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Bouteldja AA, Penichet D, Srivastava LK, Cermakian N. The circadian system: A neglected player in neurodevelopmental disorders. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:3858-3890. [PMID: 38816965 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16423] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, often display abnormal circadian rhythms. The role of the circadian system in these disorders has gained considerable attention over the last decades. Yet, it remains largely unknown how these disruptions occur and to what extent they contribute to the disorders' development. In this review, we examine circadian system dysregulation as observed in patients and animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Second, we explore whether circadian rhythm disruptions constitute a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders from studies in humans and model organisms. Lastly, we focus on the impact of psychiatric medications on circadian rhythms and the potential benefits of chronotherapy. The literature reveals that patients with neurodevelopmental disorders display altered sleep-wake cycles and melatonin rhythms/levels in a heterogeneous manner, and model organisms used to study these disorders appear to support that circadian dysfunction may be an inherent characteristic of neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, the pre-clinical and clinical evidence indicates that circadian disruption at the environmental and genetic levels may contribute to the behavioural changes observed in these disorders. Finally, studies suggest that psychiatric medications, particularly those prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, can have direct effects on the circadian system and that chronotherapy may be leveraged to offset some of these side effects. This review highlights that circadian system dysfunction is likely a core pathological feature of neurodevelopmental disorders and that further research is required to elucidate this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Bouteldja
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Danae Penichet
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Lalit K Srivastava
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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László K, Vörös D, Correia P, Fazekas CL, Török B, Plangár I, Zelena D. Vasopressin as Possible Treatment Option in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2603. [PMID: 37892977 PMCID: PMC10603886 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102603] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rather common, presenting with prevalent early problems in social communication and accompanied by repetitive behavior. As vasopressin was implicated not only in salt-water homeostasis and stress-axis regulation, but also in social behavior, its role in the development of ASD might be suggested. In this review, we summarized a wide range of problems associated with ASD to which vasopressin might contribute, from social skills to communication, motor function problems, autonomous nervous system alterations as well as sleep disturbances, and altered sensory information processing. Beside functional connections between vasopressin and ASD, we draw attention to the anatomical background, highlighting several brain areas, including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, medial preoptic area, lateral septum, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, amygdala, hippocampus, olfactory bulb and even the cerebellum, either producing vasopressin or containing vasopressinergic receptors (presumably V1a). Sex differences in the vasopressinergic system might underline the male prevalence of ASD. Moreover, vasopressin might contribute to the effectiveness of available off-label therapies as well as serve as a possible target for intervention. In this sense, vasopressin, but paradoxically also V1a receptor antagonist, were found to be effective in some clinical trials. We concluded that although vasopressin might be an effective candidate for ASD treatment, we might assume that only a subgroup (e.g., with stress-axis disturbances), a certain sex (most probably males) and a certain brain area (targeting by means of virus vectors) would benefit from this therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristóf László
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Dávid Vörös
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Pedro Correia
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Lea Fazekas
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bibiána Török
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Imola Plangár
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Dóra Zelena
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (K.L.); (D.V.); (P.C.); (C.L.F.); (B.T.); (I.P.)
- Center of Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
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Singla R, Mishra A, Cao R. The trilateral interactions between mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, the circadian clock, and psychiatric disorders: an emerging model. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:355. [PMID: 36045116 PMCID: PMC9433414 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02120-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian (~24 h) rhythms in physiology and behavior are evolutionarily conserved and found in almost all living organisms. The rhythms are endogenously driven by daily oscillatory activities of so-called "clock genes/proteins", which are widely distributed throughout the mammalian brain. Mammalian (mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is a fundamental intracellular signal transduction cascade that controls important neuronal processes including neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, metabolism, and aging. Dysregulation of the mTOR pathway is associated with psychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and mood disorders (MD), in which patients often exhibit disrupted daily physiological rhythms and abnormal circadian gene expression in the brain. Recent work has found that the activities of mTOR signaling are temporally controlled by the circadian clock and exhibit robust circadian oscillations in multiple systems. In the meantime, mTOR signaling regulates fundamental properties of the central and peripheral circadian clocks, including period length, entrainment, and synchronization. Whereas the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated, increasing clinical and preclinical evidence support significant crosstalk between mTOR signaling, the circadian clock, and psychiatric disorders. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the trilateral interactions and propose an "interaction triangle" model between mTOR signaling, the circadian clock, and psychiatric disorders (focusing on ASD and MD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubal Singla
- grid.17635.360000000419368657Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812 USA
| | - Abhishek Mishra
- grid.17635.360000000419368657Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812 USA
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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Nakamura M, Nakagami A, Nakagaki K, Yasue M, Kawai N, Ichinohe N. Prenatal valproic acid-induced autism marmoset model exhibits higher salivary cortisol levels. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:943759. [PMID: 36035018 PMCID: PMC9405662 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.943759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are exposed to a variety of stressors owing to their behavioral traits. Cortisol is a hormone typically associated with stress, and its concentration and response to stress are higher in individuals with ASD than in controls. The mechanisms underlying cortisol dysregulation in ASD have been explored in rodents. Although rodent models have successfully replicated the major symptoms of autism (i.e., impaired vocal communication, social interaction deficits, and restricted/repetitive patterns of behavior), evidence suggests that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis system differs between rodents and primates. We developed an ASD model in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a New World monkey, utilizing prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). In this study, we collected the salivary cortisol levels in VPA-exposed and unexposed marmosets in the morning and afternoon. Our results revealed that both VPA-exposed and unexposed marmosets showed similar diurnal changes in cortisol levels, which were lower in the afternoon than in the morning. However, heightened cortisol levels were observed throughout the day in VPA-exposed marmosets. These results are consistent with those of ASD in humans. Our results suggest that VPA-exposed marmosets show similarities not only in their behavioral patterns and brain pathologies, which we have reported previously, but also in hormonal regulation, validating the usefulness of VPA-exposed marmosets also as a tool for ASD stress research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madoka Nakamura
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Laboratory for Ultrastructure Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Akiko Nakagami
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Laboratory for Ultrastructure Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
- Department of Psychology, Japan Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Nakagaki
- Laboratory for Ultrastructure Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Miyuki Yasue
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Laboratory for Ultrastructure Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Kawai
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Academy of Emerging Science, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
- *Correspondence: Nobuyuki Kawai,
| | - Noritaka Ichinohe
- Laboratory for Ultrastructure Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
- Noritaka Ichinohe,
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