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Syu GD, Sutandy FXR, Chen K, Cheng Y, Chen CS, Shih JC. Autoantibody profiling of monoamine oxidase A knockout mice, an autism spectrum disorder model. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:193-200. [PMID: 36243286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) is the critical enzyme to degrade serotonin in the brain and the knockout mouse exhibits hyperserotonemia and abnormalities that are observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thus, the MAO A knockout mouse is a valuable model for studying neurological and behavioral impairments in ASD. Based on the immune dysfunction hypothesis, dysregulated humoral immunity may cause neurological impairments. To address this hypothesis, we use high-density proteome microarray to profile the serum antibodies in both wild-type and MAO A knockout mice. The distingue autoantibody signatures were observed in the MAO A knockout and wild-type controls and showed 165 up-regulated and 232 down-regulated autoantibodies. The up-regulated autoantibodies were prone to target brain tissues while down-regulated ones were enriched in sex organs. The identified autoantibodies help bridge the gap between ASD mouse models and humoral immunity, not only yielding insights into the pathological mechanisms but also providing potential biomarkers for translational research in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Da Syu
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - F X Reymond Sutandy
- Institute for Biochemistry II, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kevin Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Yawei Cheng
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan; Institute of Neuroscience and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Sheng Chen
- Department of Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Jean C Shih
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; USC-Taiwan Center for Translational Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
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2
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Frau R, Pardu A, Godar S, Bini V, Bortolato M. Combined Antagonism of 5-HT2 and NMDA Receptors Reduces the Aggression of Monoamine Oxidase a Knockout Mice. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15020213. [PMID: 35215325 PMCID: PMC8875523 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyzes the degradation of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin. A large body of evidence has shown that genetic MAOA deficiency predisposes humans and mice to aggression and antisocial behavior. We previously documented that the aggression of male MAOA-deficient mice is contributed by serotonin 5-HT2 and glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Indeed, blocking either receptor reduces the aggression of MAOA knockout (KO) mice; however, 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, such as ketanserin (KET), reduce locomotor activity, while NMDA receptor blockers are typically associated with psychotomimetic properties. To verify whether NMDA receptor blockers induce psychotomimetic effects in MAOA KO mice, here we tested the effects of these compounds on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. We found that male MAOA KO mice are hypersensitive to the PPI-disrupting properties of NMDA receptor antagonists, including the non-competitive antagonist dizocilpine (DIZ; 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg, IP) and the NR2B subunit-specific blocker Ro-256981 (5, 10 mg/kg, IP). Since KET has been previously shown to counter the PPI deficits caused by NMDA receptor antagonists, we tested the behavioral effects of the combination of KET (2 mg/kg, IP) and these drugs. Our results show that the combination of KET and DIZ potently reduces aggression in MAOA KO mice without any PPI deficits and sedative effects. While the PPI-ameliorative properties of KET were also observed after infusion in the medial PFC (0.05 μg/side), KET did not counter the PPI-disruptive effects of Ro-256981 in MAOA KO mice. Taken together, these results point to the combination of non-subunit-selective NMDA and 5-HT2 receptor antagonists as a potential therapeutic approach for aggression and antisocial behavior with a better safety and tolerability profile than each monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (A.P.); (V.B.)
- Guy Everett Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.F.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessandra Pardu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (A.P.); (V.B.)
| | - Sean Godar
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Valentina Bini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (A.P.); (V.B.)
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Correspondence: (R.F.); (M.B.)
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3
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van Rhijn JR, Shi Y, Bormann M, Mossink B, Frega M, Recaioglu H, Hakobjan M, Klein Gunnewiek T, Schoenmaker C, Palmer E, Faivre L, Kittel-Schneider S, Schubert D, Brunner H, Franke B, Nadif Kasri N. Brunner syndrome associated MAOA mutations result in NMDAR hyperfunction and increased network activity in human dopaminergic neurons. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 163:105587. [PMID: 34923109 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoamine neurotransmitter abundance affects motor control, emotion, and cognitive function and is regulated by monoamine oxidases. Among these, Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyzes the degradation of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin into their inactive metabolites. Loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked MAOA gene have been associated with Brunner syndrome, which is characterized by various forms of impulsivity, maladaptive externalizing behavior, and mild intellectual disability. Impaired MAOA activity in individuals with Brunner syndrome results in bioamine aberration, but it is currently unknown how this affects neuronal function, specifically in dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Here we generated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived DA neurons from three individuals with Brunner syndrome carrying different mutations and characterized neuronal properties at the single cell and neuronal network level in vitro. DA neurons of Brunner syndrome patients showed reduced synaptic density but exhibited hyperactive network activity. Intrinsic functional properties and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic transmission were not affected in DA neurons of individuals with Brunner syndrome. Instead, we show that the neuronal network hyperactivity is mediated by upregulation of the GRIN2A and GRIN2B subunits of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), resulting in increased NMDAR-mediated currents. By correcting a MAOA missense mutation with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing we normalized GRIN2A and GRIN2B expression, NMDAR function and neuronal population activity to control levels. Our data suggest that MAOA mutations in Brunner syndrome increase the activity of dopaminergic neurons through upregulation of NMDAR function, which may contribute to the etiology of Brunner syndrome associated phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon-Ruben van Rhijn
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Maren Bormann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Britt Mossink
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Monica Frega
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical neurophysiology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Hatice Recaioglu
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marina Hakobjan
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Teun Klein Gunnewiek
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Chantal Schoenmaker
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Palmer
- Genetics of Learning Disability Service, Hunter Genetics, Waratah, NSW, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Laurence Faivre
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du développement et Syndromes malformatifs and FHU TRANSLAD, Hôpital d'Enfants, Dijon, France; INSERM UMR1231 GAD, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Sarah Kittel-Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Han Brunner
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, MUMC+, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, and MHeNS School of Neuroscience and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Fang W, Wang X, Cai M, Liu X, Wang X, Lu W. Targeting GluN2B/NO Pathway Ameliorates Social Isolation-Induced Exacerbated Attack Behavior in Mice. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:700003. [PMID: 34335265 PMCID: PMC8322622 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.700003] [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: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exacerbated attack behavior has a profound socioeconomic impact and devastating social consequences; however, there is no satisfactory clinical management available for an escalated attack behavior. Social isolation (SI) is widespread during this pandemic and may exert detrimental effects on mental health, such as causing heightened attack behavior. To explore the therapeutic approaches that alleviate the SI-induced heightened attack behavior, we utilized pharmacological methods targeting the GluN2B/NO signaling pathway during the attack behavior. Ifenprodil and TAT-9C peptide targeting GluN2B showed that the inhibition of GluN2B mitigated the SI-induced escalated attack behavior and the SI-induced aberrant nitric oxide (NO) level in the brain. Additionally, the potentiation of the NO level by L-arginine reversed the effects of the inhibition of GluN2B. Moreover, we showed that high doses of L-NAME and 7-NI and subeffective doses of L-NAME in combination with ifenprodil or TAT-9C or subeffective doses of 7-NI plus ifenprodil or TAT-9C all decreased the SI-induced escalated attack behavior and reduced the NO level, further supporting the idea that GluN2B/NO signaling is a crucial modulator of the escalated attack behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqing Fang
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaorong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Miao Cai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Xinxin Liu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Xuemeng Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Wen Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
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5
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Kuroda M, Matsuwaki T, Tanaka Y, Yamanouchi K, Nishihara M. Convulsive responses to seizure-inducible drugs are exacerbated in progranulin-deficient mice. Neuroreport 2021; 31:478-483. [PMID: 32168097 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN) is a glycoprotein that is widely expressed among organs, including the central nervous system. PGRN insufficiency is involved in various neurodegenerative disorders such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. One of the major causes of neuronal damage is hyperactivation of the cerebrum triggered by upregulation of excitatory systems. In the present study, we examined the possible involvement of PGRN in modulating excitability of the cerebrum using wild type and PGRN-deficient mice. First, we treated wild type and PGRN-deficient mice with seizure-inducible drugs, bicuculline or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), which provoke hyperexcitement of neurons. PGRN-deficient mice showed higher intensity of seizure and longer duration of convulsive behavior when treated with either bicuculline or NMDA. Next, we quantified the expression of NMDA receptor subunits in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The expression level of NR2A subunit protein was significantly higher in the hippocampus of PGRN-deficient mice, while no difference was observed in the cerebral cortex. On the other hand, mRNA levels of NMDA receptor subunits in the hippocampus were comparable or even lower in PGRN-deficient mice. These results suggest that PGRN modulates the excitability of the cerebrum by regulating at least partially the protein level of NMDA receptors in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Machi Kuroda
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
| | - Takashi Matsuwaki
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
| | - Yoshinori Tanaka
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo.,Biochemistry Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamanouchi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
| | - Masugi Nishihara
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
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6
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Contesse T, Broussot L, Fofo H, Vanhoutte P, Fernandez SP, Barik J. Dopamine and glutamate receptors control social stress-induced striatal ERK1/2 activation. Neuropharmacology 2021; 190:108534. [PMID: 33781778 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Stress has been acknowledged as one of the main risk factors for the onset of psychiatric disorders. Social stress is the most common type of stressor encountered in our daily lives. Uncovering the molecular determinants of the effect of stress on the brain would help understanding the complex maladaptations that contribute to pathological stress-related mental states. We examined molecular changes in the reward system following social defeat stress in mice, as increasing evidence implicates this system in sensing stressful stimuli. Following acute or chronic social defeat stress, the activation (i.e. phosphorylation) of extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1 and ERK2 (pERK1/2), markers of synaptic plasticity, was monitored in sub-regions of the reward system. We employed pharmacological antagonists and inhibitory DREADD to dissect the sequence of events controlling pERK1/2 dynamics. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) showed marked increases in pERK1/2 following both acute and chronic social stress compared to the dorsal striatum. Increases in pERK1/2 required dopamine D1 receptors and GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors. Paraventricular thalamic glutamatergic inputs to the NAc are required for social stress-induced pERK1/2. The molecular adaptations identified here could contribute to the long-lasting impact of stress on the brain and may be targeted to counteract stress-related psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Contesse
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire & Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7275, Valbonne, France
| | - Loïc Broussot
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire & Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7275, Valbonne, France
| | - Hugo Fofo
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire & Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7275, Valbonne, France
| | - Peter Vanhoutte
- CNRS, UMR 8246, Neuroscience Paris Seine, F, 75005, Paris, France; INSERM, UMR-S 1130, Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institute of Biology Paris Seine, F, 75005, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, UPMC Université Paris 06, UM CR18, Neuroscience Paris Seine, F, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sebastian P Fernandez
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire & Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7275, Valbonne, France.
| | - Jacques Barik
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire & Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7275, Valbonne, France.
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7
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Kolla NJ, Bortolato M. The role of monoamine oxidase A in the neurobiology of aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior: A tale of mice and men. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 194:101875. [PMID: 32574581 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, research has revealed that genetic factors shape the propensity for aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior. The best-documented gene implicated in aggression is MAOA (Monoamine oxidase A), which encodes the key enzyme for the degradation of serotonin and catecholamines. Congenital MAOA deficiency, as well as low-activity MAOA variants, has been associated with a higher risk for antisocial behavior (ASB) and violence, particularly in males with a history of child maltreatment. Indeed, the interplay between low MAOA genetic variants and early-life adversity is the best-documented gene × environment (G × E) interaction in the pathophysiology of aggression and ASB. Additional evidence indicates that low MAOA activity in the brain is strongly associated with a higher propensity for aggression; furthermore, MAOA inhibition may be one of the primary mechanisms whereby prenatal smoke exposure increases the risk of ASB. Complementary to these lines of evidence, mouse models of Maoa deficiency and G × E interactions exhibit striking similarities with clinical phenotypes, proving to be valuable tools to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying antisocial and aggressive behavior. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the knowledge on the involvement of MAOA in aggression, as defined by preclinical and clinical evidence. In particular, we show how the convergence of human and animal research is proving helpful to our understanding of how MAOA influences antisocial and violent behavior and how it may assist in the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for aggressive manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Kolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Research Imaging Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Violence Prevention Neurobiological Research Unit, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada; Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada; Translational Initiative on Antisocial Personality Disorder (TrIAD); Program of Research on Violence Etiology, Neurobiology, and Treatment (PReVENT).
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Translational Initiative on Antisocial Personality Disorder (TrIAD); Program of Research on Violence Etiology, Neurobiology, and Treatment (PReVENT).
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8
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Zhu X, Yao Y, Yang J, Ge Q, Niu D, Liu X, Zhang C, Gan G, Zhang A, Yao H. Seizure-induced neuroinflammation contributes to ectopic neurogenesis and aggressive behavior in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus mice. Neuropharmacology 2020; 170:108044. [PMID: 32179291 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder often associated with recurrent seizures. A growing body of evidence suggests that seizures cause structural and functional alterations of the brain. It is reported that behavioral abnormalities frequently occur in patients with epilepsy and experimental epilepsy models. However, the precise pathological mechanisms associated with these epilepsy comorbidities remain largely unknown. Neurogenesis persists throughout life in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) to maintain proper brain function. However, aberrant neurogenesis usually generates abnormal neural circuits and consequently causes neuronal dysfunction. Neuroinflammatory responses are well known to affect neurogenesis and lead to aberrant reorganization of neural networks in the hippocampal DG. Here, in this study, we observed a significant increase in neuroinflammation and in the proliferation and survival of newborn granular cells in the hippocampus of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) mice. More importantly, these proliferating and surviving newborn granular cells are largely ectopically located in the hippocampal DG hilus region. Our behavior test demonstrated that SE mice displayed severe aggressive behavior. Pharmacological inhibition of neuroinflammation, however, suppressed the ectopic neurogenesis and countered the enhanced aggressive behavior in SE mice, indicating that seizure-induced neuroinflammation may contribute to ectopic neurogenesis and aggressive behavior in SE mice. These findings establish a key role for neuroinflammation in seizure-induced aberrant neurogenesis and aggressive behavior. Suppressing neuroinflammation in the epileptic brain may reduce ectopic neurogenesis and effectively block the pathophysiological process that leads to aggressive behavior in TLE mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiurong Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiyue Ge
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Diejing Niu
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiufang Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenchen Zhang
- Transmission Electron Microscopy Center, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangming Gan
- Transmission Electron Microscopy Center, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Aifeng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Honghong Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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9
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Nilsen FM, Tulve NS. A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the interrelationships between chemical and non-chemical stressors and inherent characteristics in children with ADHD. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 180:108884. [PMID: 31706600 PMCID: PMC6937727 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Children may be more vulnerable to the combined interactions of chemical and non-chemical stressors from their built, natural, and social environments when compared to adults. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed childhood neurodevelopmental disorder and is considered a major public health issue, as 75% of childhood cases persist into adulthood. ADHD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, with the neurotransmitter serotonin regulating these symptoms. Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) aids in serotonin uptake and is often implicated in behavioral and emotional disorders, including ADHD. When children are exposed to cigarette smoke, bisphenol A (BPA), or organophosphate pesticides, MAOA activity is inhibited. Non-chemical stressors, such as traumatic childhood experiences, and lifestyle factors, complicate the relationship between genotype and exposures to chemical stressors. But the co-occurrence among outcomes between exposures to chemical stressors, non-chemical stressors, and the low activity MAOA genotype suggest that mental illness in children may be influenced by multiple interacting factors. In this systematic review, we examine the existing literature that combines exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors (specifically childhood trauma), MAOA characteristics, and ADHD diagnosis to investigate the interrelationships present. We observe that chemical (lead [Pb], phthalates/plasticizers, persistent organic pollutants, and cigarette smoke) exposure is significantly related to ADHD in children. We also observed that existing literature examining the interaction between MAOA, exposures to chemical stressors, and traumatic experiences and their effect on ADHD outcomes is sparse. We recommend that future studies investigating childhood ADHD include chemical and non-chemical stressors and inherent characteristics to gain a holistic understanding of childhood mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M Nilsen
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Post-Doctoral Participant, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Nicolle S Tulve
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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Dysfunctional mesocortical dopamine circuit at pre-adolescence is associated to aggressive behavior in MAO-A hypomorphic mice exposed to early life stress. Neuropharmacology 2019; 159:107517. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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11
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Jager A, Maas DA, Fricke K, de Vries RB, Poelmans G, Glennon JC. Aggressive behavior in transgenic animal models: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 91:198-217. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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12
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Haller J. Preclinical models of conduct disorder – principles and pharmacologic perspectives. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 91:112-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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13
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Bortolato M, Floris G, Shih JC. From aggression to autism: new perspectives on the behavioral sequelae of monoamine oxidase deficiency. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2018; 125:1589-1599. [PMID: 29748850 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-018-1888-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The two monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes, A and B, catalyze the metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The phenotypic outcomes of MAO congenital deficiency have been studied in humans and animal models, to explore the role of these enzymes in behavioral regulation. The clinical condition caused by MAOA deficiency, Brunner syndrome, was first described as a disorder characterized by overt antisocial and aggressive conduct. Building on this discovery, subsequent studies were focused on the characterization of the role of MAOA in the neurobiology of antisocial conduct. MAO A knockout mice were found to display high levels of intermale aggression; however, further analyses of these mutants unveiled additional behavioral abnormalities mimicking the core symptoms of autism-spectrum disorder. These findings were strikingly confirmed in newly reported cases of Brunner syndrome. The role of MAOB in behavioral regulation remains less well-understood, even though Maob-deficient mice have been found to exhibit greater behavioral disinhibition and risk-taking responses, supporting previous clinical studies showing associations between low MAO B activity and impulsivity. Furthermore, lack of MAOB was found to exacerbate the severity of psychopathological deficits induced by concurrent MAOA deficiency. Here, we summarize how the convergence of clinical reports and behavioral phenotyping in mutant mice has helped frame a complex picture of psychopathological features in MAO-deficient individuals, which encompass a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental problems. This emerging knowledge poses novel conceptual challenges towards the identification of the endophenotypes shared by autism-spectrum disorder, antisocial behavior and impulse-control problems, as well as their monoaminergic underpinnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, L.S. Skaggs Hall, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Gabriele Floris
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, L.S. Skaggs Hall, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Jean C Shih
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Cell and Neurobiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Chen K, Kardys A, Chen Y, Flink S, Tabakoff B, Shih JC. Altered gene expression in early postnatal monoamine oxidase A knockout mice. Brain Res 2017; 1669:18-26. [PMID: 28535982 PMCID: PMC5531263 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We reported previously that monoamine oxidase (MAO) A knockout (KO) mice show increased serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) levels and autistic-like behaviors characterized by repetitive behaviors, and anti-social behaviors. We showed that administration of the serotonin synthesis inhibitor para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) from post-natal day 1 (P1) through 7 (P7) in MAO A KO mice reduced the serotonin level to normal and reverses the repetitive behavior. These results suggested that the altered gene expression at P1 and P7 may be important for the autistic-like behaviors seen in MAO A KO mice and was studied here. In this study, Affymetrix mRNA array data for P1 and P7 MAO A KO mice were analyzed using Partek Genomics Suite and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis to identify genes differentially expressed versus wild-type and assess their functions and relationships. The number of significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) varied with age: P1 (664) and P7 (3307) [false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05, fold-change (FC) >1.5 for autism-linked genes and >2.0 for functionally categorized genes]. Eight autism-linked genes were differentially expressed in P1 (upregulated: NLGN3, SLC6A2; down-regulated: HTR2C, MET, ADSL, MECP2, ALDH5A1, GRIN3B) while four autism-linked genes were differentially expressed at P7 (upregulated: HTR2B; downregulated: GRIN2D, GRIN2B, CHRNA4). Many other genes involved in neurodevelopment, apoptosis, neurotransmission, and cognitive function were differentially expressed at P7 in MAO A KO mice. This result suggests that modulation of these genes by the increased serotonin may lead to neurodevelopmental alteration in MAO A KO mice and results in autistic-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Chen
- Dept. of Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Abbey Kardys
- Dept. of Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Yibu Chen
- Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Stephen Flink
- University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, CO 80262, United States
| | - Boris Tabakoff
- University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, CO 80262, United States
| | - Jean C Shih
- Dept. of Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States; USC-Taiwan Center for Translational Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States; Dept. of Cell & Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
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15
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Pes R, Godar SC, Fox AT, Burgeno LM, Strathman HJ, Jarmolowicz DP, Devoto P, Levant B, Phillips PE, Fowler SC, Bortolato M. Pramipexole enhances disadvantageous decision-making: Lack of relation to changes in phasic dopamine release. Neuropharmacology 2016; 114:77-87. [PMID: 27889491 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Pramipexole (PPX) is a high-affinity D2-like dopamine receptor agonist, used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and restless leg syndrome. Recent evidence indicates that PPX increases the risk of problem gambling and impulse-control disorders in vulnerable patients. Although the molecular bases of these complications remain unclear, several authors have theorized that PPX may increase risk propensity by activating presynaptic dopamine receptors in the mesolimbic system, resulting in the reduction of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). To test this possibility, we subjected rats to a probability-discounting task specifically designed to capture the response to disadvantageous options. PPX enhanced disadvantageous decision-making at a dose (0.3 mg/kg/day, SC) that reduced phasic dopamine release in the NAcc. To test whether these modifications in dopamine efflux were responsible for the observed neuroeconomic deficits, PPX was administered in combination with the monoamine-depleting agent reserpine (RES), at a low dose (1 mg/kg/day, SC) that did not affect baseline locomotor and operant responses. Contrary to our predictions, RES surprisingly exacerbated the effects of PPX on disadvantageous decision-making, even though it failed to augment PPX-induced decreases in phasic dopamine release. These results collectively suggest that PPX impairs the discounting of probabilistic losses and that the enhancement in risk-taking behaviors secondary to this drug may be dissociated from dynamic changes in mesolimbic dopamine release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Pes
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States; Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Division, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sean C Godar
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Andrew T Fox
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Lauren M Burgeno
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hunter J Strathman
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - David P Jarmolowicz
- Problem Gambling Research Studies (ProGResS) Network, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States; Dept. of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Paola Devoto
- Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Division, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Beth Levant
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Paul E Phillips
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Stephen C Fowler
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States; Problem Gambling Research Studies (ProGResS) Network, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
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16
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Yates JR, Breitenstein KA, Gunkel BT, Hughes MN, Johnson AB, Rogers KK, Shape SM. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on probability discounting depend on the order of probability presentation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2016; 150-151:31-38. [PMID: 27642050 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Risky decision making can be measured using a probability-discounting procedure, in which animals choose between a small, certain reinforcer and a large, uncertain reinforcer. Recent evidence has identified glutamate as a mediator of risky decision making, as blocking the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor with MK-801 increases preference for a large, uncertain reinforcer. Because the order in which probabilities associated with the large reinforcer can modulate the effects of drugs on choice, the current study determined if NMDA receptor ligands alter probability discounting using ascending and descending schedules. Sixteen rats were trained in a probability-discounting procedure in which the odds against obtaining the large reinforcer increased (n=8) or decreased (n=8) across blocks of trials. Following behavioral training, rats received treatments of the NMDA receptor ligands MK-801 (uncompetitive antagonist; 0, 0.003, 0.01, or 0.03mg/kg), ketamine (uncompetitive antagonist; 0, 1.0, 5.0, or 10.0mg/kg), and ifenprodil (NR2B-selective non-competitive antagonist; 0, 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0mg/kg). Results showed discounting was steeper (indicating increased risk aversion) for rats on an ascending schedule relative to rats on the descending schedule. Furthermore, the effects of MK-801, ketamine, and ifenprodil on discounting were dependent on the schedule used. Specifically, the highest dose of each drug decreased risk taking in rats in the descending schedule, but only MK-801 (0.03mg/kg) increased risk taking in rats on an ascending schedule. These results show that probability presentation order modulates the effects of NMDA receptor ligands on risky decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Yates
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, USA.
| | | | - Benjamin T Gunkel
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, USA
| | - Mallory N Hughes
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, USA
| | - Anthony B Johnson
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, USA
| | | | - Sara M Shape
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, USA
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17
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Godar SC, Fite PJ, McFarlin KM, Bortolato M. The role of monoamine oxidase A in aggression: Current translational developments and future challenges. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2016; 69:90-100. [PMID: 26776902 PMCID: PMC4865459 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Drawing upon the recent resurgence of biological criminology, several studies have highlighted a critical role for genetic factors in the ontogeny of antisocial and violent conduct. In particular, converging lines of evidence have documented that these maladaptive manifestations of aggression are influenced by monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of brain serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. The interest on the link between MAOA and aggression was originally sparked by Han Brunner's discovery of a syndrome characterized by marked antisocial behaviors in male carriers of a nonsense mutation of this gene. Subsequent studies showed that MAOA allelic variants associated with low enzyme activity moderate the impact of early-life maltreatment on aggression propensity. In spite of overwhelming evidence pointing to the relationship between MAOA and aggression, the neurobiological substrates of this link remain surprisingly elusive; very little is also known about the interventions that may reduce the severity of pathological aggression in genetically predisposed subjects. Animal models offer a unique experimental tool to investigate these issues; in particular, several lines of transgenic mice harboring total or partial loss-of-function Maoa mutations have been shown to recapitulate numerous psychological and neurofunctional endophenotypes observed in humans. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the link between MAOA and aggression; in particular, we will emphasize how an integrated translational strategy coordinating clinical and preclinical research may prove critical to elucidate important aspects of the pathophysiology of aggression, and identify potential targets for its diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Godar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA; Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA
| | - Paula J Fite
- Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA; Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA
| | - Kenneth M McFarlin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA; Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA; Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, (KS), USA.
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18
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Fišar Z. Drugs related to monoamine oxidase activity. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2016; 69:112-24. [PMID: 26944656 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Progress in understanding the role of monoamine neurotransmission in pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders was made after the discovery of the mechanisms of action of psychoactive drugs, including monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. The increase in monoamine neurotransmitter availability, decrease in hydrogen peroxide production, and neuroprotective effects evoked by MAO inhibitors represent an important approach in the development of new drugs for the treatment of mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. New drugs are synthesized by acting as multitarget-directed ligands, with MAO, acetylcholinesterase, and iron chelation as targets. Basic information is summarized in this paper about the drug-induced regulation of monoaminergic systems in the brain, with a focus on MAO inhibition. Desirable effects of MAO inhibition include increased availability of monoamine neurotransmitters, decreased oxidative stress, decreased formation of neurotoxins, induction of pro-survival genes and antiapoptotic factors, and improved mitochondrial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdeněk Fišar
- Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 11, 120 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
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19
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Waltes R, Chiocchetti AG, Freitag CM. The neurobiological basis of human aggression: A review on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2016; 171:650-75. [PMID: 26494515 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is an evolutionary conserved behavior present in most species including humans. Inadequate aggression can lead to long-term detrimental personal and societal effects. Here, we differentiate between proactive and reactive forms of aggression and review the genetic determinants of it. Heritability estimates of aggression in general vary between studies due to differing assessment instruments for aggressive behavior (AB) as well as age and gender of study participants. In addition, especially non-shared environmental factors shape AB. Current hypotheses suggest that environmental effects such as early life stress or chronic psychosocial risk factors (e.g., maltreatment) and variation in genes related to neuroendocrine, dopaminergic as well as serotonergic systems increase the risk to develop AB. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the genetics of human aggression based on twin studies, genetic association studies, animal models, and epigenetic analyses with the aim to differentiate between mechanisms associated with proactive or reactive aggression. We hypothesize that from a genetic perspective, the aminergic systems are likely to regulate both reactive and proactive aggression, whereas the endocrine pathways seem to be more involved in regulation of reactive aggression through modulation of impulsivity. Epigenetic studies on aggression have associated non-genetic risk factors with modifications of the stress response and the immune system. Finally, we point to the urgent need for further genome-wide analyses and the integration of genetic and epigenetic information to understand individual differences in reactive and proactive AB. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Waltes
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas G Chiocchetti
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christine M Freitag
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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20
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Sun Y, Zhan L, Cheng X, Zhang L, Hu J, Gao Z. The Regulation of GluN2A by Endogenous and Exogenous Regulators in the Central Nervous System. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2016; 37:389-403. [PMID: 27255970 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-016-0388-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The NMDA receptor is the most widely studied ionotropic glutamate receptor, and it is central to many physiological and pathophysiological processes in the central nervous system. GluN2A is one of the two main types of GluN2 NMDA receptor subunits in the forebrain. The proper activity of GluN2A is important to brain function, as the abnormal regulation of GluN2A may induce some neuropsychiatric disorders. This review will examine the regulation of GluN2A by endogenous and exogenous regulators in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua East Road 70, Shijiazhuang, 050018, People's Republic of China.,Hebei Research Center of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, People's Republic of China
| | - Liying Zhan
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua East Road 70, Shijiazhuang, 050018, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaokun Cheng
- North China Pharmaceutical Group New Drug Research and Development Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang, 050015, People's Republic of China
| | - Linan Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Hu
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China
| | - Zibin Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua East Road 70, Shijiazhuang, 050018, People's Republic of China. .,Hebei Research Center of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory Breeding Base-Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry for Drug, Shijiazhuang, 050018, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Veroude K, Zhang-James Y, Fernàndez-Castillo N, Bakker MJ, Cormand B, Faraone SV. Genetics of aggressive behavior: An overview. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2016; 171B:3-43. [PMID: 26345359 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) address three types of aggression: frustrative non-reward, defensive aggression and offensive/proactive aggression. This review sought to present the evidence for genetic underpinnings of aggression and to determine to what degree prior studies have examined phenotypes that fit into the RDoC framework. Although the constructs of defensive and offensive aggression have been widely used in the animal genetics literature, the human literature is mostly agnostic with regard to all the RDoC constructs. We know from twin studies that about half the variance in behavior may be explained by genetic risk factors. This is true for both dimensional, trait-like, measures of aggression and categorical definitions of psychopathology. The non-shared environment seems to have a moderate influence with the effects of shared environment being unclear. Human molecular genetic studies of aggression are in an early stage. The most promising candidates are in the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems along with hormonal regulators. Genome-wide association studies have not yet achieved genome-wide significance, but current samples are too small to detect variants having the small effects one would expect for a complex disorder. The strongest molecular evidence for a genetic basis for aggression comes from animal models comparing aggressive and non-aggressive strains or documenting the effects of gene knockouts. Although we have learned much from these prior studies, future studies should improve the measurement of aggression by using a systematic method of measurement such as that proposed by the RDoC initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Veroude
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yanli Zhang-James
- Departments of Psychiatry and of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.,Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Spain
| | - Mireille J Bakker
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Spain
| | - Stephen V Faraone
- Departments of Psychiatry and of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.,Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.,K.G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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22
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The levels of the GluN2A NMDA receptor subunit are modified in both the neonatal and adult rat brain by an early experience involving denial of maternal contact. Neurosci Lett 2015; 612:98-103. [PMID: 26679226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The composition of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor receptor in GluN2A/GluN2B subunits is important in determining its characteristics and its role in plasticity, a property of the brain which is known to be critically affected by early experiences. In the present work we employed an early experience model involving either receipt (RER) or denial (DER) of the expected reward of maternal contact within the context of learning by the pups of a T-maze on postnatal days (PND) 10-13. We investigated the effects of the RER and DER early experiences on GluN1, GluN2A and GluN2B levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus and amygdala of the rat. We show that on PND13 the DER animals had lower GluN2A levels in the PFC. In adulthood DER males had higher GluN2A levels in the hippocampus, both under basal conditions and after exposure to a novel environment. The early experiences did not affect the response to the novelty. After exposure to a novel environment animals of all three groups (DER, RER, Control) responded with an increase in GluN2A levels in the brain areas examined. We did not detect any effects on GluN1 or GluN2B levels. The alterations in GluN2A levels observed in the DER animals could in part be responsible for their behavioral phenotype, described previously, which includes an increased susceptibility for the expression of depressive-like behavior.
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23
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Phillips WA. Cognitive functions of intracellular mechanisms for contextual amplification. Brain Cogn 2015; 112:39-53. [PMID: 26428863 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Evidence for the hypothesis that input to the apical tufts of neocortical pyramidal cells plays a central role in cognition by amplifying their responses to feedforward input is reviewed. Apical tufts are electrically remote from the soma, and their inputs come from diverse sources including direct feedback from higher cortical regions, indirect feedback via the thalamus, and long-range lateral connections both within and between cortical regions. This suggests that input to tuft dendrites may amplify the cell's response to basal inputs that they receive via layer 4 and which have synapses closer to the soma. ERP data supporting this inference is noted. Intracellular studies of apical amplification (AA) and of disamplification by inhibitory interneurons targeted only at tufts are reviewed. Cognitive processes that have been related to them by computational, electrophysiological, and psychopathological studies are then outlined. These processes include: figure-ground segregation and Gestalt grouping; contextual disambiguation in perception and sentence comprehension; priming; winner-take-all competition; attention and working memory; setting the level of consciousness; cognitive control; and learning. It is argued that theories in cognitive neuroscience should not assume that all neurons function as integrate-and-fire point processors, but should use the capabilities of cells with distinct sites of integration for driving and modulatory inputs. Potentially 'unifying' theories that depend upon these capabilities are reviewed. It is concluded that evolution of the primitives of AA and disamplification in neocortex may have extended cognitive capabilities beyond those built from the long-established primitives of excitation, inhibition, and disinhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Phillips
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.
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24
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Godar SC, Mosher LJ, Strathman HJ, Gochi AM, Jones CM, Fowler SC, Bortolato M. The D1CT-7 mouse model of Tourette syndrome displays sensorimotor gating deficits in response to spatial confinement. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 173:2111-21. [PMID: 26171666 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The D1CT-7 mouse is one of the best known animal models of Tourette syndrome (TS), featuring spontaneous tic-like behaviours sensitive to standard TS therapies; these characteristics ensure a high face and predictive validity of this model, yet its construct validity remains elusive. To address this issue, we studied the responses of D1CT-7 mice to two critical components of TS pathophysiology: the exacerbation of tic-like behaviours in response to stress and the presence of sensorimotor gating deficits, which are thought to reflect the perceptual alterations causing the tics. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH D1CT-7 and wild-type (WT) littermates were subjected to a 20 min session of spatial confinement (SC) within an inescapable, 10 cm wide cylindrical enclosure. Changes in plasma corticosterone levels, tic-like behaviours and other spontaneous responses were measured. SC-exposed mice were also tested for the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response (a sensorimotor gating index) and other TS-related behaviours, including open-field locomotion, novel object exploration and social interaction and compared with non-confined counterparts. KEY RESULTS SC produced a marked increase in corticosterone concentrations in both D1CT-7 and WT mice. In D1CT-7, but not WT mice, SC exacerbated tic-like and digging behaviours, and triggered PPI deficits and aggressive responses. Conversely, SC did not modify locomotor activity or novel object exploration in D1CT-7 mice. Both tic-like behaviours and PPI impairments in SC-exposed D1CT-7 mice were inhibited by standard TS therapies and D1 dopamine receptor antagonism. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings collectively support the translational and construct validity of D1CT-7 mice with respect to TS. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Updating Neuropathology and Neuropharmacology of Monoaminergic Systems. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v173.13/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Godar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Laura J Mosher
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Hunter J Strathman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Andrea M Gochi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cori M Jones
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Stephen C Fowler
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.,Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.,Problem Gambling Research Studies (ProGResS) Network, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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Wong P, Sze Y, Gray LJ, Chang CCR, Cai S, Zhang X. Early life environmental and pharmacological stressors result in persistent dysregulations of the serotonergic system. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:94. [PMID: 25964750 PMCID: PMC4410609 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulations in the brain serotonergic system and exposure to environmental stressors have been implicated in the development of major depressive disorder. Here, we investigate the interactions between the stress and serotonergic systems by characterizing the behavioral and biochemical effects of chronic stress applied during early-life or adulthood in wild type (WT) mice and mice with deficient tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) function. We showed that chronic mild stress applied in adulthood did not affect the behaviors and serotonin levels of WT and TPH2 knock-in (KI) mice. Whereas, maternal separation (MS) stress increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of WT mice, with no detectable behavioral changes in TPH2 KI mice. Biochemically, we found that MS WT mice had reduced brain serotonin levels, which was attributed to increased expression of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A). The increased MAO A expression was detected in MS WT mice at 4 weeks old and adulthood. No change in TPH2 expression was detected. To determine whether a pharmacological stressor, dexamethasone (Dex), will result in similar biochemical results obtained from MS, we used an in vitro system, SH-SY5Y cells, and found that Dex treatment resulted in increased MAO A expression levels. We then treated WT mice with Dex for 5 days, either during postnatal days 7–11 or adulthood. Both groups of Dex treated WT mice had reduced basal corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptors expression levels. However, only Dex treatment during PND7–11 resulted in reduced serotonin levels and increased MAO A expression. Just as with MS WT mice, TPH2 expression in PND7–11 Dex-treated WT mice was unaffected. Taken together, our findings suggest that both environmental and pharmacological stressors affect the expression of MAO A, and not TPH2, when applied during the critical postnatal period. This leads to long-lasting perturbations in the serotonergic system, and results in anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyan Wong
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Singapore, Singapore ; Department of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Phenotyping Core, National University of Singapore Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ying Sze
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Singapore, Singapore
| | - Laura Jane Gray
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cecilia Chin Roei Chang
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shiwei Cai
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Singapore, Singapore ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA ; Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore Singapore, Singapore
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Godar SC, Bortolato M, Richards SE, Li FG, Chen K, Wellman CL, Shih JC. Monoamine Oxidase A is Required for Rapid Dendritic Remodeling in Response to Stress. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyv035. [PMID: 25857821 PMCID: PMC4576521 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute stress triggers transient alterations in the synaptic release and metabolism of brain monoamine neurotransmitters. These rapid changes are essential to activate neuroplastic processes aimed at the appraisal of the stressor and enactment of commensurate defensive behaviors. Threat evaluation has been recently associated with the dendritic morphology of pyramidal cells in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA); thus, we examined the rapid effects of restraint stress on anxiety-like behavior and dendritic morphology in the BLA and OFC of mice. Furthermore, we tested whether these processes may be affected by deficiency of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), the primary enzyme catalyzing monoamine metabolism. METHODS Following a short-term (1-4h) restraint schedule, MAO-A knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were sacrificed, and histological analyses of dendrites in pyramidal neurons of the BLA and OFC of the animals were performed. Anxiety-like behaviors were examined in a separate cohort of animals subjected to the same experimental conditions. RESULTS In WT mice, short-term restraint stress significantly enhanced anxiety-like responses, as well as a time-dependent proliferation of apical (but not basilar) dendrites of the OFC neurons; conversely, a retraction in BLA dendrites was observed. None of these behavioral and morphological changes were observed in MAO-A KO mice. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that acute stress induces anxiety-like responses by affecting rapid dendritic remodeling in the pyramidal cells of OFC and BLA; furthermore, our data show that MAO-A and monoamine metabolism are required for these phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jean C Shih
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (Drs Godar, Chen, and Shih and Mr Li); Department of Cell and Neurobiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (Dr Shih); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (Drs Godar and Bortolato); Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, (Drs Godar and Bortolato); Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences and Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (Ms Richards and Dr Wellman)
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Cline BH, Costa-Nunes JP, Cespuglio R, Markova N, Santos AI, Bukhman YV, Kubatiev A, Steinbusch HWM, Lesch KP, Strekalova T. Dicholine succinate, the neuronal insulin sensitizer, normalizes behavior, REM sleep, hippocampal pGSK3 beta and mRNAs of NMDA receptor subunits in mouse models of depression. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:37. [PMID: 25767439 PMCID: PMC4341562 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Central insulin receptor-mediated signaling is attracting the growing attention of researchers because of rapidly accumulating evidence implicating it in the mechanisms of plasticity, stress response, and neuropsychiatric disorders including depression. Dicholine succinate (DS), a mitochondrial complex II substrate, was shown to enhance insulin-receptor mediated signaling in neurons and is regarded as a sensitizer of the neuronal insulin receptor. Compounds enhancing neuronal insulin receptor-mediated transmission exert an antidepressant-like effect in several pre-clinical paradigms of depression; similarly, such properties for DS were found with a stress-induced anhedonia model. Here, we additionally studied the effects of DS on several variables which were ameliorated by other insulin receptor sensitizers in mice. Pre-treatment with DS of chronically stressed C57BL6 mice rescued normal contextual fear conditioning, hippocampal gene expression of NMDA receptor subunit NR2A, the NR2A/NR2B ratio and increased REM sleep rebound after acute predation. In 18-month-old C57BL6 mice, a model of elderly depression, DS restored normal sucrose preference and activated the expression of neural plasticity factors in the hippocampus as shown by Illumina microarray. Finally, young naïve DS-treated C57BL6 mice had reduced depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors and, similarly to imipramine-treated mice, preserved hippocampal levels of the phosphorylated (inactive) form of GSK3 beta that was lowered by forced swimming in pharmacologically naïve animals. Thus, DS can ameliorate behavioral and molecular outcomes under a variety of stress- and depression-related conditions. This further highlights neuronal insulin signaling as a new factor of pathogenesis and a potential pharmacotherapy of affective pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon H Cline
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1119, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg Strasbourg, France
| | - Joao P Costa-Nunes
- Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Maastricht, Netherlands ; Group of Behavioural Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Institute for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raymond Cespuglio
- Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1028, C. Bernard University Lyon, France
| | - Natalyia Markova
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Screening, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, Russia ; Laboratory of Cognitive Dysfunctions, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Moscow, Russia
| | - Ana I Santos
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Yury V Bukhman
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Computational Biology, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI, USA
| | - Aslan Kubatiev
- Laboratory of Cognitive Dysfunctions, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Maastricht, Netherlands ; Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Centre of Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Maastricht, Netherlands ; Group of Behavioural Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Institute for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal ; Laboratory of Biomolecular Screening, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, Russia
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Piras C, Soggiu A, Bonizzi L, Greco V, Ricchi M, Arrigoni N, Bassols A, Urbani A, Roncada P. Identification of immunoreactive proteins of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Proteomics 2015; 15:813-23. [PMID: 25404104 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201400276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the cause of a chronic enteritis of ruminants (bovine paratuberculosis (PTB)--Johne's disease) that is associated with enormous worldwide economic losses for the animal production. Diagnosis is based on observation of clinical signs, the detection of antibodies in milk or serum, or evaluation of bacterial culture from feces. The limit of these methods is that they are not able to detect the disease in the subclinical stage and are applicable only when the disease is already advanced. For this reason, the main purpose of this study is to use the MAP proteome to detect novel immunoreactive proteins that may be helpful for PTB diagnoses. 2DE and 2D immunoblotting of MAP proteins were performed using sera of control cattle and PTB-infected cattle in order to highlight the specific immunoreactive proteins. Among the assigned identifiers to immunoreactive spots it was found that most of them correspond to surface-located proteins while three of them have never been described before as antigens. The identification of these proteins improves scientific knowledge that could be useful for PTB diagnoses. The sequence of the identified protein can be used for the synthesis of immunoreactive peptides that could be screened for their immunoreaction against bovine sera infected with MAP. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange consortium with identifier PXD001159 and DOI 10.6019/PXD001159.
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Association of low-activity MAOA allelic variants with violent crime in incarcerated offenders. J Psychiatr Res 2014; 58:69-75. [PMID: 25082653 PMCID: PMC4369574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The main enzyme for serotonin degradation, monoamine oxidase (MAO) A, has recently emerged as a key biological factor in the predisposition to impulsive aggression. Male carriers of low-activity variants of the main functional polymorphism of the MAOA gene (MAOA-uVNTR) have been shown to exhibit a greater proclivity to engage in violent acts. Thus, we hypothesized that low-activity MAOA-uVNTR alleles may be associated with a higher risk for criminal violence among male offenders. To test this possibility, we analyzed the MAOA-uVNTR variants of violent (n = 49) and non-violent (n = 40) male Caucasian and African-American convicts in a correctional facility. All participants were also tested with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) to assess their levels of childhood trauma exposure, impulsivity and aggression, respectively. Our results revealed a robust (P < 0.0001) association between low-activity MAOA-uVNTR alleles and violent crime. This association was replicated in the group of Caucasian violent offenders (P < 0.01), but reached only a marginal trend (P = 0.08) in their African American counterparts. While violent crime charges were not associated with CTQ, BIS-11 and BPAQ scores, carriers of low-activity alleles exhibited a mild, yet significant (P < 0.05) increase in BIS-11 total and attentional-impulsiveness scores. In summary, these findings support the role of MAOA gene as a prominent genetic determinant for criminal violence. Further studies are required to confirm these results in larger samples of inmates and evaluate potential interactions between MAOA alleles and environmental vulnerability factors.
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Godar SC, Mosher LJ, Di Giovanni G, Bortolato M. Animal models of tic disorders: a translational perspective. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 238:54-69. [PMID: 25244952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tics are repetitive, sudden movements and/or vocalizations, typically enacted as maladaptive responses to intrusive premonitory urges. The most severe tic disorder, Tourette syndrome (TS), is a childhood-onset condition featuring multiple motor and at least one phonic tic for a duration longer than 1 year. The pharmacological treatment of TS is mainly based on antipsychotic agents; while these drugs are often effective in reducing tic severity and frequency, their therapeutic compliance is limited by serious motor and cognitive side effects. The identification of novel therapeutic targets and development of better treatments for tic disorders is conditional on the development of animal models with high translational validity. In addition, these experimental tools can prove extremely useful to test hypotheses on the etiology and neurobiological bases of TS and related conditions. In recent years, the translational value of these animal models has been enhanced, thanks to a significant re-organization of our conceptual framework of neuropsychiatric disorders, with a greater focus on endophenotypes and quantitative indices, rather than qualitative descriptors. Given the complex and multifactorial nature of TS and other tic disorders, the selection of animal models that can appropriately capture specific symptomatic aspects of these conditions can pose significant theoretical and methodological challenges. In this article, we will review the state of the art on the available animal models of tic disorders, based on genetic mutations, environmental interventions as well as pharmacological manipulations. Furthermore, we will outline emerging lines of translational research showing how some of these experimental preparations have led to significant progress in the identification of novel therapeutic targets for tic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Godar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy; University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Laura J Mosher
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy; University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy; University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
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Kalinine E, Zimmer ER, Zenki KC, Kalinine I, Kazlauckas V, Haas CB, Hansel G, Zimmer AR, Souza DO, Müller AP, Portela LV. Nandrolone-induced aggressive behavior is associated with alterations in extracellular glutamate homeostasis in mice. Horm Behav 2014; 66:383-92. [PMID: 24937439 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nandrolone decanoate (ND), an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS), induces an aggressive phenotype by mechanisms involving glutamate-induced N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) hyperexcitability. The astrocytic glutamate transporters remove excessive glutamate surrounding the synapse. However, the impact of supraphysiological doses of ND on glutamate transporters activity remains elusive. We investigated whether ND-induced aggressive behavior is interconnected with GLT-1 activity, glutamate levels and abnormal NMDAr responses. Two-month-old untreated male mice (CF1, n=20) were tested for baseline aggressive behavior in the resident-intruder test. Another group of mice (n=188) was injected with ND (15mg/kg) or vehicle for 4, 11 and 19days (short-, mid- and long-term endpoints, respectively) and was evaluated in the resident-intruder test. Each endpoint was assessed for GLT-1 expression and glutamate uptake activity in the frontoparietal cortex and hippocampal tissues. Only the long-term ND endpoint significantly decreased the latency to first attack and increased the number of attacks, which was associated with decreased GLT-1 expression and glutamate uptake activity in both brain areas. These alterations may affect extracellular glutamate levels and receptor excitability. Resident males were assessed for hippocampal glutamate levels via microdialysis both prior to, and following, the introduction of intruders. Long-term ND mice displayed significant increases in the microdialysate glutamate levels only after exposure to intruders. A single intraperitoneal dose of the NMDAr antagonists, memantine or MK-801, shortly before the intruder test decreased aggressive behavior. In summary, long-term ND-induced aggressive behavior is associated with decreased extracellular glutamate clearance and NMDAr hyperexcitability, emphasizing the role of this receptor in mediating aggression mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Kalinine
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Rigon Zimmer
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kamila Cagliari Zenki
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Iouri Kalinine
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Human Performance, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Kazlauckas
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Branco Haas
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gisele Hansel
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Aline Rigon Zimmer
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Diogo Onofre Souza
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Pastoris Müller
- Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Physiology, Health Sciences Unit, University of Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Luis Valmor Portela
- Department of Biochemistry, Post-Graduation Program in Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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The effects of an acute challenge with the NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801, PEAQX, and ifenprodil, on social inhibition in adolescent and adult male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:1797-807. [PMID: 24043344 PMCID: PMC3956710 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3278-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE NMDA antagonists consistently produce social inhibition in adult animals, although effects of these manipulations on social behavior of adolescents are relatively unknown. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess potential age differences in the socially inhibitory effects of the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, MK-801, as well as NR2 subunit selective effects, given the regional and developmental differences that exist for the NR2 subunit during ontogeny. METHODS In separate experiments, adolescent and adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated acutely with MK-801 (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mg/kg, i.p.), the NR2A antagonist, PEAQX (2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg, s.c.), or the NR2B antagonist, ifenprodil (1.5, 3, 6, 12 mg/kg, i.p.), 10 min prior to a social interaction test. RESULTS Adolescents required higher doses of MK-801 (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) to induce social suppression, whereas adults demonstrated reductions in social activity after all doses. Likewise, adolescents required higher doses of ifenprodil (6 and 12 mg/kg) to produce social inhibitory effects relative to adults (all doses). In contrast, adults were less sensitive to PEAQX than adolescents, with adults showing social inhibition after 20 mg/kg whereas adolescents showed this effect following 10 and 20 mg/kg. Although locomotor activity was generally reduced at both ages by all drugs tested, ANCOVAs using locomotor activity as a covariate revealed similar patterns of social inhibitory effects. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents are less sensitive than adults to the disruption of social behavior by NMDA and NR2B-selective receptor antagonism, but not by an NR2A antagonist-age differences that may be related to different subunit expression patterns during development.
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Beaudoin-Gobert M, Sgambato-Faure V. Serotonergic pharmacology in animal models: from behavioral disorders to dyskinesia. Neuropharmacology 2014; 81:15-30. [PMID: 24486710 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Revised: 01/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction has been involved in both movement and behavioral disorders. Serotonin pharmacology improves dyskinetic movements as well as depressive, anxious, aggressive and anorexic symptoms. Animal models have been useful to investigate more precisely to what extent 5-HT is involved and whether drugs targeting the 5-HT system can counteract the symptoms exhibited. We review existing rodent and non-human primate (NHP) animal models in which selective 5-HT or dual 5-HT-norepinephrine (NE) transporter inhibitors, as well as specific 5-HT receptors agonists and antagonists, monoamine oxidase A inhibitors (IMAO-A) and MDMA (Ecstasy) have been used. We review overlaps between the various drug classes involved. We confront behavioral paradigms and treatment regimen. Some but not all animal models and associated pharmacological treatments have been extensively studied in the litterature. In particular, the impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) has been extensively investigated using a variety of pharmacological or genetic rodent models of depression, anxiety, aggressiveness. But the validity of these rodent models is questioned. On the contrary, few studies did address the potential impact of targeting the 5-HT system on NHP models of behavioral disorders, despite the fact that those models may match more closely to human pathologies. Further investigations with carefull behavioral analysis will improve our understanding of neural bases underlying the pathophysiology of movement and behavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maude Beaudoin-Gobert
- Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5229, Bron cedex F-69675, France; Université Lyon 1, France
| | - Véronique Sgambato-Faure
- Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5229, Bron cedex F-69675, France; Université Lyon 1, France.
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Abstract
Violence is a significant public health problem worldwide. Neurobiological research on violence and aggression attempts to elucidate the cellular and molecular pathways that increase the propensity toward this behavior. Research over the past 40 years has implicated several brain regions and neurotransmitters in aggression, mainly using rodent models. Perhaps the strongest association is the link between serotonin and aggression, which has compelling interactions with the nitric oxide system. Recently, new insights into these relationships have been added as modern techniques allow more sophisticated analyses. This chapter will discuss current developments implicating serotonin and nitric oxide in aggressive behavior. Recently developed high-resolution methods for examining the neurobiological basis of aggression will be considered, with emphasis on future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Bedrosian
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 636 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA,
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Costa-Nunes J, Zubareva O, Araújo-Correia M, Valença A, Schroeter CA, Pawluski JL, Vignisse J, Steinbusch H, Hermes D, Phillipines M, Steinbusch HMW, Strekalova T. Altered emotionality, hippocampus-dependent performance and expression of NMDA receptor subunit mRNAs in chronically stressed mice. Stress 2014; 17:108-16. [PMID: 24308441 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2013.872619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated neurotransmission in the hippocampus is implicated in cognitive and emotional disturbances during stress-related disorders. Here, using quantitative RT-PCR, we investigated the hippocampal expression of NR2A, NR2B and NR1 subunit mRNAs in a mouse stress paradigm that mimics clinically relevant conditions of simultaneously affected emotionality and hippocampus-dependent functions. A 2-week stress procedure, which comprised ethologically valid stressors, exposure to a rat and social defeat, was applied to male C57BL/6J mice. For predation stress, mice were introduced into transparent containers that were placed in a rat home cage during the night; social defeat was applied during the daytime using aggressive CD1 mice. This treatment impaired hippocampus-dependent performance during contextual fear conditioning. A correlation between this behavior and food displacement performance was demonstrated, suggesting that burrowing behavior is affected by the stress procedure and is hippocampus-dependent. Stressed mice (n = 22) showed behavioral invigoration and anomalous anxiolytic-like profiles in the O-maze and brightly illuminated open field, unaltered short-term memory in the step-down avoidance task and enhanced aggressive traits, as compared to non-stressed mice (n = 10). Stressed mice showed increased basal serum corticosterone concentrations, hippocampal mRNA expression for the NR2A subunit of the NMDAR and in the NR2A/NR2B ratio; mRNA expression of NR2B and NR1 was unchanged. Thus, stress-induced aberrations in both hippocampal-dependent performance and emotional abnormalities are associated with alterations in hippocampal mRNA NR2A levels and the NR2A/NR2B ratio and not with mRNA expression of NR2B or NR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Costa-Nunes
- Department of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University , Maastricht , the Netherlands
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Bortolato M, Godar SC, Tambaro S, Li FG, Devoto P, Coba MP, Chen K, Shih JC. Early postnatal inhibition of serotonin synthesis results in long-term reductions of perseverative behaviors, but not aggression, in MAO A-deficient mice. Neuropharmacology 2013; 75:223-32. [PMID: 23871843 PMCID: PMC3849223 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A, the major enzyme catalyzing the oxidative degradation of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), plays a key role in emotional regulation. In humans and mice, MAO-A deficiency results in high 5-HT levels, antisocial, aggressive, and perseverative behaviors. We previously showed that the elevation in brain 5-HT levels in MAO-A knockout (KO) mice is particularly marked during the first two weeks of postnatal life. Building on this finding, we hypothesized that the reduction of 5-HT levels during these early stages may lead to enduring attenuations of the aggression and other behavioral aberrances observed in MAO-A KO mice. To test this possibility, MAO-A KO mice were treated with daily injections of a 5-HT synthesis blocker, the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor p-chloro-phenylalanine (pCPA, 300 mg/kg/day, IP), from postnatal day 1 through 7. As expected, this regimen significantly reduced 5-HT forebrain levels in MAO-A KO pups. These neurochemical changes persisted throughout adulthood, and resulted in significant reductions in marble-burying behavior, as well as increases in spontaneous alternations within a T-maze. Conversely, pCPA-treated MAO-A KO mice did not exhibit significant changes in anxiety-like behaviors in a novel open-field and elevated plus-maze; furthermore, this regimen did not modify their social deficits, aggressive behaviors and impairments in tactile sensitivity. Treatment with pCPA from postnatal day 8 through 14 elicited similar, yet milder, behavioral effects on marble-burying behavior. These results suggest that early developmental enhancements in 5-HT levels have long-term effects on the modulation of behavioral flexibility associated with MAO-A deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bortolato
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, MH 5040, 1251 Wescoe Hall Dr., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
| | - Sean C Godar
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Simone Tambaro
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Felix G Li
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Paola Devoto
- "Guy Everett" Laboratory, Dept. of Neuroscience "B.B. Brodie", University of Cagliari, 09124 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Marcelo P Coba
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kevin Chen
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Jean C Shih
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Dept. of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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Abstract
Converging lines of evidence show that a sizable subset of autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) is characterized by increased blood levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), yet the mechanistic link between these two phenomena remains unclear. The enzymatic degradation of brain 5-HT is mainly mediated by monoamine oxidase (MAO)A and, in the absence of this enzyme, by its cognate isoenzyme MAOB. MAOA and A/B knockout (KO) mice display high 5-HT levels, particularly during early developmental stages. Here we show that both mutant lines exhibit numerous behavioural hallmarks of ASDs, such as social and communication impairments, perseverative and stereotypical responses, behavioural inflexibility, as well as subtle tactile and motor deficits. Furthermore, both MAOA and A/B KO mice displayed neuropathological alterations reminiscent of typical ASD features, including reduced thickness of the corpus callosum, increased dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and disrupted microarchitecture of the cerebellum. The severity of repetitive responses and neuropathological aberrances was generally greater in MAOA/B KO animals. These findings suggest that the neurochemical imbalances induced by MAOA deficiency (either by itself or in conjunction with lack of MAOB) may result in an array of abnormalities similar to those observed in ASDs. Thus, MAOA and A/B KO mice may afford valuable models to help elucidate the neurobiological bases of these disorders and related neurodevelopmental problems.
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Evidence for a neuroinflammatory mechanism in delayed effects of early life adversity in rats: relationship to cortical NMDA receptor expression. Brain Behav Immun 2013. [PMID: 23207107 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Postnatal maternal separation in rats causes a reduction of GABAergic parvalbumin-containing interneurons in the prefrontal cortex that first occurs in adolescence. This parvalbumin loss can be prevented by pre-adolescent treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that also protects against excitotoxicity. Therefore, the neuropsychiatric disorders associated with early life adversity and interneuron dysfunction may involve neuroinflammatory processes and/or aberrant glutamatergic activity. Here, we aimed to determine whether delayed parvalbumin loss after maternal separation was due to inflammatory activity, and whether central administration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 could protect against such loss. We also investigated the effects of maternal separation and IL-10 treatment on cortical NMDA receptor expression. Male rat pups were isolated for 4h/day between postnatal days 2-20. IL-10 was administered intracerebroventricularly through an indwelling cannula between P30 and 38. Adolescent prefrontal cortices were analyzed using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry for parvalbumin and NMDA NR2A subunit expression. We demonstrate that central IL-10 administration during pre-adolescence protects maternally separated animals from parvalbumin loss in adolescence. Linear regression analyses revealed that increased circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 predicted lowered parvalbumin levels in maternally separated adolescents. Maternal separation also increases cortical expression of the NR2A NMDA receptor subunit in adolescence, which is prevented by IL-10 treatment. These data suggest that inflammatory damage to parvalbumin interneurons may occur via aberrant glutamatergic activity in the prefrontal cortex. Our findings provide a novel interactive mechanism between inflammation and neural dysfunction that helps explain deleterious effects of early life adversity on prefrontal cortex interneurons.
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The role of the serotonergic system at the interface of aggression and suicide. Neuroscience 2013; 236:160-85. [PMID: 23333677 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 01/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in serotonin (5-HT) neurochemistry have been implicated in the aetiology of all major neuropsychiatric disorders, ranging from schizophrenia to mood and anxiety-spectrum disorders. This review will focus on the multifaceted implications of 5-HT-ergic dysfunctions in the pathophysiology of aggressive and suicidal behaviours. After a brief overview of the anatomical distribution of the 5-HT-ergic system in the key brain areas that govern aggression and suicidal behaviours, the implication of 5-HT markers (5-HT receptors, transporter as well as synthetic and metabolic enzymes) in these conditions is discussed. In this regard, particular emphasis is placed on the integration of pharmacological and genetic evidence from animal studies with the findings of human experimental and genetic association studies. Traditional views postulated an inverse relationship between 5-HT and aggression and suicidal behaviours; however, ample evidence has shown that this perspective may be overly simplistic, and that such pathological manifestations may reflect alterations in 5-HT homoeostasis due to the interaction of genetic, environmental and gender-related factors, particularly during early critical developmental stages. The development of animal models that may capture the complexity of such interactions promises to afford a powerful tool to elucidate the pathophysiology of impulsive aggression and suicidability, and identify new effective therapies for these conditions.
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Takahashi A, Miczek KA. Neurogenetics of aggressive behavior: studies in rodents. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2013; 17:3-44. [PMID: 24318936 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2013_263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Aggressive behavior is observed in many animal species, such as insects, fish, lizards, frogs, and most mammals including humans. This wide range of conservation underscores the importance of aggressive behavior in the animals' survival and fitness, and the likely heritability of this behavior. Although typical patterns of aggressive behavior differ between species, there are several concordances in the neurobiology of aggression among rodents, primates, and humans. Studies with rodent models may eventually help us to understand the neurogenetic architecture of aggression in humans. However, it is important to recognize the difference between the ecological and ethological significance of aggressive behavior (species-typical aggression) and maladaptive violence (escalated aggression) when applying the findings of aggression research using animal models to human or veterinary medicine. Well-studied rodent models for aggressive behavior in the laboratory setting include the mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), and prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). The neural circuits of rodent aggression have been gradually elucidated by several techniques, e.g., immunohistochemistry of immediate-early gene (c-Fos) expression, intracranial drug microinjection, in vivo microdialysis, and optogenetics techniques. Also, evidence accumulated from the analysis of gene-knockout mice shows the involvement of several genes in aggression. Here, we review the brain circuits that have been implicated in aggression, such as the hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and olfactory system. We then discuss the roles of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), excitatory and inhibitory amino acids in the brain, as well as their receptors, in controlling aggressive behavior, focusing mainly on recent findings. At the end of this chapter, we discuss how genes can be identified that underlie individual differences in aggression, using the so-called forward genetics approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Takahashi
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, (NIG), 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan,
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