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Prokai-Tatrai K, Prokai L. The impact of 17β-estradiol on the estrogen-deficient female brain: from mechanisms to therapy with hot flushes as target symptoms. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1310432. [PMID: 38260155 PMCID: PMC10800853 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1310432] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex steroids are essential for whole body development and functions. Among these steroids, 17β-estradiol (E2) has been known as the principal "female" hormone. However, E2's actions are not restricted to reproduction, as it plays a myriad of important roles throughout the body including the brain. In fact, this hormone also has profound effects on the female brain throughout the life span. The brain receives this gonadal hormone from the circulation, and local formation of E2 from testosterone via aromatase has been shown. Therefore, the brain appears to be not only a target but also a producer of this steroid. The beneficial broad actions of the hormone in the brain are the end result of well-orchestrated delayed genomic and rapid non-genomic responses. A drastic and steady decline in circulating E2 in a female occurs naturally over an extended period of time starting with the perimenopausal transition, as ovarian functions are gradually declining until the complete cessation of the menstrual cycle. The waning of endogenous E2 in the blood leads to an estrogen-deficient brain. This adversely impacts neural and behavioral functions and may lead to a constellation of maladies such as vasomotor symptoms with varying severity among women and, also, over time within an individual. Vasomotor symptoms triggered apparently by estrogen deficiency are related to abnormal changes in the hypothalamus particularly involving its preoptic and anterior areas. However, conventional hormone therapies to "re-estrogenize" the brain carry risks due to multiple confounding factors including unwanted hormonal exposure of the periphery. In this review, we focus on hot flushes as the archetypic manifestation of estrogen deprivation in the brain. Beyond our current mechanistic understanding of the symptoms, we highlight the arduous process and various obstacles of developing effective and safe therapies for hot flushes using E2. We discuss our preclinical efforts to constrain E2's beneficial actions to the brain by the DHED prodrug our laboratory developed to treat maladies associated with the hypoestrogenic brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Prokai-Tatrai
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
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2
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de Souza JS. Thyroid hormone biosynthesis and its role in brain development and maintenance. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 142:329-365. [PMID: 39059990 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.12.024] [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: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Thyroid hormones are critical modulators in the physiological processes necessary to virtually all tissues, with exceptionally fundamental roles in brain development and maintenance. These hormones regulate essential neurodevelopment events, including neuronal migration, synaptogenesis, and myelination. Additionally, thyroid hormones are crucial for maintaining brain homeostasis and cognitive function in adulthood. This chapter aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of thyroid hormone biosynthesis and its intricate role in brain physiology. Here, we described the mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones, their influence on various aspects of brain development and ongoing maintenance, and the proteins in the brain that are responsive to these hormones. This chapter was geared towards broadening our understanding of thyroid hormone action in the brain, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina Sena de Souza
- Department of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
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3
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Kaur R, Arora N, Nair MG, Prasad A. The interplay of helminthic neuropeptides and proteases in parasite survival and host immunomodulation. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:107-118. [PMID: 35076687 PMCID: PMC9042389 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210405] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Neuropeptides comprise a diverse and broad group of neurotransmitters in vertebrates and invertebrates, with critical roles in neuronal signal transduction. While their role in controlling learning and memory in the brains of mammals is known, their extra-synaptic function in infection and inflammation with effects on distinct tissues and immune cells is increasingly recognized. Helminth infections especially of the central nervous system (CNS), such as neurocysticercosis, induce neuropeptide production by both host and helminth, but their role in host-parasite interplay or host inflammatory response is unclear. Here, we review the neurobiology of helminths, and discuss recent studies on neuropeptide synthesis and function in the helminth as well as the host CNS and immune system. Neuropeptides are summarized according to structure and function, and we discuss the complex enzyme processing for mature neuropeptides, focusing on helminth enzymes as potential targets for novel anthelminthics. We next describe known immunomodulatory effects of mammalian neuropeptides discovered from mouse infection models and draw functional parallels with helminth neuropeptides. Last, we discuss the anti-microbial properties of neuropeptides, and how they may be involved in host-microbiota changes in helminth infection. Overall, a better understanding of the biology of helminth neuropeptides, and whether they affect infection outcomes could provide diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for helminth infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimanpreet Kaur
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175005, India
| | - Naina Arora
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175005, India
| | - Meera G. Nair
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A
| | - Amit Prasad
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175005, India
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Ueta Y. Transgenic approaches to opening up new fields of vasopressin and oxytocin research. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e13055. [PMID: 34713515 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13055] [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: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic approaches have been applied to generate transgenic rats that express exogenous genes in arginine vasopressin (AVP)- and oxytocin (OXT)-producing magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) of the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system (HNS). First, the fusion gene that expresses AVP-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and OXT-monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 (mRFP1) was used to visualize AVP- and OXT-producing MNCs and their axon terminals in the HNS under fluorescence microscopy. Second, the fusion gene that expresses c-fos-eGFP and c-fos-mRFP1 was used to identify activated neurons physiologically in the central nervous system, including MNCs, circumventricular organs and spinal cord. In addition, AVP-eGFP x c-fos-mRFP1 and OXT-mRFP1 × c-fos-eGFP double transgenic rats were generated to identify activated AVP- and OXT-producing MNCs using appropriate physiological stimuli. Third, the fusion gene that expresses AVP-chanelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2)-eGFP and AVP-hM3Dq-mCherry was used to activate AVP- and OXT-producing MNCs by optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches. In each step, these transgenic approaches in rats have provided new insights on the physiological roles of AVP and OXT not only in the HNS, but also in the whole body. In this review, we summarize the transgenic rats that we generated, as well as related physiological findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Ueta
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
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Zhang L, Hernandez VS, Gerfen CR, Jiang SZ, Zavala L, Barrio RA, Eiden LE. Behavioral role of PACAP signaling reflects its selective distribution in glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal subpopulations. eLife 2021; 10:61718. [PMID: 33463524 PMCID: PMC7875564 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide PACAP, acting as a co-transmitter, increases neuronal excitability, which may enhance anxiety and arousal associated with threat conveyed by multiple sensory modalities. The distribution of neurons expressing PACAP and its receptor, PAC1, throughout the mouse nervous system was determined, in register with expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal markers, to develop a coherent chemoanatomical picture of PACAP role in brain motor responses to sensory input. A circuit role for PACAP was tested by observing Fos activation of brain neurons after olfactory threat cue in wild-type and PACAP knockout mice. Neuronal activation and behavioral response, were blunted in PACAP knock-out mice, accompanied by sharply downregulated vesicular transporter expression in both GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons expressing PACAP and its receptor. This report signals a new perspective on the role of neuropeptide signaling in supporting excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the nervous system within functionally coherent polysynaptic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limei Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.,Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, United States
| | - Vito S Hernandez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Charles R Gerfen
- Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, United States
| | - Sunny Z Jiang
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, United States
| | - Lilian Zavala
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rafael A Barrio
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, United States.,Department of Complex Systems, Institute of Physics, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico, Mexico
| | - Lee E Eiden
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, United States
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MacGregor DJ, Leng G. Network and Population Function in Neuroendocrine Systems. SYSTEMS MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.11371-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Churilov AN, Milton J, Salakhova ER. An integrate-and-fire model for pulsatility in the neuroendocrine system. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2020; 30:083132. [PMID: 32872840 DOI: 10.1063/5.0010553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A model for pulsatility in neuroendocrine regulation is proposed which combines Goodwin-type feedback control with impulsive input from neurons located in the hypothalamus. The impulsive neural input is modeled using an integrate-and-fire mechanism; namely, inputs are generated only when the membrane potential crosses a threshold, after which it is reset to baseline. The resultant model takes the form of a functional-differential equation with continuous and impulsive components. Despite the impulsive nature of the inputs, realistic hormone profiles are generated, including ultradian and circadian rhythms, pulsatile secretory patterns, and even chaotic dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Churilov
- Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetsky av. 28, Stary Peterhof, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - John Milton
- Keck Science Department, The Claremont Colleges, 925 North Mills Ave., Claremont, California 91711, USA
| | - Elvira R Salakhova
- Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetsky av. 28, Stary Peterhof, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Leng G, Leng RI, Maclean S. The vasopressin−memory hypothesis: a citation network analysis of a debate. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1455:126-140. [DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Leng
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciencesthe University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Rhodri Ivor Leng
- Department of Science Technology and Innovation Studiesthe University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Stewart Maclean
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciencesthe University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
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Saidi M, Kamali S, Beaudry F. Neuropeptidomics: Comparison of parallel reaction monitoring and data‐independent acquisition for the analysis of neuropeptides using high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Biomed Chromatogr 2019; 33:e4523. [DOI: 10.1002/bmc.4523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mouna Saidi
- Groupe de Recherche en Pharmacologie Animal du Québec (GREPAQ), Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine VétérinaireUniversité de Montréal Saint‐Hyacinthe Québec Canada
| | - Soufiane Kamali
- Groupe de Recherche en Pharmacologie Animal du Québec (GREPAQ), Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine VétérinaireUniversité de Montréal Saint‐Hyacinthe Québec Canada
| | - Francis Beaudry
- Groupe de Recherche en Pharmacologie Animal du Québec (GREPAQ), Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine VétérinaireUniversité de Montréal Saint‐Hyacinthe Québec Canada
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