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Fadel L, Dacic M, Fonda V, Sokolsky BA, Quagliarini F, Rogatsky I, Uhlenhaut NH. Modulating glucocorticoid receptor actions in physiology and pathology: Insights from coregulators. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 251:108531. [PMID: 37717739 PMCID: PMC10841922 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a class of steroid hormones that regulate key physiological processes such as metabolism, immune function, and stress responses. The effects of GCs are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor that activates or represses the expression of hundreds to thousands of genes in a tissue- and physiological state-specific manner. The activity of GR is modulated by numerous coregulator proteins that interact with GR in response to different stimuli assembling into a multitude of DNA-protein complexes and facilitate the integration of these signals, helping GR to communicate with basal transcriptional machinery and chromatin. Here, we provide a brief overview of the physiological and molecular functions of GR, and discuss the roles of GR coregulators in the immune system, key metabolic tissues and the central nervous system. We also present an analysis of the GR interactome in different cells and tissues, which suggests tissue-specific utilization of GR coregulators, despite widespread functions shared by some of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Fadel
- Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology IDE, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 857649 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marija Dacic
- Hospital for Special Surgery Research Institute, The David Rosenzweig Genomics Center, New York, NY, USA; Graduate Program in Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vlera Fonda
- Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology IDE, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 857649 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Baila A Sokolsky
- Hospital for Special Surgery Research Institute, The David Rosenzweig Genomics Center, New York, NY, USA; Graduate Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fabiana Quagliarini
- Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology IDE, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 857649 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Inez Rogatsky
- Hospital for Special Surgery Research Institute, The David Rosenzweig Genomics Center, New York, NY, USA; Graduate Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
| | - N Henriette Uhlenhaut
- Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology IDE, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 857649 Neuherberg, Germany; Metabolic Programming, TUM School of Life Sciences & ZIEL Institute for Food and Health, Gregor11 Mendel-Str. 2, 85354 Freising, Germany.
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Merabet N, Lucassen PJ, Crielaard L, Stronks K, Quax R, Sloot PMA, la Fleur SE, Nicolaou M. How exposure to chronic stress contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes: A complexity science approach. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 65:100972. [PMID: 34929260 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress contributes to the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet the underlying etiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Responses to stress are influenced by earlier experiences, sex, emotions and cognition, and involve a complex network of neurotransmitters and hormones, that affect multiple biological systems. In addition, the systems activated by stress can be altered by behavioral, metabolic and environmental factors. The impact of stress on metabolic health can thus be considered an emergent process, involving different types of interactions between multiple variables, that are driven by non-linear dynamics at different spatiotemporal scales. To obtain a more comprehensive picture of the links between chronic stress and T2D, we followed a complexity science approach to build a causal loop diagram (CLD) connecting the various mediators and processes involved in stress responses relevant for T2D pathogenesis. This CLD could help develop novel computational models and formulate new hypotheses regarding disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Merabet
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J Lucassen
- Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, the Netherlands
| | - Loes Crielaard
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands
| | - Karien Stronks
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands
| | - Rick Quax
- Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Computational Science Lab, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, the Netherlands
| | - Peter M A Sloot
- Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Computational Science Lab, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, the Netherlands; National Centre of Cognitive Research, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Susanne E la Fleur
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism & Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Metabolism and Reward Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Mary Nicolaou
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands; Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1012 GC, the Netherlands.
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Wulsin AC, Kraus KL, Gaitonde KD, Suru V, Arafa SR, Packard BA, Herman JP, Danzer SC. The glucocorticoid receptor specific modulator CORT108297 reduces brain pathology following status epilepticus. Exp Neurol 2021; 341:113703. [PMID: 33745919 PMCID: PMC8169587 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Glucocorticoid levels rise rapidly following status epilepticus and remain elevated for weeks after the injury. To determine whether glucocorticoid receptor activation contributes to the pathological sequelae of status epilepticus, mice were treated with a novel glucocorticoid receptor modulator, C108297. METHODS Mice were treated with either C108297 or vehicle for 10 days beginning one day after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid secretion were assessed to determine whether hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperreactivity could be controlled. Status epilepticus-induced pathology was assessed by quantifying ectopic hippocampal granule cell density, microglial density, astrocyte density and mossy cell loss. Neuronal network function was examined indirectly by determining the density of Fos immunoreactive neurons following restraint stress. RESULTS Treatment with C108297 attenuated corticosterone hypersecretion after status epilepticus. Treatment also decreased the density of hilar ectopic granule cells and reduced microglial proliferation. Mossy cell loss, on the other hand, was not prevented in treated mice. C108297 altered the cellular distribution of Fos protein but did not restore the normal pattern of expression. INTERPRETATION Results demonstrate that baseline corticosterone levels can be normalized with C108297, and implicate glucocorticoid signaling in the development of structural changes following status epilepticus. These findings support the further development of glucocorticoid receptor modulators as novel therapeutics for the prevention of brain pathology following status epilepticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aynara C Wulsin
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Anesthesia, USA; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, USA; University of Cincinnati, Medical Scientist Training Program, USA; University of Cincinnati, Neuroscience Graduate Program, USA
| | - Kimberly L Kraus
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Anesthesia, USA; University of Cincinnati, Medical Scientist Training Program, USA; University of Cincinnati, Neuroscience Graduate Program, USA
| | - Kevin D Gaitonde
- University of Cincinnati, Medical Scientist Training Program, USA
| | - Venkat Suru
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Anesthesia, USA
| | - Salwa R Arafa
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Anesthesia, USA
| | - Benjamin A Packard
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology
| | - James P Herman
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology
| | - Steve C Danzer
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Anesthesia, USA; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, USA; University of Cincinnati, Medical Scientist Training Program, USA; University of Cincinnati, Neuroscience Graduate Program, USA.
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Sun Z, Xu Y. Nuclear Receptor Coactivators (NCOAs) and Corepressors (NCORs) in the Brain. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5843759. [PMID: 32449767 PMCID: PMC7351129 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor coactivators (NCOAs) and corepressors (NCORs) bind to nuclear hormone receptors in a ligand-dependent manner and mediate the transcriptional activation or repression of the downstream target genes in response to hormones, metabolites, xenobiotics, and drugs. NCOAs and NCORs are widely expressed in the mammalian brain. Studies using genetic animal models started to reveal pivotal roles of NCOAs/NCORs in the brain in regulating hormonal signaling, sexual behaviors, consummatory behaviors, exploratory and locomotor behaviors, moods, learning, and memory. Genetic variants of NCOAs or NCORs have begun to emerge from human patients with obesity, hormonal disruption, intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorders. Here we review recent studies that shed light on the function of NCOAs and NCORs in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Correspondence: Zheng Sun, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: ; or Yong Xu, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail:
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Correspondence: Zheng Sun, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: ; or Yong Xu, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail:
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Finik J, Buthmann J, Zhang W, Go K, Nomura Y. Placental Gene Expression and Offspring Temperament Trajectories: Predicting Negative Affect in Early Childhood. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:783-795. [PMID: 32185610 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-020-00632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to prenatal stress increases offspring risk for long-term neurobehavioral impairments and psychopathology, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Epigenetic regulation of glucocorticoid pathway genes may be a potential underlying mechanism by which maternal conditions 'program' the fetal brain for downstream vulnerabilities. The present study aims to investigate whether mRNA expression of glucocorticoid pathway genes in the placenta predict offspring negative affect during early childhood (between 6 and 24 months). Participants include 318 mother-child dyads participating in a longitudinal birth cohort study. Placental mRNA expression of glucocorticoid pathway genes (HSD11B1, HSD11B2, NR3C1, NCOR2) were profiled and negative affect traits of the offspring were measured at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. HSD11B1 mRNA expression significantly predicted negative affect (β = -.09, SE = .04; p = .036), and Distress to Limitations trajectories (β = -.13, SE = .06; p = .016). NCOR2 mRNA expression significantly predicted Distress to Limitations (β = .43, SE = .21; p = .047), and marginally predicted Sadness trajectories (β = .39, SE = .21; p = .068). HSD11B2 and NR3C1 did not predict trajectories of Negative Affect or subscale scores. Infant negative affect traits were assessed via maternal self-report, and deviated from linearity across follow-up. mRNA expression of glucocorticoid pathway genes in the placenta may be a potentially novel tool for early identification of infants at greater risk for elevated negative affect. Further study is needed to validate the utility of mRNA expression of glucocorticoid pathway genes in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Finik
- CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 55 W 125th St., New York, NY, 10027, USA.
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA.
| | - J Buthmann
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA
- CUNY Graduate Center, Department of Psychology, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - W Zhang
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA
- New Jersey City University, Department of Psychology, 2039 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ, 07305, USA
| | - K Go
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA
- Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
| | - Y Nomura
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA
- CUNY Graduate Center, Department of Psychology, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center, 85 St Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Psychiatry, 1 Gustave Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, USA
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Zoubovsky SP, Hoseus S, Tumukuntala S, Schulkin JO, Williams MT, Vorhees CV, Muglia LJ. Chronic psychosocial stress during pregnancy affects maternal behavior and neuroendocrine function and modulates hypothalamic CRH and nuclear steroid receptor expression. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:6. [PMID: 32066677 PMCID: PMC7026416 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0704-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 20% of mothers and has negative consequences for both mother and child. Although exposure to psychosocial stress during pregnancy and abnormalities in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis have been linked to PPD, molecular changes in the brain that contribute to this disease remain unknown. This study utilized a novel chronic psychosocial stress paradigm during pregnancy (CGS) to investigate the effects of psychosocial stress on maternal behavior, neuroendocrine function, and gene expression changes in molecular regulators of the HPA axis in the early postpartum period. Postpartum female mice exposed to CGS display abnormalities in maternal behavior, including fragmented and erratic maternal care patterns, and the emergence of depression and anxiety-like phenotypes. Dysregulation in postpartum HPA axis function, evidenced by blunted circadian peak and elevation of stress-induced corticosterone levels, was accompanied by increased CRH mRNA expression and a reduction in CRH receptor 1 in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). We further observed decreased PVN expression of nuclear steroid hormone receptors associated with CRH transcription, suggesting these molecular changes could underlie abnormalities in postpartum HPA axis and behavior observed. Overall, our study demonstrates that psychosocial stress during pregnancy induces changes in neuroendocrine function and maternal behavior in the early postpartum period and introduces our CGS paradigm as a viable model that can be used to further dissect the molecular defects that lead to PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra P Zoubovsky
- Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sarah Hoseus
- Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Shivani Tumukuntala
- Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jay O Schulkin
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael T Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Charles V Vorhees
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Yoshino Y, Dwivedi Y. Non-Coding RNAs in Psychiatric Disorders and Suicidal Behavior. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:543893. [PMID: 33101077 PMCID: PMC7522197 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.543893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that only a small proportion of the human genome code for proteins; the rest belong to the family of RNAs that do not code for protein and are known as non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). ncRNAs are further divided into two subclasses based on size: 1) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs; >200 nucleotides) and 2) small RNAs (<200 nucleotides). Small RNAs contain various family members that include microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). The roles of ncRNAs, especially lncRNAs and miRNAs, are well documented in brain development, homeostasis, stress responses, and neural plasticity. It has also been reported that ncRNAs can influence the development of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. More recently, their roles are being investigated in suicidal behavior. In this article, we have comprehensively reviewed the findings of lncRNA and miRNA expression changes and their functions in various psychiatric disorders including suicidal behavior. We primarily focused on studies that have been done in postmortem human brain. In addition, we have briefly reviewed the role of other small RNAs (e.g. piwiRNA, siRNA, snRNA, and snoRNAs) and their expression changes in psychiatric illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Yoshino
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Yogesh Dwivedi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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8
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Heck AL, Thompson MK, Uht RM, Handa RJ. Sex-Dependent Mechanisms of Glucocorticoid Regulation of the Mouse Hypothalamic Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqz012. [PMID: 31754709 PMCID: PMC7188085 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
To limit excessive glucocorticoid secretion following hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation, circulating glucocorticoids inhibit corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons. As HPA function differs between sexes and depends on circulating estradiol (E2) levels in females, we investigated sex/estrous stage-dependent glucocorticoid regulation of PVN Crh. Using NanoString nCounter technology, we first demonstrated that adrenalectomized (ADX'd) diestrous female (low E2), but not male or proestrous female (high E2), mice exhibited a robust decrease in PVN CRH mRNA following 2-day treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist RU28362. Immunohistochemical analysis of PVN CRH neurons in Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice, where TdTomato fluorescence permanently tags CRH-expressing neurons, showed similarly abundant co-expression of GR-immunoreactivity in males, diestrous females, and proestrous females. However, we identified sex/estrous stage-related glucocorticoid regulation or expression of GR transcriptional coregulators. Out of 17 coregulator genes examined using nCounter multiplex analysis, mRNAs that were decreased by RU28362 in ADX'd mice in a sex/estrous stage-dependent fashion included: GR (males = diestrous females > proestrous females), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (males < diestrous = proestrous), and HDAC1 (males < diestrous > proestrous). Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), nuclear corepressor 1 (NCoR1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnrnpu), CREB binding protein (CBP) and CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) mRNAs were lower in ADX'd diestrous and proestrous females versus males. Additionally, most PVN CRH neurons co-expressed methylated CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2)-immunoreactivity in diestrous female and male Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice. Our findings collectively suggest that GR's sex-dependent regulation of PVN Crh may depend upon differences in the GR transcriptional machinery and an underlying influence of E2 levels in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Heck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Maranda K Thompson
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Rosalie M Uht
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas
| | - Robert J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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9
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Glucocorticoid receptors in the basolateral amygdala mediated the restraint stress-induced reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behaviors in rats. Behav Brain Res 2018; 348:150-159. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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10
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Chow CC, Simons SS. An Approach to Greater Specificity for Glucocorticoids. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:76. [PMID: 29593646 PMCID: PMC5859375 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid steroids are among the most prescribed drugs each year. Nonetheless, the many undesirable side effects, and lack of selectivity, restrict their greater usage. Research to increase glucocorticoid specificity has spanned many years. These efforts have been hampered by the ability of glucocorticoids to both induce and repress gene transcription and also by the lack of success in defining any predictable properties that control glucocorticoid specificity. Correlations of transcriptional specificity have been observed with changes in steroid structure, receptor and chromatin conformation, DNA sequence for receptor binding, and associated cofactors. However, none of these studies have progressed to the point of being able to offer guidance for increased specificity. We summarize here a mathematical theory that allows a novel and quantifiable approach to increase selectivity. The theory applies to all three major actions of glucocorticoid receptors: induction by agonists, induction by antagonists, and repression by agonists. Simple graphical analysis of competition assays involving any two factors (steroid, chemical, peptide, protein, DNA, etc.) yields information (1) about the kinetically described mechanism of action for each factor at that step where the factor acts in the overall reaction sequence and (2) about the relative position of that step where each factor acts. These two pieces of information uniquely provide direction for increasing the specificity of glucocorticoid action. Consideration of all three modes of action indicate that the most promising approach for increased specificity is to vary the concentrations of those cofactors/pharmaceuticals that act closest to the observed end point. The potential for selectivity is even greater when varying cofactors/pharmaceuticals in conjunction with a select class of antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carson C. Chow
- Mathematical Biology Section, NIDDK/LBM, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Carson C. Chow, ; S. Stoney Simons, Jr.,
| | - S. Stoney Simons
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/LERB, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Carson C. Chow, ; S. Stoney Simons, Jr.,
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11
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Differential effects of imipramine and CORT118335 (Glucocorticoid receptor modulator/mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) on brain-endocrine stress responses and depression-like behavior in female rats. Behav Brain Res 2017; 336:99-110. [PMID: 28866130 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Depression is commonly associated with hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction that primarily manifests as aberrant glucocorticoid secretion. Glucocorticoids act on Type I mineralocorticoid (MR) and Type II glucocorticoid receptors (GR) to modulate mood and endocrine responses. Successful antidepressant treatment normalizes HPA axis function, in part due to modulatory effects on MR and GR in cortico-limbic structures. Although women are twice as likely to suffer from depression, little is known about how antidepressants modulate brain, endocrine, and behavioral stress responses in females. Here, we assessed the impact of CORT118335 (GR modulator/MR antagonist) and imipramine (tricyclic antidepressant) on neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to restraint or forced swim stress (FST) in female rats (n=10-12/group). Increased immobility CORT118335 in the FST is purported to reflect passive coping or depression-like behavior. CORT118335 dampened adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone responses to the FST, but did not affect immobility. Imipramine suppressed ACTH, but had minimal effects on corticosterone responses to FST. Despite these marginal effects, imipramine decreased immobility, suggesting antidepressant efficacy. In an effort to link brain-endocrine responses with behavior, c-Fos was assessed in HPA axis and mood modulatory regions in response to the FST. CORT118335 upregulated c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Imipramine decreased c-Fos in the basolateral amygdala and hippocampus (CA1 and CA3), but increased c-Fos in the central amygdala. These data suggest the antidepressant-like (e.g., active coping) properties of imipramine may be due to widespread effects on cortico-limbic circuits that regulate emotional and cognitive processes.
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12
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Nguyen ET, Streicher J, Berman S, Caldwell JL, Ghisays V, Estrada CM, Wulsin AC, Solomon MB. A mixed glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid receptor modulator dampens endocrine and hippocampal stress responsivity in male rats. Physiol Behav 2017; 178:82-92. [PMID: 28093219 PMCID: PMC5511095 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant glucocorticoid secretion is implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety). Glucocorticoids exert biological effects via mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors. Previous data from our laboratory indicate that GR antagonism/modulation (i.e., mifepristone, CORT 108297) regulate endocrine, behavioral, and central stress responses. Because of the dynamic interplay between MR and GR on HPA axis regulation and emotionality, compounds targeting both receptors are of interest for stress-related pathology. We investigated the effects of CORT 118335 (a dual selective GR modulator/MR antagonist) on endocrine, behavioral, and central (c-Fos) stress responses in male rats. Rats were treated for five days with CORT 118335, imipramine (positive control), or vehicle and exposed to restraint or forced swim stress (FST). CORT 118335 dampened corticosterone responses to both stressors, without a concomitant antidepressant-like effect in the FST. Imipramine decreased corticosterone responses to restraint stress; however, the antidepressant-like effect of imipramine in the FST was independent of circulating glucocorticoids. These findings indicate dissociation between endocrine and behavioral stress responses in the FST. CORT 118335 decreased c-Fos expression only in the CA1 division of the hippocampus. Imipramine decreased c-Fos expression in the basolateral amygdala and CA1 and CA3 divisions of the hippocampus. Overall, the data indicate differential effects of CORT 118335 and imipramine on stress-induced neuronal activity in various brain regions. The data also highlight a complex relationship between neuronal activation in stress and mood regulatory brain regions and the ensuing impact on endocrine and behavioral stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States.
| | - Joshua Streicher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, United States
| | - Sarah Berman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, United States
| | - Jody L Caldwell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, United States
| | - Valentina Ghisays
- Experimental Psychology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, United States
| | - Christina M Estrada
- Experimental Psychology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, United States
| | - Aynara C Wulsin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States
| | - Matia B Solomon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States
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13
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Sasaki S, Matsushita A, Kuroda G, Nakamura HM, Oki Y, Suda T. The Mechanism of Negative Transcriptional Regulation by Thyroid Hormone: Lessons From the Thyrotropin β Subunit Gene. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2017; 106:97-127. [PMID: 29407449 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (T3) activates (positive regulation) or represses (negative regulation) target genes at the transcriptional level. The molecular mechanism of the former has been elucidated in detail; however, the mechanism for negative regulation has not been established. The best example of the gene that is negatively regulated by T3 is the thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone) β subunit (TSHβ) gene. Analogous to the T3-responsive element (TRE) in positive regulation, a negative TRE (nTRE) has been postulated in the TSHβ gene. However, TSHβ promoter analysis, performed in the presence of transcription factors Pit1 and GATA2, which are determinants of thyrotroph differentiation in the pituitary, revealed that the nTRE is dispensable for inhibition by T3. We propose a tethering model in which the T3 receptor is tethered to GATA2 via protein-protein interaction and inhibits GATA2-dependent transactivation of the TSHβ gene in a T3-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Go Kuroda
- Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan
| | | | - Yutaka Oki
- Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takafumi Suda
- Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan
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14
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Zalachoras I, Verhoeve SL, Toonen LJ, van Weert LTCM, van Vlodrop AM, Mol IM, Meelis W, de Kloet ER, Meijer OC. Isoform switching of steroid receptor co-activator-1 attenuates glucocorticoid-induced anxiogenic amygdala CRH expression. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:1733-1739. [PMID: 26976039 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Maladaptive glucocorticoid effects contribute to stress-related psychopathology. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that mediates many of these effects uses multiple signaling pathways. We have tested the hypothesis that manipulation of downstream factors ('coregulators') can abrogate potentially maladaptive GR-mediated effects on fear-motivated behavior that are linked to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). For this purpose the expression ratio of two splice variants of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) was altered via antisense-mediated 'exon-skipping' in the central amygdala of the mouse brain. We observed that a change in splicing towards the repressive isoform SRC-1a strongly reduced glucocorticoid-induced responsiveness of Crh mRNA expression and increased methylation of the Crh promoter. The transcriptional GR target gene Fkbp5 remained responsive to glucocorticoids, indicating gene specificity of the effect. The shift of the SRC-1 splice variants altered glucocorticoid-dependent exploratory behavior and attenuated consolidation of contextual fear memory. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that manipulation of GR signaling pathways related to the Crh gene can selectively diminish potentially maladaptive effects of glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Zalachoras
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - S L Verhoeve
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - L J Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - L T C M van Weert
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A M van Vlodrop
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - I M Mol
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - W Meelis
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - E R de Kloet
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - O C Meijer
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
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15
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Azevedo JA, Carter BS, Meng F, Turner DL, Dai M, Schatzberg AF, Barchas JD, Jones EG, Bunney WE, Myers RM, Akil H, Watson SJ, Thompson RC. The microRNA network is altered in anterior cingulate cortex of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. J Psychiatr Res 2016; 82:58-67. [PMID: 27468165 PMCID: PMC5026930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs acting as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Though implicated in multiple CNS disorders, miRNAs have not been examined in any psychiatric disease state in anterior cingulate cortex (AnCg), a brain region centrally involved in regulating mood. We performed qPCR analyses of 29 miRNAs previously implicated in psychiatric illness (major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BP) and/or schizophrenia (SZ)) in AnCg of patients with MDD and BP versus controls. miR-132, miR-133a and miR-212 were initially identified as differentially expressed in BP, miR-184 in MDD and miR-34a in both MDD and BP (although none survived multiple correction testing and must be considered preliminary). In silico target prediction algorithms identified putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs. Nuclear Co-Activator 1 (NCOA1), Nuclear Co-Repressor 2 (NCOR2) and Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) were selected based upon predicted targeting by miR-34a (with NCOR2 and PDE4B both targeted by miR-184) and published relevance to psychiatric illness. Luciferase assays identified PDE4B as a target of miR-34a and miR-184, while NCOA1 and NCOR2 were targeted by miR-34a and 184, respectively. qPCR analyses were performed to determine whether changes in miRNA levels correlated with mRNA levels of validated targets. NCOA1 showed an inverse correlation with miR-34a in BP, while NCOR2 demonstrated a positive correlation. In sum, this is the first study to demonstrate miRNA changes in AnCg in psychiatric illness and validate miR-34a as differentially expressed in CNS in MDD. These findings support a mechanistic role for miRNAs in the regulation of stress-responsive genes disrupted in psychiatric illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Azevedo
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Bradley S Carter
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Program, Oberlin College, Science Center A261, 119 Woodland St., Oberlin, OH, 44074, USA
| | - Fan Meng
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - David L Turner
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, 5301 MSRB III, 1150 W. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Manhong Dai
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alan F Schatzberg
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Rd, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jack D Barchas
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Edward G Jones
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of California - Davis, 1544 Newton Court, Davis, CA, 95618, USA
| | - William E Bunney
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California - Irvine, 101 The City Dr S, Orange, CA, 92868, USA
| | - Richard M Myers
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, 601 Genome Way Northwest, Huntsville, AL, 35806, USA
| | - Huda Akil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Stanley J Watson
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Robert C Thompson
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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16
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Hapgood JP, Avenant C, Moliki JM. Glucocorticoid-independent modulation of GR activity: Implications for immunotherapy. Pharmacol Ther 2016; 165:93-113. [PMID: 27288728 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids (GCs), acting via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to repress inflammation and immune function, remain the most effective therapy in the treatment of inflammatory and immune diseases. Since many patients on GC therapy exhibit GC resistance and severe side-effects, much research is focused on developing more selective GCs and combination therapies, with greater anti-inflammatory potency. GCs mediate their classical genomic transcriptional effects by binding to the cytoplasmic GR, followed by nuclear translocation and modulation of transcription of target genes by direct DNA binding of the GR or its tethering to other transcription factors. Recent evidence suggests, however, that the responses mediated by the GR are much more complex and involve multiple parallel mechanisms integrating simultaneous signals from other receptors, both in the absence and presence of GCs, to shift the sensitivity of a target cell to GCs. The level of cellular stress, immune activation status, or the cell cycle phase may be crucial for determining GC sensitivity and GC responsiveness as well as subcellular localization of the GR and GR levels. Central to the development of new drugs that target GR signaling alone or as add-on therapies, is an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of GC-independent GR desensitization, priming and activation of the unliganded GR, as well as synergy and cross-talk with other signaling pathways. This review will discuss the information currently available on these topics and their relevance to immunotherapy, as well as identify unanswered questions and future areas of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet P Hapgood
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa.
| | - Chanel Avenant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa
| | - Johnson M Moliki
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa
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17
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Abstract
The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is responsible for stimulation of adrenal corticosteroids in response to stress. Negative feedback control by corticosteroids limits pituitary secretion of corticotropin, ACTH, and hypothalamic secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone, CRH, and vasopressin, AVP, resulting in regulation of both basal and stress-induced ACTH secretion. The negative feedback effect of corticosteroids occurs by action of corticosteroids at mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and/or glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) located in multiple sites in the brain and in the pituitary. The mechanisms of negative feedback vary according to the receptor type and location within the brain-hypothalmo-pituitary axis. A very rapid nongenomic action has been demonstrated for GR action on CRH neurons in the hypothalamus, and somewhat slower nongenomic effects are observed in the pituitary or other brain sites mediated by GR and/or MR. Corticosteroids also have genomic actions, including repression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in the pituitary and CRH and AVP genes in the hypothalamus. The rapid effect inhibits stimulated secretion, but requires a rapidly rising corticosteroid concentration. The more delayed inhibitory effect on stimulated secretion is dependent on the intensity of the stimulus and the magnitude of the corticosteroid feedback signal, but also the neuroanatomical pathways responsible for activating the HPA. The pathways for activation of some stressors may partially bypass hypothalamic feedback sites at the CRH neuron, whereas others may not involve forebrain sites; therefore, some physiological stressors may override or bypass negative feedback, and other psychological stressors may facilitate responses to subsequent stress.
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18
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Gilpin NW, Herman MA, Roberto M. The central amygdala as an integrative hub for anxiety and alcohol use disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 77:859-69. [PMID: 25433901 PMCID: PMC4398579 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 318] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The central amygdala (CeA) plays a central role in physiologic and behavioral responses to fearful stimuli, stressful stimuli, and drug-related stimuli. The CeA receives dense inputs from cortical regions, is the major output region of the amygdala, is primarily GABAergic (inhibitory), and expresses high levels of prostress and antistress peptides. The CeA is also a constituent region of a conceptual macrostructure called the extended amygdala that is recruited during the transition to alcohol dependence. We discuss neurotransmission in the CeA as a potential integrative hub between anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorder, which are commonly co-occurring in humans. Imaging studies in humans and multidisciplinary work in animals collectively suggest that CeA structure and function are altered in individuals with anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorder, the end result of which may be disinhibition of downstream "effector" regions that regulate anxiety-related and alcohol-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W Gilpin
- Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana; Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
| | - Melissa A Herman
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders (MAH, MR), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders (MAH, MR), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
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19
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Emont MP, Mantis S, Kahn JH, Landeche M, Han X, Sargis RM, Cohen RN. Silencing Mediator of Retinoid and Thyroid Hormone Receptors (SMRT) regulates glucocorticoid action in adipocytes. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015; 407:52-6. [PMID: 25766503 PMCID: PMC4390535 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Local modulation of glucocorticoid action in adipocytes regulates adiposity and systemic insulin sensitivity. However, the specific cofactors that mediate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) action in adipocytes remain unclear. Here we show that the silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) is recruited to GR in adipocytes and regulates ligand-dependent GR function. Decreased SMRT expression in adipocytes in vivo increases expression of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. Moreover, adipocytes with decreased SMRT expression exhibit altered glucocorticoid regulation of lipolysis. We conclude that SMRT regulates the metabolic functions of GR in adipocytes in vivo. Modulation of GR-SMRT interactions in adipocytes represents a novel approach to control the local degree of glucocorticoid action and thus influence adipocyte metabolic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo P Emont
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Stelios Mantis
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jonathan H Kahn
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Michael Landeche
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Xuan Han
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Robert M Sargis
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ronald N Cohen
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th Street, KCBD 8126, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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20
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Durairaj RV, Koilmani ER. Environmental enrichment modulates glucocorticoid receptor expression and reduces anxiety in Indian field male mouse Mus booduga through up-regulation of microRNA-124a. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 199:26-32. [PMID: 24457250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Enriched environmental condition (EC) has been known to reduce anxiety. In this study, we examined whether an EC could enhance anxiolytic behavior in the Indian field mouse Mus booduga by down-regulating the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) through microRNA-124a. Wild individuals were captured at agricultural field, and then housed at standard conditions (SC) for 7days. After short-term at standard condition (STSC), on 8th day they were divided into three groups as those: (i) STSC mice tested on light/dark box on the same day and then euthanized to examine gene expression, (ii) maintained at long-term in standard condition (LTSC) and (iii) transferred to EC. After 30days, both the LTSC and EC groups were tested on the light/dark box and then euthanized to examine gene expression in amygdala region of brain. EC group preferred to stay at light chamber and exhibited less anxiety-like behavioral components when compared to STSC and LTSC groups. However, between the two groups the STSC mice showed lesser anxiety-like behavior than LTSC mice. The expression of Dicer, Ago-2 and microRNA-124a (miR-124a) was more significantly up regulated in EC mice than in STSC and LTSC mice. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that miR-124a binds with 3'UTR of GR, and subsequently we detected a more decreased level of GR in EC than in STSC, LTSC mice. The results suggest that one of the action of EC could be a GR fine tuning through miR-124a, but there is no demonstration that it could be the only involved molecular mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragu Varman Durairaj
- Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620024, India
| | - Emmanuvel Rajan Koilmani
- Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620024, India.
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21
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Hu P, Liu J, Zhao J, Qi XR, Qi CC, Lucassen PJ, Zhou JN. All-trans retinoic acid-induced hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hyperactivity involves glucocorticoid receptor dysregulation. Transl Psychiatry 2013; 3:e336. [PMID: 24346134 PMCID: PMC4030330 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2013.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical reports have highlighted a role for retinoids in the etiology of mood disorders. Although we had shown that recruitment of the nuclear receptor retinoic acid receptor-α (RAR-α) to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) promoter is implicated in activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, further insight into how retinoids modulate HPA axis activity is lacking. Here we show that all-trans retinoic acid (RA)-induced HPA activation involves impairments in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) negative feedback. RA was applied to rats chronically through intracerebroventricular injection. A 19-day RA exposure induced potent HPA axis activation and typical depression-like behavior. Dexamethasone failed to suppress basal corticosterone (CORT) secretion, which is indicative of a disturbed GR negative feedback. In the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, increased CRH⁺ and c-fos⁺ cells were found while a negative R-2⁺/ER⁺ correlation was present between the number of RAR-α⁺ and GR⁺ cells. This was paralleled by increased RAR-α and decreased GR protein expression in the hypothalamus. Additional in vitro studies confirmed that RA abolished GR-mediated glucocorticoid-induced suppression of CRH expression, indicating a negative cross-talk between RAR-α and GR signaling pathways. Finally, the above changes could be rapidly normalized by treatment with GR antagonist mifepristone. We conclude that in addition to the 'classic' RAR-α-mediated transcriptional control of CRH expression, disturbances in GR negative feedback constitute a novel pathway that underlies RA-induced HPA axis hyperactivity. The rapid normalization by mifepristone may be of potential clinical interest in this respect.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - J Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - J Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - X-R Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - C-C Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - P J Lucassen
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Science, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J-N Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China,CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China. E-mail:
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22
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Serafini G, Pompili M, Hansen KF, Obrietan K, Dwivedi Y, Shomron N, Girardi P. The involvement of microRNAs in major depression, suicidal behavior, and related disorders: a focus on miR-185 and miR-491-3p. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2013; 34:17-30. [PMID: 24213247 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-013-9997-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorders are common and disabling conditions associated with significant psychosocial impairment and suicide risk. At least 3-4 % of all depressive individuals die by suicide. Evidence suggests that small non-coding RNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRNAs), play a critical role in major affective disorders as well as suicide. We performed a detailed review of the current literature on miRNAs and their targets in major depression and related disorders as well as suicidal behavior, with a specific focus on miR-185 and miR-491-3p, which have been suggested to participate in the pathogenesis of major depression and/or suicide. miRNAs play a fundamental role in the development of the brain. Several miRNAs are reported to influence neuronal and circuit formation by negatively regulating gene expression. Global miRNA reduced expression was found in the prefrontal cortex of depressed suicide completers when compared to that of nonpsychiatric controls who died of other causes. One particular miRNA, miR-185, was reported to regulate TrkB-T1, which has been associated with suicidal behavior upon truncation. Furthermore, cAMP response element-binding protein-brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathways may regulate, through miRNAs, the homeostasis of neural and synaptic pathways playing a crucial role in major depression. miRNAs have gained attention as key players involved in nervous system development, physiology, and disease. Further evidence is needed to clarify the exact role that miRNAs play in major depression and related disorders and suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1037, 00189, Rome, Italy,
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Luo M, Lu X, Zhu R, Zhang Z, Chow CC, Li R, Simons SS. A conserved protein motif is required for full modulatory activity of negative elongation factor subunits NELF-A and NELF-B in modifying glucocorticoid receptor-regulated gene induction properties. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:34055-34072. [PMID: 24097989 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.512426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NELF-B is a BRCA1-interacting protein and subunit (with NELF-A, -C/D, and -E) of the human negative elongation factor (NELF) complex, which participates in RNA polymerase II pausing shortly after transcription initiation, especially for synchronized gene expression. We now report new activities of NELF-B and other NELF complex subunits, which are to attenuate glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated gene induction, reduce the partial agonist activity of an antagonist, and increase the EC50 of an agonist during nonsynchronized expression of exogenous and endogenous reporters. Stable knockdown of endogenous NELF-B has the opposite effects on an exogenous gene. The GR ligand-binding domain suffices for these biological responses. ChIP assays reveal that NELF-B diminishes GR recruitment to promoter regions of two endogenous genes. Using a new competition assay, NELF-A and NELF-B are each shown to act independently as competitive decelerators at two steps after the site of GR action and before or at the site of reporter gene activity. A common motif in each NELF was identified that is required for full activity of both NELF-A and NELF-B. These studies allow us to position the actions of two new modulators of GR-regulated transactivation, NELF-A and NELF-B, relative to other factors in the overall gene induction sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Luo
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology (LERB), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Xinping Lu
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology (LERB), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Rong Zhu
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology (LERB), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Zhenhuan Zhang
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology (LERB), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Carson C Chow
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Rong Li
- Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - S Stoney Simons
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology (LERB), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
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Mariappan S, Bogdanowicz W, Marimuthu G, Rajan KE. Distress calls of the greater short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx activate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in conspecifics. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2013; 199:775-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-013-0838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Robertson S, Rohwer JM, Hapgood JP, Louw A. Impact of glucocorticoid receptor density on ligand-independent dimerization, cooperative ligand-binding and basal priming of transactivation: a cell culture model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64831. [PMID: 23717665 PMCID: PMC3661511 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels vary between tissues and individuals and are altered by physiological and pharmacological effectors. However, the effects and implications of differences in GR concentration have not been fully elucidated. Using three statistically different GR concentrations in transiently transfected COS-1 cells, we demonstrate, using co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) and fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET), that high levels of wild type GR (wtGR), but not of dimerization deficient GR (GRdim), display ligand-independent dimerization. Whole-cell saturation ligand-binding experiments furthermore establish that positive cooperative ligand-binding, with a concomitant increased ligand-binding affinity, is facilitated by ligand-independent dimerization at high concentrations of wtGR, but not GRdim. The down-stream consequences of ligand-independent dimerization at high concentrations of wtGR, but not GRdim, are shown to include basal priming of the system as witnessed by ligand-independent transactivation of both a GRE-containing promoter-reporter and the endogenous glucocorticoid (GC)-responsive gene, GILZ, as well as ligand-independent loading of GR onto the GILZ promoter. Pursuant to the basal priming of the system, addition of ligand results in a significantly greater modulation of transactivation potency than would be expected solely from the increase in ligand-binding affinity. Thus ligand-independent dimerization of the GR at high concentrations primes the system, through ligand-independent DNA loading and transactivation, which together with positive cooperative ligand-binding increases the potency of GR agonists and shifts the bio-character of partial GR agonists. Clearly GR-levels are a major factor in determining the sensitivity to GCs and a critical factor regulating transcriptional programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa
| | - Johann M. Rohwer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa
| | - Janet P. Hapgood
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
| | - Ann Louw
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa
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Differential targeting of brain stress circuits with a selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:7910-5. [PMID: 23613579 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1219411110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonism may be of considerable therapeutic value in stress-related psychopathology such as depression. However, blockade of all GR-dependent processes in the brain will lead to unnecessary and even counteractive effects, such as elevated endogenous cortisol levels. Selective GR modulators are ligands that can act both as agonist and as antagonist and may be used to separate beneficial from harmful treatment effects. We have discovered that the high-affinity GR ligand C108297 is a selective modulator in the rat brain. We first demonstrate that C108297 induces a unique interaction profile between GR and its downstream effector molecules, the nuclear receptor coregulators, compared with the full agonist dexamethasone and the antagonist RU486 (mifepristone). C108297 displays partial agonistic activity for the suppression of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression and potently enhances GR-dependent memory consolidation of training on an inhibitory avoidance task. In contrast, it lacks agonistic effects on the expression of CRH in the central amygdala and antagonizes GR-mediated reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis after chronic corticosterone exposure. Importantly, the compound does not lead to disinhibition of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Thus, C108297 represents a class of ligands that has the potential to more selectively abrogate pathogenic GR-dependent processes in the brain, while retaining beneficial aspects of GR signaling.
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Zalachoras I, Houtman R, Meijer OC. Understanding stress-effects in the brain via transcriptional signal transduction pathways. Neuroscience 2013; 242:97-109. [PMID: 23545270 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2012] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones exert crucial effects on the brain in relation to physiology, endocrine regulation, mood and cognition. Their two receptor types, glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (GR and MR), are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily and act in large measure as transcription factors. The outcome of MR/GR action on the genome depends on interaction with members from different protein families, which are of crucial importance for cross-talk with other neuronal and hormonal signals that impinge on the glucocorticoid sensitive circuitry. Relevant interacting proteins include other transcription factors that may either tether the receptor to the DNA, or that bind in the vicinity of GR and MR to tune the transcriptional response. In addition, transcriptional coregulator proteins constitute the actual signal transduction pathway to the transcription machinery. We review the current evidence for involvement of individual coregulators in GR-dependent effects on stress responses, and learning and memory. We discuss the use of in vitro and in silico tools to predict those coregulators that are of importance for particular brain processes. Finally, we discuss the potential of selective receptor modulators that may only allow a subset of all interactions, thus allowing more selective targeting of glucocorticoid-dependent processes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Zalachoras
- Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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28
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Zalachoras I, Grootaers G, van Weert LTCM, Aubert Y, de Kreij SR, Datson NA, van Roon-Mom WMC, Aartsma-Rus A, Meijer OC. Antisense-mediated isoform switching of steroid receptor coactivator-1 in the central nucleus of the amygdala of the mouse brain. BMC Neurosci 2013; 14:5. [PMID: 23294837 PMCID: PMC3551673 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-mediated exon skipping is a powerful tool to manipulate gene expression. In the present study we investigated the potential of exon skipping by local injection in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) of the mouse brain. As proof of principle we targeted the splicing of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), a protein involved in nuclear receptor function. This nuclear receptor coregulator exists in two splice variants (SRC-1a and SRC-1e) which display differential distribution and opposing activities in the brain, and whose mRNAs differ in a single SRC-1e specific exon. Methods For proof of principle of feasibility, we used immunofluorescent stainings to study uptake by different cell types, translocation to the nucleus and potential immunostimulatory effects at different time points after a local injection in the CeA of the mouse brain of a control AON targeting human dystrophin with no targets in the murine brain. To evaluate efficacy we designed an AON targeting the SRC-1e-specific exon and with qPCR analysis we measured the expression ratio of the two splice variants. Results We found that AONs were taken up by corticotropin releasing hormone expressing neurons and other cells in the CeA, and translocated into the cell nucleus. Immune responses after AON injection were comparable to those after sterile saline injection. A successful shift of the naturally occurring SRC-1a:SRC-1e expression ratio in favor of SRC-1a was observed, without changes in total SRC-1 expression. Conclusions We provide a proof of concept for local neuropharmacological use of exon skipping by manipulating the expression ratio of the two splice variants of SRC-1, which may be used to study nuclear receptor function in specific brain circuits. We established that exon skipping after local injection in the brain is a versatile and useful tool for the manipulation of splice variants for numerous genes that are relevant for brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Zalachoras
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University/Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Maeng S, Lee JH, Choi SC, Kim MA, Shin YK, Sohn YC. The retinoid X receptor in a marine invertebrate chordate: evolutionary insights from urochordates. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2012; 178:380-90. [PMID: 22732083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Revised: 05/10/2012] [Accepted: 06/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are highly conserved members of the nuclear hormone receptor family that mediate various physiological processes in vertebrates and invertebrates. We examined the expression patterns of RXR in the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi across a wide range of tissues and stages of embryo development, as well as the regulation of gene transcription by the ascidian RXR. H. roretzi RXR cDNA (HrRXR) was cloned from 64-cell stage embryos. The overall amino acid sequence of HrRXR showed high sequence identity with a urochordate Ciona intestinalis RXR (58%), but the ligand-binding domain of HrRXR was more similar to vertebrate orthologs than to those of invertebrate RXRs. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, HrRXR belongs to a group of urochordates that are separate from vertebrate RXRs, showing a clear evolutionary history. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and whole-mount in situ hybridization analyses revealed that the HrRXR mRNA is of maternal origin during embryogenesis, and in the examined adult tissues it is expressed in the muscles, gills, gonads, and the hepatopancreas. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that HrRXR is localized to the nucleus and highly expressed in the gills and hepatopancreas. Unlike human RXRα, HrRXR did not show 9-cis retinoic acid- and bexarotene (LGD1069)-dependent transactivation. While a synthetic ligand for farnesoid X receptor (FXR), GW4064, did not increase the transcriptional activation in HrRXR- or HrRXR/HrFXR-transfected HEK-293 cells, the ligand showed weak but significant activity for a single amino acid mutant of HrRXR ((Phe)231(Cys)) and HrFXR cotransfected cells. The present study suggests that the marine invertebrate chordate RXR may possess endogenous ligands that are different than vertebrate RXR ligands and which function during early embryonic stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejung Maeng
- Department of Marine Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 210-702, Republic of Korea
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Ragu Varman D, Marimuthu G, Emmanuvel Rajan K. Environmental enrichment exerts anxiolytic effects in the Indian field mouse (Mus booduga). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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31
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Meng QY, Chen XN, Tong DL, Zhou JN. Stress and glucocorticoids regulated corticotropin releasing factor in rat prefrontal cortex. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 342:54-63. [PMID: 21664419 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2011] [Revised: 04/22/2011] [Accepted: 05/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is considered as the central driving force in the stress response and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of depression. CRF neurons have been identified to locate in most regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region that is highly associated with the control of emotion and cognition. However, little is known on the regulation of CRF in this region. In this study, we aimed to identify the regulatory effect of acute restraint stress and glucocorticoid on PFC CRF and characterize the possible function of CRF in the PFC. We found that acute restraint stress increased and glucocorticoid decreased PFC CRF mRNA expression. The expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was found to colocalize with CRF neurons in the PFC. In addition, recruitment of GR by the CRF promoter was observed in vivo. Specific attention was paid to the effect of CRF on CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) expression in primary PFC cultures. The results showed that CRF increased CRFR1 expression through the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway. In summary, this study may contribute to the better understanding of CRF functions in the PFC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cells, Cultured
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism
- Depression/pathology
- Glucocorticoids/pharmacology
- MAP Kinase Signaling System
- Male
- Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger/drug effects
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/biosynthesis
- Stress, Physiological
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Yuan Meng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Jinzhai road 96, Hefei 230026, Anhui, PR China
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Zalachoras I, Evers MM, van Roon-Mom WMC, Aartsma-Rus AM, Meijer OC. Antisense-mediated RNA targeting: versatile and expedient genetic manipulation in the brain. Front Mol Neurosci 2011; 4:10. [PMID: 21811437 PMCID: PMC3142880 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2011.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A limiting factor in brain research still is the difficulty to evaluate in vivo the role of the increasing number of proteins implicated in neuronal processes. We discuss here the potential of antisense-mediated RNA targeting approaches. We mainly focus on those that manipulate splicing (exon skipping and exon inclusion), but will also briefly discuss mRNA targeting. Classic knockdown of expression by mRNA targeting is only one possible application of antisense oligonucleotides (AON) in the control of gene function. Exon skipping and inclusion are based on the interference of AONs with splicing of pre-mRNAs. These are powerful, specific and particularly versatile techniques, which can be used to circumvent pathogenic mutations, shift splice variant expression, knock down proteins, or to create molecular models using in-frame deletions. Pre-mRNA targeting is currently used both as a research tool, e.g., in models for motor neuron disease, and in clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AONs are particularly promising in relation to brain research, as the modified AONs are taken up extremely fast in neurons and glial cells with a long residence, and without the need for viral vectors or other delivery tools, once inside the blood brain barrier. In this review we cover (1). The principles of antisense-mediated techniques, chemistry, and efficacy. (2) The pros and cons of AON approaches in the brain compared to other techniques of interfering with gene function, such as transgenesis and short hairpin RNAs, in terms of specificity of the manipulation, spatial, and temporal control over gene expression, toxicity, and delivery issues. (3) The potential applications for Neuroscience. We conclude that there is good evidence from animal studies that the central nervous system can be successfully targeted, but the potential of the diverse AON-based approaches appears to be under-recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Zalachoras
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research Leiden, Netherlands
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Kageyama K, Tamasawa N, Suda T. Signal transduction in the hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor system and its clinical implications. Stress 2011; 14:357-67. [PMID: 21438777 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2010.536279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a major regulatory peptide in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis under stress conditions. In response to stress, CRF is produced in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Forskolin- or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-stimulated CRF gene transcription is mediated by the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element on the CRF 5'-promoter region. Estrogens enhance activation of the CRF gene in stress, while inducible cAMP-early repressor suppresses the stress response via inhibition of the cAMP-dependent CRF gene. Glucocorticoid-dependent repression of cAMP-stimulated CRF promoter activity is mediated by both the negative glucocorticoid-response element and the serum-response element, while interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates the CRF gene. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3, stimulated by IL-6 and cAMP, is involved in the negative regulation of CRF gene expression. Such complex mechanisms contribute to stress responses and homeostasis in the hypothalamus. Moreover, disruption of the HPA axis may cause a number of diseases related to stress. For example, CRF-induced p21-activated kinase 3 mRNA expression may be related to the proliferation of corticotrophs in Nelson's syndrome. A higher molecular weight form of immunoreactive β-endorphin, putative proopiomelanocortin (POMC), is increased in CRF-knockout mice, suggesting the important role of CRF in the processing of POMC through changes in prohormone convertase type-1 expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Kageyama
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan.
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Meijer OC. Corticosteroid receptor signalling modes and stress adaptation in the brain. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2011; 7:317-26. [PMID: 25961270 DOI: 10.1515/hmbci.2011.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Adrenal glucocorticoid hormones modulate neuronal activity to support an adaptive response to stress. They modulate brain circuitry mediating physiological responses, emotion and cognitive processing. Chronically elevated glucocorticoid exposure is however linked to the development of mental disease. Glucocorticoid effects depend on mineralo- and glucocorticoid receptors, which are powerful transcription factors, but also can act via a diversity of non-genomic mechanisms. Here, I review generic factors that determine neuronal glucocorticoid sensitivity, in relation to brain function. First, pre-receptor mechanisms determine ligand availability. Second, there may be considerable variation in the receptor splice- and translation variants. Third, other transcription factors and many transcriptional coregulators interact with steroid receptors, determining nature and magnitude of steroid responses, in part through epigenetic regulation of DNA accessibility. Which factors underlie adaptive and pathogenic effects of stress hormones is largely unknown. Genome-wide identification of the receptor-DNA interactions in specific behavioural and physiological contexts provides a way of assessing the complete genomic range of glucocorticoid modes of action. Novel ligands that induce selective activation of particular receptor signalling modes will aid our understanding of receptor signalling and may allow selective targeting of glucocorticoid effects in emotional or cognitive domains, in research and, hopefully, in clinical settings.
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Bian C, Zhang D, Guo Q, Cai W, Zhang J. Localization and sex-difference of steroid receptor coactivator-1 immunoreactivities in the brain of adult female and male mice. Steroids 2011; 76:269-79. [PMID: 21145336 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2010.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2010] [Revised: 10/10/2010] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Females and males are different in brain and behaviors. These differences are mediated by steroids and their nuclear receptors which require coactivators to regulate the transcription of target genes. Studies have shown that these coactivators are critical for modulating steroid hormone action in the brain. Steroid receptor coactivator-1 has been implied in the regulation of reproduction, stress, motor learning, and limited studies have reported the sex-specific difference of SRC-1 mRNA or protein expression in specific brain regions, but the expression and differences of SRC-1 immunoreactivities in adult female and male brain remain unclear. In this study we reported that in both sexes, high levels of SRC-1 immunoreactivities were detected in olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, Purkinje cells, some limited diencephalon and brainstem nuclei. The immunopositive materials were predominantly detected in cell nucleus, but in some regions they were also detected in the processes or fiber-like structures. In most of the brain regions studied, males possessed significantly higher levels of SRC-1 immunoreactivities than that of females. Higher levels of SRC-1 were detected in some nuclei related to learning and memory, motor regulation and reproduction indicated its potential roles in neurodegeneration and sex-dependent behavior and structure; the region- and sex-specific localization of SRC-1 immunoreactivities in agreement with that of some steroid receptors, indicating this coactivator play important roles in these hormone-reactive regions and cell groups related to reproduction, learning and memory, integration of motor and sense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Bian
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Shapingba, Chongqing, China
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Turner JD, Alt SR, Cao L, Vernocchi S, Trifonova S, Battello N, Muller CP. Transcriptional control of the glucocorticoid receptor: CpG islands, epigenetics and more. Biochem Pharmacol 2010; 80:1860-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2010.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Revised: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Kageyama K, Akimoto K, Suda T. Corticotrophin-releasing factor gene transcription is directly activated after deprivation of glucocorticoids in hypothalamic cells. J Neuroendocrinol 2010; 22:971-8. [PMID: 20626567 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.02048.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a central role in controlling the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during stressful periods. CRF neurones are activated in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in response to stress, whereas the activated CRF neurones in the PVN are suppressed by glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids may act directly on CRF neurones because glucocorticoid receptors are expressed highly on these neurones in the PVN. CRF expression levels in the PVN are also increased by adrenalectomy in vivo. The signalling pathways involved in the control of CRF gene transcription in the hypothalamus when negative feedback by glucocorticoids after adrenalectomy is lost remain undetermined. We investigated whether CRF gene transcription is regulated by both glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid withdrawal in hypothalamic cells. The present study demonstrates that CRF gene transcription activity and mRNA levels in the hypothalamic 4B cells were not modulated by incubation with dexamethasone for a short 2-h period, although they were stimulated by incubation for longer than 5 h. CRF gene transcription activity and mRNA levels were increased after 2 h of dexamethasone deprivation. The cAMP-response element (CRE) on the promoter was the main region that is regulated by both glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid withdrawal. We observed that the intracellular cAMP production levels were transiently increased 30 min after the removal of dexamethasone, whereas they were also increased 2.5 h after incubation with dexamethasone without the removal. Phosphorylated-CRE-binding protein (CREB)/CREB protein levels were also increased rapidly after the deprivation of glucocorticoids via an adenylate cyclase pathway. Therefore, the phosphorylation of CREB contributes to the activation of CRF gene transcription after the deprivation of glucocorticoids in hypothalamic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kageyama
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
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Yore MA, Im D, Webb LK, Zhao Y, Chadwick JG, Molenda-Figueira HA, Haidacher SJ, Denner L, Tetel MJ. Steroid receptor coactivator-2 expression in brain and physical associations with steroid receptors. Neuroscience 2010; 169:1017-28. [PMID: 20678994 PMCID: PMC2921768 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.05.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2010] [Revised: 05/11/2010] [Accepted: 05/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol and progesterone bind to their respective receptors in the hypothalamus and hippocampus to influence a variety of behavioral and physiological functions, including reproduction and cognition. Work from our lab and others has shown that the nuclear receptor coactivators, steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) and SRC-2, are essential for efficient estrogen receptor (ER) and progestin receptor (PR) transcriptional activity in brain and for hormone-dependent behaviors. While the expression of SRC-1 in brain has been studied extensively, little is known about the expression of SRC-2 in brain. In the present studies, we found that SRC-2 was highly expressed throughout the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus, including the medial preoptic area (MPOA), ventral medial nucleus (VMN), arcuate nucleus (ARC), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, supraoptic nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus. In order for coactivators to function with steroid receptors, they must be expressed in the same cells. Indeed, SRC-2 and ER(alpha) were coexpressed in many cells in the MPOA, VMN and ARC, all brain regions known to be involved in female reproductive behavior and physiology. While in vitro studies indicate that SRC-2 physically associates with ER and PR, very little is known about receptor-coactivator interactions in brain. Therefore, we used pull-down assays to test the hypotheses that SRC-2 from hypothalamic and hippocampal tissue physically associate with ER and PR subtypes in a ligand-dependent manner. SRC-2 from both brain regions interacted with ER(alpha) bound to agonist, but not in the absence of ligand or in the presence of the selective ER modulator, tamoxifen. Analysis by mass spectrometry confirmed these ligand-dependent interactions between ER(alpha) and SRC-2 from brain. In dramatic contrast, SRC-2 from brain showed little to no interaction with ERbeta. Interestingly, SRC-2 from both brain regions interacted with PR-B, but not PR-A, in a ligand-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings reveal that SRC-2 is expressed in brain regions known to mediate a variety of steroid-dependent functions. Furthermore, SRC-2 is expressed in many ER(alpha) containing cells in the hypothalamus. Finally, SRC-2 from brain interacts with ER and PR in a subtype-specific manner, which may contribute to the functional differences of these steroid receptor subtypes in brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - DaEun Im
- Neuroscience Program, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481
| | - Lena K. Webb
- Neuroscience Program, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
| | - Yingxin Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Stark Diabetes Center, McCoy Stem Cells and Diabetes Mass Spectrometry Research Laboratory, Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | | | - Heather A. Molenda-Figueira
- Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Sigmund J. Haidacher
- Department of Internal Medicine, Stark Diabetes Center, McCoy Stem Cells and Diabetes Mass Spectrometry Research Laboratory, Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Larry Denner
- Department of Internal Medicine, Stark Diabetes Center, McCoy Stem Cells and Diabetes Mass Spectrometry Research Laboratory, Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Marc J. Tetel
- Neuroscience Program, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481
- Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
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Pérez H, Soto-Moyano R, Ruiz S, Hernández A, Sierralta W, Olivares R, Núñez H, Flores O, Morgan C, Valladares L, Gatica A, Flores FJ. A putative role for hypothalamic glucocorticoid receptors in hypertension induced by prenatal undernutrition in the rat. Neurosci Lett 2010; 483:41-6. [PMID: 20674672 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2010] [Revised: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal undernutrition induces hypertension later in life, possibly by disturbing the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis through programming decreased expression of hypothalamic glucocorticoid receptors. We examined the systolic blood pressure, heart rate and plasma corticosterone response to intra-paraventricular dexamethasone, mifepristone and corticosterone in eutrophic and prenatally undernourished young rats. Undernutrition was induced during fetal life by restricting the diet of pregnant mothers to 10 g daily (40% of diet consumed by well-nourished controls). At day 40 of postnatal life (i) intra-paraventricular administration of dexamethasone significantly reduced at least for 24h both the systolic pressure (-11.6%), the heart rate (-20.8%) and the plasma corticosterone (-40.0%) in normal animals, while producing lower effects (-5.5, -8.7, and -22.3%, respectively) on undernourished rats; (ii) intra-paraventricular administration of the antiglucocorticoid receptor ligand mifepristone to normal rats produced opposite effects (8.2, 20.3, and 48.0% increase, respectively) to those induced by dexamethasone, being these not significant in undernourished animals; (iii) intra-paraventricular corticosterone did not exert any significant effect. Results suggest that the low sensitivity of paraventricular neurons to glucocorticoid receptor ligands observed in prenatally undernourished rats could be due to the already reported glucocorticoid receptor expression, found in the hypothalamus of undernourished animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernán Pérez
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Regulation, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Díaz-Gallardo MY, Cote-Vélez A, Charli JL, Joseph-Bravo P. A rapid interference between glucocorticoids and cAMP-activated signalling in hypothalamic neurones prevents binding of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein and glucocorticoid receptor at the CRE-Like and composite GRE sites of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone gene promoter. J Neuroendocrinol 2010; 22:282-93. [PMID: 20136691 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01966.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids or cAMP increase, within minutes, thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) transcription in hypothalamic primary cultures, although this effect is prevented if cells are simultaneously incubated with both drugs. Rat TRH promoter contains a CRE site at -101/-94 bp and a composite GRE element (cGRE) at -218/-197 bp. Nuclear extracts of hypothalamic cells incubated with 8Br-cAMP or dexamethasone, and not their combination, bind to oligonucleotides containing the CRE or cGRE sequences. Adjacent to CRE are Sp/Krüppel response elements, and flanking the GRE half site, two AP1 binding sites. The present study aimed to identify the hypothalamic transcription factors that bind to these sites. We verified that the effects of glucocorticoid were not mimicked by corticosterone-bovine serum albumin. Footprinting and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used to examine the interaction of cAMP- and glucocorticoid-mediated regulation of TRH transcription at the CRE and cGRE regions of the TRH promoter. Nuclear extracts from hypothalamic cells incubated for 1 h with cAMP or glucocorticoids protected CRE. The GRE half site was recognised by nuclear proteins from cells stimulated with glucocorticoids and, for the adjacent AP-1 sites, by nuclear proteins from cells stimulated with cAMP or phorbol esters. Protection of CRE or cGRE was lost if cells were coincubated with dexamethasone and 8Br-cAMP. ChIP assays revealed phospho-CREB, c-Jun, Sp1, c-Fos and GR antibodies bound the TRH promoter of cells treated with cAMP or glucocorticoids; anti:RNA-polymerase II immunoprecipitated TRH promoter in a similar proportion as anti:pCREB or anti:GR. Recruitment of pCREB, SP1 or GR was lost when cells were exposed simultaneously to 8Br-cAMP and glucocorticoids. The data show that while pCREB and Sp1 bind to CRE-2, or GR to cGRE of the TRH promoter, the mutual antagonism between cAMP and glucocorticoid signalling, which prevent their binding to TRH promoter, could serve as a mechanism by which glucocorticoids rapidly suppress cAMP and noradrenaline-stimulated TRH transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Y Díaz-Gallardo
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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41
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Specificity of glucocorticoid receptor primary antibodies for analysis of receptor localization patterns in cultured cells and rat hippocampus. Brain Res 2010; 1331:1-11. [PMID: 20307510 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.03.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2009] [Revised: 03/02/2010] [Accepted: 03/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
After glucocorticoid stimulation, glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are translocated to the nucleus to modulate transcription of glucocorticoid target genes. The subcellular distribution and trafficking of GR in cultured cells has been studied quite intensively using several techniques. However, the intracellular localization of nuclear receptors in ligand-free and stimulated conditions in vivo is still controversial, in part because of inconsistent results with different antibodies. Knowledge of trafficking of GR in vivo could greatly contribute to understanding nuclear receptor signaling. Therefore, in this study we systematically compared a panel of different primary GR antibodies using immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging. Nuclear translocation patterns at different time points after glucocorticoid stimulation were compared in cultured AtT20 cells and rat hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus cells. The BuGR2 antibody consistently detected GR nuclear translocation patterns between in vivo and in vitro settings, but the other GR primary antibodies provided contradictory results. While GR H300 and P20 strongly detected nuclear GR immunoreactivity after glucocorticoid stimulation in both CA1 and dentate gyrus cells, the same antibodies provided poor results in cultured cells. The opposite was found for the primary GR M20 antibody. These data indicate that with a particular glucocorticoid receptor antibody the findings in cell culture studies cannot always be extrapolated to in vivo situations. Moreover, different antibodies disclose different features of the glucocorticoid receptor translocation process.
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Tetel MJ. Modulation of steroid action in the central and peripheral nervous systems by nuclear receptor coactivators. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009; 34 Suppl 1:S9-19. [PMID: 19541426 PMCID: PMC2795054 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Revised: 05/08/2009] [Accepted: 05/10/2009] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormones act in the central and peripheral nervous systems to regulate a variety of functions, including development, cell proliferation, cognition and behavior. Many of these effects of steroid hormones are mediated by their respective receptors, which are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcriptional activators. A variety of cell culture studies reveal that nuclear receptor coactivators are recruited to the steroid receptor complex and are critical in modulating steroid-dependent transcription. Thus, in addition to the availability of the hormone and its receptor, the expression of nuclear receptor coactivators is essential for modulating steroid receptor-mediated transcription. This review will discuss the significance of nuclear receptor coactivators in modulating steroid-dependent gene expression in the central and peripheral nervous systems and the regulation of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc J. Tetel
- Neuroscience Program, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481
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Mallimo EM, Ansonoff MA, Pintar JE, Kusnecov AW. Role of opioid receptor like-1 receptor in modulation of endocrine, immunological, and behavioral responses to the T-cell superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A. J Neuroimmunol 2009; 218:48-56. [PMID: 19913923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2009] [Revised: 10/17/2009] [Accepted: 10/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Opioid receptor like-1 receptor (ORL(1)) is selective for orphaninFQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N), a peptide linked to stress. Since immunologic stimuli exert stressor-like effects, the neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of the T-cell superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) were tested in ORL(1)(-/-) and ORL(1)(+/+) wildtype 129S6 mice. Within 2h of SEA challenge both genotypes showed elevated corticosterone, but only wildtypes were elevated after 4h, and had altered hypothalamic CRH mRNA. Although amygdaloid CRH and TNFalpha mRNA was increased by SEA, this did not vary with genotype. Interestingly, gustatory neophobia due to SEA challenge was augmented in ORL(1)(-/-) mice, although object neophobia tested 4days later was abrogated. These results suggest differential requirements for ORL(1) in the mediation of neuroimmune effects exerted at different times after an immune challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse M Mallimo
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
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Who's in charge? Nuclear receptor coactivator and corepressor function in brain and behavior. Front Neuroendocrinol 2009; 30:328-42. [PMID: 19401208 PMCID: PMC2720417 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2009] [Revised: 04/15/2009] [Accepted: 04/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Steroid hormones act in brain and throughout the body to regulate a variety of functions, including development, reproduction, stress and behavior. Many of these effects of steroid hormones are mediated by their respective receptors, which are members of the steroid/nuclear receptor superfamily of transcriptional activators. A variety of studies in cell lines reveal that nuclear receptor coregulators are critical in modulating steroid receptor-dependent transcription. Thus, in addition to the availability of the hormone and the expression of its receptor, nuclear receptor coregulators are essential for efficient steroid-dependent transactivation of genes. This review will highlight the importance of nuclear receptor coregulators in modulating steroid-dependent gene expression in brain and the regulation of behavior.
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45
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Vreugdenhil E, Verissimo CSL, Mariman R, Kamphorst JT, Barbosa JS, Zweers T, Champagne DL, Schouten T, Meijer OC, de Kloet ER, Fitzsimons CP. MicroRNA 18 and 124a down-regulate the glucocorticoid receptor: implications for glucocorticoid responsiveness in the brain. Endocrinology 2009; 150:2220-8. [PMID: 19131573 DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-1335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert profound effects on a variety of physiological processes, including adaptation to stress, metabolism, immunity, and neuronal development. Cellular responsiveness to GCs depends on numerous factors, including the amount of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein. We tested the hypothesis that micro-RNAs (miRs), a recently discovered group of noncoding RNAs involved in mRNA translation, might control GR activity by reducing GR protein levels in neuronal tissues. We tested a panel of five miRs consisting of 124aa, 328, 524, 22, and 18. We found that miRs 18 and 124a reduced GR-mediated events in addition to decreasing GR protein levels. miR reporter assays revealed binding of miR-124a to the 3' untranslated region of GR. In correspondence, the activation of the GR-responsive gene glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper was strongly impaired by miR-124a and -18 overexpression. Although miR-18 is expressed widely throughout the body, expression of miR-124a is restricted to the brain. Endogenous miR-124a up-regulation during neuronal differentiation of P19 cells was associated with a decreasing amount of GR protein levels and reduced activity of luciferase reporter constructs bearing GR 3' untranslated regions. Furthermore, we show that miR-124a expression varies over time during the stress hyporesponsive period, a neonatal period when GC signaling is modulated. Our findings demonstrate a potential role for miRs in the regulation of cell type-specific responsiveness to GCs, as may occur during critical periods of neuronal development. Ultimately, our results may provide a better understanding of the etiology of stress-related diseases as well as the efficacy of GC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erno Vreugdenhil
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research/Medical Pharmacology Department, Leiden University, Gorlaeus Laboratory, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Steroid receptor coactivator-1 is necessary for regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone by chronic stress and glucocorticoids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:8038-42. [PMID: 19416907 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812062106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptation to stress in vertebrates occurs via activation of hormonal and neuronal signaling cascades in which corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a central role. Expression of brain CRH is subject to strong, brain-region specific regulation by glucocorticoid hormones and neurogenic intracellular signals. We hypothesized that Steroid Receptor Coactivator 1 (SRC-1), a transcriptional coregulator of the glucocorticoid receptor, is involved in the sensitivity of CRH regulation by stress-related factors. In the brains of SRC-1 knockout mice we found basal CRH mRNA levels to be lower in the central nucleus of the amygdala. Hypothalamic CRH up-regulation after chronic (but not acute) stress, as well as region-dependent up- and down-regulation induced by synthetic glucocorticoids, were significantly attenuated compared with wild type. The impaired induction of the crh gene by neurogenic signals was corroborated in AtT-20 cells, where siRNA and overexpression experiments showed that SRC-1 is necessary for full induction of a CRH promoter reporter gene by forskolin, suggestive of involvement of transcription factor CREB. In conclusion, SRC-1 is involved in positive and negative regulation of the crh gene, and an important factor for the adaptive capacity of stress.
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47
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Keenan DM, Alexander S, Irvine C, Veldhuis JD. Quantifying nonlinear interactions within the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in the conscious horse. Endocrinology 2009; 150:1941-51. [PMID: 19022882 PMCID: PMC2659283 DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-1249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortisol is an important mediator of physiological stress responses. Hypothalamic CRH and arginine vasopressin (AVP) and pituitary ACTH, in addition to hypothalamic and pituitary cortisol feedback, regulate cortisol secretion. Importantly, joint interactions among the four, rather than the signal of any one hormone, govern this life-preserving axis. Quantifying in vivo strength of such joint interactions has been difficult, especially without direct injection of cortisol, CRH, AVP, or ACTH. The goal of the present research was to estimate these joint feedback and feedforward interactions in vivo in the conscious horse during low-cortisol and hypoglycemic stress. Pituitary venous sampling of ACTH, CRH, and AVP was performed every 0.5-1 min and jugular venous sampling of cortisol every 15-20 min. Estimation of hypothalamic dynamics revealed that: 1) hypocortisolemia amplifies CRH and AVP secretion, when mean (slow) and rate-adjusted (rapid) cortisol feedback concentrations decrease by 0-25%; and 2) reduced peptide feedback augments CRH and AVP secretion, when CRH and AVP secretion each decreases by 0-25 and 50% of its respective maximum. Thus, low-cortisol feedback enhances CRH outflow in part by relieving CRH's autoinhibition. Estimation of pituitary dynamics disclosed that: 1) endogenous CRH and AVP synergize in evoking ACTH secretion, and 2) hypocortisolemia potentiates individual and conjoint stimulation of ACTH secretion by CRH and AVP. Formulations such as the present one should have application to evaluating other complex endocrine dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Keenan
- Department of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
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de Kloet ER, Fitzsimons CP, Datson NA, Meijer OC, Vreugdenhil E. Glucocorticoid signaling and stress-related limbic susceptibility pathway: about receptors, transcription machinery and microRNA. Brain Res 2009; 1293:129-41. [PMID: 19332027 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2008] [Accepted: 03/16/2009] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress is essential for health, but if coping with stress fails, the action of the stress hormones cortisol and corticosterone (CORT) becomes dysregulated, precipitating a condition favorable for increased susceptibility to psychopathology. We focus on the question how the action of CORT can change from protective to harmful. APPROACH CORT targets the limbic brain, where it affects cognitive processes and emotional arousal. The magnitude and duration of the CORT feedback signal depends on bio-availability of the hormone, the activity of the CORT receptor machinery and the stress-induced drive. If CORT action becomes dysregulated, we postulate that this is linked to compromised receptor regulation in the limbic brain's susceptibility pathway. RESULTS CORT action on gene transcription is mediated by high affinity mineralocorticoid (MR) and 10 fold lower affinity glucocorticoid (GR) receptors that also can mediate fast non-genomic actions. MR and GR operate a feedback loop that involves access and binding to the receptors, activation and shuttling of the CORT receptor complexes, which require interaction with coregulators and transcription factors for transcriptional outcome. CORT modulates the expression of gene transcripts encoding specific chaperones, motor proteins and transcription factors as well as its own receptors. The emerging evidence of microRNAs operating translational control points to further fine-tuning in receptor signaling. CONCLUSION Imbalance in MR:GR-mediated actions caused by receptor variants and epigenetic modulations have been proposed as risk factor in stress-related disease. We here provide key regulatory steps in the activation, transport and regulation of CORT receptors that may sensitize susceptibility pathways underlying psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R de Kloet
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Abstract
Steroid hormones act both in the brain and throughout the body to influence behaviour and physiology. Many of these effects of steroid hormones are elicited by transcriptional events mediated by their respective receptors. A variety of cell culture studies reveal that nuclear receptor coactivators are critical for modulating steroid receptor-dependent transcription. Thus, in addition to the availability of the hormone and the expression of its receptor, nuclear receptor coactivators are essential for steroid-dependent transactivation of genes. This review discusses the mounting evidence indicating that nuclear receptor coactivators are critical for modulating steroid hormone action in the brain and in the regulation of behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Tetel
- Neuroscience Program, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA.
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50
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van der Laan S, de Kloet ER, Meijer OC. Timing is critical for effective glucocorticoid receptor mediated repression of the cAMP-induced CRH gene. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4327. [PMID: 19177170 PMCID: PMC2629571 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2008] [Accepted: 11/19/2008] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid negative feedback of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is mediated in part by direct repression of gene transcription in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expressing cells. We have investigated the cross talk between the two main signaling pathways involved in activation and repression of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA expression: cyclic AMP (cAMP) and GR. We report that in the At-T20 cell-line the glucocorticoid-mediated repression of the cAMP-induced human CRH proximal promoter activity depends on the relative timing of activation of both signaling pathways. Activation of the GR prior to or in conjunction with cAMP signaling results in an effective repression of the cAMP-induced transcription of the CRH gene. In contrast, activation of the GR 10 minutes after onset of cAMP treatment, results in a significant loss of GR-mediated repression. In addition, translocation of ligand-activated GR to the nucleus was found as early as 10 minutes after glucocorticoid treatment. Interestingly, while both signaling cascades counteract each other on the CRH proximal promoter, they synergize on a synthetic promoter containing 'positive' response elements. Since the order of activation of both signaling pathways may vary considerably in vivo, we conclude that a critical time-window exists for effective repression of the CRH gene by glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siem van der Laan
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - E. Ronald de Kloet
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Onno C. Meijer
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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