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Morello G, La Cognata V, Guarnaccia M, D'Agata V, Cavallaro S. Cracking the Code of Neuronal Cell Fate. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071057. [PMID: 37048129 PMCID: PMC10093029 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation is fundamental to most biological processes and reverse-engineering programs can be used to decipher the underlying programs. In this review, we describe how genomics is offering a systems biology-based perspective of the intricate and temporally coordinated transcriptional programs that control neuronal apoptosis and survival. In addition to providing a new standpoint in human pathology focused on the regulatory program, cracking the code of neuronal cell fate may offer innovative therapeutic approaches focused on downstream targets and regulatory networks. Similar to computers, where faults often arise from a software bug, neuronal fate may critically depend on its transcription program. Thus, cracking the code of neuronal life or death may help finding a patch for neurodegeneration and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Velia D'Agata
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
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2
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Sadeghi I, Gispert JD, Palumbo E, Muñoz-Aguirre M, Wucher V, D'Argenio V, Santpere G, Navarro A, Guigo R, Vilor-Tejedor N. Brain transcriptomic profiling reveals common alterations across neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:4549-4561. [PMID: 36090817 PMCID: PMC9428860 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders (ND-NPs) are multifactorial, polygenic and complex behavioral phenotypes caused by brain abnormalities. Large-scale collaborative efforts have tried to identify the genetic architecture of these conditions. However, the specific and shared underlying molecular pathobiology of brain illnesses is not clear. Here, we examine transcriptome-wide characterization of eight conditions, using a total of 2,633 post-mortem brain samples from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Pathological Aging (PA), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia (Scz), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Bipolar Disorder (BP)–in comparison with 2,078 brain samples from matched control subjects. Similar transcriptome alterations were observed between NDs and NPs with the top correlations obtained between Scz-BP, ASD-PD, AD-PD, and Scz-ASD. Region-specific comparisons also revealed shared transcriptome alterations in frontal and temporal lobes across NPs and NDs. Co-expression network analysis identified coordinated dysregulations of cell-type-specific modules across NDs and NPs. This study provides a transcriptomic framework to understand the molecular alterations of NPs and NDs through their shared- and specific gene expression in the brain.
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Català-Solsona J, Miñano-Molina AJ, Rodríguez-Álvarez J. Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:786226. [PMID: 34880728 PMCID: PMC8645690 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.786226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-lasting changes of synaptic efficacy are largely mediated by activity-induced gene transcription and are essential for neuronal plasticity and memory. In this scenario, transcription factors have emerged as pivotal players underlying synaptic plasticity and the modification of neural networks required for memory formation and consolidation. Hippocampal synaptic dysfunction is widely accepted to underlie the cognitive decline observed in some neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathways regulating gene expression profiles may help to identify new synaptic therapeutic targets. The nuclear receptor 4A subfamily (Nr4a) of transcription factors has been involved in a variety of physiological processes within the hippocampus, ranging from inflammation to neuroprotection. Recent studies have also pointed out a role for the activity-dependent nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2 (Nr4a2/Nurr1) in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this review, we highlight the specific effects of Nr4a2 in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory formation and we discuss whether the dysregulation of this transcription factor could contribute to hippocampal synaptic dysfunction, altogether suggesting the possibility that Nr4a2 may emerge as a novel synaptic therapeutic target in brain pathologies associated to cognitive dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Català-Solsona
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfredo J Miñano-Molina
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Rodríguez-Álvarez
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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4
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Morello G, Villari A, Spampinato AG, La Cognata V, Guarnaccia M, Gentile G, Ciotti MT, Calissano P, D’Agata V, Severini C, Cavallaro S. Transcriptional Profiles of Cell Fate Transitions Reveal Early Drivers of Neuronal Apoptosis and Survival. Cells 2021; 10:3238. [PMID: 34831459 PMCID: PMC8620386 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal apoptosis and survival are regulated at the transcriptional level. To identify key genes and upstream regulators primarily responsible for these processes, we overlayed the temporal transcriptome of cerebellar granule neurons following induction of apoptosis and their rescue by three different neurotrophic factors. We identified a core set of 175 genes showing opposite expression trends at the intersection of apoptosis and survival. Their functional annotations and expression signatures significantly correlated to neurological, psychiatric and oncological disorders. Transcription regulatory network analysis revealed the action of nine upstream transcription factors, converging pro-apoptosis and pro-survival-inducing signals in a highly interconnected functionally and temporally ordered manner. Five of these transcription factors are potential drug targets. Transcriptome-based computational drug repurposing produced a list of drug candidates that may revert the apoptotic core set signature. Besides elucidating early drivers of neuronal apoptosis and survival, our systems biology-based perspective paves the way to innovative pharmacology focused on upstream targets and regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Ambra Villari
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Giulia Gentile
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Maria Teresa Ciotti
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Via E. Ramarini, 32, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (M.T.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI Foundation), Viale Regina Elena, 295, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Velia D’Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Cinzia Severini
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Via E. Ramarini, 32, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (M.T.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
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5
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Regen F, Cosma NC, Otto LR, Clemens V, Saksone L, Gellrich J, Uesekes B, Ta TMT, Hahn E, Dettling M, Heuser I, Hellmann-Regen J. Clozapine modulates retinoid homeostasis in human brain and normalizes serum retinoic acid deficit in patients with schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5417-5428. [PMID: 32488128 PMCID: PMC8589649 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0791-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The atypical antipsychotic clozapine is one of the most potent drugs of its class, yet its precise mechanisms of action remain insufficiently understood. Recent evidence points toward the involvement of endogenous retinoic acid (RA) signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Here we investigated whether clozapine may modulate RA-signaling. Effects of clozapine on the catabolism of all-trans RA (at-RA), the biologically most active metabolite of Vitamin A, were assessed in murine and human brain tissue and peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMC). In patients with schizophrenia with and without clozapine treatment and matched healthy controls, at-RA serum levels and blood mRNA expression of retinoid-related genes in PBMCs were quantified. Clozapine and its metabolites potently inhibited RA catabolism at clinically relevant concentrations. In PBMC-derived microsomes, we found a large interindividual variability of the sensitivity toward the effects of clozapine. Furthermore, at-RA and retinol serum levels were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia compared with matched healthy controls. Patients treated with clozapine exhibited significantly higher at-RA serum levels compared with patients treated with other antipsychotics, while retinol levels did not differ between treatment groups. Similarly, in patients without clozapine treatment, mRNA expression of RA-inducible targets CYP26A and STRA6, as well as at-RA/retinol ratio, were significantly reduced. In contrast, clozapine-treated patients did not differ from healthy controls in this regard. Our findings provide the first evidence for altered peripheral retinoid homeostasis in schizophrenia and suggest modulation of RA catabolism as a novel mechanism of action of clozapine, which may be useful in future antipsychotic drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Regen
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicoleta-Carmen Cosma
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisa R Otto
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Clemens
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lana Saksone
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janine Gellrich
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Berk Uesekes
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thi Minh Tam Ta
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Dettling
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabella Heuser
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Hellmann-Regen
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Kummari E, Guo-Ross SX, Partington HS, Nutter JM, Eells JB. Quantitative Immunohistochemistry to Measure Regional Expression of Nurr1 in the Brain and the Effect of the Nurr1 Heterozygous Genotype. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:563854. [PMID: 33994958 PMCID: PMC8119777 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.563854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Nurr1 is a member of the steroid hormone nuclear receptor superfamily. Ablation of Nurr1 expression arrests mesencephalic dopamine neuron differentiation while attenuation of Nurr1 in the subiculum and hippocampus impairs learning and memory. Additionally, reduced Nurr1 expression has been reported in patients with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. In order to better understand the overall function of Nurr1 in the brain, quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to measure cellular Nurr1 protein expression, across Nurr1 immunoreactive neuronal populations. Additionally, neuronal Nurr1 expression levels were compared between different brain regions in wild-type mice (+/+) and Nurr1 heterozygous mice (+/−). Regional Nurr1 protein was also investigated at various time points after a seizure induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Nurr1 protein is expressed in various regions throughout the brain, however, a wide range of Nurr1 expression levels were observed among various neuronal populations. Neurons in the parietal and temporal cortex (secondary somatosensory, insular, auditory, and temporal association cortex) had the highest relative Nurr1 expression (100%) followed closely by the claustrum/dorsal endopiriform cortex (85%) and then subiculum (76%). Lower Nurr1 protein levels were found in neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area (39%) followed by CA1 (25%) and CA3 (19%) of the hippocampus. Additionally, in the parietal and temporal cortex, two distinct populations of high and medium Nurr1 expressing neurons were observed. Comparisons between +/− and +/+ mice revealed Nurr1 protein was reduced in +/− mice by 27% in the parietal/temporal cortex, 49% in the claustrum/dorsal endopiriform cortex, 25% in the subiculum, 33% in substantia nigra pars compacta, 22% in ventral tegmental area, and 21% in CA1 region of the hippocampus. Based on these data, regional mechanisms appear to exist which can compensate for a loss of a Nurr1 allele. Following a single PTZ-induced seizure, Nurr1 protein in the dentate gyrus peaked around 2 h and returned to baseline by 8 h. Since altered Nurr1 expression has been implicated in neurologic disorders and Nurr1 agonists have showed protective effects, understanding regional protein expression of Nurr1, therefore, is necessary to understand how changes in Nurr1 expression can alter brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangel Kummari
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Shirley X Guo-Ross
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - Heath S Partington
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Jennifer Makenzie Nutter
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Eells
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
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Afridi R, Seol S, Kang HJ, Suk K. Brain-immune interactions in neuropsychiatric disorders: Lessons from transcriptome studies for molecular targeting. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 188:114532. [PMID: 33773976 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders has been a challenging quest for neurobiologists. Recent years have witnessed enormous technological advances in the field of neuroimmunology, blurring boundaries between the central nervous system and the periphery. Consequently, the discipline has expanded to cover interactions between the nervous and immune systems in health and diseases. The complex interplay between the peripheral and central immune pathways in neuropsychiatric disorders has recently been documented in various studies, but the genetic determinants remain elusive. Recent transcriptome studies have identified dysregulated genes involved in peripheral immune cell activation, blood-brain barrier integrity, glial cell activation, and synaptic plasticity in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia. Herein, the key transcriptomic techniques applied in investigating differentially expressed genes and pathways responsible for altered brain-immune interactions in neuropsychiatric disorders are discussed. The application of transcriptomics that can aid in identifying molecular targets in various neuropsychiatric disorders is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqayya Afridi
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Science & Engineering Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sihwan Seol
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Jung Kang
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyoungho Suk
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Science & Engineering Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Ruiz-Sánchez E, Jiménez-Genchi J, Alcántara-Flores YM, Castañeda-González CJ, Aviña-Cervantes CL, Yescas P, del Socorro González-Valadez M, Martínez-Rodríguez N, Ríos-Ortiz A, González-González M, López-Navarro ME, Rojas P. Working memory deficits in schizophrenia are associated with the rs34884856 variant and expression levels of the NR4A2 gene in a sample Mexican population: a case control study. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:86. [PMID: 33563249 PMCID: PMC7871565 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03081-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive functions represent useful endophenotypes to identify the association between genetic variants and schizophrenia. In this sense, the NR4A2 gene has been implicated in schizophrenia and cognition in different animal models and clinical trials. We hypothesized that the NR4A2 gene is associated with working memory performance in schizophrenia. This study aimed to analyze two variants and the expression levels of the NR4A2 gene with susceptibility to schizophrenia, as well as to evaluate whether possession of NR4A2 variants influence the possible correlation between gene expression and working memory performance in schizophrenia. METHODS The current study included 187 schizophrenia patients and 227 controls genotyped for two of the most studied NR4A2 genetic variants in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Genotyping was performed using High Resolution Melt and sequencing techniques. In addition, mRNA expression of NR4A2 was performed in peripheral mononuclear cells of 112 patients and 118 controls. A group of these participants, 54 patients and 87 controls, performed the working memory index of the WAIS III test. RESULTS Both genotypic frequencies of the two variants and expression levels of the NR4A2 gene showed no significant difference when in patients versus controls. However, patients homozygous for the rs34884856 promoter variant showed a positive correlation between expression levels and auditory working memory. CONCLUSIONS Our finding suggested that changes in expression levels of the NR4A2 gene could be associated with working memory in schizophrenia depending on patients' genotype in a sample from a Mexican population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ruiz-Sánchez
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Jiménez-Genchi
- Research Unit, Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yessica M. Alcántara-Flores
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Carlos L. Aviña-Cervantes
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Department of Psychiatry, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Petra Yescas
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Department of Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Nancy Martínez-Rodríguez
- grid.414757.40000 0004 0633 3412Epidemiology, Endocrinology & Nutrition Research Unit, Hospital Infantil de México “Federico Gómez”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Ríos-Ortiz
- Research Unit, Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Martha González-González
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Unit of Cognition and Behavior, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María E. López-Navarro
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Patricia Rojas
- Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, "Manuel Velasco Suárez", SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Bordoni L, Petracci I, Calleja-Agius J, Lalor JG, Gabbianelli R. NURR1 Alterations in Perinatal Stress: A First Step towards Late-Onset Diseases? A Narrative Review. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E584. [PMID: 33302583 PMCID: PMC7764589 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8120584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Perinatal life represents a delicate phase of development where stimuli of all sorts, coming to or from the mother, can influence the programming of the future baby's health. These stimuli may have consequences that persist throughout adulthood. Nuclear receptor related 1 protein (NURR1), a transcription factor with a critical role in the development of the dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, mediates the response to stressful environmental stimuli in the perinatal period. During pregnancy, low-grade inflammation triggered by maternal obesity, hyperinsulinemia or vaginal infections alters NURR1 expression in human gestational tissues. A similar scenario is triggered by exposure to neurotoxic compounds, which are associated with NURR1 epigenetic deregulation in the offspring, with potential intergenerational effects. Since these alterations have been associated with an increased risk of developing late-onset diseases in children, NURR1, alone, or in combination with other molecular markers, has been proposed as a new prognostic tool and a potential therapeutic target for several pathological conditions. This narrative review describes perinatal stress associated with NURR1 gene deregulation, which is proposed here as a mediator of late-onset consequences of early life events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bordoni
- Unit of Molecular Biology and Nutrigenomics, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Irene Petracci
- School of Advanced Studies, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Jean Calleja-Agius
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta;
| | - Joan G. Lalor
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D’Olier Street, Dublin 2, Ireland;
| | - Rosita Gabbianelli
- Unit of Molecular Biology and Nutrigenomics, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
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10
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Maas DA, Martens MB, Priovoulos N, Zuure WA, Homberg JR, Nait-Oumesmar B, Martens GJM. Key role for lipids in cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:399. [PMID: 33184259 PMCID: PMC7665187 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with a convoluted etiology that includes cognitive symptoms, which arise from among others a dysfunctional dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). In our search for the molecular underpinnings of the cognitive deficits in SZ, we here performed RNA sequencing of gray matter from the dlPFC of SZ patients and controls. We found that the differentially expressed RNAs were enriched for mRNAs involved in the Liver X Receptor/Retinoid X Receptor (LXR/RXR) lipid metabolism pathway. Components of the LXR/RXR pathway were upregulated in gray matter but not in white matter of SZ dlPFC. Intriguingly, an analysis for shared genetic etiology, using two SZ genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and GWAS data for 514 metabolites, revealed genetic overlap between SZ and acylcarnitines, VLDL lipids, and fatty acid metabolites, which are all linked to the LXR/RXR signaling pathway. Furthermore, analysis of structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in combination with cognitive behavioral data showed that the lipid content of dlPFC gray matter is lower in SZ patients than in controls and correlates with a tendency towards reduced accuracy in the dlPFC-dependent task-switching test. We conclude that aberrations in LXR/RXR-regulated lipid metabolism lead to a decreased lipid content in SZ dlPFC that correlates with reduced cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien A. Maas
- grid.5590.90000000122931605Faculty of Science, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 26-28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute – ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France ,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marijn B. Martens
- NeuroDrug Research Ltd, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nikos Priovoulos
- grid.458380.20000 0004 0368 8664Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Meibergdreef 75, Amsterdam-Zuidoost, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wieteke A. Zuure
- grid.5590.90000000122931605Faculty of Science, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 26-28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Brahim Nait-Oumesmar
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute – ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Gerard J. M. Martens
- grid.5590.90000000122931605Faculty of Science, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 26-28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,NeuroDrug Research Ltd, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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11
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Reay WR, Atkins JR, Quidé Y, Carr VJ, Green MJ, Cairns MJ. Polygenic disruption of retinoid signalling in schizophrenia and a severe cognitive deficit subtype. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:719-731. [PMID: 30532020 PMCID: PMC7156344 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0305-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Retinoid metabolites of vitamin A are intrinsically linked to neural development, connectivity and plasticity, and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We hypothesised that a greater burden of common and rare genomic variation in genes involved with retinoid biogenesis and signalling could be associated with schizophrenia and its cognitive symptoms. Common variants associated with schizophrenia in the largest genome-wide association study were aggregated in retinoid genes and used to formulate a polygenic risk score (PRSRet) for each participant in the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. In support of our hypothesis, we found PRSRet to be significantly associated with the disorder. Cases with severe cognitive deficits, while not further differentiated by PRSRet, were enriched with rare variation in the retinoic acid receptor beta gene RARB, detected through whole-genome sequencing. RARB rare variant burden was also associated with reduced cerebellar volume in the cases with marked cognitive deficit, and with covariation in grey matter throughout the brain. An excess of rare variation was further observed in schizophrenia in retinoic acid response elements proximal to target genes, which we show are differentially expressed in the disorder in two RNA sequencing datasets. Our results suggest that genomic variation may disrupt retinoid signalling in schizophrenia, with particular significance for cases with severe cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Joshua R Atkins
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Yann Quidé
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
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12
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Clozapine-induced transcriptional changes in the zebrafish brain. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2020; 6:3. [PMID: 32015324 PMCID: PMC6997376 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-019-0092-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is used to treat schizophrenia patients who are resistant to other antipsychotic drugs. The molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of clozapine are not well understood and its use is often associated with severe side-effects. In this study, we exposed groups of wild-type zebrafish to two doses of clozapine (‘low’ (20 µg/L) and ‘high’ (70 µg/L)) over a 72-h period, observing dose-dependent effects on behaviour. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) we identified multiple genes differentially expressed in the zebrafish brain following exposure to clozapine. Network analysis identified co-expression modules characterised by striking changes in module connectivity in response to clozapine, and these were enriched for regulatory pathways relevant to the etiology of schizophrenia. Our study highlights the utility of zebrafish as a model for assessing the molecular consequences of antipsychotic medications and identifies genomic networks potentially involved in schizophrenia.
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13
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Carpenter MD, Hu Q, Bond AM, Lombroso SI, Czarnecki KS, Lim CJ, Song H, Wimmer ME, Pierce RC, Heller EA. Nr4a1 suppresses cocaine-induced behavior via epigenetic regulation of homeostatic target genes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:504. [PMID: 31980629 PMCID: PMC6981219 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14331-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous homeostatic mechanisms can restore normal neuronal function following cocaine-induced neuroadaptations. Such mechanisms may be exploited to develop novel therapies for cocaine addiction, but a molecular target has not yet been identified. Here we profiled mouse gene expression during early and late cocaine abstinence to identify putative regulators of neural homeostasis. Cocaine activated the transcription factor, Nr4a1, and its target gene, Cartpt, a key molecule involved in dopamine metabolism. Sustained activation of Cartpt at late abstinence was coupled with depletion of the repressive histone modification, H3K27me3, and enrichment of activating marks, H3K27ac and H3K4me3. Using both CRISPR-mediated and small molecule Nr4a1 activation, we demonstrated the direct causal role of Nr4a1 in sustained activation of Cartpt and in attenuation of cocaine-evoked behavior. Our findings provide evidence that targeting abstinence-induced homeostatic gene expression is a potential therapeutic target in cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco D Carpenter
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qiwen Hu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Allison M Bond
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sonia I Lombroso
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kyle S Czarnecki
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Carissa J Lim
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mathieu E Wimmer
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Temple University, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - R Christopher Pierce
- Center for Nurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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14
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Gene Regulatory Network of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex: a Master Regulator Analysis of Major Psychiatric Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1305-1316. [PMID: 31728928 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01815-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite the strong genetic component of psychiatric disorders, traditional genetic studies have failed to find individual genes of large effect size. Thus, alternative methods, using bioinformatics, have been proposed to solve these biological puzzles. Of these, here we employ systems biology-based approaches to identify potential master regulators (MRs) of bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SZ), and major depressive disorder (MDD), their association with biological processes and their capacity to differentiate disorders' phenotypes. High-throughput gene expression data was used to reconstruct standard human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regulatory transcriptional network, which was then queried for regulatory units and MRs associated with the psychiatric disorders of interest. Furthermore, the activity status (active or repressed) of MR candidates was obtained and used in cluster analysis to characterize disease phenotypes. Finally, we explored the biological processes modulated by the MRs using functional enrichment analysis. Thirty-one, thirty-four, and fifteen MR candidates were identified in BD, SZ, and MDD, respectively. The activity state of these MRs grouped the illnesses in three clusters: MDD only, mostly BD, and a third one with BD and SZ. While BD and SZ share several biological processes related to ion transport and homeostasis, synapse, and immune function, SZ showed peculiar enrichment of processes related to cytoskeleton and neuronal structure. Meanwhile, MDD presented mostly processes related to glial development and fatty acid metabolism. Our findings suggest notable differences in functional enrichment between MDD and BD/SZ. Furthermore, similarities between BD and SZ may impose particular challenges in attempts to discriminate these pathologies based solely on their transcriptional profiles. Nevertheless, we believe that systems-oriented approaches are promising strategies to unravel the pathophysiology peculiarities underlying mental illnesses and reveal therapeutic targets.
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15
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Chatterjee S, Walsh EN, Yan AL, Giese KP, Safe S, Abel T. Pharmacological activation of Nr4a rescues age-associated memory decline. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 85:140-144. [PMID: 31732218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Age-associated cognitive impairments affect an individual's quality of life and are a growing problem in society. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to treat age-related cognitive decline are needed to enhance the quality of life among the elderly. Activation of the Nr4a family of transcription factors has been closely linked to memory formation and dysregulation of these transcription factors is thought to be associated with age-related cognitive decline. Previously, we have shown that Nr4a transcription can be activated by synthetic bisindole-derived compounds (C-DIM). C-DIM compounds enhance synaptic plasticity and long-term contextual fear memory in young healthy mice. In this study, we show that activation of Nr4a2 by 1,1-bis(3'-Indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl) methane (C-DIM12), enhances long-term spatial memory in young mice and rescues memory deficits in aged mice. These findings suggest that C-DIM activators of Nr4a transcription may be suitable to prevent memory deficits associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehajyoti Chatterjee
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Emily N Walsh
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Amy L Yan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - K Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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16
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Prenatal Exposure to Benzophenone-3 Impairs Autophagy, Disrupts RXRs/PPARγ Signaling, and Alters Epigenetic and Post-Translational Statuses in Brain Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:4820-4837. [PMID: 30402708 PMCID: PMC6647400 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1401-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The UV absorber benzophenone-3 (BP-3) is the most extensively used chemical substance in various personal care products. Despite that BP-3 exposure is widespread, knowledge about the impact of BP-3 on the brain development is negligible. The present study aimed to explore the mechanisms of prenatal exposure to BP-3 in neuronal cells, with particular emphasis on autophagy and nuclear receptors signaling as well as the epigenetic and post-translational modifications occurring in response to BP-3. To observe the impact of prenatal exposure to BP-3, we administered BP-3 to pregnant mice, and next, we isolated brain tissue from pretreated embryos for primary cell neocortical culture. Our study revealed that prenatal exposure to BP-3 (used in environmentally relevant doses) impairs autophagy in terms of BECLIN-1, MAP1LC3B, autophagosomes, and autophagy-related factors; disrupts the levels of retinoid X receptors (RXRs) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ); alters epigenetic status (i.e., attenuates HDAC and sirtuin activities); inhibits post-translational modifications in terms of global sumoylation; and dysregulates expression of neurogenesis- and neurotransmitter-related genes as well as miRNAs involved in pathologies of the nervous system. Our study also showed that BP-3 has good permeability through the BBB. We strongly suggest that BP-3-evoked effects may substantiate a fetal basis of the adult onset of neurological diseases, particularly schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.
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17
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Zhao J, Liu X, Huo C, Zhao T, Ye H. Abnormalities in Prefrontal Cortical Gene Expression Profiles Relevant to Schizophrenia in MK-801-Exposed C57BL/6 Mice. Neuroscience 2018; 390:60-78. [PMID: 30102956 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, disturbs NMDAR function in rodents and induces psychological and behavioral changes similar to schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the effects of MK-801 treatment on gene expression are largely unknown. Here we performed RNA-sequencing on the prefrontal cortex of MK-801-exposed male mice in order to analyze gene expression and co-expression patterns related to SCZ and to identify mechanisms that underlie the molecular etiology of this disorder. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were more often associated with biological processes that included postsynaptic transmission, immune system process, response to external stimulus and hemostasis. In order to extract comprehensive biological information, we used an approach for biclustering, called FABIA, to simultaneously cluster transcriptomic data across genes and conditions. When combined with analyses using DAVID and STRING databases, we found that co-expression patterns were altered in synapse-related genes and genes central to the mitochondrial network. Abnormal co-expression of genes mediating synaptic vesicle cycling could disturb release, uptake and reuptake of glutamate, and the perturbation in co-expression patterns for mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes was extensive. Our study supports the hypothesis that research using MK-801-exposed male mice as an animal model of SCZ offers important insights into the pathogenesis of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Chunyue Huo
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Yanjing Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Tian Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Haihong Ye
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Center of Schizophrenia, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
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18
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Tsai SY, Catts VS, Fullerton JM, Corley SM, Fillman SG, Weickert CS. Nuclear Receptors and Neuroinflammation in Schizophrenia. MOLECULAR NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2018; 3:181-191. [PMID: 29888229 DOI: 10.1159/000485565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Several nuclear receptor family members have been associated with schizophrenia and inflammation. Vitamins A and D exert anti-inflammatory actions, but their receptors (mainly nuclear receptors) have not been extensively studied in either schizophrenia brains or in association with neuroinflammation. We examined the expression of vitamin A (RARs and RXRs) and vitamin D and protein disulphide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3) receptors, as well as nuclear orphan receptors (NR4As), in the context of elevated cytokine expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Methods mRNA levels of nuclear receptors were measured in DLPFC tissues via RT-qPCR. ANCOVAs comparing high inflammation schizophrenia, low inflammation schizophrenia and low inflammation control groups were performed. Results RARG, RXRB, NR4A1 and NR4A3 transcripts showed significant differential expression across the three groups (ANCOVA p = 0.02-0.001). Post hoc testing revealed significant reductions in RARG expression in schizophrenia with low inflammation compared to schizophrenia with high inflammation and to controls, and RXRB mRNA was significantly reduced in schizophrenia with low inflammation compared to controls. NR4A1 and NR4A3 mRNAs were decreased in schizophrenia with high inflammation compared to schizophrenia with low inflammation, with NR4A1 also significantly different to controls. Conclusion In schizophrenia, changes in nuclear receptor mRNA levels involved with mediating actions of vitamin A derivatives vary according to the inflammatory state of brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Yuan Tsai
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vibeke S Catts
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Janice M Fullerton
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susan M Corley
- Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart G Fillman
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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19
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The Stress-Induced Transcription Factor NR4A1 Adjusts Mitochondrial Function and Synapse Number in Prefrontal Cortex. J Neurosci 2018; 38:1335-1350. [PMID: 29295823 PMCID: PMC5815341 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2793-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The energetic costs of behavioral chronic stress are unlikely to be sustainable without neuronal plasticity. Mitochondria have the capacity to handle synaptic activity up to a limit before energetic depletion occurs. Protective mechanisms driven by the induction of neuronal genes likely evolved to buffer the consequences of chronic stress on excitatory neurons in prefrontal cortex (PFC), as this circuitry is vulnerable to excitotoxic insults. Little is known about the genes involved in mitochondrial adaptation to the buildup of chronic stress. Using combinations of genetic manipulations and stress for analyzing structural, transcriptional, mitochondrial, and behavioral outcomes, we characterized NR4A1 as a stress-inducible modifier of mitochondrial energetic competence and dendritic spine number in PFC. NR4A1 acted as a transcription factor for changing the expression of target genes previously involved in mitochondrial uncoupling, AMP-activated protein kinase activation, and synaptic growth. Maintenance of NR4A1 activity by chronic stress played a critical role in the regressive synaptic organization in PFC of mouse models of stress (male only). Knockdown, dominant-negative approach, and knockout of Nr4a1 in mice and rats (male only) protected pyramidal neurons against the adverse effects of chronic stress. In human PFC tissues of men and women, high levels of the transcriptionally active NR4A1 correlated with measures of synaptic loss and cognitive impairment. In the context of chronic stress, prolonged expression and activity of NR4A1 may lead to responses of mitochondria and synaptic connectivity that do not match environmental demand, resulting in circuit malfunction between PFC and other brain regions, constituting a pathological feature across disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The bioenergetic cost of chronic stress is too high to be sustainable by pyramidal prefrontal neurons. Cellular checkpoints have evolved to adjust the responses of mitochondria and synapses to the buildup of chronic stress. NR4A1 plays such a role by controlling the energetic competence of mitochondria with respect to synapse number. As an immediate-early gene, Nr4a1 promotes neuronal plasticity, but sustained expression or activity can be detrimental. NR4A1 expression and activity is sustained by chronic stress in animal models and in human studies of neuropathologies sensitive to the buildup of chronic stress. Therefore, antagonism of NR4A1 is a promising avenue for preventing the regressive synaptic reorganization in cortical systems in the context of chronic stress.
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20
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Healy-Stoffel M, Levant B. N-3 (Omega-3) Fatty Acids: Effects on Brain Dopamine Systems and Potential Role in the Etiology and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2018; 17:216-232. [PMID: 29651972 PMCID: PMC6563911 DOI: 10.2174/1871527317666180412153612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE A number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and, to some extent, depression, involve dysregulation of the brain dopamine systems. The etiology of these diseases is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors. Evidence suggests that inadequate levels of n-3 (omega- 3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the brain may represent a risk factor for these disorders. These fatty acids, which are derived from the diet, are a major component of neuronal membranes and are of particular importance in brain development and function. Low levels of n-3 PUFAs in the brain affect the brain dopamine systems and, when combined with appropriate genetic and other factors, increase the risk of developing these disorders and/or the severity of the disease. This article reviews the neurobiology of n-3 PUFAs and their effects on dopaminergic function. CONCLUSION Clinical studies supporting their role in the etiologies of diseases involving the brain dopamine systems and the potential of n-3 PUFAs in the treatment of these disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beth Levant
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics and the Kansas Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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