The Psychoemotional Stress-Induced Changes in the Abundance of SatIII (1q12) and Telomere Repeats, but Not Ribosomal DNA, in Human Leukocytes

Emotional Stress Induces Adaptive Response in Rat Lymphocytes to Subsequent Ionizing Radiation Exposure

We studied the molecular mechanisms of cross-adaptation to ionizing radiation (1 Gy) of lymphocytes isolated from rats subjected to emotional stress. The effects of chronic (CES; various types of stress exposure) and acute (AES; forced swimming) emotional stress in rats on indicators of oxidative stress, cell death, and levels of NRF2 and NOX4 proteins involved in the development of the adaptive response were analyzed in isolated lymphocytes. It was found that stress induced an adaptive response in rat lymphocytes and triggered processes similar to the adaptive response induced by low doses of ionizing radiation: an increase in the level of oxidized DNA and cell death, as well as an increase in the content of NOX4 and NRF2 proteins. In animals subjected to emotional stress, suppressed DNA oxidation in response to irradiation, reduced levels of protective factor NRF2, as well as lymphocyte death were observed.

Interplay of G-proteins and Serotonin in the Neuroimmunoinflammatory Model of Chronic Stress and Depression: A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

This narrative review addresses the clinical challenges in stress-related disorders such as depression, focusing on the interplay between neuron-specific and pro-inflammatory mechanisms at the cellular, cerebral, and systemic levels.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking chronic psychological stress with low-grade neuroinflammation in key brain regions, particularly focusing on the roles of G proteins and serotonin (5-HT) receptors.

METHODS

This comprehensive review of the literature employs systematic, narrative, and scoping review methodologies, combined with systemic approaches to general pathology. It synthesizes current research on shared signaling pathways involved in stress responses and neuroinflammation, including calcium-dependent mechanisms, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and key transcription factors like NF-κB and p53. The review also focuses on the role of G protein-coupled neurotransmitter receptors (GPCRs) in immune and pro-inflammatory responses, with a detailed analysis of how 13 of 14 types of human 5-HT receptors contribute to depression and neuroinflammation.

RESULTS

The review reveals a complex interaction between neurotransmitter signals and immunoinflammatory responses in stress-related pathologies. It highlights the role of GPCRs and canonical inflammatory mediators in influencing both pathological and physiological processes in nervous tissue.

CONCLUSION

The proposed Neuroimmunoinflammatory Stress Model (NIIS Model) suggests that proinflammatory signaling pathways, mediated by metabotropic and ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors, are crucial for maintaining neuronal homeostasis. Chronic mental stress can disrupt this balance, leading to increased pro-inflammatory states in the brain and contributing to neuropsychiatric and psychosomatic disorders, including depression. This model integrates traditional theories on depression pathogenesis, offering a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of the condition.

Antipsychotics Affect Satellite III (1q12) Copy Number Variations in the Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts

The fragment of satellite III (f-SatIII) is located in pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 1. Cell with an enlarged f-SatIII block does not respond to various stimuli and are highly stress-susceptible. The fraction of f-SatIII in the cells of schizophrenia patients changed during antipsychotic therapy. Therefore, antipsychotics might reduce the f-SatIII content in the cells. We studied the action of haloperidol, risperidone and olanzapine (3 h, 24 h, 96 h) on human skin fibroblast lines (n = 10). The f-SatIII contents in DNA were measured using nonradioactive quantitative hybridization. RNASATIII were quantified using RT-qPCR. The levels of DNA damage markers (8-oxodG, γ-H2AX) and proteins that regulate apoptosis and autophagy were determined by flow cytometry. The antipsychotics reduced the f-SatIII content in DNA and RNASATIII content in RNA from HSFs. After an exposure to the antipsychotics, the autophagy marker LC3 significantly increased, while the apoptosis markers decreased. The f-SatIII content in DNA positively correlated with RNASATIII content in RNA and with DNA oxidation marker 8-oxodG, while negatively correlated with LC3 content. The antipsychotics arrest the process of f-SatIII repeat augmentation in cultured skin fibroblasts via the transcription suppression and/or through upregulated elimination of cells with enlarged f-SatIII blocks with the help of autophagy.

Combined Assay of rDNA and SatIII Copy Numbers as an Individual Profile of Stress Resistance, Longevity, Fertility and Disease Predisposition

The ribosomal DNA and pericentromeric satellite repeats are two important types of moderately repeated sequences existing in the human genome. They are functionally involved in the universal stress response. There is accumulating evidence that the copy number variation (CNV) of the repeat units is a novel factor modulating the stress response and, thus, has phenotypic manifestations. The ribosomal repeat copy number plays a role in stress resistance, lifespan, in vitro fertilization chances, disease progression and aging, while the dynamics of the satellite copy number are a sort of indicator of the current stress state. Here, we review some facts showing that a combined assay of rDNA and SatII/III abundance can provide valuable individual data ("stress profile") indicating not only the inherited adaptive reserve but also the stress duration and acute or chronic character of the stress. Thus, the repeat count could have applications in personalized medicine in the future.

Mild cognitive impairment is associated with low copy number of ribosomal genes in the genomes of elderly people

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairments (MCI) accompanying aging are associated with oxidative stress. The ability of cells to respond to stress is determined by the protein synthesis level, which depends on the ribosomes number. Ribosomal deficit was documented in MCI. The number of ribosomes depends, together with other factors, on the number of ribosomal genes copies. We hypothesized that MCI is associated with low rDNA CN in the elderly person genome.

Materials and Methods: rDNA CN and the telomere repeat (TR) content were determined in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes of 93 elderly people (61–91 years old) with MCI and 365 healthy volunteers (16–91 years old). The method of non-radioactive quantitative hybridization of DNA with biotinylated DNA probes was used for the analysis.

Results: In the MCI group, rDNA CN (mean 329 ± 60; median 314 copies, n = 93) was significantly reduced (p < 10^–15) compared to controls of the same age with preserved cognitive functions (mean 412 ± 79; median 401 copies, n = 168) and younger (16–60 years) control group (mean 426 ± 109; median 416 copies, n = 197). MCI is also associated with a decrease in TR DNA content. There is no correlation between the content of rDNA and TR in DNA, however, in the group of DNA samples with rDNA CN > 540, TR content range was significantly narrowed compared to the rest of the sample.

Conclusion: Mild cognitive impairment is associated with low ribosomal genes copies in the elderly people genomes. A low level of rDNA CN may be one of the causes of ribosomal deficit that was documented in MCI. The potential possibilities of using the rDNA CN indicator as a prognostic marker characterizing human life expectancy are discussed.