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Chen G, Zhang Y, Li R, Jin L, Hao K, Rong J, Duan H, Du Y, Yao L, Xiang D, Liu Z. Environmental enrichment attenuates depressive-like behavior in maternal rats by inhibiting neuroinflammation and apoptosis and promoting neuroplasticity. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100624. [PMID: 38524250 PMCID: PMC10958482 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Gestational stress can exacerbate postpartum depression (PPD), for which treatment options remain limited. Environmental enrichment (EE) may be a therapeutic intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, but the specific mechanisms by which EE might impact PPD remain unknown. Here we examined the behavioral, molecular, and cellular impact of EE in a stable PPD model in rats developed through maternal separation (MS). Maternal rats subjected to MS developed depression-like behavior and cognitive dysfunction together with evidence of significant neuroinflammation including microglia activation, neuronal apoptosis, and impaired synaptic plasticity. Expanding the duration of EE to throughout pregnancy and lactation, we observed an EE-associated reversal of MS-induced depressive phenotypes, inhibition of neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, and improvement in synaptic plasticity in maternal rats. Thus, EE effectively alleviates neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, damage to synaptic plasticity, and consequent depression-like behavior in mother rats experiencing MS-induced PPD, paving the way for new preventive and therapeutic strategies for PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guopeng Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yuhui Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ruiling Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Liuyin Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Keke Hao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jingtong Rong
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Hao Duan
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yiwei Du
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lihua Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Dan Xiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhongchun Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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2
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Xie H, Xie Z, Luan F, Zeng J, Zhang X, Chen L, Zeng N, Liu R. Potential therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine in postpartum depression: Mechanisms and future directions. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 324:117785. [PMID: 38262525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common psychiatric disorder in women after childbirth. Per data from epidemiologic studies, PPD affects about 5%-26.32% of postpartum mothers worldwide. Biological factors underlying this condition are multiple and complex and have received extensive inquiries for the roles they play in PPD. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), which is widely used as a complementary and alternative therapy for neurological disorders, possesses multi-component, multi-target, multi-access, and low side effect therapeutic characteristics. CHM has already shown efficacy in the treatment of PPD, and a lot more research exploring the mechanisms of its potential therapeutic effects is being conducted. AIM OF THE REVIEW This review provides an in-depth and comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms of PPD, as well as samples the progress made in researching the potential role of CHM in treating the disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature was searched comprehensively in scholarly electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI and WanFang DATA, using the search terms "postpartum depression", "genetic", "hormone", "immune", "neuroinflammation", "inflammation", "neurotransmitter", "neurogenesis", "brain-gut axis", "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herbal medicine", "herb", and an assorted combination of these terms. RESULTS PPD is closely associated with genetics, as well as with the hormones, immune inflammatory, and neurotransmitter systems, neurogenesis, and gut microbes, and these biological factors often interact and work together to cause PPD. For example, inflammatory factors could suppress the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inducing the regulation of tryptophan-kynurenine in the direction of neurotoxicity. Many CHM constituents improve anxiety- and depression-like behaviors by interfering with the above-mentioned mechanisms and have shown decent efficacy clinically against PPD. For example, Shen-Qi-Jie-Yu-Fang invigorates the neuroendocrine system by boosting the hormone levels of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axes, regulating the imbalance of Treg/T-helper cells (Th) 17 and Th1/Th2, and modulating neurotransmitter system to play antidepressant roles. The Shenguiren Mixture interferes with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway to enhance the number, morphology and apoptosis of neurons in the hippocampus of PPD rats. Other herbal extracts and active ingredients of CHM, such as Paeoniflorin, hypericin, timosaponin B-III and more, also manage depression by remedying the neuroendocrine system and reducing neuroinflammation. CONCLUSIONS The pathogenesis of PPD is complex and diverse, with the main pathogenesis not clear. Still, CHM constituents, like Shen-Qi-Jie-Yu-Fang, the Shenguiren Mixture, Paeoniflorin, hypericin and other Chinese Medicinal Formulae, active monomers and Crude extracts, treats PPD through multifaceted interventions. Therefore, developing more CHM components for the treatment of PPD is an essential step forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China.
| | - Zhiqiang Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China.
| | - Fei Luan
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of New Drugs and Chinese Medicine Foundation Research, Pharmacy College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, PR China.
| | - Jiuseng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China.
| | - Xiumeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China.
| | - Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China; Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China.
| | - Nan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China.
| | - Rong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, PR China.
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Park E, Jeon H, Lee N, Yu J, Park H, Satoh T, Akira S, Furuyama T, Lee C, Choi J, Rho J. TDAG51 promotes transcription factor FoxO1 activity during LPS-induced inflammatory responses. EMBO J 2023; 42:e111867. [PMID: 37203866 PMCID: PMC10308371 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated inflammatory responses is important for innate immunity. Here, we show that T-cell death-associated gene 51 (TDAG51/PHLDA1) is a novel regulator of the transcription factor FoxO1, regulating inflammatory mediator production in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response. TDAG51 induction by LPS stimulation was mediated by the TLR2/4 signaling pathway in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). LPS-induced inflammatory mediator production was significantly decreased in TDAG51-deficient BMMs. In TDAG51-deficient mice, LPS- or pathogenic Escherichia coli infection-induced lethal shock was reduced by decreasing serum proinflammatory cytokine levels. The recruitment of 14-3-3ζ to FoxO1 was competitively inhibited by the TDAG51-FoxO1 interaction, leading to blockade of FoxO1 cytoplasmic translocation and thereby strengthening FoxO1 nuclear accumulation. TDAG51/FoxO1 double-deficient BMMs showed significantly reduced inflammatory mediator production compared with TDAG51- or FoxO1-deficient BMMs. TDAG51/FoxO1 double deficiency protected mice against LPS- or pathogenic E. coli infection-induced lethal shock by weakening the systemic inflammatory response. Thus, these results indicate that TDAG51 acts as a regulator of the transcription factor FoxO1, leading to strengthened FoxO1 activity in the LPS-induced inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eui‐Soon Park
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyChungnam National UniversityDaejeonKorea
| | - Hyoeun Jeon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyChungnam National UniversityDaejeonKorea
| | - Nari Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyChungnam National UniversityDaejeonKorea
| | - Jiyeon Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyChungnam National UniversityDaejeonKorea
| | - Hye‐Won Park
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyChungnam National UniversityDaejeonKorea
| | - Takashi Satoh
- Department of Immune Regulation, Graduate School of Medical and Dental SciencesTokyo Medical and Dental UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Shizuo Akira
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research CenterOsaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Tatsuo Furuyama
- Department of Clinical ExaminationKagawa Prefectural University of Health SciencesKagawaJapan
| | - Chul‐Ho Lee
- Laboratory Animal CenterKorea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB)DaejeonKorea
| | - Jong‐Soon Choi
- Division of Life ScienceKorea Basic Science Institute (KBSI)DaejeonKorea
| | - Jaerang Rho
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyChungnam National UniversityDaejeonKorea
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4
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Jeon H, Amarasekara DS, Lee N, Park HW, Yu J, Rho J. TDAG51 deficiency attenuates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20619. [PMID: 36450854 PMCID: PMC9712416 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24873-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Although the multifactorial etiology of IBD pathogenesis is relatively well documented, the regulatory factors that confer a risk of IBD pathogenesis remain less explored. In this study, we report that T-cell death-associated gene 51 (TDAG51/PHLDA1) is a novel regulator of the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. TDAG51 expression was elevated in the colon tissues of DSS-induced experimental colitis mice. TDAG51 deficiency protected mice against acute DSS-induced lethality and body weight changes and disease severity. DSS-induced structural damage and mucus secretion in colon tissues were significantly reduced in TDAG51-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. We observed similar results in a DSS-induced chronic colitis mouse model. Finally, we showed that the production of inflammatory mediators, including proinflammatory enzymes, molecules and cytokines, was decreased in DSS-treated TDAG51-deficient mice compared with DSS-treated wild-type mice. Thus, we demonstrated that TDAG51 deficiency plays a protective role against DSS-induced colitis by decreasing the production of inflammatory mediators in mice. These findings suggest that TDAG51 is a novel regulator of the development of DSS-induced colitis and is a potential therapeutic target for IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoeun Jeon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Korea
| | - Dulshara Sachini Amarasekara
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Korea
| | - Nari Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Korea
| | - Hye-Won Park
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Korea
| | - Jiyeon Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Korea
| | - Jaerang Rho
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Korea.
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5
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Fuentes I, Morishita Y, Gonzalez-Salinas S, Champagne FA, Uchida S, Shumyatsky GP. Experience-Regulated Neuronal Signaling in Maternal Behavior. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:844295. [PMID: 35401110 PMCID: PMC8987921 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.844295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal behavior is shaped and challenged by the changing developmental needs of offspring and a broad range of environmental factors, with evidence indicating that the maternal brain exhibits a high degree of plasticity. This plasticity is displayed within cellular and molecular systems, including both intra- and intercellular signaling processes as well as transcriptional profiles. This experience-associated plasticity may have significant overlap with the mechanisms controlling memory processes, in particular those that are activity-dependent. While a significant body of work has identified various molecules and intracellular processes regulating maternal care, the role of activity- and experience-dependent processes remains unclear. We discuss recent progress in studying activity-dependent changes occurring at the synapse, in the nucleus, and during the transport between these two structures in relation to maternal behavior. Several pre- and postsynaptic molecules as well as transcription factors have been found to be critical in these processes. This role reflects the principal importance of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of memory formation to maternal and other behavioral adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Fuentes
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Frances A. Champagne
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Shusaku Uchida
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Gleb P. Shumyatsky
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- *Correspondence: Gleb P. Shumyatsky
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6
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Bhadra S, Chen S, Liu C. Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes That Aggravate Metabolic Diseases in Depression. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11111203. [PMID: 34833079 PMCID: PMC8620538 DOI: 10.3390/life11111203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is considered the second leading cause of the global health burden after cancer. It is recognized as the most common physiological disorder. It affects about 350 million people worldwide to a serious degree. The onset of depression, inadequate food intake, abnormal glycemic control and cognitive impairment have strong associations with various metabolic disorders which are mediated through alterations in diet and physical activities. The regulatory key factors among metabolic diseases and depression are poorly understood. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the dysregulation of genes affected in depressive disorder, we employed an analytical, quantitative framework for depression and related metabolic diseases. In this study, we examined datasets containing patients with depression, obesity, diabetes and NASH. After normalizing batch effects to minimize the heterogeneity of all the datasets, we found differentially expressed genes (DEGs) common to all the datasets. We identified significantly associated enrichment pathways, ontology pathways, protein–protein cluster networks and gene–disease associations among the co-expressed genes co-expressed in depression and the metabolic disorders. Our study suggested potentially active signaling pathways and co-expressed gene sets which may play key roles in crosstalk between metabolic diseases and depression.
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7
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Yu J, Kim S, Lee N, Jeon H, Lee J, Takami M, Rho J. Pax5 Negatively Regulates Osteoclastogenesis through Downregulation of Blimp1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042097. [PMID: 33672551 PMCID: PMC7923754 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Paired box protein 5 (Pax5) is a crucial transcription factor responsible for B-cell lineage specification and commitment. In this study, we identified a negative role of Pax5 in osteoclastogenesis. The expression of Pax5 was time-dependently downregulated by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand (RANKL) stimulation in osteoclastogenesis. Osteoclast (OC) differentiation and bone resorption were inhibited (68.9% and 48% reductions, respectively) by forced expression of Pax5 in OC lineage cells. Pax5 led to the induction of antiosteoclastogenic factors through downregulation of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp1). To examine the negative role of Pax5 in vivo, we generated Pax5 transgenic (Pax5Tg) mice expressing the human Pax5 transgene under the control of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) promoter, which is expressed mainly in OC lineage cells. OC differentiation and bone resorption were inhibited (54.2–76.9% and 24.0–26.2% reductions, respectively) in Pax5Tg mice, thereby contributing to the osteopetrotic-like bone phenotype characterized by increased bone mineral density (13.0–13.6% higher), trabecular bone volume fraction (32.5–38.1% higher), trabecular thickness (8.4–9.0% higher), and trabecular number (25.5–26.7% higher) and decreased trabecular spacing (9.3–10.4% lower) compared to wild-type control mice. Furthermore, the number of OCs was decreased (48.8–65.3% reduction) in Pax5Tg mice. These findings indicate that Pax5 plays a negative role in OC lineage specification and commitment through Blimp1 downregulation. Thus, our data suggest that the Pax5–Blimp1 axis is crucial for the regulation of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea; (J.Y.); (S.K.); (N.L.); (H.J.)
| | - Sumi Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea; (J.Y.); (S.K.); (N.L.); (H.J.)
| | - Nari Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea; (J.Y.); (S.K.); (N.L.); (H.J.)
| | - Hyoeun Jeon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea; (J.Y.); (S.K.); (N.L.); (H.J.)
| | - Jun Lee
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea;
| | - Masamichi Takami
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Showa University, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawaku 142-8555, Japan;
| | - Jaerang Rho
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea; (J.Y.); (S.K.); (N.L.); (H.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-42-821-6420; Fax: +82-42-822-7367
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8
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Thippeswamy H, Davies W. A new molecular risk pathway for postpartum mood disorders: clues from steroid sulfatase-deficient individuals. Arch Womens Ment Health 2021; 24:391-401. [PMID: 33219387 PMCID: PMC8116278 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01093-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Postpartum mood disorders develop shortly after childbirth in a significant proportion of women. These conditions are associated with a range of symptoms including abnormally high or low mood, irritability, cognitive disorganisation, disrupted sleep, hallucinations/delusions, and occasionally suicidal or infanticidal ideation; if not treated promptly, they can substantially impact upon the mother's health, mother-infant bonding, and family dynamics. The biological precipitants of such disorders remain unclear, although large changes in maternal immune and hormonal physiology following childbirth are likely to play a role. Pharmacological therapies for postpartum mood disorders can be effective, but may be associated with side effects, concerns relating to breastfeeding, and teratogenicity risks when used prophylactically. Furthermore, most of the drugs that are used to treat postpartum mood disorders are the same ones that are used to treat mood episodes during non-postpartum periods. A better understanding of the biological factors predisposing to postpartum mood disorders would allow for rational drug development, and the identification of predictive biomarkers to ensure that 'at risk' mothers receive earlier and more effective clinical management. We describe new findings relating to the role of the enzyme steroid sulfatase in maternal postpartum behavioural processes, and discuss how these point to a novel molecular risk pathway underlying postpartum mood disorders. Specifically, we suggest that aberrant steroid hormone-dependent regulation of neuronal calcium influx via extracellular matrix proteins and membrane receptors involved in responding to the cell's microenvironment might be important. Testing of this hypothesis might identify novel therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Thippeswamy
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India
| | - William Davies
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. .,School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK. .,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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9
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Shin T, Hiraoka Y, Yamasaki T, Marth JD, Penninger JM, Kanai-Azuma M, Tanaka K, Kofuji S, Nishina H. MKK7 deficiency in mature neurons impairs parental behavior in mice. Genes Cells 2020; 26:5-17. [PMID: 33098150 PMCID: PMC7839552 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNKs) are constitutively activated in mammalian brains and are indispensable for their development and neural functions. MKK7 is an upstream activator of all JNKs. However, whether the common JNK signaling pathway regulates the brain's control of social behavior remains unclear. Here, we show that female mice in which Mkk7 is deleted specifically in mature neurons (Mkk7flox/floxSyn‐Cre mice) give birth to a normal number of pups but fail to raise them due to a defect in pup retrieval. To explore the mechanism underlying this abnormality, we performed comprehensive behavioral tests. Mkk7flox/floxSyn‐Cre mice showed normal locomotor functions and cognitive ability but exhibited depression‐like behavior. cDNA microarray analysis of mutant brain revealed an altered gene expression pattern. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis demonstrated that mRNA expression levels of genes related to neural signaling pathways and a calcium channel were significantly different from controls. In addition, loss of neural MKK7 had unexpected regulatory effects on gene expression patterns in oligodendrocytes. These findings indicate that MKK7 has an important role in regulating the gene expression patterns responsible for promoting normal social behavior and staving off depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Shin
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Hiraoka
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tokiwa Yamasaki
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jamey D Marth
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, SBP Medical Discovery Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Josef M Penninger
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Masami Kanai-Azuma
- Department of Experimental Animal Model for Human Disease, Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohichi Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kofuji
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishina
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Liu J, Meng F, Dai J, Wu M, Wang W, Liu C, Zhao D, Wang H, Zhang J, Li C. The BDNF-FoxO1 Axis in the medial prefrontal cortex modulates depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable stress in postpartum female mice. Mol Brain 2020; 13:91. [PMID: 32532322 PMCID: PMC7291536 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00631-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious psychiatric disorder, affecting not only the childbearing women but also the health of their offsprings. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene is an important target gene for the study of depression and antidepressant therapy. FoxO1, belonging to the FoxO subfamily is involved in the development of major depressive disorders. However, the role of BDNF and its functional brain regions involved in PPD remains unknown. Here, we report that chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) can produce depression-associated behaviors in postpartum female mice. CUS can decrease total Bdnf mRNA and exon specific mRNAs in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), accompanied by reduced protein levels, that were correlated with depression-related behaviors. Moreover, postpartum, not virgin female mice showed increased susceptibility to subthreshold stress-induced depression-related behaviors. Selective deletion of BDNF in the mPFC induced anhedonia as indicated by reduced sucrose preference and increased latency to food in the novelty suppressed food test in postpartum, but not in virgin female mice. Furthermore, we found that FoxO1 is also decreased in CUS-treated postpartum female mice with a significant correlation with depression-related behaviors. BDNF-specific knockout in the mPFC decreased FoxO1 expression in female mice. Our results indicate that the BDNF-FoxO1 axis in mPFC can regulate depression-related behaviors and stress vulnerability in postpartum female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Fantao Meng
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Juanjuan Dai
- Cancer Research Institute, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Min Wu
- Neurosurgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Wentao Wang
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Cuilan Liu
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Di Zhao
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Hongcai Wang
- Department of Neurology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Jingyan Zhang
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Chen Li
- Institute for Metabolic & Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, No. 661 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China.
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