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Witteveen IF, McCoy E, Holsworth TD, Shen CZ, Chang W, Nance MG, Belkowitz AR, Dougald A, Puglia MH, Ribic A. Preterm birth accelerates the maturation of spontaneous and resting activity in the visual cortex. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1149159. [PMID: 37255843 PMCID: PMC10225509 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1149159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prematurity is among the leading risks for poor neurocognitive outcomes. The brains of preterm infants show alterations in structure and electrical activity, but the underlying circuit mechanisms are unclear. To address this, we performed a cross-species study of the electrophysiological activity in the visual cortices of prematurely born infants and mice. Using electroencephalography (EEG) in a sample of healthy preterm (N = 29) and term (N = 28) infants, we found that the maturation of the aperiodic EEG component was accelerated in the preterm cohort, with a significantly flatter 1/f slope when compared to the term infants. The flatter slope was a result of decreased spectral power in the theta and alpha bands and was correlated with the degree of prematurity. To determine the circuit and cellular changes that potentially mediate the changes in 1/f slope after preterm birth, we used in vivo electrophysiology in preterm mice and found that, similar to infants, preterm birth results in a flattened 1/f slope. We analyzed neuronal activity in the visual cortex of preterm (N = 6) and term (N = 9) mice and found suppressed spontaneous firing of neurons. Using immunohistochemistry, we further found an accelerated maturation of inhibitory circuits. In both preterm mice and infants, the functional maturation of the cortex was accelerated, underscoring birth as a critical checkpoint in cortical maturation. Our study points to a potential mechanism of preterm birth-related changes in resting neural activity, highlighting the utility of a cross-species approach in studying the neural circuit mechanisms of preterm birth-related neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle F. Witteveen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Emily McCoy
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Troy D. Holsworth
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Catherine Z. Shen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Winnie Chang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Madelyn G. Nance
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Allison R. Belkowitz
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Avery Dougald
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Meghan H. Puglia
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Adema Ribic
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Witteveen IF, McCoy E, Holsworth TD, Shen CZ, Chang W, Nance MG, Belkowitz AR, Dougald A, Puglia MH, Ribic A. Preterm birth accelerates the maturation of spontaneous and resting activity in the visual cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524993. [PMID: 36711801 PMCID: PMC9882279 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524993] [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: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Prematurity is among the leading risks for poor neurocognitive outcomes. The brains of preterm infants show alterations in structure and electrical activity, but the underlying circuit mechanisms are unclear. To address this, we performed a cross-species study of the electrophysiological activity in the visual cortices of prematurely born infants and mice. Using electroencephalography (EEG) in a sample of healthy preterm (N=29) and term (N=28) infants, we found that the maturation of the aperiodic EEG component was accelerated in the preterm cohort, with a significantly flatter 1/f slope when compared to the term infants. The flatter slope was a result of decreased spectral power in the theta and alpha bands and was correlated with the degree of prematurity. To determine the circuit and cellular changes that potentially mediate the changes in 1/f slope after preterm birth, we used in vivo electrophysiology in preterm mice and found that, similar to infants, preterm birth results in a flattened 1/f slope. We analyzed neuronal activity in the visual cortex of preterm mice (N=6 preterm and 9 term mice) and found suppressed spontaneous firing of neurons. Using immunohistochemistry, we further found an accelerated maturation of inhibitory circuits. In both preterm mice and infants, the functional maturation of the cortex was accelerated, underscoring birth as a critical checkpoint in cortical maturation. Our study points to a potential mechanism of preterm birth-related changes in resting neural activity, highlighting the utility of a cross-species approach in studying the neural circuit mechanisms of preterm birth-related neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle F. Witteveen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Emily McCoy
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Troy D. Holsworth
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Catherine Z. Shen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Winnie Chang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Madelyn G. Nance
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Allison R. Belkowitz
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Avery Dougald
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Meghan H. Puglia
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Adema Ribic
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
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Theoharides TC. Ways to Address Perinatal Mast Cell Activation and Focal Brain Inflammation, including Response to SARS-CoV-2, in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pers Med 2021; 11:860. [PMID: 34575637 PMCID: PMC8465360 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11090860] [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: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to increase, but no distinct pathogenesis or effective treatment are known yet. The presence of many comorbidities further complicates matters, making a personalized approach necessary. An increasing number of reports indicate that inflammation of the brain leads to neurodegenerative changes, especially during perinatal life, "short-circuiting the electrical system" in the amygdala that is essential for our ability to feel emotions, but also regulates fear. Inflammation of the brain can result from the stimulation of mast cells-found in all tissues including the brain-by neuropeptides, stress, toxins, and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, leading to the activation of microglia. These resident brain defenders then release even more inflammatory molecules and stop "pruning" nerve connections, disrupting neuronal connectivity, lowering the fear threshold, and derailing the expression of emotions, as seen in ASD. Many epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between ASD and atopic dermatitis (eczema), asthma, and food allergies/intolerance, all of which involve activated mast cells. Mast cells can be triggered by allergens, neuropeptides, stress, and toxins, leading to disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and activation of microglia. Moreover, many epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between stress and atopic dermatitis (eczema) during gestation, which involves activated mast cells. Both mast cells and microglia can also be activated by SARS-CoV-2 in affected mothers during pregnancy. We showed increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 and its receptor, but decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-38 and its receptor IL-36R, only in the amygdala of deceased children with ASD. We further showed that the natural flavonoid luteolin is a potent inhibitor of the activation of both mast cells and microglia, but also blocks SARS-CoV-2 binding to its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A treatment approach should be tailored to each individual patient and should address hyperactivity/stress, allergies, or food intolerance, with the introduction of natural molecules or drugs to inhibit mast cells and microglia, such as liposomal luteolin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theoharis C Theoharides
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Suite 304, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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