 37585720 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2023.2245615] [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] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Both iron and omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FA) play important roles in the development and functioning of the brain. We investigated the effects of n-3 FA and iron deficiencies, alone and in combination, during early development on behaviour and brain monoamines in rats. Methods: Using a 2-factorial design, female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of four diet groups: Control, n-3 FA deficient (n-3 FAD), iron deficient (ID), or n-3 FAD + ID. Females received these diets throughout mating, pregnancy and lactation. Offspring (n = 24/group; male:female = 1:1) continued on the same diet until post-natal day 42-45, and underwent a sucrose preference test (SPT), novel object recognition test, elevated plus maze (EPM) and social interaction test (SIT). Results: ID offspring consumed less sucrose in the SPT and spent more time in closed arms and less time in open arms of the EPM than non-ID offspring. In female offspring only, ID and n-3 FAD reduced time approaching and together in the SIT, with an additive effect of ID and n-3 FAD for even less time approaching and spent together in the n-3 FAD + ID group compared to controls. ID offspring had higher striatal dopamine and norepinephrine and lower frontal cortex dopamine concentrations. N-3 FAD and ID affected frontal cortex serotonin concentrations in a sex-specific manner. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ID and n-3 FAD during early development provoke anhedonia, anxiety and social dysfunction in rats, with potential additive and attenuating effects when combined. These effects may in part be attributed to disturbances in brain neurochemistry and may be sex-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erna T Kemp
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Lizelle Zandberg
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Brian H Harvey
- School of Pharmacy and Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Cornelius M Smuts
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Jeannine Baumgartner
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
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2
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Margedari P, Goudarzi I, Sepehri H. The protective role of prenatal administration of ascorbic acid on autistic-like behavior in a rat model of autism. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 16:78-85. [PMID: 38274439 PMCID: PMC10809097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Autism is a complicated neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by several behavioral impairments. The pathology of autism is complex and not fully known. Several recent studies have shown alterations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in autism. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is present in high concentrations in the brain and acts as a neuromodulator. Prefrontal abnormality has been hypothesized to underlie autistic symptoms. The present study investigated the protective effect of prenatally Vitamin C on autistic-like behaviors, oxidative stress status, and histopathological change of prefrontal in valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism. Method The model of autism was induced by subcutaneous administration of Valproic acid (600 mg/kg) to pregnant rats at gestational day 12.5. Vitamin C was administered 600 mg/L in drinking water from the 5th day of gestaion (GD5) up to postnatal day 23 (PND23). Thirty-two rat offspring were divided into four groups: Control, Vitamin C, VPA, and Vitamin C + VPA. The offspring were tested for repetitive behaviors and cognitive ability with a Y-maze task and social interaction with a play behavior task on 31st of Postnatal days. Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the histological change in the prefrontal lobe were assessed at the end of the study. The number of neurons from the left prefrontal lobe was counted in duplicate from slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Results In the Y-maze apparatus, spontaneous alteration significantly decreased in the prenatal VPA treated rats compared to control rats showing autistic-like behavior; pre and postnatal Vitamin C treatment increased the alternation indicated benefit effect of Vitamin C. Prenatal VPA treatment impaired play behavior such as sniffing, grooming and darting. Vitamin C treatment attenuated the problems in male offspring social behavior. Histological examination showed an increase in the number of cells in the prefrontal cortex of valproic acid offspring rats compared to other groups. Moreover, prenatal VPA decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in the cortex (PFC) attenuated by Vitamin C administration. Conclusion The present study showed that valproic acid induced oxidative stress and neural changes in the prefrontal lobe when administered prenatally which in turn may cause the development of some autistic-like behaviors, and vitamin C may reduce this symptom with its antioxidant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iran Goudarzi
- School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran
| | - Hamid Sepehri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
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3
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Avramescu RG, Hernandez G, Flores C. Rewiring the future: drugs abused in adolescence may predispose to mental illness in adult life by altering dopamine axon growth. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:461-467. [PMID: 38036858 PMCID: PMC11055695 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02722-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a period of increased exploration and novelty-seeking, which includes new social behaviors, as well as drug experimentation, often spurred on by peer pressure. This is unfortunate, as the immature state of the adolescent brain makes it particularly susceptible to the negative developmental impact of drug use. During adolescence, dopamine terminals, which have migrated from the ventral tegmental area, pause in the nucleus accumbens, before segregating by either forming local connections or growing towards the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This developmentally late and lengthy process renders adolescent dopamine axon pathfinding vulnerable to disruption by substance use. Indeed, exposure to stimulant drugs in adolescent male mice, but not females, triggers dopamine axons to mistarget the nucleus accumbens and to grow ectopically to the PFC. Some evidence suggests that at this novel site, the functional organization of the ectopic dopamine axons mirrors that of the intended target. The structural rewiring dysregulates local synaptic connectivity, leading to poor impulse control ability, deficits of which are a core symptom of substance-use disorders. In the present commentary, we argue that different substances of abuse induce dopamine mistargeting events with the off-target trajectory prescribed by the type of drug, leading to psychiatric outcomes later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giovanni Hernandez
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cecilia Flores
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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4
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Ouaidat S, Amaral IM, Monteiro DG, Harati H, Hofer A, El Rawas R. Orexins/Hypocretins: Gatekeepers of Social Interaction and Motivation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2609. [PMID: 38473854 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ever since the discovery of the brain's orexin/hypocretin system, most research was directed toward unveiling its contribution to the normal functioning of individuals. The investigation of reward-seeking behaviors then gained a lot of attention once the distribution of orexinergic neurons was revealed. Here, we discuss findings on the involvement of orexins in social interaction, a natural reward type. While some studies have succeeded in defining the relationship between orexin and social interaction, the controversy regarding its nature (direct or inverse relation) raises questions about what aspects have been overlooked until now. Upon examining the literature, we identified a research gap concerning conditions influencing the impact of orexins on social behavior expression. In this review, we introduce a number of factors (e.g., stress, orexin's source) that must be considered while studying the role of orexins in social interaction. Furthermore, we refer to published research to investigate the stage at which orexins affect social interaction and we highlight the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell's role in social interaction and other rewarding behaviors. Finally, the underlying orexin molecular pathway influencing social motivation in particular illnesses is proposed. We conclude that orexin's impact on social interaction is multifactorial and depends on specific conditions available at a time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ouaidat
- Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 1533, Lebanon
| | - Inês M Amaral
- Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Diogo G Monteiro
- Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hayat Harati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 1533, Lebanon
| | - Alex Hofer
- Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rana El Rawas
- Division of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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5
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Ishiwari K, King CP, Martin CD, Tripi JA, George AM, Lamparelli AC, Chitre AS, Polesskaya O, Richards JB, Solberg Woods LC, Gancarz AM, Palmer AA, Dietz DM, Mitchell SH, Meyer PJ. Environmental enrichment promotes adaptive responding during tests of behavioral regulation in male heterogeneous stock rats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4182. [PMID: 38378969 PMCID: PMC10879139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53943-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Organisms must regulate their behavior flexibly in the face of environmental challenges. Failure can lead to a host of maladaptive behavioral traits associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and substance use disorders. This maladaptive dysregulation of behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. For example, environmental enrichment produces beneficial neurobehavioral effects in animal models of such disorders. The present study determined the effects of environmental enrichment on a range of measures related to behavioral regulation using a large cohort of male, outbred heterogeneous stock (HS) rats as subjects. Subjects were reared from late adolescence onwards either in pairs in standard housing with minimal enrichment (n = 200) or in groups of 16 in a highly enriched environment consisting of a large multi-level cage filled with toys, running wheels, and shelters (n = 64). Rats were subjected to a battery of tests, including: (i) locomotor response to novelty, (ii) light reinforcement, (iii) social reinforcement, (iv) reaction time, (v) a patch-depletion foraging test, (vi) Pavlovian conditioned approach, (vii) conditioned reinforcement, and (viii) cocaine conditioned cue preference. Results indicated that rats housed in the enriched environment were able to filter out irrelevant stimuli more effectively and thereby regulate their behavior more efficiently than standard-housing rats. The dramatic impact of environmental enrichment suggests that behavioral studies using standard housing conditions may not generalize to more complex environments that may be more ethologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christopher P King
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Connor D Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jordan A Tripi
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Anthony M George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Apurva S Chitre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Polesskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Leah C Solberg Woods
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Center on Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Abraham A Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne H Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paul J Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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Cross EA, Huhman KL, Albers HE. Sex differences in the impact of social status on social reward and associated mesolimbic activation. Physiol Behav 2024; 273:114410. [PMID: 37977252 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Social stress plays an important role in the etiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders and can lead to a variety of behavioral deficits such as social withdrawal. One way that social stress may contribute to psychiatric disorders is by reducing social motivation and the rewarding properties of social interactions. We investigated the impact of social stress on social reward in the context of winning versus losing agonistic encounters in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). First, we tested the hypothesis that social stress resulting from either stable low, or subordinate, social status or from social defeat reduces the rewarding properties of social interactions. Using an Operant Social Preference (OSP) task to measure social reward/motivation, we found that both subordinate and socially defeated males made significantly fewer entries into chambers containing novel, same-sex conspecifics compared to males who were dominant (i.e., stably won the agonistic encounters). In females, however, there were no differences in social entries between winners and losers. In a second experiment, we found more activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system (MDS) as assessed with cFos immunohistochemistry in the lateral ventral tegmental area (lVTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell of male winners compared to losers. In females, however, there were no differences in activation in the lVTA between winners and losers. Surprisingly, however, winning females displayed significantly more activation in the NAc shell as compared to losing females, despite the lack of behavioral differences. Thus, behavioral and histological data suggest that there are sex differences in the impact of social status on social reward and associated mesolimbic activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Cross
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Kim L Huhman
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - H Elliott Albers
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
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7
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Bowling DL. Biological principles for music and mental health. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:374. [PMID: 38049408 PMCID: PMC10695969 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02671-4] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Efforts to integrate music into healthcare systems and wellness practices are accelerating but the biological foundations supporting these initiatives remain underappreciated. As a result, music-based interventions are often sidelined in medicine. Here, I bring together advances in music research from neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry to bridge music's specific foundations in human biology with its specific therapeutic applications. The framework I propose organizes the neurophysiological effects of music around four core elements of human musicality: tonality, rhythm, reward, and sociality. For each, I review key concepts, biological bases, and evidence of clinical benefits. Within this framework, I outline a strategy to increase music's impact on health based on standardizing treatments and their alignment with individual differences in responsivity to these musical elements. I propose that an integrated biological understanding of human musicality-describing each element's functional origins, development, phylogeny, and neural bases-is critical to advancing rational applications of music in mental health and wellness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Bowling
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), Stanford University, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, CA, USA.
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8
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Wang X, Zhang Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Niu Y, Lui SSY, Hui L, Chan RCK. Revisiting reward impairments in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis for neuroimaging findings. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7189-7202. [PMID: 36994747 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723000703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal reward functioning is central to anhedonia and amotivation symptoms of schizophrenia (SCZ). Reward processing encompasses a series of psychological components. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the brain dysfunction related to reward processing of individuals with SCZ spectrum disorders and risks, covering multiple reward components. METHODS After a systematic literature search, 37 neuroimaging studies were identified and divided into four groups based on their target psychology components (i.e. reward anticipation, reward consumption, reward learning, effort computation). Whole-brain Seed-based d Mapping (SDM) meta-analyses were conducted for all included studies and each component. RESULTS The meta-analysis for all reward-related studies revealed reduced functional activation across the SCZ spectrum in the striatum, orbital frontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and cerebellar areas. Meanwhile, distinct abnormal patterns were found for reward anticipation (decreased activation of the cingulate cortex and striatum), reward consumption (decreased activation of cerebellum IV/V areas, insula and inferior frontal gyri), and reward learning processing (decreased activation of the striatum, thalamus, cerebellar Crus I, cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and parietal and occipital areas). Lastly, our qualitative review suggested that decreased activation of the ventral striatum and anterior cingulate cortex was also involved in effort computation. CONCLUSIONS These results provide deep insights on the component-based neuro-psychopathological mechanisms for anhedonia and amotivation symptoms of the SCZ spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yinghao Zhang
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jia Huang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanzhe Niu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Simon S Y Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Li Hui
- Research Center of Biological Psychiatry, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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9
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Lenferink LIM, O'Connor M. Grief is a family affair: examining longitudinal associations between prolonged grief in parents and their adult children using four-wave cross-lagged panel models. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7428-7434. [PMID: 37154206 PMCID: PMC10719676 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Losing a parent or spouse in adulthood may result in prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms. PGD levels in parents may affect PGD levels in their adult offspring and the other way around. However, research on transmission of PGD in parent-child dyads is lacking. Consequently, we aimed to examine temporal associations between PGD levels in parent and adult children. METHODS In doing so, we analyzed longitudinal self-report data on PGD levels (using the PG-13) assessed at 2, 11, 18, and 26 months after loss in 257 adult parent-child dyads from Denmark. Cross-lagged panel modeling was used for data-analyses. RESULTS Changes in PGD levels in parents significantly predicted PGD levels in adult children, but not vice versa. Small through moderate cross-lagged effects (β = 0.05 through 0.07) were found for PGD levels in parents predicting PGD levels in adult children at a subsequent time-point. These cross-lagged effects were found while taking into account the association between PGD levels in parents and adult children at the same time-point as well as the associations between the same construct over time and relevant covariates. CONCLUSIONS Pending replication of these findings in clinical samples and younger families, our findings offer tentative support for expanding our focus in research and treatment of PGD from the individual to the family level.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. I. M. Lenferink
- Department of Psychology, Health, & Technology, Faculty of Behavioural, Management, and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - M. O'Connor
- Department of Psychology, Unit for Bereavement Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Center for Grief, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Tizabi Y, Bennani S, El Kouhen N, Getachew B, Aschner M. Interaction of Heavy Metal Lead with Gut Microbiota: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1549. [PMID: 37892231 PMCID: PMC10605213 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction and communication, manifests in early childhood and is followed by restricted and stereotyped behaviors, interests, or activities in adolescence and adulthood (DSM-V). Although genetics and environmental factors have been implicated, the exact causes of ASD have yet to be fully characterized. New evidence suggests that dysbiosis or perturbation in gut microbiota (GM) and exposure to lead (Pb) may play important roles in ASD etiology. Pb is a toxic heavy metal that has been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes, including anemia, encephalopathy, gastroenteric diseases, and, more importantly, cognitive and behavioral problems inherent to ASD. Pb exposure can disrupt GM, which is essential for maintaining overall health. GM, consisting of trillions of microorganisms, has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of various physiological and psychological functions. GM interacts with the brain in a bidirectional manner referred to as the "Gut-Brain Axis (GBA)". In this review, following a general overview of ASD and GM, the interaction of Pb with GM in the context of ASD is emphasized. The potential exploitation of this interaction for therapeutic purposes is also touched upon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Samia Bennani
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Nacer El Kouhen
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Bruk Getachew
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
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11
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Pavăl D. The dopamine hypothesis of autism spectrum disorder: A comprehensive analysis of the evidence. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 173:1-42. [PMID: 37993174 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite intensive research into the etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), limited progress has been achieved so far. Among the plethora of models seeking to clarify how ASD arises, a coherent dopaminergic model was lacking until recently. In 2017, we provided a theoretical framework that we designated "the dopamine hypothesis of ASD". In the meantime, numerous studies yielded empirical evidence for this model. 4 years later, we provided a second version encompassing a refined and reconceptualized framework that accounted for these novel findings. In this chapter, we will review the evidence backing the previous versions of our model and add the most recent developments to the picture. Along these lines, we intend to lay out a comprehensive analysis of the supporting evidence for the dopamine hypothesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Pavăl
- The Romanian Association for Autoimmune Encephalitis, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Psychiatry, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
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12
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Terauchi A, Yee P, Johnson-Venkatesh EM, Seiglie MP, Kim L, Pitino JC, Kritzer E, Zhang Q, Zhou J, Li Y, Ginty DD, Lee WCA, Umemori H. The projection-specific signals that establish functionally segregated dopaminergic synapses. Cell 2023; 186:3845-3861.e24. [PMID: 37591240 PMCID: PMC10540635 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Dopaminergic projections regulate various brain functions and are implicated in many neuropsychiatric disorders. There are two anatomically and functionally distinct dopaminergic projections connecting the midbrain to striatum: nigrostriatal, which controls movement, and mesolimbic, which regulates motivation. However, how these discrete dopaminergic synaptic connections are established is unknown. Through an unbiased search, we identify that two groups of antagonistic TGF-β family members, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)6/BMP2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2, regulate dopaminergic synapse development of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic neurons, respectively. Projection-preferential expression of their receptors contributes to specific synapse development. Downstream, Smad1 and Smad2 are specifically activated and required for dopaminergic synapse development and function in nigrostriatal vs. mesolimbic projections. Remarkably, Smad1 mutant mice show motor defects, whereas Smad2 mutant mice show lack of motivation. These results uncover the molecular logic underlying the proper establishment of functionally segregated dopaminergic synapses and may provide strategies to treat relevant, projection-specific disease symptoms by targeting specific BMPs/TGF-β and/or Smads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Terauchi
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patricia Yee
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Erin M Johnson-Venkatesh
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mariel P Seiglie
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lisa Kim
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Julia C Pitino
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eli Kritzer
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qiyu Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Computer Science, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - David D Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wei-Chung A Lee
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hisashi Umemori
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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13
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Souza AJ, Sharmin D, Cook JM, Guimarães FS, Gomes FV. An alpha 5-GABAa receptor positive allosteric modulator attenuates social and cognitive deficits without changing dopamine system hyperactivity in an animal model for autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.24.554679. [PMID: 37662217 PMCID: PMC10473734 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.24.554679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by core behavioral symptoms in the domains of sociability, language/communication, and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. Deficits in the prefrontal and hippocampal excitatory/inhibitory balance due to a functional loss of GABAergic interneurons are proposed to underlie these symptoms. Increasing the postsynaptic effects of GABA with compounds that selectively modulate GABAergic receptors could be a potential target for treating ASD symptoms. In addition, deficits in GABAergic interneurons have been linked to dopamine (DA) system dysregulation, and, despite conflicting evidence, abnormalities in the DA system activity may underly some ASD symptoms. Here, we investigated whether the positive allosteric modulator of α5-containing GABA A receptors (α5-GABA A Rs) SH-053-2'F-R-CH3 (10 mg/kg) attenuates behavioral abnormalities in a rat model for autism based on in utero VPA exposure. We also evaluated if animals exposed to VPA in utero present changes in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA system activity using in vivo electrophysiology and if SH-053-2'F-R-CH3 could attenuate these changes. In utero VPA exposure caused male and female rats to present increased repetitive behavior (self-grooming) in early adolescence and deficits in social interaction in adulthood. Male, but not female VPA rats, also presented deficits in recognition memory as adults. SH-053-2'F-R-CH3 attenuated the impairments in sociability and cognitive function in male VPA-exposed rats without attenuating the decreased social interaction in females. Male and female adult VPA-exposed rats also showed an increased VTA DA neuron population activity, which was not changed by SH-053-2'F-R-CH3. Despite sex differences, our findings indicate α5-GABA A Rs positive allosteric modulators may effectively attenuate some core ASD symptoms.
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14
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Rotaru DC, Wallaard I, de Vries M, van der Bie J, Elgersma Y. UBE3A expression during early postnatal brain development is required for proper dorsomedial striatal maturation. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e166073. [PMID: 36810252 PMCID: PMC9977510 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.166073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) caused by loss of functional ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A). Previous studies showed that UBE3A plays an important role in the first postnatal weeks of mouse brain development, but its precise role is unknown. Since impaired striatal maturation has been implicated in several mouse models for NDDs, we studied the importance of UBE3A in striatal maturation. We used inducible Ube3a mouse models to investigate the maturation of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) from dorsomedial striatum. MSNs of mutant mice matured properly till postnatal day 15 (P15) but remained hyperexcitable with fewer excitatory synaptic events at later ages, indicative of stalled striatal maturation in Ube3a mice. Reinstatement of UBE3A expression at P21 fully restored MSN excitability but only partially restored synaptic transmission and the operant conditioning behavioral phenotype. Gene reinstatement at P70 failed to rescue both electrophysiological and behavioral phenotypes. In contrast, deletion of Ube3a after normal brain development did not result in these electrophysiological and behavioral phenotypes. This study emphasizes the role of UBE3A in striatal maturation and the importance of early postnatal reinstatement of UBE3A expression to obtain a full rescue of behavioral phenotypes associated with striatal function in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Rotaru
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ilse Wallaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maud de Vries
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Julia van der Bie
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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15
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Scangos KW, State MW, Miller AH, Baker JT, Williams LM. New and emerging approaches to treat psychiatric disorders. Nat Med 2023; 29:317-333. [PMID: 36797480 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02197-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent, often devastating diseases that negatively impact the lives of millions of people worldwide. Although their etiological and diagnostic heterogeneity has long challenged drug discovery, an emerging circuit-based understanding of psychiatric illness is offering an important alternative to the current reliance on trial and error, both in the development and in the clinical application of treatments. Here we review new and emerging treatment approaches, with a particular emphasis on the revolutionary potential of brain-circuit-based interventions for precision psychiatry. Limitations of circuit models, challenges of bringing precision therapeutics to market and the crucial advances needed to overcome these obstacles are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine W Scangos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Matthew W State
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew H Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Justin T Baker
- McLean Hospital Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Leanne M Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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16
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Park AJ. Novelty selectively permits learning-associated plasticity in ventral tegmental-hippocampal-prefrontal circuitry. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1091082. [PMID: 36699657 PMCID: PMC9868659 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1091082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Modifying established behavior in novel situations is essential, and patients with neuropsychiatric disorders often lack this flexibility. Understanding how novelty affects behavioral flexibility therefore has therapeutic potential. Here, novelty differentially impacts connectivity within the ventral tegmental-hippocampal-medial prefrontal (VTA-HPC-mPFC) circuit, thereby enhancing the ability of mice to overcome established behavioral bias and adapt to new rules. Circuit connectivity was measured by local field potential (LFP) coherence. As mice exposed to novelty learned to overcome previously established spatial bias, the ventral HPC (vHPC) strengthens its coherence with the VTA and mPFC in theta frequency (4-8 Hz). Novelty or learning did not affect circuits involving the dorsal HPC (dHPC). Without novelty, however, mice continued following established spatial bias and connectivity strength remained stable in the VTA-HPC-mPFC circuit. Pharmacologically blocking dopamine D1-receptors (D1Rs) in the vHPC abolished the behavioral and physiological impacts of novelty. Thus, novelty promotes behavioral adaptation by permitting learning-associated plasticity in the vHPC-mPFC and VTA-vHPC circuit, a process mediated by D1Rs in the vHPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Jung Park
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University, New York, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Alan Jung Park,
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17
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Koevoet D, Deschamps PKH, Kenemans JL. Catecholaminergic and cholinergic neuromodulation in autism spectrum disorder: A comparison to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1078586. [PMID: 36685234 PMCID: PMC9853424 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1078586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairments and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Treatment of ASD is notoriously difficult and might benefit from identification of underlying mechanisms that overlap with those disturbed in other developmental disorders, for which treatment options are more obvious. One example of the latter is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), given the efficacy of especially stimulants in treatment of ADHD. Deficiencies in catecholaminergic systems [dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE)] in ADHD are obvious targets for stimulant treatment. Recent findings suggest that dysfunction in catecholaminergic systems may also be a factor in at least a subgroup of ASD. In this review we scrutinize the evidence for catecholaminergic mechanisms underlying ASD symptoms, and also include in this analysis a third classic ascending arousing system, the acetylcholinergic (ACh) network. We complement this with a comprehensive review of DA-, NE-, and ACh-targeted interventions in ASD, and an exploratory search for potential treatment-response predictors (biomarkers) in ASD, genetically or otherwise. Based on this review and analysis we propose that (1) stimulant treatment may be a viable option for an ASD subcategory, possibly defined by genetic subtyping; (2) cerebellar dysfunction is pronounced for a relatively small ADHD subgroup but much more common in ASD and in both cases may point toward NE- or ACh-directed intervention; (3) deficiency of the cortical salience network is sizable in subgroups of both disorders, and biomarkers such as eye blink rate and pupillometric data may predict the efficacy of targeting this underlying deficiency via DA, NE, or ACh in both ASD and ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Koevoet
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Damian Koevoet,
| | - P. K. H. Deschamps
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - J. L. Kenemans
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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18
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Bretzke M, Vetter NC, Kohls G, Wahl H, Roessner V, Plichta MM, Buse J. Is loss avoidance differentially rewarding in adolescents versus adults? Differences in ventral striatum and anterior insula activation during the anticipation of potential monetary losses. Cogn Neurosci 2023; 14:36-49. [PMID: 35188088 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2022.2038555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Avoiding loss is a crucial, adaptive guide to human behavior. While previous developmental research has primarily focused on gaining rewards, less attention has been paid to loss processing and its avoidance. In daily life, it is often unknown how likely an action will result in a loss, making the role of uncertainty in loss processing particularly important. By using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the influence of varying outcome probabilities (12%, 34%, and 67%) on brain regions implicated in loss processing (ventral striatum (VS), anterior insula (AI)) by comparing 28 adolescents (10-18 years) and 24 adults (22-32 years) during the anticipation of potential monetary loss.Overall, results revealed slower RTs in adolescents compared to adults with both groups being faster in the experimental (monetary condition) vs. control trials (verbal condition). Fastest RTs were observed for the 67% outcome probability in both age groups. An age group × outcome probability interaction effect revealed the greatest differences between the groups for the 12% vs. the 67% outcome probability. Neurally, both age groups demonstrated a higher percent signal change in the VS and AI during the anticipation of potential monetary loss versus the verbal condition. However, adults demonstrated an even greater activation of VS and AI than adolescents during the anticipation of potential monetary loss, but not during the verbal condition. This may indicate that adolescents differ from adults regarding their experience of avoiding losing monetary rewards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bretzke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nora C Vetter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gregor Kohls
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hannes Wahl
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael M Plichta
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Judith Buse
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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19
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Nepal B, Das S, Reith ME, Kortagere S. Overview of the structure and function of the dopamine transporter and its protein interactions. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1150355. [PMID: 36935752 PMCID: PMC10020207 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1150355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an integral role in dopamine neurotransmission through the clearance of dopamine from the extracellular space. Dysregulation of DAT is central to the pathophysiology of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders and as such is an attractive therapeutic target. DAT belongs to the solute carrier family 6 (SLC6) class of Na+/Cl- dependent transporters that move various cargo into neurons against their concentration gradient. This review focuses on DAT (SCL6A3 protein) while extending the narrative to the closely related transporters for serotonin and norepinephrine where needed for comparison or functional relevance. Cloning and site-directed mutagenesis experiments provided early structural knowledge of DAT but our contemporary understanding was achieved through a combination of crystallization of the related bacterial transporter LeuT, homology modeling, and subsequently the crystallization of drosophila DAT. These seminal findings enabled a better understanding of the conformational states involved in the transport of substrate, subsequently aiding state-specific drug design. Post-translational modifications to DAT such as phosphorylation, palmitoylation, ubiquitination also influence the plasma membrane localization and kinetics. Substrates and drugs can interact with multiple sites within DAT including the primary S1 and S2 sites involved in dopamine binding and novel allosteric sites. Major research has centered around the question what determines the substrate and inhibitor selectivity of DAT in comparison to serotonin and norepinephrine transporters. DAT has been implicated in many neurological disorders and may play a role in the pathology of HIV and Parkinson's disease via direct physical interaction with HIV-1 Tat and α-synuclein proteins respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Nepal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanjay Das
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maarten E. Reith
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Sandhya Kortagere,
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20
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Schiller CE, Walsh E, Eisenlohr-Moul TA, Prim J, Dichter GS, Schiff L, Bizzell J, Slightom SL, Richardson EC, Belger A, Schmidt P, Rubinow DR. Effects of gonadal steroids on reward circuitry function and anhedonia in women with a history of postpartum depression. J Affect Disord 2022; 314:176-184. [PMID: 35777494 PMCID: PMC9605402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reward system dysfunction is evident across neuropsychiatric conditions. Here we present data from a double-blinded pharmaco-fMRI study investigating the triggering of anhedonia and reward circuit activity in women. METHODS The hormonal states of pregnancy and parturition were simulated in euthymic women with a history of postpartum depression (PPD+; n = 15) and those without such a history (PPD-; n = 15) by inducing hypogonadism, adding back estradiol and progesterone for 8 weeks ("addback"), and then withdrawing both steroids ("withdrawal"). Anhedonia was assessed using the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) during each hormone phase. Those who reported a 30 % or greater increase in IDAS anhedonia, dysphoria, or ill temper during addback or withdrawal, compared with pre-treatment, were identified as hormone sensitive (HS+) and all others were identified as non-hormone sensitive (HS-). The monetary incentive delay (MID) task was administered during fMRI sessions at pre-treatment and during hormone withdrawal to assess brain activation during reward anticipation and feedback. RESULTS On average, anhedonia increased during addback and withdrawal in PPD+ but not PPD-. During reward feedback, both HS+ (n = 10) and HS- (n = 18) showed decreased activation in clusters in the right putamen (p < .031, FWE-corrected) and left postcentral and supramarginal gyri (p < .014, FWE-corrected) at the withdrawal scans, relative to pre-treatment scans. LIMITATIONS A modest sample size, stringent exclusion criteria, and relative lack of diversity in study participants limit the generalizability of results. CONCLUSION Although results do not explain differential hormone sensitivity in depression, they demonstrate significant effects of reproductive hormones on reward-related brain function in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Schiller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America.
| | - E Walsh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - T A Eisenlohr-Moul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States of America
| | - J Prim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - G S Dichter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - L Schiff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - J Bizzell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - S L Slightom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | | | - A Belger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - P Schmidt
- National Institute of Mental Health, Behavioral Endocrinology Branch, United States of America
| | - D R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, United States of America
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21
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Shen MD, Swanson MR, Wolff JJ, Elison JT, Girault JB, Kim SH, Smith RG, Graves MM, Weisenfeld LAH, Flake L, MacIntyre L, Gross JL, Burrows CA, Fonov VS, Collins DL, Evans AC, Gerig G, McKinstry RC, Pandey J, St John T, Zwaigenbaum L, Estes AM, Dager SR, Schultz RT, Styner MA, Botteron KN, Hazlett HC, Piven J. Subcortical Brain Development in Autism and Fragile X Syndrome: Evidence for Dynamic, Age- and Disorder-Specific Trajectories in Infancy. Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:562-572. [PMID: 35331012 PMCID: PMC9762548 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21090896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous research has demonstrated that the amygdala is enlarged in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the precise onset of this enlargement during infancy, how it relates to later diagnostic behaviors, whether the timing of enlargement in infancy is specific to the amygdala, and whether it is specific to ASD (or present in other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as fragile X syndrome) are all unknown. METHODS Longitudinal MRIs were acquired at 6-24 months of age in 29 infants with fragile X syndrome, 58 infants at high likelihood for ASD who were later diagnosed with ASD, 212 high-likelihood infants not diagnosed with ASD, and 109 control infants (1,099 total scans). RESULTS Infants who developed ASD had typically sized amygdala volumes at 6 months, but exhibited significantly faster amygdala growth between 6 and 24 months, such that by 12 months the ASD group had significantly larger amygdala volume (Cohen's d=0.56) compared with all other groups. Amygdala growth rate between 6 and 12 months was significantly associated with greater social deficits at 24 months when the infants were diagnosed with ASD. Infants with fragile X syndrome had a persistent and significantly enlarged caudate volume at all ages between 6 and 24 months (d=2.12), compared with all other groups, which was significantly associated with greater repetitive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS This is the first MRI study comparing fragile X syndrome and ASD in infancy, demonstrating strikingly different patterns of brain and behavior development. Fragile X syndrome-related changes were present from 6 months of age, whereas ASD-related changes unfolded over the first 2 years of life, starting with no detectable group differences at 6 months. Increased amygdala growth rate between 6 and 12 months occurs prior to social deficits and well before diagnosis. This gradual onset of brain and behavior changes in ASD, but not fragile X syndrome, suggests an age- and disorder-specific pattern of cascading brain changes preceding autism diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Shen
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Meghan R Swanson
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Jason J Wolff
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Jed T Elison
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Jessica B Girault
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Sun Hyung Kim
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Rachel G Smith
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Michael M Graves
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Leigh Anne H Weisenfeld
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Lisa Flake
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Leigh MacIntyre
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Julia L Gross
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Catherine A Burrows
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Vladimir S Fonov
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - D Louis Collins
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Alan C Evans
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Guido Gerig
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Robert C McKinstry
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Juhi Pandey
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Tanya St John
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Annette M Estes
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Robert T Schultz
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Martin A Styner
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Kelly N Botteron
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Heather C Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry (Shen, Girault, Kim, Smith, Graves, Weisenfeld, Gross, Styner, Hazlett, Piven) and UNC Neuroscience Center (Shen), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; Department of Educational Psychology (Wolff), Institute of Child Development (Elison), and Department of Pediatrics (Elison, Burrows), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Flake, McKinstry, Botteron); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (Dager); Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Pandey, Schultz); Computer Science and Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Gerig); Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal (MacIntyre, Fonov, Collins, Evans); Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Zwaigenbaum); Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle (St. John, Estes); School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas (Swanson)
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Efficient spatially targeted gene editing using a near-infrared activatable protein-conjugated nanoparticle for brain applications. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4135. [PMID: 35840564 PMCID: PMC9287341 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial control of gene expression is critical to modulate cellular functions and deconstruct the function of individual genes in biological processes. Light-responsive gene-editing formulations have been recently developed; however, they have shown limited applicability in vivo due to poor tissue penetration, limited cellular transfection and the difficulty in evaluating the activity of the edited cells. Here, we report a formulation composed of upconversion nanoparticles conjugated with Cre recombinase enzyme through a photocleavable linker, and a lysosomotropic agent that facilitates endolysosomal escape. This formulation allows in vitro spatial control in gene editing after activation with near-infrared light. We further demonstrate the potential of this formulation in vivo through three different paradigms: (i) gene editing in neurogenic niches, (ii) gene editing in the ventral tegmental area to facilitate monitoring of edited cells by precise optogenetic control of reward and reinforcement, and (iii) gene editing in a localized brain region via a noninvasive administration route (i.e., intranasal). Spatial control of gene expression allows precise control over biological processes. Here, the authors develop an efficient light-responsive formulation based on upconversion nanoparticles, and demonstrate on-demand genetic manipulation in deep brain tissue.
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Park H, Kirlic N, Kuplicki R, Paulus M, Guinjoan S. Neural Processing Dysfunctions During Fear Learning but Not Reward-Related Processing Characterize Depressed Individuals With High Levels of Repetitive Negative Thinking. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:716-724. [PMID: 35065290 PMCID: PMC9271540 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a symptom dimension of depression that is associated with a poorer prognosis in terms of higher recurrence, treatment resistance, residual symptoms, and disability. This investigation examined whether RNT is associated with aberrant reward processing and fear learning. METHODS Very high RNT (VH-RNT) (n = 60) and high RNT (H-RNT) (n = 60) propensity-matched individuals with depression (age, sex, race/ethnicity, income/employment, body mass index, depressive and anxiety symptom severity) participated in this study along with matched healthy comparison volunteers (n = 30). This propensity-matched sample was selected from the larger Tulsa 1000 study. Participants performed two functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks: the monetary incentive delay task probing reward processing and the fear conditioning task probing aversive learning and extinction. RESULTS Both VH-RNT and H-RNT groups showed lower neural activity than healthy comparison subjects in reward circuitry, including the inferior frontal gyrus (VH-RNT: β = -1.24, H-RNT: β = -1.28) and the cerebellum (VH-RNT: β = -0.93, H-RNT: β = -1.14). However, individuals with VH-RNT exhibited lower activation than those with H-RNT in central autonomic network components during fear conditioning (β = -0.84) and continued conditioned responses during early extinction in the postcentral cortex (β = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS VH-RNT showed aberrant processing in fear conditioning during both learning and extinction phases compared with H-RNT. These findings demonstrate that dysfunctions of negative valence associated with RNT may be domain specific, which should be taken into account for identifying potential specific targets of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heekyeong Park
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Department of Psychology, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Namik Kirlic
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
| | | | - Martin Paulus
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
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24
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Tan JXM, Ang RJW, Wee CL. Larval Zebrafish as a Model for Mechanistic Discovery in Mental Health. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:900213. [PMID: 35813062 PMCID: PMC9263853 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.900213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models are essential for the discovery of mechanisms and treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, complex mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are difficult to fully recapitulate in these models. Borrowing from the field of psychiatric genetics, we reiterate the framework of 'endophenotypes' - biological or behavioral markers with cellular, molecular or genetic underpinnings - to reduce complex disorders into measurable behaviors that can be compared across organisms. Zebrafish are popular disease models due to the conserved genetic, physiological and anatomical pathways between zebrafish and humans. Adult zebrafish, which display more sophisticated behaviors and cognition, have long been used to model psychiatric disorders. However, larvae (up to 1 month old) are more numerous and also optically transparent, and hence are particularly suited for high-throughput screening and brain-wide neural circuit imaging. A number of behavioral assays have been developed to quantify neuropsychiatric phenomena in larval zebrafish. Here, we will review these assays and the current knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms of their behavioral readouts. We will also discuss the existing evidence linking larval zebrafish behavior to specific human behavioral traits and how the endophenotype framework can be applied. Importantly, many of the endophenotypes we review do not solely define a diseased state but could manifest as a spectrum across the general population. As such, we make the case for larval zebrafish as a promising model for extending our understanding of population mental health, and for identifying novel therapeutics and interventions with broad impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Caroline Lei Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
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25
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Mpoulimari I, Zintzaras E. Synthesis of genetic association studies on autism spectrum disorders using a genetic model-free approach. Psychiatr Genet 2022; 32:91-104. [PMID: 35353796 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite the extensive efforts of scientists, the etiology of ASD is far from completely elucidated. In an effort to enlighten the genetic architecture of ASDs, a meta-analysis of all available genetic association studies (GAS) was conducted. METHODS We searched in the Human Genome Epidemiology Navigator (HuGE Navigator) and PubMed for available case-control GAS of ASDs. The threshold for meta-analysis was two studies per genetic variant. The association between genotype distribution and ASDs was examined using the generalized linear odds ratio (ORG). For variants with available allele frequencies, the examined model was the allele contrast. RESULTS Overall, 57 candidate genes and 128 polymorphisms were investigated in 159 articles. In total 28 genetic polymorphisms have been shown to be associated with ASDs, that are harbored in 19 genes. Statistically significant results were revealed for the variants of the following genes adenosine deaminase (ADA), bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (CD157/BST1), Dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1), engrailed homolog 2 (EN2), met proto-oncogene (MET), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4), Synaptosomal-associated protein, 25kDa (SNAP-25) and vitamin D receptor (VDR). In the allele contrast model of cases versus healthy controls, significant associations were observed for Adrenoceptor Alpha 1B (ADRA1B), acetyl serotonin O - methyltransferase (ASMT), complement component 4B (C4B), dopamine receptor D3 (DRD3), met proto-oncogene (MET), neuroligin 4, X-linked (NLGN4), neurexin 1 (NRXN1), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase PFTAIRE-1 (PFTK1), Reelin (RELN) and Ras-like without CAAX 2 (RIT2). CONCLUSION These significant findings provide further evidence for genetic factors' implication in ASDs offering new perspectives in means of prevention and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Mpoulimari
- Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Elias Zintzaras
- Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- Department of Medicine, The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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26
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I SP, I GD, L B, M S, J GR, A M EO, I M AB, C LM, E M PV, J A A, E B, J L V, R M DP, R R. The Absence of Caspase-8 in the Dopaminergic System Leads to Mild Autism-like Behavior. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:839715. [PMID: 35493109 PMCID: PMC9045412 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.839715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, new non-apoptotic roles have been ascribed to apoptotic caspases. This family of proteins plays an important role in the sculpting of the brain in the early stages of development by eliminating excessive and nonfunctional synapses and extra cells. Consequently, impairments in this process can underlie many neurological and mental illnesses. This view is particularly relevant to dopamine because it plays a pleiotropic role in motor control, motivation, and reward processing. In this study, we analyze the effects of the elimination of caspase-8 (CASP8) on the development of catecholaminergic neurons using neurochemical, ultrastructural, and behavioral tests. To do this, we selectively delete the CASP8 gene in cells that express tyrosine hydroxylase with the help of recombination through the Cre-loxP system. Our results show that the number of dopaminergic neurons increases in the substantia nigra. In the striatum, the basal extracellular level of dopamine and potassium-evoked dopamine release decreased significantly in mice lacking CASP8, clearly showing the low dopamine functioning in tissues innervated by this neurotransmitter. This view is supported by electron microscopy analysis of striatal synapses. Interestingly, behavioral analysis demonstrates that mice lacking CASP8 show changes reminiscent of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our research reactivates the possible role of dopamine transmission in the pathogenesis of ASD and provides a mild model of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suárez-Pereira I
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sevilla, Spain.,Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - García-Domínguez I
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Bravo L
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sevilla, Spain.,Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Santiago M
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - García-Revilla J
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Espinosa-Oliva A M
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alonso-Bellido I M
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - López-Martín C
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Pérez-Villegas E M
- Departamento de Fisiología, Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Armengol J A
- Departamento de Fisiología, Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Berrocoso E
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sevilla, Spain.,Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Venero J L
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - de Pablos R M
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ruiz R
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
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Perdikaris P, Dermon CR. Behavioral and neurochemical profile of MK-801 adult zebrafish model: Forebrain β 2-adrenoceptors contribute to social withdrawal and anxiety-like behavior. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 115:110494. [PMID: 34896197 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in social communication and interaction are core clinical symptoms characterizing multiple neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. Interestingly, elevated anxiety levels are a common comorbid psychopathology characterizing individuals with aberrant social behavior. Despite recent progress, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that link anxiety with social withdrawal remain poorly understood. The present study developed a zebrafish pharmacological model displaying social withdrawal behavior, following a 3-h exposure to 4 μΜ (+)-MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, for 7 days. Interestingly, MK-801-treated zebrafish displayed elevated anxiety levels along with higher frequency of stereotypical behaviors, rendering this zebrafish model appropriate to unravel a possible link of catecholaminergic and ASD-like phenotypes. MK-801-treated zebrafish showed increased telencephalic protein expression of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor (mGluR5), dopamine transporter (DAT) and β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs), supporting the presence of excitation/inhibition imbalance along with altered dopaminergic and noradrenergic activity. Interestingly, β2-ARs expression, was differentially regulated across the Social Decision-Making (SDM) network nodes, exhibiting increased levels in ventral telencephalic area (Vv), a key-area integrating reward and social circuits but decreased expression in dorso-medial telencephalic area (Dm) and anterior tuberal nucleus (ATN). Moreover, the co-localization of β2-ARs with elements of GABAergic and glutamatergic systems, as well as with GAP-43, a protein indicating increased brain plasticity potential, support the key-role of β2-ARs in the MK-801 zebrafish social dysfunctions. Our results highlight the importance of the catecholaminergic neurotransmission in the manifestation of ASD-like behavior, representing a site of potential interventions for amelioration of ASD-like symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Perdikaris
- Human and Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rio, 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Catherine R Dermon
- Human and Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rio, 26500 Patras, Greece.
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28
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Xavier J, Bastos CR, Camerini L, Amaral PB, Jansen K, de Mattos Souza LD, da Silva RA, Pinheiro RT, Lara DR, Ghisleni G. Interaction between COMT Val 158 Met polymorphism and childhood trauma predicts risk for depression in men. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:385-396. [PMID: 35441426 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a disabling illness with complex etiology. While the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene, in particular the functional Val158 Met polymorphism, has been related to depression, the mechanisms underlying this gene-disease association are not completely understood. Therefore, we explore the association of COMT Val158 Met polymorphism with depression as well as its interaction with childhood trauma in 1,136 young adults from a population-based study carried out in the city of Pelotas-Brazil. The diagnosis was performed through the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0 (MINI 5.0), and trauma was assessed with the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). Total DNA was extracted and genotyped by real-time PCR and the QTLbase dataset was queried to perform large-scale quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Our research showed no direct association between the Val158 Met polymorphism and the diagnosis of depression (women: χ2=0.10, d=1, p=0.751 and men: χ2=0.003, df=1 p=0.956). However, the Met-allele of the Val158 Met polymorphism modified the effect of childhood trauma in men [OR=2.58 (95% CI:1.05-6.29); p=0.038] conferring risk for depression only on those who suffer from trauma. The conditional effect from moderation analysis showed that trauma impacts the risk of depression only in men carrying the Met-allele (Effect: 0.9490, Standard Error (SE): 0.2570; p=0.0002). QTLbase and dataset for Val158 Met polymorphism were consistent for markers that influence chromatin accessibility transcription capacity including histone methylation and acetylation. The changes caused in gene regulation by childhood trauma exposure and polymorphism may serve as evidence of the mechanism whereby the interaction increases susceptibility to this disorder in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaína Xavier
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Ribeiro Bastos
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Laísa Camerini
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Paola Bajadares Amaral
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Karen Jansen
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luciano Dias de Mattos Souza
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Azevedo da Silva
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Tavares Pinheiro
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Diogo Rizzato Lara
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gabriele Ghisleni
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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29
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Extrastriatal dopamine D2/3 receptor binding, functional connectivity, and autism socio-communicational deficits: a PET and fMRI study. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2106-2113. [PMID: 35181754 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01464-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The social motivation hypothesis of autism proposes that social communication symptoms in autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) stem from atypical social attention and reward networks, where dopamine acts as a crucial mediator. However, despite evidence indicating that individuals with ASD show atypical activation in extrastriatal regions while processing reward and social stimuli, no previous studies have measured extrastriatal dopamine D2/3 receptor (D2/3R) availability in ASD. Here, we investigated extrastriatal D2/3R availability in individuals with ASD and its association with ASD social communication symptoms using positron emission tomography (PET). Moreover, we employed a whole-brain multivariate pattern analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify regions where functional connectivity atypically correlates with D2/3R availability depending on ASD diagnosis. Twenty-two psychotropic-free males with ASD and 24 age- and intelligence quotient-matched typically developing males underwent [11C]FLB457 PET, fMRI, and clinical symptom assessment. Participants with ASD showed lower D2/3R availability throughout the D2/3R-rich extrastriatal regions of the dopaminergic pathways. Among these, the posterior region of the thalamus, which primarily comprises the pulvinar, displayed the largest effect size for the lower D2/3R availability, which correlated with a higher score on the Social Affect domain of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 in participants with ASD. Moreover, lower D2/3R availability was correlated with lower functional connectivity of the thalamus-superior temporal sulcus and cerebellum-medial occipital cortex, specifically in individuals with ASD. The current findings provide novel molecular evidence for the social motivation theory of autism and offer a novel therapeutic target.
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Therapeutic Effects of a Novel Form of Biotin on Propionic Acid-Induced Autistic Features in Rats. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061280. [PMID: 35334937 PMCID: PMC8955994 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnesium biotinate (MgB) is a novel biotin complex with superior absorption and anti-inflammatory effects in the brain than D-Biotin. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different doses of MgB on social behavior deficits, learning and memory alteration, and inflammatory markers in propionic acid (PPA)-exposed rats. In this case, 35 Wistar rats (3 weeks old) were distributed into five groups: 1, Control; 2, PPA treated group; 3, PPA+MgBI (10 mg, HED); 4, PPA+MgBII (100 mg, HED); 5, PPA+MgBIII (500 mg, HED). PPA was given subcutaneously at 500 mg/kg/day for five days, followed by MgB for two weeks. PPA-exposed rats showed poor sociability and a high level of anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive impairments (p < 0.001). In a dose-dependent manner, behavioral and learning-memory disorders were significantly improved by MgB supplementation (p < 0.05). PPA decreased both the numbers and the sizes of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. However, MgB administration increased the sizes and the densities of Purkinje cells. MgB improved the brain and serum Mg, biotin, serotonin, and dopamine concentrations, as well as antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx, and GSH) (p < 0.05). In addition, MgB treatment significantly regulated the neurotoxicity-related cytokines and neurotransmission-related markers. For instance, MgB significantly decreased the expression level of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, CCL-3, CCL-5, and CXCL-16 in the brain, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that MgB may ameliorate dysfunctions in social behavior, learning and memory and reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation indexes of the brain in a rat model.
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31
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Tian J, Gao X, Yang L. Repetitive Restricted Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Mechanism to Development of Therapeutics. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:780407. [PMID: 35310097 PMCID: PMC8924045 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.780407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, social interaction, and repetitive restricted behaviors (RRBs). It is usually detected in early childhood. RRBs are behavioral patterns characterized by repetition, inflexibility, invariance, inappropriateness, and frequent lack of obvious function or specific purpose. To date, the classification of RRBs is contentious. Understanding the potential mechanisms of RRBs in children with ASD, such as neural connectivity disorders and abnormal immune functions, will contribute to finding new therapeutic targets. Although behavioral intervention remains the most effective and safe strategy for RRBs treatment, some promising drugs and new treatment options (e.g., supplementary and cell therapy) have shown positive effects on RRBs in recent studies. In this review, we summarize the latest advances of RRBs from mechanistic to therapeutic approaches and propose potential future directions in research on RRBs.
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32
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Pathophysiological Studies of Monoaminergic Neurotransmission Systems in Valproic Acid-Induced Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030560. [PMID: 35327362 PMCID: PMC8945169 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with complex etiology. The core syndromes of ASD are deficits in social communication and self-restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Social communication relies on the proper integration of sensory and motor functions, which is tightly interwoven with the limbic function of reward, motivation, and emotion in the brain. Monoamine neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are key players in the modulation of neuronal activity. Owing to their broad distribution, the monoamine neurotransmitter systems are well suited to modulate social communication by coordinating sensory, motor, and limbic systems in different brain regions. The complex and diverse functions of monoamine neurotransmission thus render themselves as primary targets of pathophysiological investigation of the etiology of ASD. Clinical studies have reported that children with maternal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) have an increased risk of developing ASD. Extensive animal studies have confirmed that maternal treatments of VPA include ASD-like phenotypes, including impaired social communication and repetitive behavior. Here, given that ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, we begin with an overview of the neural development of monoaminergic systems with their neurochemical properties in the brain. We then review and discuss the evidence of human clinical and animal model studies of ASD with a focus on the VPA-induced pathophysiology of monoamine neurotransmitter systems. We also review the potential interactions of microbiota and monoamine neurotransmitter systems in ASD pathophysiology. Widespread and complex changes in monoamine neurotransmitters are detected in the brains of human patients with ASD and validated in animal models. ASD animal models are not only essential to the characterization of pathogenic mechanisms, but also provide a preclinical platform for developing therapeutic approaches to ASD.
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33
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Varesi A, Pierella E, Romeo M, Piccini GB, Alfano C, Bjørklund G, Oppong A, Ricevuti G, Esposito C, Chirumbolo S, Pascale A. The Potential Role of Gut Microbiota in Alzheimer’s Disease: from Diagnosis to Treatment. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14030668. [PMID: 35277027 PMCID: PMC8840394 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota is emerging as a key regulator of many disease conditions and its dysregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of several gastrointestinal and extraintestinal disorders. More recently, gut microbiome alterations have been linked to neurodegeneration through the increasingly defined gut microbiota brain axis, opening the possibility for new microbiota-based therapeutic options. Although several studies have been conducted to unravel the possible relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathogenesis and progression, the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of approaches aiming at restoring gut microbiota eubiosis remain to be fully addressed. In this narrative review, we briefly summarize the role of gut microbiota homeostasis in brain health and disease, and we present evidence for its dysregulation in AD patients. Based on these observations, we then discuss how dysbiosis might be exploited as a new diagnostic tool in early and advanced disease stages, and we examine the potential of prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and diets as complementary therapeutic interventions on disease pathogenesis and progression, thus offering new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and progressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Varesi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Almo Collegio Borromeo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (G.R.)
| | - Elisa Pierella
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK; (E.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Marcello Romeo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | | | - Claudia Alfano
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Surgery, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), 8610 Mo i Rana, Norway;
| | - Abigail Oppong
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK; (E.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Giovanni Ricevuti
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (G.R.)
| | - Ciro Esposito
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, ICS Maugeri, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37121 Verona, Italy;
| | - Alessia Pascale
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
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34
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Saha S, Chatterjee M, Shom S, Sinha S, Mukhopadhyay K. Functional SLC6A3 polymorphisms differentially affect autism spectrum disorder severity: a study on Indian subjects. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:397-410. [PMID: 34845656 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00876-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Imbalance in dopamine (DA) signaling is proposed to play a potential role in the etiology of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) since, as a neuromodulator, DA regulates executive function, motor activity, social peering, attention as well as perception and subjects with ASD often exhibit deficit in these traits. Level of DA in the synaptic cleft is maintained by dopamine transporter (DAT) and hence, to identify the role of DAT in ASD, we have analyzed four functional genetic variants, rs28363170, rs3836790, rs2652511, rs27072, in nuclear families with ASD probands. Subjects were diagnosed based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders and trait severity was assessed by Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2-Standard test. Informed written consent was obtained from the parents/care givers before recruitment followed by collection of peripheral blood for genomic DNA isolation. Target sites were investigated by PCR-based methods and data obtained was analyzed by population- as well as family-based statistical methods. Case-control analysis revealed significant higher frequencies of 9 repeat (9R) and 5 repeat (5R) alleles of rs28363170 and rs3836790 respectively in the ASD probands. Family-based analysis showed statistically significant higher paternal transmission of rs28363170 9R and rs2652511 T alleles. In the presence of rs28363170 9R, rs27072 C, rs3836790 6R6R, and rs2652511 CC variants, trait scores were higher. Studied variants showed independent as well as interactive effects, which varied based on gender of the probands. We infer that altered DA availability mediated through DAT may affect autistic traits warranting further in depth investigation in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmistha Saha
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector J, EM Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700107, India
| | - Mahasweta Chatterjee
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector J, EM Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700107, India
| | - Sayanti Shom
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector J, EM Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700107, India
| | - Swagata Sinha
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector J, EM Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700107, India
| | - Kanchan Mukhopadhyay
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector J, EM Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700107, India.
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35
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Dichter GS, Rodriguez-Romaguera J. Anhedonia and Hyperhedonia in Autism and Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 58:237-254. [PMID: 35397066 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_312] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by impaired social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, ASD is also characterized by impaired motivational processes. The "social motivation theory of autism" describes how social motivation disruptions in ASD in early childhood may impede the drive to engage in reciprocal social behaviors and ultimately interfere with the development of neural networks critical for social communication (Chevallier et al., Trends Cogn Sci 16:231-239, 2012b). Importantly, clinical studies and preclinical research using model organisms for ASD indicate that motivational impairments in ASD are not constrained to social rewards but are evident in response to a range of nonsocial rewards as well. Additionally, translational studies on certain genetically defined neurodevelopmental disorders associated with ASD indicate that these syndromic forms of ASD are also characterized by motivational deficits and mesolimbic dopamine impairments. In this chapter we summarize clinical and preclinical research relevant to reward processing impairments in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders. We also propose a nosology to describe reward processing impairments in these disorders that uses a three-axes model. In this triaxial nosology, the first axis defines the direction of the reward response (i.e., anhedonic, hyperhedonic); the second axis defines the construct of the reward process (e.g., reward liking, reward wanting); and the third axis defines the context of the reward response (e.g., social, nonsocial). A more precise nosology for describing reward processing impairments in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders will aid in the translation of preclinical research to clinical investigations which will ultimately help to speed up the development of interventions that target motivational systems for ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Dichter
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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36
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Tzanoulinou S, Musardo S, Contestabile A, Bariselli S, Casarotto G, Magrinelli E, Jiang YH, Jabaudon D, Bellone C. Inhibition of Trpv4 rescues circuit and social deficits unmasked by acute inflammatory response in a Shank3 mouse model of Autism. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2080-2094. [PMID: 35022531 PMCID: PMC9126815 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01427-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the SHANK3 gene have been recognized as a genetic risk factor for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by social deficits and repetitive behaviors. While heterozygous SHANK3 mutations are usually the types of mutations associated with idiopathic autism in patients, heterozygous deletion of Shank3 gene in mice does not commonly induce ASD-related behavioral deficit. Here, we used in-vivo and ex-vivo approaches to demonstrate that region-specific neonatal downregulation of Shank3 in the Nucleus Accumbens promotes D1R-medium spiny neurons (D1R-MSNs) hyperexcitability and upregulates Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (Trpv4) to impair social behavior. Interestingly, genetically vulnerable Shank3+/- mice, when challenged with Lipopolysaccharide to induce an acute inflammatory response, showed similar circuit and behavioral alterations that were rescued by acute Trpv4 inhibition. Altogether our data demonstrate shared molecular and circuit mechanisms between ASD-relevant genetic alterations and environmental insults, which ultimately lead to sociability dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stamatina Tzanoulinou
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Present Address: Department of Biomedical Sciences (DSB), FBM, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Musardo
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Contestabile
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sebastiano Bariselli
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Casarotto
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Elia Magrinelli
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yong-hui Jiang
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Denis Jabaudon
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Camilla Bellone
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Kelly JR, Gillan CM, Prenderville J, Kelly C, Harkin A, Clarke G, O'Keane V. Psychedelic Therapy's Transdiagnostic Effects: A Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Perspective. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:800072. [PMID: 34975593 PMCID: PMC8718877 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.800072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating clinical evidence shows that psychedelic therapy, by synergistically combining psychopharmacology and psychological support, offers a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a range of disorders with restricted and/or maladaptive habitual patterns of emotion, cognition and behavior, notably, depression (MDD), treatment resistant depression (TRD) and addiction disorders, but perhaps also anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders. Despite the emergent transdiagnostic evidence, the specific clinical dimensions that psychedelics are efficacious for, and associated underlying neurobiological pathways, remain to be well-characterized. To this end, this review focuses on pre-clinical and clinical evidence of the acute and sustained therapeutic potential of psychedelic therapy in the context of a transdiagnostic dimensional systems framework. Focusing on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) as a template, we will describe the multimodal mechanisms underlying the transdiagnostic therapeutic effects of psychedelic therapy, traversing molecular, cellular and network levels. These levels will be mapped to the RDoC constructs of negative and positive valence systems, arousal regulation, social processing, cognitive and sensorimotor systems. In summarizing this literature and framing it transdiagnostically, we hope we can assist the field in moving toward a mechanistic understanding of how psychedelics work for patients and eventually toward a precise-personalized psychedelic therapy paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Claire M. Gillan
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jack Prenderville
- Transpharmation Ireland Ltd, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Clare Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew Harkin
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Veronica O'Keane
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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38
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Lee JS, Lee SB, Kim DW, Shin N, Jeong SJ, Yang CH, Son CG. Social isolation-related depression accelerates ethanol intake via microglia-derived neuroinflammation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj3400. [PMID: 34739315 PMCID: PMC8570606 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj3400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Social isolation is common in modern society and is a contributor to depressive disorders. People with depression are highly vulnerable to alcohol use, and abusive alcohol consumption is a well-known obstacle to treating depressive disorders. Using a mouse model involving isolation stress (IS) and/or ethanol intake, we investigated the mutual influence between IS-derived depressive and ethanol-seeking behaviors along with the underlying mechanisms. IS increased ethanol craving, which robustly exacerbated depressive-like behaviors. Ethanol intake activated the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, as evidenced by dopamine/tyrosine hydroxylase double-positive signals in the ventral tegmental area and c-Fos activity in the nucleus accumbens. IS-induced ethanol intake also reduced serotonergic activity, via microglial hyperactivation in raphe nuclei, that was notably attenuated by a microglial inhibitor (minocycline). Our study demonstrated that microglial activation is a key mediator in the vicious cycle between depression and alcohol consumption. We also propose that dopaminergic reward might be involved in this pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Seok Lee
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Dunsan Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Bae Lee
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Dunsan Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Woon Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Nara Shin
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Ju Jeong
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae-Ha Yang
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Gue Son
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Dunsan Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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39
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Lense MD, Ladányi E, Rabinowitch TC, Trainor L, Gordon R. Rhythm and timing as vulnerabilities in neurodevelopmental disorders. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200327. [PMID: 34420385 PMCID: PMC8380970 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Millions of children are impacted by neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), which unfold early in life, have varying genetic etiologies and can involve a variety of specific or generalized impairments in social, cognitive and motor functioning requiring potentially lifelong specialized supports. While specific disorders vary in their domain of primary deficit (e.g. autism spectrum disorder (social), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (attention), developmental coordination disorder (motor) and developmental language disorder (language)), comorbidities between NDDs are common. Intriguingly, many NDDs are associated with difficulties in skills related to rhythm, timing and synchrony though specific profiles of rhythm/timing impairments vary across disorders. Impairments in rhythm/timing may instantiate vulnerabilities for a variety of NDDs and may contribute to both the primary symptoms of each disorder as well as the high levels of comorbidities across disorders. Drawing upon genetic, neural, behavioural and interpersonal constructs across disorders, we consider how disrupted rhythm and timing skills early in life may contribute to atypical developmental cascades that involve overlapping symptoms within the context of a disorder's primary deficits. Consideration of the developmental context, as well as common and unique aspects of the phenotypes of different NDDs, will inform experimental designs to test this hypothesis including via potential mechanistic intervention approaches. This article is part of the theme issue 'Synchrony and rhythm interaction: from the brain to behavioural ecology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam D. Lense
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eniko Ladányi
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Laurel Trainor
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reyna Gordon
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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40
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Boness CL, Watts AL, Moeller KN, Sher KJ. The Etiologic, Theory-Based, Ontogenetic Hierarchical Framework of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Translational Systematic Review of Reviews. Psychol Bull 2021; 147:1075-1123. [PMID: 35295672 PMCID: PMC8923643 DOI: 10.1037/bul0000333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Modern nosologies (e.g., ICD-11, DSM-5) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and dependence prioritize reliability and clinical presentation over etiology, resulting in a diagnosis that is not always strongly grounded in basic theory and research. Within these nosologies, DSM-5 AUD is treated as a discrete, largely categorical, but graded, phenomenon, which results in additional challenges (e.g., significant phenotypic heterogeneity). Efforts to increase the compatibility between AUD diagnosis and modern conceptualizations of alcohol dependence, which describe it as dimensional and partially overlapping with other psychopathology (e.g., other substance use disorders) will inspire a stronger scientific framework and strengthen AUD's validity. We conducted a systematic review of 144 reviews to integrate addiction constructs and theories into a comprehensive framework with the aim of identifying fundamental mechanisms implicated in AUD. The product of this effort was the Etiologic, Theory-Based, Ontogenetic Hierarchical Framework (ETOH Framework) of AUD mechanisms, which outlines superdomains of cognitive control, reward, as well as negative valence and emotionality, each of which subsume narrower, hierarchically-organized components. We also outline opponent processes and self-awareness as key moderators of AUD mechanisms. In contrast with other frameworks, we recommend an increased conceptual role for negative valence and compulsion in AUD. The ETOH framework serves as a critical step towards conceptualizations of AUD as dimensional and heterogeneous. It has the potential to improve AUD assessment and aid in the development of evidence-based diagnostic measures that focus on key mechanisms in AUD, consequently facilitating treatment matching.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley L Watts
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Missouri
| | | | - Kenneth J Sher
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Missouri
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41
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Mariggiò MA, Palumbi R, Vinella A, Laterza R, Petruzzelli MG, Peschechera A, Gabellone A, Gentile O, Vincenti A, Margari L. DRD1 and DRD2 Receptor Polymorphisms: Genetic Neuromodulation of the Dopaminergic System as a Risk Factor for ASD, ADHD and ASD/ADHD Overlap. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:705890. [PMID: 34658761 PMCID: PMC8511701 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.705890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The dopaminergic system (DS) is one of the most important neuromodulator systems involved in complex functions that are compromised in both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conditions that frequently occur in overlap. This evidence suggests that both disorders might have common neurobiological pathways involving the DS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the DRD1 and DRD2 dopamine receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as potential risk factors for ASD, ADHD, and ASD/ADHD overlap. Genetic data were obtained from four groups: 75 ASD patients, 75 ADHD patients, 30 patients with ASD/ADHD overlap, and 75 healthy controls. All participants were between 2 and 17 years old. We compared the genotypic and allelic frequency of 18 SNPs among all of the study groups. Moreover, in the case of statistically significant differences, odds ratios (OR) were obtained to evaluate if the presence of SNPs might be a risk factor of developing a specific clinical phenotype. This study found that DRD1 and DRD2 receptors SNPs might be considered as potential risk factors for ASD and ADHD. However, only DRD2-12 (rs7131465) was significantly associated with a higher risk for the ASD/ADHD overlap. These data support the hypothesis of the genetic neuromodulation of the DS in the neurobiology of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Palumbi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Vinella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Riccardo Laterza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Antonia Peschechera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gabellone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Ottavio Gentile
- Pediatric Surgery Unit, Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Vincenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Margari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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42
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Liu H, Morris ED. Detecting and classifying neurotransmitter signals from ultra-high sensitivity PET data: the future of molecular brain imaging. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66. [PMID: 34330107 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac195d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Efforts to build the next generation of brain PET scanners are underway. It is expected that a new scanner (NS) will offer anorder-of-magnitude improvementin sensitivity to counts compared to the current state-of-the-art, Siemens HRRT. Our goal was to explore the use of the anticipated increased sensitivity in combination with the linear-parametric neurotransmitter PET (lp-ntPET) model to improve detection and classification of transient dopamine (DA) signals. We simulated striatal [11C]raclopride PET data to be acquired on a future NS which will offer ten times the sensitivity of the HRRT. The simulated PET curves included the effects of DA signals that varied in start-times, peak-times, and amplitudes. We assessed the detection sensitivity of lp-ntPET to various shapes of DA signal. We evaluated classification thresholds for their ability to separate 'early'- versus 'late'-peaking, and 'low'- versus 'high'-amplitude events in a 4D phantom. To further refine the characterization of DA signals, we developed a weighted k-nearest neighbors (wkNN) algorithm to incorporate information from the neighborhood around each voxel to reclassify it, with a level of certainty. Our findings indicate that the NS would expand the range of detectable neurotransmitter events to 72%, compared to the HRRT (31%). Application of wkNN augmented the detection sensitivity to DA signals in simulated NS data to 92%. This work demonstrates that the ultra-high sensitivity expected from a new generation of brain PET scanner, combined with a novel classification algorithm, will make it possible to accurately detect and classify short-lived DA signals in the brain based on their amplitude and timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Liu
- Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America.,Dept. Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Evan D Morris
- Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America.,Dept. Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America.,Dept. Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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43
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Herborg F, Jensen KL, Tolstoy S, Arends NV, Posselt LP, Shekar A, Aguilar JI, Lund VK, Erreger K, Rickhag M, Lycas MD, Lonsdale MN, Rahbek-Clemmensen T, Sørensen AT, Newman AH, Løkkegaard A, Kjaerulff O, Werge T, Møller LB, Matthies HJ, Galli A, Hjermind LE, Gether U. Dominant-negative actions of a dopamine transporter variant identified in patients with parkinsonism and neuropsychiatric disease. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e151496. [PMID: 34375312 PMCID: PMC8492322 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.151496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctional dopaminergic neurotransmission is central to movement disorders and mental diseases. The dopamine transporter (DAT) regulates extracellular dopamine levels, but the genetic and mechanistic link between DAT function and dopamine-related pathologies is not clear. Particularly, the pathophysiological significance of monoallelic missense mutations in DAT is unknown. Here, we use clinical information, neuroimaging, and large-scale exome-sequencing data to uncover the occurrence and phenotypic spectrum of a DAT coding variant, DAT-K619N, which localizes to the critical C-terminal PSD-95/Discs-large/ZO-1 homology–binding motif of human DAT (hDAT). We identified the rare but recurrent hDAT-K619N variant in exome-sequenced samples of patients with neuropsychiatric diseases and a patient with early-onset neurodegenerative parkinsonism and comorbid neuropsychiatric disease. In cell cultures, hDAT-K619N displayed reduced uptake capacity, decreased surface expression, and accelerated turnover. Unilateral expression in mouse nigrostriatal neurons revealed differential effects of hDAT-K619N and hDAT-WT on dopamine-directed behaviors, and hDAT-K619N expression in Drosophila led to impairments in dopamine transmission with accompanying hyperlocomotion and age-dependent disturbances of the negative geotactic response. Moreover, cellular studies and viral expression of hDAT-K619N in mice demonstrated a dominant-negative effect of the hDAT-K619N mutant. Summarized, our results suggest that hDAT-K619N can effectuate dopamine dysfunction of pathological relevance in a dominant-negative manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freja Herborg
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kathrine L Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sasha Tolstoy
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Natascha V Arends
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Leonie P Posselt
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aparna Shekar
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States of America
| | - Jenny I Aguilar
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States of America
| | - Viktor K Lund
- Departmetn of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kevin Erreger
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States of America
| | - Mattias Rickhag
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matthew D Lycas
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Markus N Lonsdale
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Troels Rahbek-Clemmensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas T Sørensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amy H Newman
- National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, United States of America
| | | | - Ole Kjaerulff
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Werge
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth B Møller
- Center for Applied Human Genetics, Kennedy Center, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Heinrich Jg Matthies
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States of America
| | - Aurelio Galli
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States of America
| | - Lena E Hjermind
- Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Gether
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Roy PK, Rajesh Y, Mandal M. Therapeutic targeting of membrane-associated proteins in central nervous system tumors. Exp Cell Res 2021; 406:112760. [PMID: 34339674 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
The activity of the most complex system, the central nervous system (CNS) is profoundly regulated by a huge number of membrane-associated proteins (MAP). A minor change stimulates immense chemical changes and the elicited response is organized by MAP, which acts as a receptor of that chemical or channel enabling the flow of ions. Slight changes in the activity or expression of these MAPs lead to severe consequences such as cognitive disorders, memory loss, or cancer. CNS tumors are heterogeneous in nature and hard-to-treat due to random mutations in MAPs; like as overexpression of EGFRvIII/TGFβR/VEGFR, change in adhesion molecules α5β3 integrin/SEMA3A, imbalance in ion channel proteins, etc. Extensive research is under process for developing new therapeutic approaches using these proteins such as targeted cytotoxic radiotherapy, drug-delivery, and prodrug activation, blocking of receptors like GluA1, developing viral vector against cell surface receptor. The combinatorial approach of these strategies along with the conventional one might be more potential. Henceforth, our review focuses on in-depth analysis regarding MAPs aiming for a better understanding for developing an efficient therapeutic approach for targeting CNS tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Kumar Roy
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
| | - Yetirajam Rajesh
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mahitosh Mandal
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India.
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Mundorf A, Koch J, Kubitza N, Wagner SC, Schmidt M, Gass P, Freund N. Morc1 as a potential new target gene in mood regulation: when and where to find in the brain. Exp Brain Res 2021; 239:2999-3005. [PMID: 34331083 PMCID: PMC8536634 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-021-06171-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent animal and human studies connected the Morc family CW-type zinc finger 1 (Morc1) gene with early life stress and depression. Moreover, the Morc superfamily is related to epigenetic regulation in diverse nuclear processes. So far, the Morc1 gene was mainly studied in spermatogenesis, whereas its distribution and function in the brain are still unknown. In a first attempt to characterize Morc1 in the brain, we performed a Western Blot analysis as well as a real-time PCR analysis during different stages of development. Additionally, we detected Morc1 mRNA using real-time PCR in different mood-regulating brain areas in adult rats. We found that MORC1 protein as well as Morc1 mRNA is already expressed in the brain at embryonic day 14 and is stably expressed until adulthood. Furthermore, Morc1 mRNA is present in many important brain areas of mood regulation like the medial prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, the hippocampus, the hypothalamus, and the amygdala. The ample distribution in the brain and its molecular structure as a zinc finger protein indicate that Morc1 might act as a transcription factor. This function and its expression in mood-regulating areas already in the early brain development turn Morc1 into a possible candidate gene for mediating early life stress and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annakarina Mundorf
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Experimentelle Und Molekulare Psychiatrie, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.,Institute for Systems Medicine, Department of Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Koch
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Experimentelle Und Molekulare Psychiatrie, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadja Kubitza
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Experimentelle Und Molekulare Psychiatrie, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Selina C Wagner
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Experimentelle Und Molekulare Psychiatrie, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michaela Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Peter Gass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Nadja Freund
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Experimentelle Und Molekulare Psychiatrie, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
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46
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Alymov AA, Kapitsa IG, Voronina TA. Neurochemical Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Pharmacological Correction of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Current Concepts and Prospects. NEUROCHEM J+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712421020033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Janouschek H, Chase HW, Sharkey RJ, Peterson ZJ, Camilleri JA, Abel T, Eickhoff SB, Nickl-Jockschat T. The functional neural architecture of dysfunctional reward processing in autism. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 31:102700. [PMID: 34161918 PMCID: PMC8239466 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Functional imaging studies have found differential neural activation patterns during reward-paradigms in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to neurotypical controls. However, publications report conflicting results on the directionality and location of these aberrant activations. We here quantitatively summarized relevant fMRI papers in the field using the anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm. Patients with ASD consistently showed hypoactivations in the striatum across studies, mainly in the right putamen and accumbens. These regions are functionally involved in the processing of rewards and are enrolled in extensive neural networks involving limbic, cortical, thalamic and mesencephalic regions. The striatal hypo-activations found in our ALE meta-analysis, which pooled over contrasts derived from the included studies on reward-processing in ASD, highlight the role of the striatum as a key neural correlate of impaired reward processing in autism. These changes were present for studies using social and non-social stimuli alike. The involvement of these regions in extensive networks associated with the processing of both positive and negative emotion alike might hint at broader impairments of emotion processing in the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildegard Janouschek
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Henry W Chase
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rachel J Sharkey
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Zeru J Peterson
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Nickl-Jockschat
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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48
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Ferdinand JM, Peters KZ, Yavas E, Young AMJ. Modulation of stimulated dopamine release in rat nucleus accumbens shell by GABA in vitro: Effect of sub-chronic phencyclidine pretreatment. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:1885-1901. [PMID: 33848365 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine signaling in nucleus accumbens (NAc) is modulated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acting through GABA-A and GABA-B receptors: dysregulation of GABAergic control of dopamine function may be important in behavioral deficits in schizophrenia. We investigated the effect of GABA-A (muscimol) and GABA-B (baclofen) receptor agonists on electrically stimulated dopamine release. Furthermore, we explored whether drug-induced changes were disrupted by pretreatment with phencyclidine, which provides a well-validated model of schizophrenia. Using brain slices from female rats, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to measure electrically stimulated dopamine release in NAc shell. Both muscimol and baclofen caused concentration-dependent attenuation of evoked dopamine release: neither effect was changed by dihydro-β-erythroidine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, or the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptor antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), precluding indirect mechanisms using these transmitter systems in the GABAergic actions. In slices taken from rats pretreated with phencyclidine, the attenuation of evoked dopamine release by baclofen was abolished, but the attenuation by muscimol was unaffected. Since phencyclidine pretreatment was followed by drug-free washout period of at least a week, the drug was not present during recording. Therefore, disruption of GABA-B modulation of dopamine is due to long-term functional changes resulting from the treatment, rather than transient changes due to the drug's presence at test. This enduring dysregulation of GABA-B modulation of accumbal dopamine release provides a plausible mechanism through which GABA dysfunction influences accumbal dopamine leading to behavioral changes seen in schizophrenia and may provide a route for novel therapeutic strategies to treat the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Z Peters
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK
| | - Ersin Yavas
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK
| | - Andrew M J Young
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK
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García-Domínguez I, Suárez-Pereira I, Santiago M, Pérez-Villegas EM, Bravo L, López-Martín C, Roca-Ceballos MA, García-Revilla J, Espinosa-Oliva AM, Rodríguez-Gómez JA, Joseph B, Berrocoso E, Armengol JÁ, Venero JL, Ruiz R, de Pablos RM. Selective deletion of Caspase-3 gene in the dopaminergic system exhibits autistic-like behaviour. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 104:110030. [PMID: 32634539 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Apoptotic caspases are thought to play critical roles in elimination of excessive and non-functional synapses and removal of extra cells during early developmental stages. Hence, an impairment of this process may thus constitute a basis for numerous neurological and psychiatric diseases. This view is especially relevant for dopamine due to its pleiotropic roles in motor control, motivation and reward processing. Here, we have analysed the effect of caspase-3 depletion on the development of catecholaminergic neurons and performed a wide array of neurochemical, ultrastructural and behavioural assays. To achieve this, we performed selective deletion of the Casp3 gene in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-expressing cells using Cre-loxP-mediated recombination. Histological evaluation of most relevant catecholaminergic nuclei revealed the ventral mesencephalon as the most affected region. Stereological analysis demonstrated an increase in the number of TH-positive neurons in both the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area along with enlarged volume of the ventral midbrain. Analysis of main innervating tissues revealed a rather contrasting profile. In striatum, basal extracellular levels and potassium-evoked DA release were significantly reduced in mice lacking Casp3, a clear indication of dopaminergic hypofunction in dopaminergic innervating tissues. This view was sustained by analysis of TH-labelled dopaminergic terminals by confocal and electron microscopy. Remarkably, at a behavioural level, Casp3-deficient mice exhibited impaired social interaction, restrictive interests and repetitive stereotypies, which are considered the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our study revitalizes the potential involvement of dopaminergic transmission in ASD and provides an excellent model to get further insights in ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene García-Domínguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Irene Suárez-Pereira
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Avda. Ana de Viya 21, 11009 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Marti Santiago
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Eva M Pérez-Villegas
- Departamento de Fisiología, Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Lidia Bravo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Avda. Ana de Viya 21, 11009 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Carolina López-Martín
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Avda. Ana de Viya 21, 11009 Cádiz, Spain; Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - María Angustias Roca-Ceballos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan García-Revilla
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ana M Espinosa-Oliva
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José A Rodríguez-Gómez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Departament of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Bertrand Joseph
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Toxicology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Esther Berrocoso
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz, INiBICA, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Avda. Ana de Viya 21, 11009 Cádiz, Spain; Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - José Ángel Armengol
- Departamento de Fisiología, Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José L Venero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rocío Ruiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Rocío M de Pablos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
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Su T, Pei L. Acupuncture and oxytocinergic system: The promising treatment for autism. Transl Neurosci 2021; 12:96-102. [PMID: 33633868 PMCID: PMC7896431 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2021-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments activities without efficient pharmacological therapies in social interaction, speech and stereotypic patterns. Clinical studies have shown the efficacy of acupuncture as an alternative therapy for autism. The effectiveness of acupuncture as an alternative treatment for autism has been demonstrated through clinical trials. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these effects remain unclear. Due to its profound pro-social, anxiolytic, stress management effects, and its potential use for the treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with altered socioemotional competence, oxytocin (OT) released from the hypothalamus has attracted considerable interest. In the past decade, a number of clinical and animal studies have shown that OT administration effectively reduces core symptoms of ASD, especially social behavior deficits. Recently, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a promising target for the treatment of autism. OT was found to facilitate the endocannabinoid-mediated social reward processes in the nucleus accumbens of the mouse brain. Furthermore, serotonin and dopamine are involved in the reward response mediated by OT. In view of these findings, we conclude that acupuncture may produce therapeutic effects on autism by triggering the hypothalamic oxytocin system, which in turn activates the release of neurotransmitters such as endocannabinoids, dopamine and serotonin. This would be a valuable guide for further research on the mechanism of treatment of autism with acupuncture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangfeng Su
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Lei Pei
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Institute for Brain Research (IBR), Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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