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De Felice M, Szkudlarek HJ, Uzuneser TC, Rodríguez-Ruiz M, Sarikahya MH, Pusparajah M, Galindo Lazo JP, Whitehead SN, Yeung KKC, Rushlow WJ, Laviolette SR. The Impacts of Adolescent Cannabinoid Exposure on Striatal Anxiety- and Depressive-Like Pathophysiology Are Prevented by the Antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100361. [PMID: 39257692 PMCID: PMC11381987 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100361] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an established risk factor for later-life neuropsychiatric vulnerability, including mood- and anxiety-related symptoms. The psychotropic effects of THC on affect and anxiogenic behavioral phenomena are known to target the striatal network, particularly the nucleus accumbens, a neural region linked to mood and anxiety disorder pathophysiology. THC may increase neuroinflammatory responses via the redox system and dysregulate inhibitory and excitatory neural balance in various brain circuits, including the striatum. Thus, interventions that can induce antioxidant effects may counteract the neurodevelopmental impacts of THC exposure. Methods In the current study, we used an established preclinical adolescent rat model to examine the impacts of adolescent THC exposure on various behavioral, molecular, and neuronal biomarkers associated with increased mood and anxiety disorder vulnerability. Moreover, we investigated the protective properties of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine against THC-related pathology. Results We demonstrated that adolescent THC exposure induced long-lasting anxiety- and depressive-like phenotypes concomitant with differential neuronal and molecular abnormalities in the two subregions of the nucleus accumbens, the shell and the core. In addition, we report for the first time that N-acetylcysteine can prevent THC-induced accumbal pathophysiology and associated behavioral abnormalities. Conclusions The preventive effects of this antioxidant intervention highlight the critical role of redox mechanisms underlying cannabinoid-induced neurodevelopmental pathology and identify a potential intervention strategy for the prevention and/or reversal of these pathophysiological sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Felice
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna J Szkudlarek
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taygun C Uzuneser
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mar Rodríguez-Ruiz
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammed H Sarikahya
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Shawn N Whitehead
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ken K-C Yeung
- Department of Chemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Walter J Rushlow
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Maternal, Fetal and Newborn Health, Children's Health Research Institute (CHRI), London, Ontario, Canada
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Heit BS, Chu A, McRay A, Richmond JE, Heckman CJ, Larson J. Interference with glutamate antiporter system x c - enables post-hypoxic long-term potentiation in hippocampus. Exp Physiol 2024; 109:1572-1592. [PMID: 39153228 PMCID: PMC11363115 DOI: 10.1113/ep092045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Our group previously showed that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the cystine/glutamate antiporter, system xc -, mitigates excitotoxicity after anoxia by increasing latency to anoxic depolarization, thus attenuating the ischaemic core. Hypoxia, however, which prevails in the ischaemic penumbra, is a condition where neurotransmission is altered, but excitotoxicity is not triggered. The present study employed mild hypoxia to further probe ischaemia-induced changes in neuronal responsiveness from wild-type and xCT KO (xCT-/-) mice. Synaptic transmission was monitored in hippocampal slices from both genotypes before, during and after a hypoxic episode. Although wild-type and xCT-/- slices showed equal suppression of synaptic transmission during hypoxia, mutant slices exhibited a persistent potentiation upon re-oxygenation, an effect we termed 'post-hypoxic long-term potentiation (LTP)'. Blocking synaptic suppression during hypoxia by antagonizing adenosine A1 receptors did not preclude post-hypoxic LTP. Further examination of the induction and expression mechanisms of this plasticity revealed that post-hypoxic LTP was driven by NMDA receptor activation, as well as increased calcium influx, with no change in paired-pulse facilitation. Hence, the observed phenomenon engaged similar mechanisms as classical LTP. This was a remarkable finding as theta-burst stimulation-induced LTP was equivalent between genotypes. Importantly, post-hypoxic LTP was generated in wild-type slices pretreated with system xc - inhibitor, S-4-carboxyphenylglycine, thereby confirming the antiporter's role in this phenomenon. Collectively, these data indicate that system xc - interference enables neuroplasticity in response to mild hypoxia, and, together with its regulation of cellular damage in the ischaemic core, suggest a role for the antiporter in post-ischaemic recovery of the penumbra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S. Heit
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biomedical EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Alex Chu
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Alyssa McRay
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Janet E. Richmond
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Charles J. Heckman
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biomedical EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - John Larson
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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Alotaibi A, Travaglianti S, Wong W, Abou-Gharbia M, Childers W, Sari Y. Effects of MC-100093 on Ethanol Drinking and the Expression of Astrocytic Glutamate Transporters in the Mesocorticolimbic Brain Regions of Male and Female Alcohol-Preferring Rats. Neuroscience 2024; 552:89-99. [PMID: 38909675 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Chronic ethanol consumption increased extracellular glutamate concentrations in several reward brain regions. Glutamate homeostasis is regulated in majority by astrocytic glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) as well as the interactive role of cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT). In this study, we aimed to determine the attenuating effects of a novel beta-lactam MC-100093, lacking the antibacterial properties, on ethanol consumption and GLT-1 and xCT expression in the subregions of nucleus accumbens (NAc core and NAc shell) and medial prefrontal cortex (Infralimbic, mPFC-IL and Prelimbic, mPFC-PL) in male and female alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Female and male rats were exposed to free access to ethanol (15% v/v) and (30% v/v) and water for five weeks, and on Week 6, rats were administered 100 mg/kg (i.p) of MC-100093 or saline for five days. MC-100093 reduced ethanol consumption in both male and female P rats from Day 1-5. Additionally, MC-100093 upregulated GLT-1 and xCT expression in the mPFC and NAc subregions as compared to ethanol-saline groups in female and male rats. Chronic ethanol intake reduced GLT-1 and xCT expression in the IL and PL in female and male rats, except there was no reduction in GLT-1 expression in the mPFC-PL in female rats. Although, MC-100093 upregulated GLT-1 and xCT expression in the subregions of NAc, we did not observe any reduction in GLT-1 and xCT expression with chronic ethanol intake in female rats. These findings strongly suggest that MC-100093 treatment effectively reduced ethanol intake and upregulated GLT-1 and xCT expression in the mPFC and NAc subregions in male and female P rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Alotaibi
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Shelby Travaglianti
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Woonyen Wong
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Magid Abou-Gharbia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Wayne Childers
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Youssef Sari
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
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Jacquemyn J, Ralhan I, Ioannou MS. Driving factors of neuronal ferroptosis. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:535-546. [PMID: 38395733 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an oxidative form of iron-dependent cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides on membranes. Iron and lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for this process. Ferroptosis is central to several neurological diseases and underlies the importance of balanced iron and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in the brain, particularly in neurons. Here, we reflect on the potential links between neuronal physiology and the accumulation of iron and peroxidated lipids, the mechanisms neurons use to protect themselves from ferroptosis, and the relationship between pathogenic protein deposition and ferroptosis in neurodegenerative disease. We propose that the unique physiology of neurons makes them especially vulnerable to ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Jacquemyn
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Group on Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Isha Ralhan
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Group on Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Maria S Ioannou
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Group on Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
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Sari Y, Swiss GM, Alrashedi FA, Baeshen KA, Alshammari SA, Alsharari SD, Ali N, Alasmari AF, Alhoshani A, Alameen AA, Childers WE, Abou-Gharbia M, Alasmari F. Effects of novel beta-lactam, MC-100093, and ceftriaxone on astrocytic glutamate transporters and neuroinflammatory factors in nucleus accumbens of C57BL/6 mice exposed to escalated doses of morphine. Saudi Pharm J 2024; 32:102108. [PMID: 38868175 PMCID: PMC11166880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic exposure to opioids can lead to downregulation of astrocytic glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1), which regulates the majority of glutamate uptake. Studies from our lab revealed that beta-lactam antibiotic, ceftriaxone, attenuated hydrocodone-induced downregulation of GLT-1 as well as cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) expression in central reward brain regions. In this study, we investigated the effects of escalating doses of morphine and tested the efficacy of novel synthetic non-antibiotic drug, MC-100093, and ceftriaxone in attenuating the effects of morphine exposure in the expression of GLT-1, xCT, and neuroinflammatory factors (IL-6 and TGF-β) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). This study also investigated the effects of morphine and beta-lactams in locomotor activity, spontaneous alternation percentage (SAP) and number of entries in Y maze since opioids have effects in locomotor sensitization. Mice were exposed to moderate dose of morphine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and a higher dose of morphine (150 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 9, and these mice were then behaviorally tested and euthanized on Day 10. Western blot analysis showed that exposure to morphine downregulated GLT-1 and xCT expression in the NAc, and both MC-100093 and ceftriaxone attenuated these effects. In addition, morphine exposure increased IL-6 mRNA and TGF-β mRNA expression, and MC-100093 and ceftriaxone attenuated only the effect on IL-6 mRNA expression in the NAc. Furthermore, morphine exposure induced an increase in distance travelled, and MC-100093 and ceftriaxone attenuated this effect. In addition, morphine exposure decreased the SAP and increased the number of arm entries in Y maze, however, neither MC-100093 nor ceftriaxone showed any attenuating effect. Our findings demonstrated for the first time that MC-100093 and ceftriaxone attenuated morphine-induced downregulation of GLT-1 and xCT expression, and morphine-induced increase in neuroinflammatory factor, IL-6, as well as hyperactivity. These findings revealed the beneficial therapeutic effects of MC-100093 and ceftriaxone against the effects of exposure to escalated doses of morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Sari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghadeer M.S. Swiss
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatin A. Alrashedi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kholoud A. Baeshen
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sultan A. Alshammari
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir D. Alsharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nemat Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah F. Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Alhoshani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa A. Alameen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wayne E. Childers
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Magid Abou-Gharbia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Beckers P, Belo Do Nascimento I, Charlier M, Desmet N, Massie A, Hermans E. Implication of system x c- in neuroinflammation during the onset and maintenance of neuropathic pain. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:117. [PMID: 38715127 PMCID: PMC11077843 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the high prevalence of neuropathic pain, treating this neurological disease remains challenging, given the limited efficacy and numerous side effects associated with current therapies. The complexity in patient management is largely attributed to an incomplete understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms. Central sensitization, that refers to the adaptation of the central nervous system to persistent inflammation and heightened excitatory transmission within pain pathways, stands as a significant contributor to persistent pain. Considering the role of the cystine/glutamate exchanger (also designated as system xc-) in modulating glutamate transmission and in supporting neuroinflammatory responses, we investigated the contribution of this exchanger in the development of neuropathic pain. METHODS We examined the implication of system xc- by evaluating changes in the expression/activity of this exchanger in the dorsal spinal cord of mice after unilateral partial sciatic nerve ligation. In this surgical model of neuropathic pain, we also examined the consequence of the genetic suppression of system xc- (using mice lacking the system xc- specific subunit xCT) or its pharmacological manipulation (using the pharmacological inhibitor sulfasalazine) on the pain-associated behavioral responses. Finally, we assessed the glial activation and the inflammatory response in the spinal cord by measuring mRNA and protein levels of GFAP and selected M1 and M2 microglial markers. RESULTS The sciatic nerve lesion was found to upregulate system xc- at the spinal level. The genetic deletion of xCT attenuated both the amplitude and the duration of the pain sensitization after nerve surgery, as evidenced by reduced responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli, and this was accompanied by reduced glial activation. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of system xc- had an analgesic effect in lesioned mice. CONCLUSION Together, these observations provide evidence for a role of system xc- in the biochemical processes underlying central sensitization. We propose that the reduced hypersensitivity observed in the transgenic mice lacking xCT or in sulfasalazine-treated mice is mediated by a reduced gliosis in the lumbar spinal cord and/or a shift in microglial M1/M2 polarization towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype in the absence of system xc-. These findings suggest that drugs targeting system xc- could contribute to prevent or reduce neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Beckers
- Institute of Neuroscience, Group of Neuropharmacology, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue Hippocrate 53 (B1.53.01), Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Inês Belo Do Nascimento
- Institute of Neuroscience, Group of Neuropharmacology, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue Hippocrate 53 (B1.53.01), Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Mathilde Charlier
- Institute of Neuroscience, Group of Neuropharmacology, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue Hippocrate 53 (B1.53.01), Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Desmet
- Institute of Neuroscience, Group of Neuropharmacology, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue Hippocrate 53 (B1.53.01), Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Ann Massie
- Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- Institute of Neuroscience, Group of Neuropharmacology, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue Hippocrate 53 (B1.53.01), Brussels, 1200, Belgium.
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Costa-Pinto S, Gonçalves-Ribeiro J, Tedim-Moreira J, Socodato R, Relvas JB, Sebastião AM, Vaz SH. Communication defects with astroglia contribute to early impairments in the motor cortex plasticity of SOD1 G93A mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 193:106435. [PMID: 38336279 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease, involving the selective degeneration of cortical upper synapses in the primary motor cortex (M1). Excitotoxicity in ALS occurs due to an imbalance between excitation and inhibition, closely linked to the loss/gain of astrocytic function. Using the ALS SOD1G93A mice, we investigated the astrocytic contribution for the electrophysiological alterations observed in the M1 of SOD1G93A mice, throughout disease progression. Results showed that astrocytes are involved in synaptic dysfunction observed in presymptomatic SOD1G93A mice, since astrocytic glutamate transport currents are diminished and pharmacological inhibition of astrocytes only impaired long-term potentiation and basal transmission in wild-type mice. Proteomic analysis revealed major differences in neuronal transmission, metabolism, and immune system in upper synapses, confirming early communication deficits between neurons and astroglia. These results provide valuable insights into the early impact of upper synapses in ALS and the lack of supportive functions of cortical astrocytes, highlighting the possibility of manipulating astrocytes to improve synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Costa-Pinto
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Joana Gonçalves-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Joana Tedim-Moreira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde and Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal
| | - Renato Socodato
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde and Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal
| | - João B Relvas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde and Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Sandra H Vaz
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal.
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Harder EV, Franklin JP, VanRyzin JW, Reissner KJ. Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions in Substance Use Disorders. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 39:165-191. [PMID: 39190075 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-64839-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Engagement of astrocytes within the brain's reward circuitry has been apparent for approximately 30 years, when noncontingent drug administration was observed to lead to cytological markers of reactive astrocytes. Since that time, advanced approaches in rodent behavior and astrocyte monitoring have revealed complex interactions between astrocytes with drug type, animal sex, brain region, and dose and duration of drug administration. A number of studies now collectively reveal that rodent drug self-administration followed by prolonged abstinence results in decreased features of structure and synaptic colocalization of astrocytes. In addition, stimulation of astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens with DREADD receptors or pharmacological compounds opposes drug-seeking behavior. These findings provide a clear path for ongoing investigation into astrocytes as mediators of drug action in the brain and underscore the potential therapeutic utility of astrocytes in the regulation of drug craving and relapse vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden V Harder
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Neuroscience Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Janay P Franklin
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Neuroscience Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jonathan W VanRyzin
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Neuroscience Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kathryn J Reissner
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Neuroscience Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Chib S, Devi S, Chalotra R, Mittal N, Singh TG, Kumar P, Singh R. Cross Talks between CNS and CVS Diseases: An Alliance to Annihilate. Curr Cardiol Rev 2024; 20:63-76. [PMID: 38441007 DOI: 10.2174/011573403x278550240221112636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular and neurological diseases cause substantial morbidity and mortality globally. Moreover, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. About 17.9 million people are affected by cardiovascular diseases and 6.8 million people die every year due to neurological diseases. The common neurologic manifestations of cardiovascular illness include stroke syndrome which is responsible for unconsciousness and several other morbidities significantly diminished the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is prudent need to explore the mechanistic and molecular connection between cardiovascular disorders and neurological disorders. The present review emphasizes the association between cardiovascular and neurological diseases specifically Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Chib
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Sushma Devi
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Rishabh Chalotra
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Neeraj Mittal
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Thakur Gurjeet Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Puneet Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Randhir Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
- School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, India
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Fort TD, Cain ME. Inefficacy of N-acetylcysteine in mitigating cue-induced amphetamine-seeking. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 8:100119. [PMID: 38213396 PMCID: PMC10783794 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Glutamatergic imbalances are characteristic of SUDs. Astrocytic and neuronal transporters help regulate glutamate homeostasis and disruptions in this homeostasis engender SUD. The cysteine-glutamate exchanger (xCT) is primarily localized on astrocytes and maintains glutamate concentrations. This process is disrupted by cocaine use, and the therapeutic N-acetylcysteine (NAC) lowers cue-induced relapse to cocaine by restoring xCT function. However, little research has shown how these effects extend to other psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMP). Here, we assessed xCT expression following relapse to AMP cues, and if NAC can attenuate relapse via changes to astrocyte and xCT expression. We administered NAC (100 mg/kg ip) daily during a 14-day abstinence period following AMP (0.1 mg/kg/infusion; 2 h sessions) self-administration. Relapse was tested following one (WD 1) or 14 days (WD 14) of withdrawal. The overall number of astrocytes was also quantified within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (ACb). NAC failed to lower cue-induced AMP craving via cue-induced relapse and reinstatement testing. Cue-induced craving did not increase from WD 1 to WD 14. AMP-exposed rats had greater astrocyte counts in the mPFC and ACb when compared AMP-naïve rats. Repeated injection with NAC decreased xCT expression within the mPFC and ACb. Overall, these results suggest that NAC may be an ineffective treatment option for lowering cue-induced relapse to AMP. Further, the results suggest that stimulating xCT via NAC may not be an effective therapeutic approach for decreasing cue-seeking for AMP.
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Chitolina R, Reis CG, Stahlhofer-Buss T, Linazzi A, Benvenutti R, Marcon M, Herrmann AP, Piato A. Effects of N-acetylcysteine and acetyl-L-carnitine on acute PTZ-induced seizures in larval and adult zebrafish. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1544-1555. [PMID: 37814098 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00536-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disease, affecting approximately 1-2% of the global population. The hallmark of epilepsy is the occurrence of epileptic seizures, which are characterized by predictable behavioral changes reflecting the underlying neural mechanisms of the disease. Unfortunately, around 30% of patients do not respond to current pharmacological treatments. Consequently, exploring alternative therapeutic options for managing this condition is crucial. Two potential candidates for attenuating seizures are N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), as they have shown promising neuroprotective effects through the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. METHODS This study aimed to assess the effects of varying concentrations (0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg/L) of NAC and ALC on acute PTZ-induced seizures in zebrafish in both adult and larval stages. The evaluation of behavioral parameters such as seizure intensity and latency to the crisis can provide insights into the efficacy of these substances. RESULTS Our results indicate that both drugs at any of the tested concentrations were not able to reduce PTZ-induced epileptic seizures. On the other hand, the administration of diazepam demonstrated a notable reduction in seizure intensity and increased latencies to higher scores of epileptic seizures. CONCLUSION Consequently, we conclude that, under the conditions employed in this study, NAC and ALC do not exhibit any significant effects on acute seizures in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Chitolina
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos G Reis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Thailana Stahlhofer-Buss
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Amanda Linazzi
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Radharani Benvenutti
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matheus Marcon
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Farmacologia e Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana P Herrmann
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Psicofarmacologia Experimental (PsychoLab), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Knight LJ, Martis RM, Donaldson PJ, Acosta ML, Lim JC. Changes in glutamate and glutamine distributions in the retinas of cystine/glutamate antiporter knockout mice. Mol Vis 2023; 29:274-288. [PMID: 38222448 PMCID: PMC10784226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The cystine/glutamate antiporter is involved in the export of intracellular glutamate in exchange for extracellular cystine. Glutamate is the main neurotransmitter in the retina and plays a key metabolic role as a major anaplerotic substrate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In addition, glutamate is also involved in the outer plexiform glutamate-glutamine cycle, which links photoreceptors and supporting Müller cells and assists in maintaining photoreceptor neurotransmitter supply. In this study, we investigated the role of xCT, the light chain subunit responsible for antiporter function, in glutamate pathways in the mouse retina using an xCT knockout mouse. As xCT is a glutamate exporter, we hypothesized that loss of xCT function may influence the presynaptic metabolism of photoreceptors and postsynaptic levels of glutamate. Methods Retinas of C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and xCT knockout (KO) mice of either sex were analyzed from 6 weeks to 12 months of age. Biochemical assays were used to determine the effect of loss of xCT on glycolysis and energy metabolism by measuring lactate dehydrogenase activity and ATP levels. Next, biochemical assays were used to measure whole-tissue glutamate and glutamine levels, while silver-intensified immunogold labeling was performed on 6-week and 9-month-old retinas to visualize and quantify the distribution of glutamate, glutamine, and related neurochemical substrates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine in the different layers of the retina. Results Biochemical analysis revealed that loss of xCT function did not alter the lactate dehydrogenase activity, ATP levels, or glutamate and glutamine contents in whole retinas in any age group. However, at 6 weeks of age, the xCT KO retinas revealed altered glutamate distribution compared with the age-matched WT retinas, with accumulation of glutamate in the photoreceptors and outer plexiform layer. In addition, at 6 weeks and 9 months of age, the xCT KO retinas also showed altered glutamine distribution compared with the WT retinas, with glutamine labeling significantly decreased in Müller cell bodies. No significant difference in GABA or glycine distribution were found between the WT and xCT KO retinas at 6 weeks or 9 months of age. Conclusion Loss of xCT function results in glutamate metabolic disruption through the accumulation of glutamate in photoreceptors and a reduced uptake of glutamate by Müller cells, which in turn decreases glutamine production. These findings support the idea that xCT plays a role in the presynaptic metabolism of photoreceptors and postsynaptic levels of glutamate and derived neurotransmitters in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis J Knight
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Renita M Martis
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul J Donaldson
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Monica L Acosta
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Julie C Lim
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Wong W, Sari Y. Effects of Chronic Hydrocodone Exposure and Ceftriaxone on the Expression of Astrocytic Glutamate Transporters in Mesocorticolimbic Brain Regions of C57/BL Mice. TOXICS 2023; 11:870. [PMID: 37888720 PMCID: PMC10611114 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to opioids can lead to the alteration of several neurotransmitters. Among these neurotransmitters, glutamate is thought to be involved in opioid dependence. Glutamate neurotransmission is mainly regulated by astrocytic glutamate transporters such as glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) and cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT). Our laboratory has shown that exposure to lower doses of hydrocodone reduced the expression of xCT in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chronic exposure to hydrocodone, and tested ceftriaxone as a GLT-1 upregulator in mesocorticolimbic brain regions such as the NAc, the amygdala (AMY), and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Eight-week-old male mice were divided into three groups: (1) the saline vehicle control group; (2) the hydrocodone group; and (3) the hydrocodone + ceftriaxone group. Mice were injected with hydrocodone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 14 days. On day seven, the hydrocodone/ceftriaxone group was injected with ceftriaxone (200 mg/kg, i.p.) for last seven days. Chronic exposure to hydrocodone reduced the expression of GLT-1, xCT, protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) in NAc, AMY, and dmPFC. However, hydrocodone exposure increased the expression of G-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR5) in the NAc, AMY, and dmPFC. Importantly, ceftriaxone treatment normalized the expression of mGluR5, GLT-1, and xCT in all these brain regions, except for xCT in the AMY. Importantly, ceftriaxone treatment attenuated hydrocodone-induced downregulation of signaling pathways such as AKT, ERK, and JNK expression in the NAc, AMY, and dmPFC. These findings demonstrate that ceftriaxone has potential therapeutic effects in reversing hydrocodone-induced downregulation of GLT-1 and xCT in selected reward brain regions, and this might be mediated through the downstream kinase signaling pathways such as AKT, ERK, and JNK.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Youssef Sari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
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Tan Y, Cheng C, Zheng C, Zeng W, Yang X, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Ma Z, Xu Y, Cao X. Activation of mGlu 2/3 receptors in the striatum alleviates L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia and inhibits abnormal postsynaptic molecular expression. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 231:173637. [PMID: 37714223 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu2/3 receptors) have been regarded as promising candidates for the treatment of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID); however, confirmation is still lacking. As the hub of the basal ganglia circuit, the striatum plays a critical role in action control. Supersensitive responsiveness of glutamatergic corticostriatal input may be the key mechanism for the development of LID. In this study, we first examined the potency of LY354740 (12 mg/kg, i.p.) in modulating glutamate and dopamine release in lesioned striatum of stable LID rats. Then, we injected LY354740 (20nmoL or 40nmoL in 4 μL of sterile 0.9 % saline) directly into the lesioned striatum to verify its ability to reduce or attenuate L-DOPA-induced abnormal involuntary movements. In experiment conducted in established LID rats, after continuous injection for 4 days, we found that LY354740 significantly reduced the expression of dyskinesia. In another experiment conducted in parkinsonism rat models, we found that LY354740 attenuated the development of LID with an inverted-U dose-response curve. The role of LY354740 in modulating striatal expressions of LID-related molecular changes was also assessed after these behavioral experiments. We found that LY354740 significantly inhibited abnormal expressions of p-Fyn/p-NMDA/p-ERK1/2/p-HistoneH3/ΔFosB, which is in line with its ability to alleviate abnormal involuntary movements in both LID expression and induction phase. Our study indicates that activation of striatal mGlu2/3 receptors can attenuate the development of dyskinesia in parkinsonism rats and provide some functional improvements in LID rats by inhibiting LID-related molecular changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Tan
- Department of Neurology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Chi Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Hanchuan People's Hospital, 432300, China
| | - Cong Zheng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Weiqi Zeng
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Xiaoman Yang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Zhuoran Ma
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Xuebing Cao
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
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Pla-Tenorio J, Roig AM, García-Cesaní PA, Santiago LA, Sepulveda-Orengo MT, Noel RJ. Astrocytes: Role in pathogenesis and effect of commonly misused drugs in the HIV infected brain. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 5:100108. [PMID: 38020814 PMCID: PMC10663134 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of astrocytes as reservoirs and producers of a subset of viral proteins in the HIV infected brain have been studied extensively as a key to understanding HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, their comprehensive role in the context of intersecting substance use and neurocircuitry of the reward pathway and HAND has yet to be fully explained. Use of methamphetamines, cocaine, or opioids in the context of HIV infection have been shown to lead to a faster progression of HAND. Glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic systems are implicated in the development of HAND-induced cognitive impairments. A thorough review of scientific literature exploring the variety of mechanisms in which these drugs exert their effects on the HIV brain and astrocytes has revealed marked areas of convergence in overexcitation leading to increased drug-seeking behavior, inflammation, apoptosis, and irreversible neurotoxicity. The present review investigates astrocytes, the neural pathways, and mechanisms of drug disruption that ultimately play a larger holistic role in terms of HIV progression and drug use. There are opportunities for future research, therapeutic intervention, and preventive strategies to diminish HAND in the subset population of patients with HIV and substance use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessalyn Pla-Tenorio
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
| | - Angela M. Roig
- Seattle Children's Hospital, MS OC.7.830, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105-0371, United States
| | - Paulina A. García-Cesaní
- Bella Vista Hospital, Family Medicine Residency, Carr. 349 Km 2.7, Cerro Las Mesas, Mayaguez, PR, 00681, Puerto Rico
| | - Luis A. Santiago
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
| | - Marian T. Sepulveda-Orengo
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
| | - Richard J. Noel
- Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, 395 Industrial Reparada, Zona 2, Ponce, PR, 00716, Puerto Rico
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Wang S, Liu Y, Wu Z, Jin Y, Zhang T, Yang Z, Liu C. Inhibition of xCT by sulfasalazine alleviates the depression-like behavior of adult male mice subjected to maternal separation stress. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114559. [PMID: 37392785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Maternal separation (MS) can induce emotional disorders. Our previous study reported that MS resulted in depression-like behavior. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of xCT in depression-like behavior in adult mice subjected to MS stress. Pups were divided into the control group, the control + sulfasalazine (SSZ, 75 mg/kg/day, i.p.) group, the MS group, and the MS+SSZ group. After MS, all pups were raised until PD60. Then, the depression-like behavior was detected by the novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) test, the forced swimming test (FST), and the tail suspension test (TST). The synaptic plasticity was examined by electrophysiological recordings and molecular biotechnology. The data showed that, compared with the control group, the mice in the MS group presented depression-like behavior, impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP), a reduction in the number of astrocytes, and activation of the microglia. Moreover, the expression of xCT was increased in the prefrontal cortex of MS mice, the EAAT2 and the Group Ⅱ metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) were decreased, and the level of pro-inflammatory factors was increased in the prefrontal cortex. After the administration with SSZ, the depression-like behavior and the impairment of LTP were alleviated, the number of astrocytes was increased, and the microglial activation was inhibited. Moreover, the levels of EAAT2 and mGluR2/3 were ameliorated, the over-activation of the microglia was mitigated, and the levels of glutamate and pro-inflammatory factors were decreased. In conclusion, the inhibition of xCT by SSZ could alleviate depression-like behavior partly via modulating the homeostasis of the glutamate system and dampening neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengwen Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Ye Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin 300052, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin 300052, China; Department of Neurology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Zekang Wu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yuwen Jin
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhuo Yang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chunhua Liu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
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Frare C, Pitt SK, Hewett SJ. Sex- and age-dependent contribution of System x c- to cognitive, sensory, and social behaviors revealed by comprehensive behavioral analyses of System x c- null mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1238349. [PMID: 37649973 PMCID: PMC10462982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1238349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background System xc- (Sxc-) is an important heteromeric amino acid cystine/glutamate exchanger that plays a pivotal role in the CNS by importing cystine into cells while exporting glutamate. Although certain behaviors have been identified as altered in Sxc- null mutant mice, our understanding of the comprehensive impact of Sxc- on behavior remains incomplete. Methods To address this gap, we compared motor, sensory and social behaviors of male and female mice in mice null for Sxc- (SLC7A11sut/sut) with wildtype littermates (SLC7A11+/+) in a comprehensive and systematic manner to determine effects of genotype, sex, age, and their potential interactions. Results Motor performance was not affected by loss of Sxc- in both males and females, although it was impacted negatively by age. Motor learning was specifically disrupted in female mice lacking Sxc- at both 2 and 6 months of age. Further, female SLC7A11sut/sut mice at both ages exhibited impaired sociability, but normal spatial and recognition memory, as well as sensorimotor gating. Finally, pronounced open-space anxiety was displayed by female SLC7A11sut/sut when they were young. In contrast, young SLC7A11sut/sut male mice demonstrated normal sociability, delayed spatial learning, increased open-space anxiety and heightened sensitivity to noise. As they aged, anxiety and noise sensitivity abated but hyperactivity emerged. Discussion We find that the behavioral phenotypes of female SLC7A11sut/sut are similar to those observed in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder, while behaviors of male SLC7A11sut/sut resemble those seen in mouse models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These results underscore the need for further investigation of SLC7A11 in neurodevelopment. By expanding our understanding of the potential involvement of Sxc-, we may gain additional insights into the mechanisms underlying complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra J. Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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Graham JWC, Jeon P, Théberge J, Palaniyappan L. Non-linear variations in glutamate dynamics during a cognitive task engagement in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 332:111640. [PMID: 37121089 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the role of glutamate in psychosis, we employ functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy at an ultra-high magnetic field (7T) and employ fuzzy-approximate entropy (F-ApEn) and Hurst Exponent (HE) to capture time-varying nature of glutamate signaling during a cognitive task. We recruited thirty first-episode psychosis patients (FEP) with age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) and administered the Color-Word Stroop paradigm, providing 128 raw MRS time-points per subject over a period of 16 min. We then performed metabolite quantification of glutamate in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, a region reliably activated during the Stroop task. Symptoms/cognitive functioning was measured using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-8 score, Social and Occupational Functioning (SOFAS) score, digit symbol) coding score, and Stroop accuracy. These scores were related to the Entropy/HE data from the overall glutamate time-series. Patients with FEP had significantly higher HE compared to HC, with individuals displaying significantly higher HE having lower functional performance (SOFAS) in both HC and FEP groups. Among healthy individuals, higher HE also indicated significantly lower cognitive function through Stroop accuracy and DSST scores. F-ApEn had an inverse Pearson correlation with HE, and tracked diagnosis, cognition and function as expected, but with lower effect sizes not reaching statistical significance. We demonstrate notable diagnostic differences in the temporal course of glutamate signaling during a cognitive task in psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W C Graham
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Jeon
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Department of Psychiatry, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Fernández-Rodríguez S, Cano-Cebrián MJ, Esposito-Zapero C, Pérez S, Guerri C, Zornoza T, Polache A. N-Acetylcysteine normalizes brain oxidative stress and neuroinflammation observed after protracted ethanol abstinence: a preclinical study in long-term ethanol-experienced male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:725-738. [PMID: 36708386 PMCID: PMC10006045 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06311-z] [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: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Using a preclinical model based on the Alcohol Deprivation Effect (ADE), we have reported that N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) can prevent the relapse-like drinking behaviour in long-term ethanol-experienced male rats. OBJECTIVES To investigate if chronic ethanol intake and protracted abstinence affect several glutamate transporters and whether NAC, administered during the withdrawal period, could restore the ethanol-induced brain potential dysfunctions. Furthermore, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of NAC during abstinence in rats under the ADE paradigm were also explored. METHODS The expression of GLT1, GLAST and xCT in nucleus accumbens (Nacc) and dorsal striatum (DS) of male Wistar was analysed after water and chronic ethanol intake. We used the model based on the ADE within another cohort of male Wistar rats. During the fourth abstinence period, rats were treated for 9 days with vehicle or NAC (60, 100 mg/kg; s.c.). The effects of NAC treatment on (i) glutamate transporters expression in the Nacc and DS, (ii) the oxidative status in the hippocampus (Hip) and amygdala (AMG) and (iii) some neuroinflammatory markers in prefrontal cortex (PFC) were tested. RESULTS NAC chronic administration during protracted abstinence restored oxidative stress markers (GSSG and GGSH/GSH) in the Hip. Furthermore, NAC was able to normalize some neuroinflammation markers in PFC without normalizing the observed downregulation of GLT1 and GLAST in Nacc. CONCLUSIONS NAC restores brain oxidative stress and neuroinflammation that we previously observed after protracted ethanol abstinence in long-term ethanol-experienced male rats. This NAC effect could be a plausible mechanism for its anti-relapse effect. Also, brain oxidative stress and neuroinflammation could represent and identify plausible targets for searching new anti-relapse pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Fernández-Rodríguez
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Cano-Cebrián
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - Claudia Esposito-Zapero
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - Salvador Pérez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - Consuelo Guerri
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology of Alcohol, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain
| | - Teodoro Zornoza
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Polache
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain.
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20
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Hess EM, Kassel SN, Simandl G, Raddatz N, Maunze B, Hurley MM, Grzybowski M, Klotz J, Geurts A, Liu QS, Choi S, Twining RC, Baker DA. Genetic Disruption of System xc-Mediated Glutamate Release from Astrocytes Increases Negative-Outcome Behaviors While Preserving Basic Brain Function in Rat. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2349-2361. [PMID: 36788029 PMCID: PMC10072291 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1525-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of neuronal glutamate to synaptic transmission throughout the brain illustrates the immense therapeutic potential and safety risks of targeting this system. Astrocytes also release glutamate, the clinical relevance of which is unknown as the range of brain functions reliant on signaling from these cells hasn't been fully established. Here, we investigated system xc- (Sxc), which is a glutamate release mechanism with an in vivo rodent expression pattern that is restricted to astrocytes. As most animals do not express Sxc, we first compared the expression and sequence of the obligatory Sxc subunit xCT among major classes of vertebrate species. We found xCT to be ubiquitously expressed and under significant negative selective pressure. Hence, Sxc likely confers important advantages to vertebrate brain function that may promote biological fitness. Next, we assessed brain function in male genetically modified rats (MSxc) created to eliminate Sxc activity. Unlike other glutamatergic mechanisms, eliminating Sxc activity was not lethal and didn't alter growth patterns, telemetry measures of basic health, locomotor activity, or behaviors reliant on simple learning. However, MSxc rats exhibited deficits in tasks used to assess cognitive behavioral control. In a pavlovian conditioned approach, MSxc rats approached a food-predicted cue more frequently than WT rats, even when this response was punished. In attentional set shifting, MSxc rats displayed cognitive inflexibility because of an increased frequency of perseverative errors. MSxc rats also displayed heightened cocaine-primed drug seeking. Hence, a loss of Sxc-activity appears to weaken control over nonreinforced or negative-outcome behaviors without altering basic brain function.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamate is essential to synaptic activity throughout the brain, which illustrates immense therapeutic potential and risk. Notably, glutamatergic mechanisms are expressed by most types of brain cells. Hence, glutamate likely encodes multiple forms of intercellular signaling. Here, we hypothesized that the selective manipulation of astrocyte to neuron signaling would alter cognition without producing widespread brain impairments. First, we eliminated activity of the astrocytic glutamate release mechanism, Sxc, in rat. This impaired cognitive flexibility and increased expression of perseverative, maladaptive behaviors. Notably, eliminating Sxc activity did not alter metrics of health or noncognitive brain function. These data add to recent evidence that the brain expresses cognition-specific molecular mechanisms that could lead to highly precise, safe medications for impaired cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Hess
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Sara N Kassel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Gregory Simandl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Nicholas Raddatz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Brian Maunze
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Matthew M Hurley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | | | | | | | - Qing-Song Liu
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
| | - SuJean Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Robert C Twining
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - David A Baker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
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21
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Heit BS, Chu A, Sane A, Featherstone DE, Park TJ, Larson J. Tonic extracellular glutamate and ischaemia: glutamate antiporter system x c - regulates anoxic depolarization in hippocampus. J Physiol 2023; 601:607-629. [PMID: 36321247 PMCID: PMC10107724 DOI: 10.1113/jp283880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In stroke, the sudden deprivation of oxygen to neurons triggers a profuse release of glutamate that induces anoxic depolarization (AD) and leads to rapid cell death. Importantly, the latency of the glutamate-driven AD event largely dictates subsequent tissue damage. Although the contribution of synaptic glutamate during ischaemia is well-studied, the role of tonic (ambient) glutamate has received far less scrutiny. The majority of tonic, non-synaptic glutamate in the brain is governed by the cystine/glutamate antiporter, system xc - . Employing hippocampal slice electrophysiology, we showed that transgenic mice lacking a functional system xc - display longer latencies to AD and altered depolarizing waves compared to wild-type mice after total oxygen deprivation. Experiments which pharmacologically inhibited system xc - , as well as those manipulating tonic glutamate levels and those antagonizing glutamate receptors, revealed that the antiporter's putative effect on ambient glutamate precipitates the ischaemic cascade. As such, the current study yields novel insight into the pathogenesis of acute stroke and may direct future therapeutic interventions. KEY POINTS: Ischaemic stroke remains the leading cause of adult disability in the world, but efforts to reduce stroke severity have been plagued by failed translational attempts to mitigate glutamate excitotoxicity. Elucidating the ischaemic cascade, which within minutes leads to irreversible tissue damage induced by anoxic depolarization, must be a principal focus. Data presented here show that tonic, extrasynaptic glutamate supplied by system xc - synergizes with ischaemia-induced synaptic glutamate release to propagate AD and exacerbate depolarizing waves. Exploiting the role of system xc - and its obligate release of ambient glutamate could, therefore, be a novel therapeutic direction to attenuate the deleterious effects of acute stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S Heit
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alex Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Abhay Sane
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David E Featherstone
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas J Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John Larson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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22
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Padoei F, Mamsharifi P, Hazegh P, Boroumand H, Ostadmohammady F, Abbaszadeh-Mashkani S, Banafshe HR, Matini AH, Ghaderi A, Dehkohneh SG. The therapeutic effect of N-acetylcysteine as an add-on to methadone maintenance therapy medication in outpatients with substance use disorders: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2823. [PMID: 36448959 PMCID: PMC9847617 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with substance use disorders (SUD) under methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) are susceptible to a number of complications (psychological and metabolic disorders). Evidence studies have shown the roles of the glutamatergic system in addiction. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) enhances extracellular glutamate, and is effective in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. We assessed oral NAC as an add-on to MMT medication for the treatment of SUD. METHODS In the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, outpatients with SUD under MMT who were 18-60 years old received 2400 mg/day NAC (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Psychological status and metabolic biomarkers were assessed at baseline and the end of the trial. RESULTS Compared with the placebo group, NAC treatment resulted in a significant improvement in depression score (β -2.36; 95% CI, -3.97, -0.76; p = .005), and anxiety score (β -1.82; 95% CI, -3.19, -0.44; p = .01). Furthermore, NAC treatment resulted in a significant elevation in total antioxidant capacity levels (β 72.28 mmol/L; 95% CI, 11.36, 133.19; p = .02), total glutathione (GSH) levels (β 81.84 μmol/L; 95% CI, 15.40, 148.28; p = .01), and a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (β -0.89 mg/L; 95% CI, -1.50, -0.28; p = .005), and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β -0.33; 95% CI, -0.65, -0.009; p = .04), compared with the placebo group. CONCLUSION In the current study, improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms as well as some metabolic profiles with NAC treatment for 12 weeks in outpatients with SUD under MMT was detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fateme Padoei
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Peyman Mamsharifi
- Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pooya Hazegh
- Department of Psychiatry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Homa Boroumand
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | | | | | - Hamid Reza Banafshe
- Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Amir Hassan Matini
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Amir Ghaderi
- Department of Addiction studies, School of Medical, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.,Clinical Research Development Unit-Matini/Kargarnejad Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Somayeh Ghadami Dehkohneh
- Department of Pharmacy, Acharya BM ready college of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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23
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Hang TD, Hung HM, Beckers P, Desmet N, Lamrani M, Massie A, Hermans E, Vanommeslaeghe K. Structural investigation of human cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc− (Sxc−) using homology modeling and molecular dynamics. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1064199. [DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1064199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc− (Sxc−) belongs to the SLC7 family of plasma membrane transporters. It exports intracellular glutamate along the latter’s concentration gradient as a driving force for cellular uptake of cystine. Once imported, cystine is mainly used for the production of glutathione, a tripeptide thiol crucial in maintenance of redox homeostasis and protection of cells against oxidative stress. Overexpression of Sxc− has been found in several cancer cells, where it is thought to counteract the increased oxidative stress. In addition, Sxc− is important in the central nervous system, playing a complex role in regulating glutamatergic neurotransmission and glutamate toxicity. Accordingly, this transporter is considered a potential target for the treatment of cancer as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Till now, no specific inhibitors are available. We herein present four conformations of Sxc− along its transport pathway, obtained using multi-template homology modeling and refined by means of Molecular Dynamics. Comparison with a very recently released cryo-EM structure revealed an excellent agreement with our inward-open conformation. Intriguingly, our models contain a structured N-terminal domain that is unresolved in the experimental structures and is thought to play a gating role in the transport mechanism of other SLC7 family members. In contrast to the inward-open model, there is no direct experimental counterpart for the other three conformations we obtained, although they are in fair agreement with the other stages of the transport mechanism seen in other SLC7 transporters. Therefore, our models open the prospect for targeting alternative Sxc− conformations in structure-based drug design efforts.
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24
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Kruyer A. Astrocyte Heterogeneity in Regulation of Synaptic Activity. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193135. [PMID: 36231097 PMCID: PMC9562199 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our awareness of the number of synapse regulatory functions performed by astroglia is rapidly expanding, raising interesting questions regarding astrocyte heterogeneity and specialization across brain regions. Whether all astrocytes are poised to signal in a multitude of ways, or are instead tuned to surrounding synapses and how astroglial signaling is altered in psychiatric and cognitive disorders are fundamental questions for the field. In recent years, molecular and morphological characterization of astroglial types has broadened our ability to design studies to better analyze and manipulate specific functions of astroglia. Recent data emerging from these studies will be discussed in depth in this review. I also highlight remaining questions emerging from new techniques recently applied toward understanding the roles of astrocytes in synapse regulation in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kruyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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25
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Zhang LY, Kim AY, Cheer JF. Regulation of glutamate homeostasis in the nucleus accumbens by astrocytic CB1 receptors and its role in cocaine-motivated behaviors. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 3:100022. [PMID: 36419922 PMCID: PMC9681119 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1Rs) orchestrate brain reward circuitry and are prevalent neurobiological targets for endocannabinoids and cannabis in the mammalian brain. Decades of histological and electrophysiological studies have established CB1R as presynaptic G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that inhibit neurotransmitter release through retrograde signaling mechanisms. Recent seminal work demonstrates CB1R expression on astrocytes and the pivotal function of glial cells in endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of neuron-astrocyte signaling. Here, we review key facets of CB1R-mediated astroglia regulation of synaptic glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens with a specific emphasis on cocaine-directed behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Andrew Y. Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Joseph F. Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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26
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Avalos MP, Guzman AS, Garcia-Keller C, Mongi-Bragato B, Esparza MA, Rigoni D, Sanchez MA, Calfa GD, Bollati FA, Cancela LM. Impairment of glutamate homeostasis in the nucleus accumbens core underpins cross-sensitization to cocaine following chronic restraint stress. Front Physiol 2022; 13:896268. [PMID: 36091376 PMCID: PMC9462460 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.896268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Though the facilitating influence of stress on drug abuse is well documented, the mechanisms underlying this interaction have yet to be fully elucidated. The present study explores the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning the sensitized response to the psychomotor-stimulating effects of cocaine following chronic restraint stress (CRS), emphasizing the differential contribution of both subcompartments of the nucleus accumbens (NA), the core (NAcore) and shell (NAshell), to this phenomenon. Adult male Wistar rats were restrained for 2 h/day for 7 days and, 2 weeks after the last stress exposure (day 21), all animals were randomly assigned to behavioral, biochemical or neurochemical tests. Our results demonstrated that the enduring CRS-induced increase in psychostimulant response to cocaine was paralleled by an increase of extracellular dopamine levels in the NAcore, but not the NAshell, greater than that observed in the non-stress group. Furthermore, we found that CRS induced an impairment of glutamate homeostasis in the NAcore, but not the NAshell. Its hallmarks were increased basal extracellular glutamate concentrations driven by a CRS-induced downregulation of GLT-1, blunted glutamate levels in response to cocaine and postsynaptic structural remodeling in pre-stressed animals. In addition, ceftriaxone, a known GLT-1 enhancer, prevented the CRS-induced GLT-1 downregulation, increased basal extracellular glutamate concentrations and changes in structural plasticity in the NAcore as well as behavioral cross-sensitization to cocaine, emphasizing the biological importance of GLT-1 in the comorbidity between chronic stress exposure and drug abuse. A future perspective concerning the paramount relevance of the stress-induced disruption of glutamate homeostasis as a vulnerability factor to the development of stress and substance use disorders during early life or adulthood of descendants is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Flavia A. Bollati
- Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Liliana M. Cancela
- Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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27
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Martinez-Lozada Z, Hewett SJ, Zafra F, Ortega A. Editorial: The known, the unknown, and the future of glutamate transporters. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1005834. [PMID: 36060278 PMCID: PMC9433117 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1005834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zila Martinez-Lozada
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Zila Martinez-Lozada
| | - Sandra J. Hewett
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Francisco Zafra
- Center of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa, School of Science, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario La Paz — IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arturo Ortega
- Department of Toxicology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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28
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Noradrenaline activation of hippocampal dopamine D 1 receptors promotes antidepressant effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117903119. [PMID: 35939697 PMCID: PMC9388128 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117903119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) are essential for antidepressant effects. However, the midbrain dopaminergic neurons, the major source of dopamine in the brain, only sparsely project to DG, suggesting possible activation of DG D1Rs by endogenous substances other than dopamine. We have examined this possibility using electrophysiological and biochemical techniques and found robust activation of D1Rs in mouse DG neurons by noradrenaline. Noradrenaline at the micromolar range potentiated synaptic transmission at the DG output and increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase A substrates in DG via activation of D1Rs and β adrenergic receptors. Neuronal excitation preferentially enhanced noradrenaline-induced synaptic potentiation mediated by D1Rs with minor effects on β-receptor-dependent potentiation. Increased voluntary exercise by wheel running also enhanced noradrenaline-induced, D1R-mediated synaptic potentiation, suggesting a distinct functional role of the noradrenaline-D1R signaling. We then examined the role of this signaling in antidepressant effects using mice exposed to chronic restraint stress. In the stressed mice, an antidepressant acting on the noradrenergic system induced a mature-to-immature change in the DG neuron phenotype, a previously proposed cellular substrate for antidepressant action. This effect was evident only in mice subjected to wheel running and blocked by a D1R antagonist. These results suggest a critical role of noradrenaline-induced activation of D1Rs in antidepressant effects in DG. Experience-dependent regulation of noradrenaline-D1R signaling may determine responsiveness to antidepressant drugs in depressive disorders.
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29
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Bauminger H, Gaisler-Salomon I. Beyond NMDA Receptors: Homeostasis at the Glutamate Tripartite Synapse and Its Contributions to Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8617. [PMID: 35955750 PMCID: PMC9368772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive deficits are core symptoms of schizophrenia but remain poorly addressed by dopamine-based antipsychotic medications. Glutamate abnormalities are implicated in schizophrenia-related cognitive deficits. While the role of the NMDA receptor has been extensively studied, less attention was given to other components that control glutamate homeostasis. Glutamate dynamics at the tripartite synapse include presynaptic and postsynaptic components and are tightly regulated by neuron-astrocyte crosstalk. Here, we delineate the role of glutamate homeostasis at the tripartite synapse in schizophrenia-related cognitive dysfunction. We focus on cognitive domains that can be readily measured in humans and rodents, i.e., working memory, recognition memory, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. We describe tasks used to measure cognitive function in these domains in humans and rodents, and the relevance of glutamate alterations in these domains. Next, we delve into glutamate tripartite synaptic components and summarize findings that implicate the relevance of these components to specific cognitive domains. These collective findings indicate that neuron-astrocyte crosstalk at the tripartite synapse is essential for cognition, and that pre- and postsynaptic components play a critical role in maintaining glutamate homeostasis and cognitive well-being. The contribution of these components to cognitive function should be considered in order to better understand the role played by glutamate signaling in cognition and develop efficient pharmacological treatment avenues for schizophrenia treatment-resistant symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagar Bauminger
- School of Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Inna Gaisler-Salomon
- School of Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
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30
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McNair LM, Mason GF, Chowdhury GM, Jiang L, Ma X, Rothman DL, Waagepetersen HS, Behar KL. Rates of pyruvate carboxylase, glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter cycling, and glucose oxidation in multiple brain regions of the awake rat using a combination of [2- 13C]/[1- 13C]glucose infusion and 1H-[ 13C]NMR ex vivo. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2022; 42:1507-1523. [PMID: 35048735 PMCID: PMC9274856 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x221074211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Anaplerosis occurs predominately in astroglia through the action of pyruvate carboxylase (PC). The rate of PC (Vpc) has been reported for cerebral cortex (or whole brain) of awake humans and anesthetized rodents, but regional brain rates remain largely unknown and, hence, were subjected to investigation in the current study. Awake male rats were infused with either [2-13C]glucose or [1-13C]glucose (n = 27/30) for 8, 15, 30, 60 or 120 min, followed by rapid euthanasia with focused-beam microwave irradiation to the brain. Blood plasma and extracts of cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex were analyzed by 1H-[13C]-NMR to establish 13C-enrichment time courses for glutamate-C4,C3,C2, glutamine-C4,C3, GABA-C2,C3,C4 and aspartate-C2,C3. Metabolic rates were determined by fitting a three-compartment metabolic model (glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and astroglia) to the eighteen time courses. Vpc varied by 44% across brain regions, being lowest in the cerebellum (0.087 ± 0.004 µmol/g/min) and highest in striatum (0.125 ± 0.009) with intermediate values in cerebral cortex (0.106 ± 0.005) and hippocampus (0.114 ± 0.005). Vpc constituted 13-19% of the oxidative glucose consumption rate. Combination of cerebral cortical data with literature values revealed a positive correlation between Vpc and the rates of glutamate/glutamine-cycling and oxidative glucose consumption, respectively, consistent with earlier observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M McNair
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Graeme F Mason
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Golam Mi Chowdhury
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lihong Jiang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xiaoxian Ma
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Douglas L Rothman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Helle S Waagepetersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kevin L Behar
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Mizera J, Pomierny B, Sadakierska-Chudy A, Bystrowska B, Pomierny-Chamiolo L. Disruption of Glutamate Homeostasis in the Brain of Rat Offspring Induced by Prenatal and Early Postnatal Exposure to Maternal High-Sugar Diet. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14112184. [PMID: 35683984 PMCID: PMC9182612 DOI: 10.3390/nu14112184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A high-calorie diet has contributed greatly to the prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide for decades. These conditions also affect pregnant women and have a negative impact on the health of both the woman and the fetus. Numerous studies indicate that an unbalanced maternal diet, rich in sugars and fats, can influence the in utero environment and, therefore, the future health of the child. It has also been shown that prenatal exposure to an unbalanced diet might permanently alter neurotransmission in offspring. In this study, using a rat model, we evaluated the effects of a maternal high-sugar diet on the level of extracellular glutamate and the expression of key transporters crucial for maintaining glutamate homeostasis in offspring. Glutamate concentration was assessed in extracellular fluid samples collected from the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of male and female offspring. Analysis showed significantly increased glutamate levels in both brain structures analyzed, regardless of the sex of the offspring. These changes were accompanied by altered expression of the EAAT1, VGLUT1, and xc− proteins in these brain structures. This animal study further confirms our previous findings that a maternal high-sugar diet has a detrimental effect on the glutamatergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jozef Mizera
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Bartosz Pomierny
- Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland; (B.P.); (B.B.)
| | - Anna Sadakierska-Chudy
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Gustawa Herlinga-Grudzinskiego 1, 30-705 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Beata Bystrowska
- Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland; (B.P.); (B.B.)
| | - Lucyna Pomierny-Chamiolo
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-(12)-620-56-30
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Avalos MP, Guzman AS, Rigoni D, Gorostiza EA, Sanchez MA, Mongi-Bragato B, Garcia-Keller C, Perassi EM, Virgolini MB, Peralta Ramos JM, Iribarren P, Calfa GD, Bollati FA, Cancela LM. Minocycline prevents chronic restraint stress-induced vulnerability to developing cocaine self-administration and associated glutamatergic mechanisms: a potential role of microglia. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 101:359-376. [PMID: 35065197 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressful experience-induced cocaine-related behaviors are associated with a significant impairment of glutamatergic mechanisms in the Nucleus Accumbens core (NAcore). The hallmarks of disrupted glutamate homeostasis following restraint stress are the enduring imbalance of glutamate efflux after a cocaine stimulus and increased basal concentrations of extracellular glutamate attributed to GLT-1 downregulation in the NAcore. Glutamate transmission is tightly linked to microglia functioning. However, the role of microglia in the biological basis of stress-induced addictive behaviors is still unknown. By using minocycline, a potent inhibitor of microglia activation with anti-inflammatory properties, we determined whether microglia could aid chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced glutamate homeostasis disruption in the NAcore, underpinning stress-induced cocaine self-administration. In this study, adult male rats were restrained for 2 h/day for seven days (day 1-7). From day 16 until completing the experimental protocol, animals received a vehicle or minocycline treatment (30 mg/Kg/12h i.p.). On day 21, animals were assigned to microscopic, biochemical, neurochemical or behavioral studies. We confirm that the CRS-induced facilitation of cocaine self-administration is associated with enduring GLT-1 downregulation, an increase of basal extracellular glutamate and postsynaptic structural plasticity in the NAcore. These alterations were strongly related to the CRS-induced reactive microglia and increased TNF-α mRNA and protein expression, since by administering minocycline, the impaired glutamate homeostasis and the facilitation of cocaine self-administration were prevented. Our findings are the first to demonstrate that minocycline suppresses the CRS-induced facilitation of cocaine self-administration and glutamate homeostasis disruption in the NAcore. A role of microglia is proposed for the development of glutamatergic mechanisms underpinning stress-induced vulnerability to cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Paula Avalos
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea Susana Guzman
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daiana Rigoni
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Axel Gorostiza
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marianela Adela Sanchez
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Bethania Mongi-Bragato
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Constanza Garcia-Keller
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Marcelo Perassi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisicoquímica de Córdoba (INFIQC-CONICET), Departamento de Química Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Miriam Beatriz Virgolini
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Javier María Peralta Ramos
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pablo Iribarren
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gastón Diego Calfa
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Flavia Andrea Bollati
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Liliana Marina Cancela
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Rogóż Z, Kamińska K, Lech MA, Lorenc-Koci E. N-Acetylcysteine and Aripiprazole Improve Social Behavior and Cognition and Modulate Brain BDNF Levels in a Rat Model of Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042125. [PMID: 35216241 PMCID: PMC8877560 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of negative symptoms and cognitive disorders in patients with schizophrenia is still a serious clinical problem. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of chronic administration of the atypical antipsychotic drug aripiprazole (7-{4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl] butoxy}-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone; ARI) and the well-known antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) both in alleviating schizophrenia-like social and cognitive deficits and in reducing the decreases in the levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) of adult Sprague-Dawley rats, that have been induced by chronic administration of the model compound L-buthionine-(S, R)-sulfoximine (BSO) during the early postnatal development (p5–p16). ARI was administered at doses of 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg while NAC at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg, alone or in combination. Administration of higher doses of ARI or NAC alone, or co-treatment with lower, ineffective doses of these drugs significantly improved social and cognitive performance as assessed in behavioral tests. Both doses of NAC and 0.3 mg/kg of ARI increased the expression of BDNF mRNA in the PFC, while all doses of these drugs and their combinations enhanced the levels of BDNF protein in this brain structure. In the HIP, only 0,3 mg/kg ARI increased the levels of both BDNF mRNA and its protein. These data show that in the rat BSO-induced neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, ARI and NAC differently modulated BDNF levels in the PFC and HIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zofia Rogóż
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (Z.R.); (K.K.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Kinga Kamińska
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (Z.R.); (K.K.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Marta Anna Lech
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (Z.R.); (K.K.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Elżbieta Lorenc-Koci
- Department of Neuro-Psychopharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-126-623-272
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N-acetylcysteine aggravates seizures while improving depressive-like and cognitive impairment comorbidities in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2702-2714. [PMID: 35167014 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02720-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant with some demonstrated efficacy in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. NAC has shown anticonvulsant effects in animal models. NAC effects on absence seizures are still not uncovered, and considering its clinical use as a mucolytic in patients with lung diseases, people with epilepsy are also likely to be exposed to the drug. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of NAC on absence seizures in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy with neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The effects of NAC chronic treatment in WAG/Rij rats were evaluated on: absence seizures at 15 and 30 days by EEG recordings and animal behaviour at 30 days on neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of NAC was evaluated by analysing brain expression levels of some possible key targets: the excitatory amino acid transporter 2, cystine-glutamate antiporter, metabotropic glutamate receptor 2, the mechanistic target of rapamycin and p70S6K as well as levels of total glutathione. Our results demonstrate that in WAG/Rij rats, NAC treatment significantly increased the number and duration of SWDs, aggravating absence epilepsy while ameliorating neuropsychiatric comorbidities. NAC treatment was linked to an increase in brain mGlu2 receptor expression with this being likely responsible for the observed absence seizure-promoting effects. In conclusion, while confirming the positive effects on animal behaviour induced by NAC also in epileptic animals, we report the aggravating effects of NAC on absence seizures which could have some serious consequences for epilepsy patients with the possible wider use of NAC in clinical therapeutics.
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35
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Alcoreza O, Jagarlamudi S, Savoia A, Campbell SL, Sontheimer H. Sulfasalazine decreases astrogliosis-mediated seizure burden. Epilepsia 2022; 63:844-854. [PMID: 35132640 PMCID: PMC9007880 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective Previously, we reported that inhibition of the astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc‐ (SXC), using sulfasalazine (SAS), decreased evoked excitatory signaling in three distinct hyperexcitability models ex vivo. The current study expands on this work by evaluating the in vivo efficacy of SAS in decreasing astrogliosis‐mediated seizure burden seen in the beta‐1 integrin knockout (B1KO) model. Methods Video‐EEG (electroencephalography) monitoring (24/7) was obtained using Biopac EEG acquisition hardware and software. EEG spectral analysis was performed using MATLAB. SAS was used at an equivalence of doses taken by Crohn’s disease patients. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were made from cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons. Results We report that 100% of B1KO mice that underwent 24/7 video‐EEG monitoring developed spontaneous recurrent seizures and that intraperitoneal administration of SAS significantly reduced seizure frequency in B1KOs compared to B1KOs receiving sham saline. Spectral analysis found an acute reduction in EEG power following SAS treatment in B1KOs; however, this effect was not observed in nonepileptic control mice receiving SAS. Finally, whole‐cell recordings from SXC knockout mice had hyperpolarized neurons and SXC‐B1 double knockouts fired significantly less action potentials in response to current injection compared to B1KOs with SXC. Significance To devise effective strategies in finding relief for one‐in‐three patients with epilepsy who experience drug‐resistant epilepsy we must continue to explore the mechanisms regulating glutamate homeostasis. This study explored the efficacy of targeting an astrocytic glutamate antiporter, SXC, as a novel antiepileptic drug (AED) target and further characterized a unique mouse model in which chronic astrogliosis is sufficient to induce spontaneous seizures and epilepsy. These findings may serve as a foundation to further assess the potential for SAS or inform the development of more potent and specific compounds that target SXC as a novel treatment for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Alcoreza
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Center for Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Sai Jagarlamudi
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Andrew Savoia
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Susan L Campbell
- Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Harald Sontheimer
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Center for Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
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Hans D, Rengel A, Hans J, Bassett D, Hood S. N-Acetylcysteine as a novel rapidly acting anti-suicidal agent: A pilot naturalistic study in the emergency setting. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263149. [PMID: 35089954 PMCID: PMC8797247 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective N-acetylcysteine has a demonstrated role as an adjunctive therapy in psychotic and affective disorders as a treatment to reduce symptoms of Bipolar Affective Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and Schizophrenia. However, its potential as a rapidly acting anti-suicidal agent has not yet been assessed. This naturalistic study evaluates its effect in thirty patients presenting following intentional medication overdose. Methods Eighteen patients who ingested toxic doses of paracetamol received NAC whilst twelve other patients with other overdoses received standard supportive treatment in the emergency department setting. Symptoms were measured using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression scale at time of presentation, 24 hours, and seven days. Results Baseline characteristics between groups were similar. Both groups showed a significant reduction in suicidality, as measured by the suicide item of the MADRS, over time (p < 0.001). However, there was a greater reduction in suicidality in the ‘NAC group’ compared to the ‘no-NAC group’ one-week post presentation (p = 0.014). A greater proportion of the ‘no-NAC group’ still exhibited severe depressive symptoms (MADRS >32) compared to the ‘NAC group’ (p = 0.044). Conclusion This naturalistic study suggests NAC may have potential use as a rapidly acting treatment adjunct in major depressive disorder, warranting further investigation of its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davinder Hans
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Anthony Rengel
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jaspreet Hans
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Darryl Bassett
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sean Hood
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Logan CN, Rojas G, Wilkinson CS, Polo Escorcia AK, Reichel CM, Peris J, Knackstedt LA. Systemic oxytocin increases glutamate efflux in the nucleus accumbens core of cocaine-experienced male and female rats but only increases dopamine efflux in males. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113590. [PMID: 34551348 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin attenuates cocaine-seeking when administered both systemically and directly into the nucleus accumbens core. This effect is blocked by intra-accumbens antagonism of mGlu2/3 and, together with our finding that intra-accumbens oxytocin increases glutamate concentrations in this brain region, indicates that pre-synaptic regulation of glutamate release by oxytocin influences cocaine relapse. However, mGlu2/3 receptors also regulate dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Here we aimed to determine whether systemic oxytocin increases glutamate and dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens core of cocaine-experienced and cocaine-naïve male and female rats. A subset of rats self-administered cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) and then underwent extinction training for 2-3 weeks. Rats were implanted with microdialysis probes in the accumbens core and samples were collected for a baseline period, and following saline (1 mL/kg), and oxytocin (1 mg/kg, IP) injections. Locomotion was assessed during microdialysis. In cocaine-experienced rats, oxytocin increased glutamate concentrations in the accumbens core to the same extent in males and females but only increased dopamine concentrations in male rats. Oxytocin did not alter glutamate levels in cocaine-naïve rats. Oxytocin did not produce sedation. These results extend previous findings that systemic oxytocin increases nucleus accumbens dopamine in a sex-specific manner in cocaine-experienced rats. These data are the first to find that systemic oxytocin increases nucleus accumbens glutamate after cocaine experience, providing a mechanism of action by which oxytocin attenuates the reinstatement of cocaine seeking in both male and female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Logan
- Psychology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - G Rojas
- Psychology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - C S Wilkinson
- Psychology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - C M Reichel
- Neuroscience Dept., Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston SC, USA
| | - J Peris
- Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Pharmacodynamics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - L A Knackstedt
- Psychology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Jordan CJ, Xi ZX. Identification of the Risk Genes Associated With Vulnerability to Addiction: Major Findings From Transgenic Animals. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:811192. [PMID: 35095405 PMCID: PMC8789752 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.811192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding risk factors for substance use disorders (SUD) can facilitate medication development for SUD treatment. While a rich literature exists discussing environmental factors that influence SUD, fewer articles have focused on genetic factors that convey vulnerability to drug use. Methods to identify SUD risk genes include Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and transgenic approaches. GWAS have identified hundreds of gene variants or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, few genes identified by GWAS have been verified by clinical or preclinical studies. In contrast, significant progress has been made in transgenic approaches to identify risk genes for SUD. In this article, we review recent progress in identifying candidate genes contributing to drug use and addiction using transgenic approaches. A central hypothesis is if a particular gene variant (e.g., resulting in reduction or deletion of a protein) is associated with increases in drug self-administration or relapse to drug seeking, this gene variant may be considered a risk factor for drug use and addiction. Accordingly, we identified several candidate genes such as those that encode dopamine D2 and D3 receptors, mGluR2, M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, and α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which appear to meet the risk-gene criteria when their expression is decreased. Here, we describe the role of these receptors in drug reward and addiction, and then summarize major findings from the gene-knockout mice or rats in animal models of addiction. Lastly, we briefly discuss future research directions in identifying addiction-related risk genes and in risk gene-based medication development for the treatment of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe J. Jordan
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Chloe J. Jordan,
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Zheng-Xiong Xi,
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Bentea E, De Pauw L, Verbruggen L, Winfrey LC, Deneyer L, Moore C, Albertini G, Sato H, Van Eeckhaut A, Meshul CK, Massie A. Aged xCT-Deficient Mice Are Less Susceptible for Lactacystin-, but Not 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6- Tetrahydropyridine-, Induced Degeneration of the Nigrostriatal Pathway. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:796635. [PMID: 34975413 PMCID: PMC8718610 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.796635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter system x c - (with xCT as the specific subunit) imports cystine in exchange for glutamate and has been shown to interact with multiple pathways in the brain that are dysregulated in age-related neurological disorders, including glutamate homeostasis, redox balance, and neuroinflammation. In the current study, we investigated the effect of genetic xCT deletion on lactacystin (LAC)- and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway, as models for Parkinson's disease (PD). Dopaminergic neurons of adult xCT knock-out mice (xCT-/-) demonstrated an equal susceptibility to intranigral injection of the proteasome inhibitor LAC, as their wild-type (xCT+/+) littermates. Contrary to adult mice, aged xCT-/- mice showed a significant decrease in LAC-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons, depletion of striatal dopamine (DA) and neuroinflammatory reaction, compared to age-matched xCT+/+ littermates. Given this age-related protection, we further investigated the sensitivity of aged xCT-/- mice to chronic and progressive MPTP treatment. However, in accordance with our previous observations in adult mice (Bentea et al., 2015a), xCT deletion did not confer protection against MPTP-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in aged mice. We observed an increased loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons, but equal striatal DA denervation, in MPTP-treated aged xCT-/- mice when compared to age-matched xCT+/+ littermates. To conclude, we reveal age-related protection against proteasome inhibition-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in xCT-/- mice, while xCT deletion failed to protect nigral dopaminergic neurons of aged mice against MPTP-induced toxicity. Our findings thereby provide new insights into the role of system x c - in mechanisms of dopaminergic cell loss and its interaction with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Bentea
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laura De Pauw
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lise Verbruggen
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lila C Winfrey
- Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Lauren Deneyer
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cynthia Moore
- Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Giulia Albertini
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hideyo Sato
- Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ann Van Eeckhaut
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charles K Meshul
- Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services, Portland, OR, United States.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Ann Massie
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Verbruggen L, Ates G, Lara O, De Munck J, Villers A, De Pauw L, Ottestad-Hansen S, Kobayashi S, Beckers P, Janssen P, Sato H, Zhou Y, Hermans E, Njemini R, Arckens L, Danbolt NC, De Bundel D, Aerts JL, Barbé K, Guillaume B, Ris L, Bentea E, Massie A. Lifespan extension with preservation of hippocampal function in aged system x c--deficient male mice. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2355-2368. [PMID: 35181756 PMCID: PMC9126817 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc- has been identified as the major source of extracellular glutamate in several brain regions as well as a modulator of neuroinflammation, and genetic deletion of its specific subunit xCT (xCT-/-) is protective in mouse models for age-related neurological disorders. However, the previously observed oxidative shift in the plasma cystine/cysteine ratio of adult xCT-/- mice led to the hypothesis that system xc- deletion would negatively affect life- and healthspan. Still, till now the role of system xc- in physiological aging remains unexplored. We therefore studied the effect of xCT deletion on the aging process of mice, with a particular focus on the immune system, hippocampal function, and cognitive aging. We observed that male xCT-/- mice have an extended lifespan, despite an even more increased plasma cystine/cysteine ratio in aged compared to adult mice. This oxidative shift does not negatively impact the general health status of the mice. On the contrary, the age-related priming of the innate immune system, that manifested as increased LPS-induced cytokine levels and hypothermia in xCT+/+ mice, was attenuated in xCT-/- mice. While this was associated with only a very moderate shift towards a more anti-inflammatory state of the aged hippocampus, we observed changes in the hippocampal metabolome that were associated with a preserved hippocampal function and the retention of hippocampus-dependent memory in male aged xCT-/- mice. Targeting system xc- is thus not only a promising strategy to prevent cognitive decline, but also to promote healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Verbruggen
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gamze Ates
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olaya Lara
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jolien De Munck
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Agnès Villers
- grid.8364.90000 0001 2184 581XDepartment of Neurosciences, Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium
| | - Laura De Pauw
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sigrid Ottestad-Hansen
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Neurotransporter Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sho Kobayashi
- grid.268394.20000 0001 0674 7277Department of Food, Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Pauline Beckers
- grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pauline Janssen
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hideyo Sato
- grid.260975.f0000 0001 0671 5144Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yun Zhou
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Neurotransporter Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rose Njemini
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Frailty in Ageing research Department, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niels C. Danbolt
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Neurotransporter Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, C4N, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joeri L. Aerts
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kurt Barbé
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069The Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Department, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Laurence Ris
- grid.8364.90000 0001 2184 581XDepartment of Neurosciences, Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium
| | - Eduard Bentea
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Massie
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
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Abstract
Drug addiction remains a key biomedical challenge facing current neuroscience research. In addition to neural mechanisms, the focus of the vast majority of studies to date, astrocytes have been increasingly recognized as an "accomplice." According to the tripartite synapse model, astrocytes critically regulate nearby pre- and postsynaptic neuronal substrates to craft experience-dependent synaptic plasticity, including synapse formation and elimination. Astrocytes within brain regions that are implicated in drug addiction exhibit dynamic changes in activity upon exposure to cocaine and subsequently undergo adaptive changes themselves during chronic drug exposure. Recent results have identified several key astrocytic signaling pathways that are involved in cocaine-induced synaptic and circuit adaptations. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the role of astrocytes in regulating synaptic transmission and neuronal function, and discuss how cocaine influences these astrocyte-mediated mechanisms to induce persistent synaptic and circuit alterations that promote cocaine seeking and relapse. We also consider the therapeutic potential of targeting astrocytic substrates to ameliorate drug-induced neuroplasticity for behavioral benefits. While primarily focusing on cocaine-induced astrocytic responses, we also include brief discussion of other drugs of abuse where data are available.
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Sureshkumar K, Saenz A, Ahmad SM, Lutfy K. The PACAP/PAC1 Receptor System and Feeding. Brain Sci 2021; 12:brainsci12010013. [PMID: 35053757 PMCID: PMC8773599 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/secretin/glucagon superfamily. PACAP is present in two forms (PACAP-38 and PACAP-27) and binds to three guanine-regulatory (G) protein-coupled receptors (PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2). PACAP is expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, with high PACAP levels found in the hypothalamus, a brain region involved in feeding and energy homeostasis. PAC1 receptors are high-affinity and PACAP-selective receptors, while VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors show a comparable affinity to PACAP and VIP. PACAP and its receptors are expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems with moderate to high expression in the hypothalamus, amygdala, and other limbic structures. Consistent with their expression, PACAP is involved in several physiological responses and pathological states. A growing body of literature suggests that PACAP regulates food intake in laboratory animals. However, there is no comprehensive review of the literature on this topic. Thus, the purpose of this article is to review the literature regarding the role of PACAP and its receptors in food intake regulation and to synthesize how PACAP exerts its anorexic effects in different brain regions. To achieve this goal, we searched PubMed and reviewed 68 articles regarding the regulatory action of PACAP on food intake. Here, we present the literature regarding the effect of exogenous PACAP on feeding and the role of endogenous PACAP in this process. We also provide evidence regarding the effect of PACAP on the homeostatic and hedonic aspects of food intake, the neuroanatomical sites where PACAP exerts its regulatory action, which PACAP receptors may be involved, and the role of various signaling pathways and neurotransmitters in hypophagic effects of PACAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerthana Sureshkumar
- UCLA College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, 612 Charles E Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Andrea Saenz
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (A.S.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Syed M. Ahmad
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (A.S.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Kabirullah Lutfy
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (A.S.); (S.M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(909)-469-5481
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Abstract
Astroglia are key regulators of synaptic function, playing central roles in homeostatic ion buffering, energy dynamics, transmitter uptake, maintenance of neurotransmitter pools, and regulation of synaptic plasticity through release of neuroactive chemicals. Given the myriad of crucial homeostatic and signaling functions attributed to astrocytes and the variety of neurotransmitter receptors expressed by astroglia, they serve as prime cellular candidates for establishing maladaptive synaptic plasticity following drug exposure. Initial studies on astroglia and addiction have placed drug-mediated disruptions in the homeostatic regulation of glutamate as a central aspect of relapse vulnerability. However, the generation of sophisticated tools to study and manipulate astroglia have proven that the interaction between addictive substances, astroglia, and relapse-relevant synaptic plasticity extends far beyond the homeostatic regulation of glutamate. Here we present astroglial systems impacted by drug exposure and discuss how changes in astroglial biology contribute to addiction biology.
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Pal MM. Glutamate: The Master Neurotransmitter and Its Implications in Chronic Stress and Mood Disorders. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:722323. [PMID: 34776901 PMCID: PMC8586693 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.722323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This brief review article makes the argument that glutamate is deserving of its newfound attention within the neuroscience literature and that many directions of important research have yet to be explored. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter with several types of receptors found throughout the central nervous system, and its metabolism is important to maintaining optimal levels within the extracellular space. As such, it is important to memory, cognition, and mood regulation. The mechanisms by which chronic stress affect the glutamatergic system and neuroplasticity are outlined. Several implications for potential pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions are discussed.
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Synaptic Zn 2+ potentiates the effects of cocaine on striatal dopamine neurotransmission and behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:570. [PMID: 34750356 PMCID: PMC8575899 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine binds to the dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) to regulate cocaine reward and seeking behavior. Zinc (Zn2+) also binds to the DAT, but the in vivo relevance of this interaction is unknown. We found that Zn2+ concentrations in postmortem brain (caudate) tissue from humans who died of cocaine overdose were significantly lower than in control subjects. Moreover, the level of striatal Zn2+ content in these subjects negatively correlated with plasma levels of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite indicative of recent use. In mice, repeated cocaine exposure increased synaptic Zn2+ concentrations in the caudate putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Cocaine-induced increases in Zn2+ were dependent on the Zn2+ transporter 3 (ZnT3), a neuronal Zn2+ transporter localized to synaptic vesicle membranes, as ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice were insensitive to cocaine-induced increases in striatal Zn2+. ZnT3 KO mice showed significantly lower electrically evoked DA release and greater DA clearance when exposed to cocaine compared to controls. ZnT3 KO mice also displayed significant reductions in cocaine locomotor sensitization, conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration, and reinstatement compared to control mice and were insensitive to cocaine-induced increases in striatal DAT binding. Finally, dietary Zn2+ deficiency in mice resulted in decreased striatal Zn2+ content, cocaine locomotor sensitization, CPP, and striatal DAT binding. These results indicate that cocaine increases synaptic Zn2+ release and turnover/metabolism in the striatum, and that synaptically released Zn2+ potentiates the effects of cocaine on striatal DA neurotransmission and behavior and is required for cocaine-primed reinstatement. In sum, these findings reveal new insights into cocaine's pharmacological mechanism of action and suggest that Zn2+ may serve as an environmentally derived regulator of DA neurotransmission, cocaine pharmacodynamics, and vulnerability to cocaine use disorders.
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Sears SMS, Roberts SH, Hewett SJ. Hyperexcitability and brain morphological differences in mice lacking the cystine/glutamate antiporter, system x c. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:3339-3353. [PMID: 34747522 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24971] [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: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
System xc - (Sxc - ) is a heteromeric antiporter (L-cystine/L-glutamate exchanger) expressed predominately on astrocytes in the central nervous system. Its activity contributes importantly to the maintenance of the ambient extracellular glutamate levels, as well as, to cellular redox homeostasis. Since alterations in glutamate levels and redox modifications could cause structural changes, we analyzed gross regional morphology of thionin-stained brain sections and cellular and subcellular morphology of Golgi-Cox stained layer V pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex (PM1) of mice naturally null for SLC7A11 (SLC7A11sut/sut )-the gene that encodes the substrate specific light chain (xCT) for Sxc - . Intriguingly, in comparison to age- and sex-matched wild-type (SLC7A11+/+ ) littermate controls, we found morphologic changes-including increased dendritic complexity and mushroom spine area in males and reduced corpus callosum and soma size in females-that have previously been described, in each case, as morphological correlates of excitability. Consistent with this, we found that both male and female SLC7A11sut/sut mice had lower convulsive seizure thresholds and greater seizure severity than their sex-matched wild-type (SLC7A11+/+ ) littermates after acute challenge with two pharmacologically distinct chemoconvulsants: the Glu receptor agonist, kainic acid (KA), or the GABAA receptor antagonist, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). These results suggest that the loss of Sxc - signaling in males and females perturbs excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in vivo, potentially through its regulation of cellular and subcellular morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila M S Sears
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Sarah H Roberts
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Sandra J Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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47
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Schiel KA. A beneficial role for elevated extracellular glutamate in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and cerebral ischemia. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100127. [PMID: 34585427 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This hypothesis proposes that increased extracellular glutamate in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and cerebral ischemia, currently viewed as a trigger for excitotoxicity, is actually beneficial as it stimulates the utilization of glutamate as metabolic fuel. Renewed appreciation of glutamate oxidation by ischemic neurons has raised questions regarding the role of extracellular glutamate in ischemia. Is it detrimental, as suggested by excitotoxicity in early in vitro studies, or beneficial, as suggested by its oxidation in later in vivo studies? The answer may depend on the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors. Early in vitro procedures co-activated NMDA receptors (NMDARs) containing 2A (GluN2A) and 2B (GluN2B) subunits, an event now believed to trigger excitotoxicity; however, during in vivo ischemia D-serine and zinc molecules are released and these ensure only GluN2B receptors are stimulated. This not only prevents excitotoxicity but also initiates signaling cascades that allow ischemic neurons to import and oxidize glutamate.
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48
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Hart CG, Karimi-Abdolrezaee S. Recent insights on astrocyte mechanisms in CNS homeostasis, pathology, and repair. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2427-2462. [PMID: 34259342 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play essential roles in development, homeostasis, injury, and repair of the central nervous system (CNS). Their development is tightly regulated by distinct spatial and temporal cues during embryogenesis and into adulthood throughout the CNS. Astrocytes have several important responsibilities such as regulating blood flow and permeability of the blood-CNS barrier, glucose metabolism and storage, synapse formation and function, and axon myelination. In CNS pathologies, astrocytes also play critical parts in both injury and repair mechanisms. Upon injury, they undergo a robust phenotypic shift known as "reactive astrogliosis," which results in both constructive and deleterious outcomes. Astrocyte activation and migration at the site of injury provides an early defense mechanism to minimize the extent of injury by enveloping the lesion area. However, astrogliosis also contributes to the inhibitory microenvironment of CNS injury and potentiate secondary injury mechanisms, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and glutamate excitotoxicity, which facilitate neurodegeneration in CNS pathologies. Intriguingly, reactive astrocytes are increasingly a focus in current therapeutic strategies as their activation can be modulated toward a neuroprotective and reparative phenotype. This review will discuss recent advancements in knowledge regarding the development and role of astrocytes in the healthy and pathological CNS. We will also review how astrocytes have been genetically modified to optimize their reparative potential after injury, and how they may be transdifferentiated into neurons and oligodendrocytes to promote repair after CNS injury and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Hart
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Soheila Karimi-Abdolrezaee
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Elsayed NA, Boyer TM, Burd I. Fetal Neuroprotective Strategies: Therapeutic Agents and Their Underlying Synaptic Pathways. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:680899. [PMID: 34248595 PMCID: PMC8262796 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.680899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic signaling is integral for proper brain function. During fetal development, exposure to inflammation or mild hypoxic-ischemic insult may lead to synaptic changes and neurological damage that impairs future brain function. Preterm neonates are most susceptible to these deleterious outcomes. Evaluating clinically used and novel fetal neuroprotective measures is essential for expanding treatment options to mitigate the short and long-term consequences of fetal brain injury. Magnesium sulfate is a clinical fetal neuroprotective agent utilized in cases of imminent preterm birth. By blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, magnesium sulfate reduces glutamatergic signaling, which alters calcium influx, leading to a decrease in excitotoxicity. Emerging evidence suggests that melatonin and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) may also serve as novel putative fetal neuroprotective candidates. Melatonin has important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is a known mediator of synaptic plasticity and neuronal generation. While NAC acts as an antioxidant and a precursor to glutathione, it also modulates the glutamate system. Glutamate excitotoxicity and dysregulation can induce perinatal preterm brain injury through damage to maturing oligodendrocytes and neurons. The improved drug efficacy and delivery of the dendrimer-bound NAC conjugate provides an opportunity for enhanced pharmacological intervention. Here, we review recent literature on the synaptic pathways underlying these therapeutic strategies, discuss the current gaps in knowledge, and propose future directions for the field of fetal neuroprotective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada A. Elsayed
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Theresa M. Boyer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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50
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Beltrán-Matas P, Hartveit E, Veruki ML. Different glutamate sources and endogenous co-agonists activate extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on amacrine cells of the rod pathway microcircuit. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4456-4474. [PMID: 34048091 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15325] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The NMDA receptors (NMDARs) expressed by AII and A17 amacrine cells, the two main inhibitory interneurons of the rod pathway microcircuit in the mammalian retina, are exclusively extrasynaptic, activated by ambient levels of glutamate, and molecularly distinct, with AII and A17 amacrines expressing GluN2B- and GluN2A-containing receptors, respectively. This important sensory microcircuit thus provides a unique model to study the activation and function of extrasynaptic NMDARs. Here, we investigated the sources of glutamate and the endogenous co-agonists (d-serine or glycine) that activate these distinct populations of NMDARs. With acute slices from rat retina, we used whole-cell voltage-clamp recording and measurement of current noise to monitor levels of NMDAR activity. Pre-incubation of retina with bafilomycin A1 (an inhibitor of neurotransmitter uptake into synaptic vesicles) abolished NMDAR-mediated noise in AII, but not A17 amacrines, suggesting a vesicular source of glutamate activates AII NMDARs, whereas a non-vesicular source activates A17 NMDARs. Pre-incubation of retina with l-methionine sulfoximine (an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase) also abolished NMDAR-mediated noise in AII, but not A17 amacrines, suggesting a neuronal source of glutamate activates AII NMDARs, whereas a glial source activates A17 NMDARs. Enzymatic breakdown of d-serine reduced NMDAR-mediated noise in AII, but not A17 amacrines, suggesting d-serine is the endogenous co-agonist at AII, but not A17 NMDARs. Our results reveal unique characteristics of these two populations of extrasynaptic NMDARs. The differential and independent activation of these receptors is likely to provide specific contributions to the signal processing and plasticity of the cellular components of the rod pathway microcircuit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Espen Hartveit
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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