1
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Nakano M, Tsuchida T, Mitsuishi Y, Nishimura M. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation induces BACE1 transcription via the phosphorylation and stabilization of nuclear SP1. Neurosci Res 2024; 203:28-41. [PMID: 38110001 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.12.002] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown that cigarette smoking increases the risk of Alzheimer disease. However, inconsistent results have been reported regarding the effects of smoking or nicotine on brain amyloid β (Aβ) deposition. In this study, we found that stimulation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) increased Aβ production in mouse brains and cultured neuronal cells. nAChR activation triggered the MEK/ERK pathway, which then phosphorylated and stabilized nuclear SP1. Upregulated SP1 acted on two recognition motifs in the BACE1 gene to induce its transcription, resulting in enhanced Aβ production. Mouse brain microdialysis revealed that nAChR agonists increased Aβ levels in the interstitial fluid of the cerebral cortex but caused no delay of Aβ clearance. In vitro assays indicated that nicotine inhibited Aβ aggregation. We also found that nicotine modified the immunoreactivity of anti-Aβ antibodies, possibly through competitive inhibition and Aβ conformation changes. Using anti-Aβ antibody that was carefully selected to avoid these effects, we found that chronic nicotine treatment in Aβ precursor protein knockin mice increased the Aβ content but did not visibly change the aggregated Aβ deposition in the brain. Thus, nicotine influences brain Aβ deposition in the opposite direction, thereby increasing Aβ production and inhibiting Aβ aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Nakano
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga 520-2192, Japan.
| | - Tomohiro Tsuchida
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga 520-2192, Japan
| | - Yachiyo Mitsuishi
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga 520-2192, Japan
| | - Masaki Nishimura
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga 520-2192, Japan; Department of Neurology, Yoka Municipal Hospital, Hyogo 667-8555, Japan.
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2
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Talavera Andújar B, Mary A, Venegas C, Cheng T, Zaslavsky L, Bolton EE, Heneka MT, Schymanski EL. Can Small Molecules Provide Clues on Disease Progression in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Patients? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4181-4192. [PMID: 38373301 PMCID: PMC10919072 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, which is currently diagnosed via clinical symptoms and nonspecific biomarkers (such as Aβ1-42, t-Tau, and p-Tau) measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which alone do not provide sufficient insights into disease progression. In this pilot study, these biomarkers were complemented with small-molecule analysis using non-target high-resolution mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography (LC) on the CSF of three groups: AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, and a non-demented (ND) control group. An open-source cheminformatics pipeline based on MS-DIAL and patRoon was enhanced using CSF- and AD-specific suspect lists to assist in data interpretation. Chemical Similarity Enrichment Analysis revealed a significant increase of hydroxybutyrates in AD, including 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, which was found at higher levels in AD compared to MCI and ND. Furthermore, a highly sensitive target LC-MS method was used to quantify 35 bile acids (BAs) in the CSF, revealing several statistically significant differences including higher dehydrolithocholic acid levels and decreased conjugated BA levels in AD. This work provides several promising small-molecule hypotheses that could be used to help track the progression of AD in CSF samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Talavera Andújar
- Luxembourg
Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University
of Luxembourg, Avenue du Swing 6, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Arnaud Mary
- Luxembourg
Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University
of Luxembourg, Avenue du Swing 6, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Carmen Venegas
- Luxembourg
Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University
of Luxembourg, Avenue du Swing 6, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Tiejun Cheng
- National
Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
| | - Leonid Zaslavsky
- National
Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
| | - Evan E. Bolton
- National
Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
| | - Michael T. Heneka
- Luxembourg
Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University
of Luxembourg, Avenue du Swing 6, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Emma L. Schymanski
- Luxembourg
Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University
of Luxembourg, Avenue du Swing 6, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
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3
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Wang H, Tang Q, Xue Y, Gao X, Zhang Y. Discovery of drug lead compounds for Anti-Alzheimer's disease on the basis of synaptic plasticity. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18396. [PMID: 37576278 PMCID: PMC10412905 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18396] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly seen in the middle-aged and the elder. Its clinical presentations are mainly memory impairment and cognitive impairment. Its cardinal pathological features are the deposition of extracellular Amyloid-β (Aβ), intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and synaptic dysfunction. The etiology of AD is complex and the pathogenesis remains unclear. Having AD would lead to awful living experience of it's patients, which may be a burden to the patient even to the public health care system. However, there are no certain cure for AD. Thus it's significant for both medical value and social meaning to find the way to cure or prevent AD and to research on the pathogenesis of AD. In this work, the molecular docking technology, pharmacokinetic analysis and pharmacological experiments were employed to analyse the natural active compounds and the mechanisms against AD based on the synaptic plasticity. A total of seven target proteins related to the synaptic plasticity and 44 natural active compounds with potential to enhance the synaptic plasticity were obtained through a literature review and network pharmacological analysis. Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) method was used to dock the anti-AD key target proteins with the 44 compounds. The compounds with good binding effect were screened. Three anti-AD active compounds based on the synaptic plasticity were obtained, including Curcumin, Withaferin A and Withanolide A. In addition, pharmacological experiments were carried out on Withaferin A and Withanolide A based on its good docking results. The experimental results showed that Withaferin A has good anti-AD potential and great potential to enhance synaptic plasticity. The anti-AD effect can be achieved through a multi-target synergistic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heyu Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Quan Tang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yanyu Xue
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaoqian Gao
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
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4
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Echeverria V, Mendoza C, Iarkov A. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and learning and memory deficits in Neuroinflammatory diseases. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1179611. [PMID: 37255751 PMCID: PMC10225599 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1179611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal survival depends on cognitive abilities such as learning and memory to adapt to environmental changes. Memory functions require an enhanced activity and connectivity of a particular arrangement of engram neurons, supported by the concerted action of neurons, glia, and vascular cells. The deterioration of the cholinergic system is a common occurrence in neurological conditions exacerbated by aging such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Cotinine is a cholinergic modulator with neuroprotective, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and memory-enhancing effects. Current evidence suggests Cotinine's beneficial effects on cognition results from the positive modulation of the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the inhibition of the toll-like receptors (TLRs). The α7nAChR affects brain functions by modulating the function of neurons, glia, endothelial, immune, and dendritic cells and regulates inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission throughout the GABA interneurons. In addition, Cotinine acting on the α7 nAChRs and TLR reduces neuroinflammation by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the immune cells. Also, α7nAChRs stimulate signaling pathways supporting structural, biochemical, electrochemical, and cellular changes in the Central nervous system during the cognitive processes, including Neurogenesis. Here, the mechanisms of memory formation as well as potential mechanisms of action of Cotinine on memory preservation in aging and neurological diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Echeverria
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
- Research and Development Department, Bay Pines VAHCS, Bay Pines, FL, United States
| | - Cristhian Mendoza
- Facultad de Odontologia y Ciencias de la Rehabilitacion, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Alex Iarkov
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
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5
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Tan X, Vrana K, Ding ZM. Cotinine: Pharmacologically Active Metabolite of Nicotine and Neural Mechanisms for Its Actions. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:758252. [PMID: 34744656 PMCID: PMC8568040 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.758252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco use disorder continues to be a leading public health issue and cause of premature death in the United States. Nicotine is considered as the major tobacco alkaloid causing addiction through its actions on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Current pharmacotherapies targeting nicotine's effects produce only modest effectiveness in promoting cessation, highlighting the critical need for a better understanding of mechanisms of nicotine addiction to inform future treatments. There is growing interest in identifying potential contributions of non-nicotine components to tobacco reinforcement. Cotinine is a minor alkaloid, but the major metabolite of nicotine that can act as a weak agonist of nAChRs. Accumulating evidence indicates that cotinine produces diverse effects and may contribute to effects of nicotine. In this review, we summarize findings implicating cotinine as a neuroactive metabolite of nicotine and discuss available evidence regarding potential mechanisms underlying its effects. Preclinical findings reveal that cotinine crosses the blood brain barrier and interacts with both nAChRs and non-nAChRs in the nervous system, and produces neuropharmacological and behavioral effects. Clinical studies suggest that cotinine is psychoactive in humans. However, reviewing evidence regarding mechanisms underlying effects of cotinine provides a mixed picture with a lack of consensus. Therefore, more research is warranted in order to provide better insight into the actions of cotinine and its contribution to tobacco addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Tan
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Kent Vrana
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Zheng-Ming Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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Iarkov A, Mendoza C, Echeverria V. Cholinergic Receptor Modulation as a Target for Preventing Dementia in Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:665820. [PMID: 34616271 PMCID: PMC8488354 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.665820] [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: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in the midbrain resulting in progressive impairment in cognitive and motor abilities. The physiological and molecular mechanisms triggering dopaminergic neuronal loss are not entirely defined. PD occurrence is associated with various genetic and environmental factors causing inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain, leading to oxidative stress, proteinopathy, and reduced viability of dopaminergic neurons. Oxidative stress affects the conformation and function of ions, proteins, and lipids, provoking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation and dysfunction. The disruption of protein homeostasis induces the aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) and parkin and a deficit in proteasome degradation. Also, oxidative stress affects dopamine release by activating ATP-sensitive potassium channels. The cholinergic system is essential in modulating the striatal cells regulating cognitive and motor functions. Several muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in the striatum. The nAChRs signaling reduces neuroinflammation and facilitates neuronal survival, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic plasticity. Since there is a deficit in the nAChRs in PD, inhibiting nAChRs loss in the striatum may help prevent dopaminergic neurons loss in the striatum and its pathological consequences. The nAChRs can also stimulate other brain cells supporting cognitive and motor functions. This review discusses the cholinergic system as a therapeutic target of cotinine to prevent cognitive symptoms and transition to dementia in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Iarkov
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Cristhian Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile.,Research & Development Service, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, United States
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7
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Boiangiu RS, Mihasan M, Gorgan DL, Stache BA, Hritcu L. Anxiolytic, Promnesic, Anti-Acetylcholinesterase and Antioxidant Effects of Cotinine and 6-Hydroxy-L-Nicotine in Scopolamine-Induced Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:212. [PMID: 33535660 PMCID: PMC7912787 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10020212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cotinine (COT) and 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN) are two nicotinic derivatives that possess cognitive-improving abilities and antioxidant properties in different rodent models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), eluding the side-effects of nicotine (NIC), the parent molecule. In the current study, we evaluated the impact of COT and 6HLN on memory deterioration, anxiety, and oxidative stress in the scopolamine (SCOP)-induced zebrafish model of AD. For this, COT and 6HLN were acutely administered by immersion to zebrafish that were treated with SCOP before testing. The memory performances were assessed in Y-maze and object discrimination (NOR) tasks, while the anxiety-like behavior was evaluated in the novel tank diving test (NTT). The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress were measured from brain samples. The RT-qPCR analysis was used to evaluate the npy, egr1, bdnf, and nrf2a gene expression. Our data indicated that both COT and 6HLN attenuated the SCOP-induced anxiety-like behavior and memory impairment and reduced the oxidative stress and AChE activity in the brain of zebrafish. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis indicated that COT and 6HLN increased the npy, egr1, bdnf, and nrf2a gene expression. Therefore, COT and 6HLN could be used as tools for improving AD conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razvan Stefan Boiangiu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
| | | | | | | | - Lucian Hritcu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
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8
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Developmental impaired Akt signaling in the Shank1 and Shank3 double knock-out mice. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1928-1944. [PMID: 33402706 PMCID: PMC8440179 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00979-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Human mutations and haploinsufficiency of the SHANK family genes are associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Complex phenotypes have been also described in all mouse models of Shank mutations and deletions, consistent with the heterogeneity of the human phenotypes. However, the specific role of Shank proteins in synapse and neuronal functions remain to be elucidated. Here, we generated a new mouse model to investigate how simultaneously deletion of Shank1 and Shank3 affects brain development and behavior in mice. Shank1-Shank3 DKO mice showed a low survival rate, a developmental strong reduction in the activation of intracellular signaling pathways involving Akt, S6, ERK1/2, and eEF2 during development and a severe behavioral impairments. Our study suggests that Shank1 and Shank3 proteins are essential to developmentally regulate the activation of Akt and correlated intracellular pathways crucial for mammalian postnatal brain development and synaptic plasticity. Therefore, Akt function might represent a new therapeutic target for enhancing cognitive abilities of syndromic ASD patients.
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9
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Ding ZM, Gao Y, Sentir AM, Tan X. Self-Administration of Cotinine in Wistar Rats: Comparisons to Nicotine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 376:338-347. [PMID: 33361363 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.000367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine is the major addictive component in tobacco. Cotinine is the major metabolite of nicotine and a weak agonist for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Nicotine supports self-administration in rodents. However, it remains undetermined whether cotinine can be self-administered. This study aimed to characterize cotinine self-administration in rats, to compare effects of cotinine to those of nicotine, and to determine potential involvement of nAChRs in cotinine's effects. Adult Wistar rats were trained to self-administer cotinine or nicotine (0.0075, 0.015, 0.03, or 0.06 mg/kg per infusion) under fixed-ratio (FR) and progressive-ratio (PR) schedules. Blood nicotine and cotinine levels were determined after the last FR session. Effects of mecamylamine, a nonselective nAChR antagonist, and varenicline, a partial agonist for α4β2* nAChRs, on cotinine and nicotine self-administration were determined. Rats readily acquired cotinine self-administration, responded more on active lever, and increased motivation to self-administer cotinine when the reinforcement requirement increased. Blood cotinine levels ranged from 77 to 792 ng/ml. Nicotine induced more infusions at lower doses during FR schedules and greater breakpoints at higher doses during the PR schedule than cotinine. There was no difference in cotinine self-administration between male and female rats. Mecamylamine and varenicline attenuated nicotine but not cotinine self-administration. These results indicate that cotinine was self-administered by rats. These effects of cotinine were less robust than nicotine and exhibited no sex difference. nAChRs appeared to be differentially involved in self-administration of nicotine and cotinine. These results suggest cotinine may play a role in the development of nicotine use and misuse. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Nicotine addiction is a serious public health problem. Cotinine is the major metabolite of nicotine, but its involvement in nicotine reinforcement remains elusive. Our findings indicate that cotinine, at doses producing clinically relevant blood cotinine levels, supported intravenous self-administration in rats. Cotinine self-administration was less robust than nicotine. Mecamylamine and varenicline attenuated nicotine but not cotinine self-administration. These results suggest cotinine may play a role in the development of nicotine use and misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Ming Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania (Z.-M.D., X.T.) and Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana (Y.G., A.S.)
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania (Z.-M.D., X.T.) and Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana (Y.G., A.S.)
| | - Alena M Sentir
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania (Z.-M.D., X.T.) and Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana (Y.G., A.S.)
| | - Xiaoying Tan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania (Z.-M.D., X.T.) and Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana (Y.G., A.S.)
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Boiangiu RS, Mihasan M, Gorgan DL, Stache BA, Petre BA, Hritcu L. Cotinine and 6-Hydroxy-L-Nicotine Reverses Memory Deficits and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Aβ 25-35-Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:E768. [PMID: 32824768 PMCID: PMC7465470 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9080768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic derivatives, cotinine (COT), and 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN), showed promising cognitive-improving effects without exhibiting the nicotine's side-effects. Here, we investigated the impact of COT and 6HLN on memory impairment and the oxidative stress in the Aβ25-35-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). COT and 6HLN were chronically administered to Aβ25-35-treated rats, and their memory performances were assessed using in vivo tasks (Y-maze, novel object recognition, and radial arm maze). By using in silico tools, we attempted to associate the behavioral outcomes with the calculated binding potential of these nicotinic compounds in the allosteric sites of α7 and α4β2 subtypes of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The oxidative status and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were determined from the hippocampal tissues. RT-qPCR assessed bdnf, arc, and il-1β mRNA levels. Our data revealed that COT and 6HLN could bind to α7 and α4β2 nAChRs with similar or even higher affinity than nicotine. Consequently, the treatment exhibited a pro-cognitive, antioxidant, and anti-AChE profile in the Aβ25-35-induced rat model of AD. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis revealed that COT and 6HLN positively modulated the bdnf, arc, and il-1β genes expression. Therefore, these nicotinic derivatives that act on the cholinergic system might represent a promising choice to ameliorate AD conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razvan Stefan Boiangiu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
| | - Marius Mihasan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
| | - Dragos Lucian Gorgan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
| | - Bogdan Alexandru Stache
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
- Center for Fundamental Research and Experimental Development in Translation Medicine—TRANSCEND, Regional Institute of Oncology, 700483 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Brindusa Alina Petre
- Center for Fundamental Research and Experimental Development in Translation Medicine—TRANSCEND, Regional Institute of Oncology, 700483 Iasi, Romania;
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Lucian Hritcu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (M.M.); (D.L.G.); (B.A.S.)
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11
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Kosel F, Pelley JMS, Franklin TB. Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 112:634-647. [PMID: 32070692 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models have been used extensively to model the cognitive impairments arising from Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology. However, less is known about the relationship between AD-related pathology and the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) commonly presented by patients. This review discusses the BPSD-like behaviours recapitulated by several mouse models of AD-related pathology, including the APP/PS1, Tg2576, 3xTg-AD, 5xFAD, and APP23 models. Current evidence suggests that social withdrawal and depressive-like behaviours increase with progressive neuropathology, and increased aggression and sleep-wake disturbances are present even at early stages; however, there is no clear evidence to support increased anxiety-like behaviours, agitation (hyperactivity), or general apathy. Overall, transgenic mouse models of AD-related pathology recapitulate some of the BPSD-like behaviours associated with AD, but these behaviours vary by model. This reflects the patient population, where AD patients typically exhibit one or more BPSD, but rarely all symptoms at once. As a result, we suggest that transgenic mouse models are an important tool to investigate the pathology underlying BPSD in human AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Kosel
- The Social Lab, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jessica M S Pelley
- The Social Lab, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Tamara B Franklin
- The Social Lab, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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12
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Iarkov A, Barreto GE, Grizzell JA, Echeverria V. Strategies for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease: Beyond Dopamine. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:4. [PMID: 32076403 PMCID: PMC7006457 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second-leading cause of dementia and is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra alongside the presence of intraneuronal α-synuclein-positive inclusions. Therapies to date have been directed to the restoration of the dopaminergic system, and the prevention of dopaminergic neuronal cell death in the midbrain. This review discusses the physiological mechanisms involved in PD as well as new and prospective therapies for the disease. The current data suggest that prevention or early treatment of PD may be the most effective therapeutic strategy. New advances in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of PD predict the development of more personalized and integral therapies in the years to come. Thus, the development of more reliable biomarkers at asymptomatic stages of the disease, and the use of genetic profiling of patients will surely permit a more effective treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Iarkov
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - George E Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - J Alex Grizzell
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile.,Research & Development Service, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, United States
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13
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Galts CP, Bettio LE, Jewett DC, Yang CC, Brocardo PS, Rodrigues ALS, Thacker JS, Gil-Mohapel J. Depression in neurodegenerative diseases: Common mechanisms and current treatment options. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 102:56-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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14
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Majdi A, Kamari F, Sadigh-Eteghad S, Gjedde A. Molecular Insights Into Memory-Enhancing Metabolites of Nicotine in Brain: A Systematic Review. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:1002. [PMID: 30697142 PMCID: PMC6341027 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The alleged procognitive effects of nicotine and its metabolites in brain are controversial. Objective: Here, we review the pharmacologically active metabolites of nicotine in brain and their effects on neuronal mechanisms involving two main cognitive domains, i.e., learning and memory. Methods: We searched Embase, Medline via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for entries no later than May 2018, and restricted the search to articles about nicotine metabolites and cognitive behavior or cognitive mechanisms. Results: The initial search yielded 425 articles, of which 17 were eligible for inclusion after application of exclusion criteria. Of these, 13 were experimental, two were clinical, and two were conference papers. Conclusions: The results revealed three pharmacologically active biotransformations of nicotine in the brain, including cotinine, norcotinine, and nornicotine, among which cotinine and nornicotine both had a procognitive impact without adverse effects. The observed effect was significant only for cotinine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Majdi
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farzin Kamari
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Albert Gjedde
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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15
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Alvarez-Ricartes N, Oliveros-Matus P, Mendoza C, Perez-Urrutia N, Echeverria F, Iarkov A, Barreto GE, Echeverria V. Intranasal Cotinine Plus Krill Oil Facilitates Fear Extinction, Decreases Depressive-Like Behavior, and Increases Hippocampal Calcineurin A Levels in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7949-7960. [PMID: 29488138 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0916-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Failure in fear extinction is one of the more troublesome characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cotinine facilitates fear memory extinction and reduces depressive-like behavior when administered 24 h after fear conditioning in mice. In this study, it was investigated the behavioral and molecular effects of cotinine, and other antidepressant preparations infused intranasally. Intranasal (IN) cotinine, IN krill oil, IN cotinine plus krill oil, and oral sertraline were evaluated on depressive-like behavior and fear retention and extinction after fear conditioning in C57BL/6 mice. Since calcineurin A has been involved in facilitating fear extinction in rodents, we also investigated changes of calcineurin in the hippocampus, a region key on contextual fear extinction. Short-term treatment with cotinine formulations was superior to krill oil and oral sertraline in reducing depressive-like behavior and fear consolidation and enhancing contextual fear memory extinction in mice. IN krill oil slowed the extinction of fear. IN cotinine preparations increased the levels of calcineurin A in the hippocampus of conditioned mice. In the light of the results, the future investigation of the use of IN cotinine preparations for the extinction of contextual fear memory and treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in PTSD is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Alvarez-Ricartes
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Patricia Oliveros-Matus
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Cristhian Mendoza
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Nelson Perez-Urrutia
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Florencia Echeverria
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Alexandre Iarkov
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile.
| | - George E Barreto
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.,Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile. .,Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Research and Development, Bay Pines VAHCS, 10,000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bldg. 23, Rm123, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA.
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16
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Jha SK, Jha NK, Kumar D, Sharma R, Shrivastava A, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Stress-Induced Synaptic Dysfunction and Neurotransmitter Release in Alzheimer's Disease: Can Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators be Potential Therapeutic Targets? J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 57:1017-1039. [PMID: 27662312 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The communication between neurons at synaptic junctions is an intriguing process that monitors the transmission of various electro-chemical signals in the central nervous system. Albeit any aberration in the mechanisms associated with transmission of these signals leads to loss of synaptic contacts in both the neocortex and hippocampus thereby causing insidious cognitive decline and memory dysfunction. Compelling evidence suggests that soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau serve as toxins in the dysfunction of synaptic plasticity and aberrant neurotransmitter (NT) release at synapses consequently causing a cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further, an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission systems induced by impaired redox signaling and altered mitochondrial integrity is also amenable for such abnormalities. Defective NT release at the synaptic junction causes several detrimental effects associated with altered activity of synaptic proteins, transcription factors, Ca2+ homeostasis, and other molecules critical for neuronal plasticity. These detrimental effects further disrupt the normal homeostasis of neuronal cells and thereby causing synaptic loss. Moreover, the precise mechanistic role played by impaired NTs and neuromodulators (NMs) and altered redox signaling in synaptic dysfunction remains mysterious, and their possible interlink still needs to be investigated. Therefore, this review elucidates the intricate role played by both defective NTs/NMs and altered redox signaling in synaptopathy. Further, the involvement of numerous pharmacological approaches to compensate neurotransmission imbalance has also been discussed, which may be considered as a potential therapeutic approach in synaptopathy associated with AD.
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17
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Mendoza C, Barreto GE, Iarkov A, Tarasov VV, Aliev G, Echeverria V. Cotinine: A Therapy for Memory Extinction in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:6700-6711. [PMID: 29335846 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0869-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that may develop after exposure to exceptionally threatening or unescapable horrifying events. Actual therapies fail to alleviate the emotional suffering and cognitive impairment associated with this disorder, mostly because they are ineffective in treating the failure to extinguish trauma memories in a great percentage of those affected. In this review, current behavioral, cellular, and molecular evidence supporting the use of cotinine for treating PTSD are reviewed. The role of the positive modulation by cotinine of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and their downstream effectors, the protection of astroglia, and the inhibition of microglia in the PTSD brain are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristhian Mendoza
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - George E Barreto
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.,Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexandre Iarkov
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Vadim V Tarasov
- Institute of Pharmacy and Translational Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gjumrakch Aliev
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Severniy Proezd, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, 1142432, Russia. .,"GALLY" International Biomedical Research Consulting LLC, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. .,School of Health Sciences and Healthcare Administration, University of Atlanta, Johns Creek, GA, 30097, USA.
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile. .,Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Research and Development, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA.
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18
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Perez-Urrutia N, Mendoza C, Alvarez-Ricartes N, Oliveros-Matus P, Echeverria F, Grizzell JA, Barreto GE, Iarkov A, Echeverria V. Intranasal cotinine improves memory, and reduces depressive-like behavior, and GFAP + cells loss induced by restraint stress in mice. Exp Neurol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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19
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Grizzell JA, Patel S, Barreto GE, Echeverria V. Cotinine improves visual recognition memory and decreases cortical Tau phosphorylation in the Tg6799 mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 78:75-81. [PMID: 28536070 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the progressive aggregation of hyperphosphorylated forms of the microtubule associated protein Tau in the central nervous system. Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine, reduced working memory deficits, synaptic loss, and amyloid β peptide aggregation into oligomers and plaques as well as inhibited the cerebral Tau kinase, glycogen synthase 3β (GSK3β) in the transgenic (Tg)6799 (5XFAD) mice. In this study, the effect of cotinine on visual recognition memory and cortical Tau phosphorylation at the GSK3β sites Serine (Ser)-396/Ser-404 and phospho-CREB were investigated in the Tg6799 and non-transgenic (NT) littermate mice. Tg mice showed short-term visual recognition memory impairment in the novel object recognition test, and higher levels of Tau phosphorylation when compared to NT mice. Cotinine significantly improved visual recognition memory performance increased CREB phosphorylation and reduced cortical Tau phosphorylation. Potential mechanisms underlying theses beneficial effects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alex Grizzell
- Research & Development Service, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL 33744, USA
| | - Sagar Patel
- Department of Psychology, NeuroNET Research Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - George E Barreto
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Center for Biomedical Research, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Carlos Antúnez 1920, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Research & Development Service, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL 33744, USA; Fac. Cs de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción 4080871, Chile.
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20
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Pardo M, Beurel E, Jope RS. Cotinine administration improves impaired cognition in the mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 45:490-498. [PMID: 27775852 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cotinine is the major metabolite of nicotine and has displayed some capacity for improving cognition in mouse models following chronic administration. We tested if acute cotinine treatment is capable of improving cognition in the mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, Fmr1-/- knockout mice, and if this is related to inhibition by cotinine treatment of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), which is abnormally active in Fmr1-/- mice. Acute cotinine treatment increased the inhibitory serine-phosphorylation of GSK3β and the activating phosphorylation of AKT, which can mediate serine-phosphorylation of GSK3β, in both wild-type and Fmr1-/- mouse hippocampus. Acute cotinine treatment improved cognitive functions of Fmr1-/- mice in coordinate and categorical spatial processing, novel object recognition, and temporal ordering. However, cotinine failed to restore impaired cognition in GSK3β knockin mice, in which a serine9-to-alanine9 mutation blocks the inhibitory serine phosphorylation of GSK3β, causing GSK3β to be hyperactive. These results indicate that acute cotinine treatment effectively repairs impairments of these four cognitive tasks in Fmr1-/- mice, and suggest that this cognition-enhancing effect of cotinine is linked to its induction of inhibitory serine-phosphorylation of GSK3. Taken together, these results show that nicotinic receptor agonists can act as cognitive enhancers in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome and highlight the potential role of inhibiting GSK3β in mediating the beneficial effects of cotinine on memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pardo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eleonore Beurel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Richard S Jope
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
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21
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Echeverria V, Yarkov A, Aliev G. Positive modulators of the α7 nicotinic receptor against neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2016; 144:142-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 11/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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22
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Nicotinic ligands as multifunctional agents for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Biochem Pharmacol 2015; 97:388-398. [PMID: 26231940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The challenges associated with developing more effective treatments for neurologic and psychiatric illness such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia are considerable. Both the symptoms and the pathophysiology of these conditions are complex and poorly understood and the clinical presentations across different patients can be very heterogeneous. Moreover, it has become apparent that the reductionist approach to drug discovery for these illnesses that has dominated the field for decades (i.e., the development of highly selective compounds or other treatment modalities focused on a very specific pathophysiologic target) has not been widely successful. Accordingly, a variety of new strategies have emerged including the development of "multitarget-directed ligands" (MTDLs), the development and/or identification of compounds that exhibit "multifunctional" activity (e.g., pro-cognitive plus neuroprotective, pro-cognitive plus antipsychotic activity), "repurposing" strategies for existing compounds that have other clinical indications, and novel "adjunctive" treatment strategies that might enhance the efficacy of the currently available treatments. Interestingly, a variety of ligands at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) appear to have the potential to fulfill one or more of these desirable properties (i.e., multifunctional, repurposing, or adjunctive treatment potential). The purpose of this review (while not all-inclusive) is to provide an overview of a variety of nAChR ligands that demonstrate potential in these categories, particularly, "multifunctional" properties. Due to their densities in the mammalian brain and the amount of literature available, the review will focus on ligands of the high affinity α4β2 nAChR and the low affinity α7 nAChR.
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Terry AV, Callahan PM, Bertrand D. R-(+) and S-(-) isomers of cotinine augment cholinergic responses in vitro and in vivo. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2014; 352:405-18. [PMID: 25503389 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.219881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotine metabolite cotinine (1-methyl-5-[3-pyridynl]-2-pyrrolidinone), like its precursor, has been found to exhibit procognitive and neuroprotective effects in some model systems; however, the mechanism of these effects is unknown. In this study, both the R-(+) and S-(-) isomers of cotinine were initially evaluated in an extensive profiling screen and found to be relatively inactive across a wide range of potential pharmacologic targets. Electrophysiological studies on human α4β2 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed in Xenopus oocytes confirmed the absence of agonistic activity of cotinine at α4β2 or α7 nAChRs. However, a significant increase in the current evoked by a low concentration of acetylcholine was observed at α7 nAChRs exposed to 1.0 μM R-(+)- or S-(-)-cotinine. Based on these results, we used a spontaneous novel object recognition (NOR) procedure for rodents to test the hypothesis that R-(+)- or S-(-)-cotinine might improve recognition memory when administered alone or in combination with the Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutic agent donepezil. Although both isomers enhanced NOR performance when they were coadministered with donepezil, neither isomer was active alone. Moreover, the procognitive effects of the drug combinations were blocked by methyllycaconitine and dihydro-β-erythroidine, indicating that both α7 and α4β2 nAChRs contribute to the response. These results indicate that cotinine may sensitize α7 nAChRs to low levels of acetylcholine (a previously uncharacterized mechanism), and that cotinine could be used as an adjunctive agent to improve the effective dose range of cholinergic compounds (e.g., donepezil) in the treatment of AD and other memory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Small Animal Behavior Core, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia (A.V.T., P.M.C.); and HiQScreen Sàrl, Geneva, Switzerland (D.B.)
| | - Patrick M Callahan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Small Animal Behavior Core, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia (A.V.T., P.M.C.); and HiQScreen Sàrl, Geneva, Switzerland (D.B.)
| | - Daniel Bertrand
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Small Animal Behavior Core, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia (A.V.T., P.M.C.); and HiQScreen Sàrl, Geneva, Switzerland (D.B.)
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Grizzell JA, Echeverria V. New Insights into the Mechanisms of Action of Cotinine and its Distinctive Effects from Nicotine. Neurochem Res 2014; 40:2032-46. [PMID: 24970109 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-014-1359-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco consumption is far higher among a number of psychiatric and neurological diseases, supporting the notion that some component(s) of tobacco may underlie the oft-reported reduction in associated symptoms during tobacco use. Popular dogma holds that this component is nicotine. However, increasing evidence support theories that cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine, may underlie at least some of nicotine's actions in the nervous system, apart from its adverse cardiovascular and habit forming effects. Though similarities exist, disparate and even antagonizing actions between cotinine and nicotine have been described both in terms of behavior and physiology, underscoring the need to further characterize this potentially therapeutic compound. Cotinine has been shown to be psychoactive in humans and animals, facilitating memory, cognition, executive function, and emotional responding. Furthermore, recent research shows that cotinine acts as an antidepressant and reduces cognitive-impairment associated with disease and stress-induced dysfunction. Despite these promising findings, continued focus on this potentially safe alternative to tobacco and nicotine use is lacking. Here, we review the effects of cotinine, including comparisons with nicotine, and discuss potential mechanisms of cotinine-specific actions in the central nervous system which are, to date, still being elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alex Grizzell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33611, USA.,Department of Research and Development, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, 10,000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bldg. 23, Rm. 123, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Department of Research and Development, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, 10,000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bldg. 23, Rm. 123, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA. .,Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Carlos Antúnez 1920, Providencia, Santiago, Chile. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33647, USA.
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