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Huang N, Cui J, Fan G, Pan T, Han K, Xu K, Jiang C, Liu X, Wang F, Ma L, Le Q. Transcriptomic effects of paternal cocaine-seeking on the reward circuitry of male offspring. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:120. [PMID: 38409093 PMCID: PMC10897445 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02839-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been previously established that paternal development of a strong incentive motivation for cocaine can predispose offspring to develop high cocaine-seeking behavior, as opposed to sole exposure to the drug that results in drug resistance in offspring. However, the adaptive changes of the reward circuitry have not been fully elucidated. To infer the key nuclei and possible hub genes that determine susceptibility to addiction in offspring, rats were randomly assigned to three groups, cocaine self-administration (CSA), yoked administration (Yoke), and saline self-administration (SSA), and used to generate F1. We conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of the male F1 offspring across seven relevant brain regions, both under drug-naïve conditions and after cocaine self-administration. Pairwise differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) exhibited more pronounced transcriptomic changes in response to cocaine exposure, while the dorsal hippocampus (dHip), dorsal striatum (dStr), and ventral tegmental area (VTA) exhibited changes that were more closely associated with the paternal voluntary cocaine-seeking behavior. Consistently, these nuclei showed decreased dopamine levels, elevated neuronal activation, and elevated between-nuclei correlations, indicating dopamine-centered rewiring of the midbrain circuit in the CSA offspring. To determine if possible regulatory cascades exist that drive the expression changes, we constructed co-expression networks induced by paternal drug addiction and identified three key clusters, primarily driven by transcriptional factors such as MYT1L, POU3F4, and NEUROD6, leading to changes of genes regulating axonogenesis, synapse organization, and membrane potential, respectively. Collectively, our data highlight vulnerable neurocircuitry and novel regulatory candidates with therapeutic potential for disrupting the transgenerational inheritance of vulnerability to cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian Cui
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guangyuan Fan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tao Pan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kunxiu Han
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kailiang Xu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Changyou Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xing Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lan Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Qiumin Le
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Rich MT, Swinford-Jackson SE, Pierce RC. Epigenetic inheritance of phenotypes associated with parental exposure to cocaine. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2023; 99:169-216. [PMID: 38467481 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2023.10.004] [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] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Parental exposure to drugs of abuse induces changes in the germline that can be transmitted across subsequent generations, resulting in enduring effects on gene expression and behavior. This transgenerational inheritance involves a dynamic interplay of environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors that impact an individual's vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders. This chapter aims to summarize recent research into the mechanisms underlying the inheritance of gene expression and phenotypic patterns associated with exposure to drugs of abuse, with an emphasis on cocaine. We will first define the epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and expression of non-coding RNAs that are impacted by parental cocaine use. We will then explore how parental cocaine use induces heritable epigenetic changes that are linked to alterations in neural circuitry and synaptic plasticity within reward-related circuits, ultimately giving rise to potential behavioral vulnerabilities. This discussion will consider phenotypic differences associated with gestational as well as both maternal and paternal preconception drug exposure and will emphasize differences based on offspring sex. In this context, we explore the complex interactions between genetics, epigenetics, environment, and biological sex. Overall, this chapter consolidates the latest developments in the multigenerational effects and long-term consequences of parental substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Rich
- Brain Health Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
| | - Sarah E Swinford-Jackson
- Brain Health Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - R Christopher Pierce
- Brain Health Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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3
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Cabana-Domínguez J, Antón-Galindo E, Fernàndez-Castillo N, Singgih EL, O'Leary A, Norton WH, Strekalova T, Schenck A, Reif A, Lesch KP, Slattery D, Cormand B. The translational genetics of ADHD and related phenotypes in model organisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104949. [PMID: 36368527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. It is well known that ADHD co-occurs frequently with other psychiatric disorders due, in part, to shared genetics factors. Although many studies have contributed to delineate the genetic landscape of psychiatric disorders, their specific molecular underpinnings are still not fully understood. The use of animal models can help us to understand the role of specific genes and environmental stimuli-induced epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of ADHD and its comorbidities. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on the functional work performed in rodents, zebrafish and fruit fly and highlight the generated insights into the biology of ADHD, with a special focus on genetics and epigenetics. We also describe the behavioral tests that are available to study ADHD-relevant phenotypes and comorbid traits in these models. Furthermore, we have searched for new models to study ADHD and its comorbidities, which can be useful to test potential pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Ester Antón-Galindo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Euginia L Singgih
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Aet O'Leary
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - William Hg Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychiatry, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychiatry, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - David Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
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Poisel E, Zillich L, Streit F, Frank J, Friske MM, Foo JC, Mechawar N, Turecki G, Hansson AC, Nöthen MM, Rietschel M, Spanagel R, Witt SH. DNA methylation in cocaine use disorder-An epigenome-wide approach in the human prefrontal cortex. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1075250. [PMID: 36865068 PMCID: PMC9970996 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1075250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is characterized by a loss of control over cocaine intake and is associated with structural, functional, and molecular alterations in the human brain. At the molecular level, epigenetic alterations are hypothesized to contribute to the higher-level functional and structural brain changes observed in CUD. Most evidence of cocaine-associated epigenetic changes comes from animal studies while only a few studies have been performed using human tissue. METHODS We investigated epigenome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) signatures of CUD in human post-mortem brain tissue of Brodmann area 9 (BA9). A total of N = 42 BA9 brain samples were obtained from N = 21 individuals with CUD and N = 21 individuals without a CUD diagnosis. We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and analyzed CUD-associated differentially methylated regions (DMRs). To assess the functional role of CUD-associated differential methylation, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and characterized co-methylation networks using a weighted correlation network analysis. We further investigated epigenetic age in CUD using epigenetic clocks for the assessment of biological age. RESULTS While no cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) site was associated with CUD at epigenome-wide significance in BA9, we detected a total of 20 CUD-associated DMRs. After annotation of DMRs to genes, we identified Neuropeptide FF Receptor 2 (NPFFR2) and Kalirin RhoGEF Kinase (KALRN) for which a previous role in the behavioral response to cocaine in rodents is known. Three of the four identified CUD-associated co-methylation modules were functionally related to neurotransmission and neuroplasticity. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks derived from module hub genes revealed several addiction-related genes as highly connected nodes such as Calcium Voltage-Gated Channel Subunit Alpha1 C (CACNA1C), Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 3 Group C Member 1 (NR3C1), and Jun Proto-Oncogene, AP-1 Transcription Factor Subunit (JUN). In BA9, we observed a trend toward epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in individuals with CUD remaining stable even after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSION Results from our study highlight that CUD is associated with epigenome-wide differences in DNAm levels in BA9 particularly related to synaptic signaling and neuroplasticity. This supports findings from previous studies that report on the strong impact of cocaine on neurocircuits in the human prefrontal cortex (PFC). Further studies are needed to follow up on the role of epigenetic alterations in CUD focusing on the integration of epigenetic signatures with transcriptomic and proteomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Poisel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Zillich
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Josef Frank
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marion M Friske
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jerome C Foo
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anita C Hansson
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Center for Innovative Psychiatric and Psychotherapeutic Research, Biobank, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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5
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Calderon-Garcia AA, Perez-Fernandez M, Curto-Aguilera D, Rodriguez-Martin I, Sánchez-Barba M, Gonzalez-Nunez V. Exposure to Morphine and Cocaine Modify the Transcriptomic Landscape in Zebrafish Embryos. Neuroscience 2022; 507:14-27. [PMID: 36404518 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Morphine and other opioid analgesics are the drugs of election to treat moderate-to-severe pain, and they elicit their actions by binding to the opioid receptors. Cocaine is a potent inhibitor of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline reuptake, as it blocks DAT, the dopamine transporter, causing an increase in the local concentration of these neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft. The molecular effects of these drugs have been studied in specific brain areas or nuclei, but the systemic effects in the whole organism have not been comprehensively analyzed. This study aims to analyze the transcriptomic changes elicited by morphine (10 uM) and cocaine (15 uM) in zebrafish embryos. An RNAseq assay was performed with tissues extracts from zebrafish embryos treated from 5 hpf (hours post fertilization) to 72 hpf, and the most representative deregulated genes were experimentally validated by qPCR. We have found changes in the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, chemokine receptor ligands, visual system, hemoglobins, and metabolic detoxification pathways. Besides, morphine and cocaine modified the global DNA methylation pattern in zebrafish embryos, which would explain the changes in gene expression elicited by these two drugs of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Angel Calderon-Garcia
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spain
| | - Maria Perez-Fernandez
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain
| | - Daniel Curto-Aguilera
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ivan Rodriguez-Martin
- Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Sánchez-Barba
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spain; Dept. Statistics. Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain
| | - Veronica Gonzalez-Nunez
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spain.
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Komada M, Nishimura Y. Epigenetics and Neuroinflammation Associated With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Microglial Perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:852752. [PMID: 35646933 PMCID: PMC9133693 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.852752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a cause of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Converging lines of evidence from basic and clinical sciences suggest that dysregulation of the epigenetic landscape, including DNA methylation and miRNA expression, is associated with neuroinflammation. Genetic and environmental factors can affect the interaction between epigenetics and neuroinflammation, which may cause neurodevelopmental disorders. In this minireview, we focus on neuroinflammation that might be mediated by epigenetic dysregulation in microglia, and compare studies using mammals and zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munekazu Komada
- Mammalian Embryology, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuhei Nishimura
- Department of Integrative Pharmacology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
- *Correspondence: Yuhei Nishimura,
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7
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Fernàndez-Castillo N, Cabana-Domínguez J, Corominas R, Cormand B. Molecular genetics of cocaine use disorders in humans. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:624-639. [PMID: 34453125 PMCID: PMC8960411 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01256-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Drug addiction, one of the major health problems worldwide, is characterized by the loss of control in drug intake, craving, and withdrawal. At the individual level, drugs of abuse produce serious consequences on health and have a negative impact on the family environment and on interpersonal and work relationships. At a wider scale, they have significant socio-economic and public health consequences and they cause delinquency and citizen insecurity. Cocaine, a psychostimulant substance, is one of the most used illicit drugs, especially in America, Western Europe, and Australia. Cocaine use disorders (CUD) are complex multifactorial conditions driven by both genetic and environmental influences. Importantly, not all people who use cocaine develop CUD, and this is due, at least in part, to biological factors that are encoded in the genome of individuals. Acute and repeated use of cocaine induces epigenetic and gene expression changes responsible for the neuronal adaptations and the remodeling of brain circuits that lead to the transition from use to abuse or dependence. The purpose of this review is to delineate such factors, which should eventually help to understand the inter-individual variability in the susceptibility to cocaine addiction. Heritability estimates for CUD are high and genetic risk factors for cocaine addiction have been investigated by candidate gene association studies (CGAS) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), reviewed here. Also, the high comorbidity that exists between CUD and several other psychiatric disorders is well known and includes phenotypes like schizophrenia, aggression, antisocial or risk-taking behaviors. Such comorbidities are associated with a worse lifetime trajectory, and here we report shared genetic factors that may contribute to them. Gene expression changes and epigenetic modifications induced by cocaine use and chronic abuse in humans are addressed by reviewing transcriptomic studies performed on neuronal cells and on postmortem brains. We report some genes which expression is altered by cocaine that also bear genetic risk variants for the disorder. Finally, we have a glance to the pharmacogenetics of CUD treatments, still in early stages. A better understanding of the genetic underpinnings of CUD will foster the search of effective treatments and help to move forward to personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.452372.50000 0004 1791 1185Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.411160.30000 0001 0663 8628Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia Spain
| | - Roser Corominas
- grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.452372.50000 0004 1791 1185Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia Spain ,grid.411160.30000 0001 0663 8628Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia Spain
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
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8
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Gobira PH, Roncalho AL, Silva NR, Silote GP, Sales AJ, Joca SR. Adolescent cannabinoid exposure modulates the vulnerability to cocaine-induced conditioned place preference and DNMT3a expression in the prefrontal cortex in Swiss mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3107-3118. [PMID: 34328516 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05926-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cannabis sativa is the most widely used drug by adolescents globally. The recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids by teenagers has also grown in recent years. Despite the wrong perception that exposure to these drugs does not cause harm, repeated exposure to cannabinoids at early stages of life compromises important maturation processes and brain development. Chronic early cannabinoid use has been related to a higher risk of psychiatric outcomes, including cocaine addiction. Evidence suggests that exposure to natural and synthetic cannabinoids during adolescence modifies molecular and behavioral effects of cocaine in adulthood. Responses to cocaine are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, in the brain's reward regions. However, the involvement of these processes in modulation of the vulnerability to the effects of cocaine induced by prior exposure to cannabinoids remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVES Investigate whether exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 during adolescence modulates anxiety- and depression-like behavior, memory, and cocaine reward in adult mice. We also evaluated whether exposure to cannabinoids during adolescence modulates the expression of enzymes that are involved in DNA methylation. RESULTS Exposure to WIN55,212-2 during adolescence did not alter anxiety- or depressive-like behavior. However, prior exposure to cannabinoids inhibited cocaine-induced conditioned place preference without modulating cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, accompanied by an increase in expression of the enzyme DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) in the prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that exposure to WIN55,212-2 during adolescence leads to changes in DNMT3a expression, and this pathway appears to be relevant to modulating the rewarding effects of cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- P H Gobira
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Café Av, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
| | - A L Roncalho
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Café Av, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - N R Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - G P Silote
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Café Av, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - A J Sales
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - S R Joca
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Café Av, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil. .,Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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9
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Vaillancourt K, Chen GG, Fiori L, Maussion G, Yerko V, Théroux JF, Ernst C, Labonté B, Calipari E, Nestler EJ, Nagy C, Mechawar N, Mash DC, Turecki G. Methylation of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene is dysregulated by cocaine dependence in the human striatum. iScience 2021; 24:103169. [PMID: 34693223 PMCID: PMC8517202 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine dependence is a chronic, relapsing disorder caused by lasting changes in the brain. Animal studies have identified cocaine-related alterations in striatal DNA methylation; however, it is unclear how methylation is related to cocaine dependence in humans. We generated methylomic profiles of the nucleus accumbens using human postmortem brains from a cohort of individuals with cocaine dependence and healthy controls (n = 25 per group). We found hypermethylation in a cluster of CpGs within the gene body of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), containing a putative binding site for the early growth response 1 (EGR1) transcription factor, which is hypermethylated in the caudate nucleus of cocaine-dependent individuals. We replicated this finding and found it to be specific to striatal neuronal nuclei. Furthermore, this locus demonstrates enhancer activity which is attenuated by methylation and enhanced by EGR1 overexpression. These results suggest that cocaine dependence alters the epigenetic regulation of dopaminergic signaling genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Vaillancourt
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gang G. Chen
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Laura Fiori
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Gilles Maussion
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Volodymyr Yerko
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Théroux
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Carl Ernst
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benoit Labonté
- Centre de Recherche Cervo, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Erin Calipari
- Departments of Pharmacology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Corina Nagy
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Deborah C. Mash
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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10
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Saad L, Kalsbeek A, Zwiller J, Anglard P. Rhythmic Regulation of DNA Methylation Factors and Core-Clock Genes in Brain Structures Activated by Cocaine or Sucrose: Potential Role of Chromatin Remodeling. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12081195. [PMID: 34440369 PMCID: PMC8392220 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian system interacts with the mesocorticolimbic reward system to modulate reward and memory in a time-of-day dependent manner. The circadian discrimination of reward, however, remains difficult to address between natural reinforcers and drugs of abuse. Circadian rhythms control cocaine sensitization and conversely cocaine causes long-term alteration in circadian periodicity in part through the serotonergic neurotransmission. Since neural circuits activated by cocaine and natural reinforcers do not completely overlap, we compared the effect of cocaine with that of sucrose, a strong reinforcer in rodents, by using passive chronic administration. The expression of fifteen genes playing a major role in DNA methylation (Dnmts, Tets), circadian rhythms (Clock, Bmal1, Per1/2, Cry1/2, Rev-Erbβ, Dbp1), appetite, and satiety (Orexin, Npy) was analyzed in dopamine projection areas like the prefrontal cortex, the caudate putamen, and the hypothalamus interconnected with the reward system. The corresponding proteins of two genes (Orexin, Per2) were examined by IHC. For many factors controlling biological and cognitive functions, striking opposite responses were found between the two reinforcers, notably for genes controlling DNA methylation/demethylation processes and in global DNA methylation involved in chromatin remodeling. The data are consistent with a repression of critical core-clock genes by cocaine, suggesting that, consequently, both agents differentially modulate day/night cycles. Whether observed cocaine and sucrose-induced changes in DNA methylation in a time dependent manner are long lasting or contribute to the establishment of addiction requires further neuroepigenetic investigation. Understanding the mechanisms dissociating drugs of abuse from natural reinforcers remains a prerequisite for the design of selective therapeutic tools for compulsive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Saad
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.S.); (J.Z.)
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andries Kalsbeek
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (A.K.); or (P.A.)
| | - Jean Zwiller
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.S.); (J.Z.)
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Patrick Anglard
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.S.); (J.Z.)
- INSERM, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, 75013 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (A.K.); or (P.A.)
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11
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Cocaine-related DNA methylation in caudate neurons alters 3D chromatin structure of the IRXA gene cluster. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3134-3151. [PMID: 33046833 PMCID: PMC8039060 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00909-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, like those involving DNA methylation, are thought to mediate the relationship between chronic cocaine dependence and molecular changes in addiction-related neurocircuitry, but have been understudied in human brain. We initially used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to generate a methylome-wide profile of cocaine dependence in human post-mortem caudate tissue. We focused on the Iroquois Homeobox A (IRXA) gene cluster, where hypomethylation in exon 3 of IRX2 in neuronal nuclei was associated with cocaine dependence. We replicated this finding in an independent cohort and found similar results in the dorsal striatum from cocaine self-administering mice. Using epigenome editing and 3C assays, we demonstrated a causal relationship between methylation within the IRX2 gene body, CTCF protein binding, three-dimensional (3D) chromatin interaction, and gene expression. Together, these findings suggest that cocaine-related hypomethylation of IRX2 contributes to the development and maintenance of cocaine dependence through alterations in 3D chromatin structure in the caudate nucleus.
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12
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Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic brain diseases characterized by transitions from recreational to compulsive drug use and aberrant drug craving that persists for months to years after abstinence is achieved. The transition to compulsive drug use implies that plasticity is occurring, altering the physiology of the brain to precipitate addicted states. Epigenetic phenomena represent a varied orchestra of transcriptional tuning mechanisms that, in response to environmental stimuli, create and maintain gene expression-mediated physiological outcomes. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms represent a convergent regulatory framework through which the plasticity required to achieve an addicted state can arise and then persist long after drug use has ended. In the first section, we will introduce basic concepts in epigenetics, such as chromatin architecture, histones and their posttranslational modifications, DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, and transcription factors, along with methods for their investigation. We will then examine the implications of these mechanisms in SUDs, with a particular focus on cocaine-mediated neuroepigenetic plasticity across multiple behavioral models of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Stewart
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Sasha L Fulton
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Ian Maze
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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13
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Sex dependent alteration of epigenetic marks after chronic morphine treatment in mice organs. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 152:112200. [PMID: 33891991 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic marks may be also affected by several factors, such as age, lifestyle, early life experiences and exposure to chemicals or drugs, such as opioids. Previous studies have focused on how morphine epigenetically regulates different regions of the brain that are implicated in tolerance, dependence and other psychiatric disorders more related to the physio-pathological effects of opioids. Nevertheless, a significant knowledge gap remains regarding the effect of chronic treatment on other organs and biological systems. Therefore, the aim of this work is to increase our knowledge about the impact of chronic morphine exposure on DNA methylation and histone modification levels in each of the organs of male and female model mice in vivo. Our results reveal, for the first time, that chronic morphine treatment induced changes in DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation and histone modification in-vivo at the systemic level, revealing a potential physiological effect on the regulation of gene expression. Notably, morphine-induced epigenetic modification occurs in a sex-dependent manner, revealing the existence of different underlying mechanisms of epigenetic modification in male and female mice.
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14
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Zipperly ME, Sultan FA, Graham GE, Brane AC, Simpkins NA, Carullo NVN, Ianov L, Day JJ. Regulation of dopamine-dependent transcription and cocaine action by Gadd45b. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:709-720. [PMID: 32927466 PMCID: PMC8027017 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00828-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to drugs of abuse produces robust transcriptional and epigenetic reorganization within brain reward circuits that outlives the direct effects of the drug and may contribute to addiction. DNA methylation is a covalent epigenetic modification that is altered following stimulant exposure and is critical for behavioral and physiological adaptations to drugs of abuse. Although activity-related loss of DNA methylation requires the Gadd45 (Growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible) gene family, very little is known about how this family regulates activity within the nucleus accumbens or behavioral responses to drugs of abuse. Here, we combined genome-wide transcriptional profiling, pharmacological manipulations, electrophysiological measurements, and CRISPR tools with traditional knockout and behavioral approaches in rodent model systems to dissect the role of Gadd45b in dopamine-dependent epigenetic regulation and cocaine reward. We show that acute cocaine administration induces rapid upregulation of Gadd45b mRNA in the rat nucleus accumbens, and that knockout or site-specific CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockdown of Gadd45b blocks cocaine conditioned place preference. In vitro, dopamine treatment in primary striatal neurons increases Gadd45b mRNA expression through a dopamine receptor type 1 (DRD1)-dependent mechanism. Moreover, shRNA-induced Gadd45b knockdown decreases expression of genes involved in psychostimulant addiction, blocks induction of immediate early genes by DRD1 stimulation, and prevents DRD1-mediated changes in DNA methylation. Finally, we demonstrate that Gadd45b knockdown decreases striatal neuron action potential burst duration in vitro, without altering other electrophysiological characteristics. These results suggest that striatal Gadd45b functions as a dopamine-induced gene that is necessary for cocaine reward memory and DRD1-mediated transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Zipperly
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Faraz A. Sultan
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Guan-En Graham
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Andrew C. Brane
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Natalie A. Simpkins
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Nancy V. N. Carullo
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA ,grid.265892.20000000106344187Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
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15
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Baratta AM, Rathod RS, Plasil SL, Seth A, Homanics GE. Exposure to drugs of abuse induce effects that persist across generations. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 156:217-277. [PMID: 33461664 PMCID: PMC8167819 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are highly prevalent and continue to be one of the leading causes of disability in the world. Notably, not all people who use addictive drugs develop a substance use disorder. Although substance use disorders are highly heritable, patterns of inheritance cannot be explained purely by Mendelian genetic mechanisms. Vulnerability to developing drug addiction depends on the interplay between genetics and environment. Additionally, evidence from the past decade has pointed to the role of epigenetic inheritance in drug addiction. This emerging field focuses on how environmental perturbations, including exposure to addictive drugs, induce epigenetic modifications that are transmitted to the embryo at fertilization and modify developmental gene expression programs to ultimately impact subsequent generations. This chapter highlights intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypes in offspring following a history of parental drug exposure. Special attention is paid to parental preconception exposure studies of five drugs of abuse (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, cannabinoids, and opiates) and associated behavioral and physiological outcomes in offspring. The highlighted studies demonstrate that parental exposure to drugs of abuse has enduring effects that persist into subsequent generations. Understanding the contribution of epigenetic inheritance in drug addiction may provide clues for better treatments and therapies for substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa M Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Richa S Rathod
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sonja L Plasil
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Amit Seth
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Gregg E Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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16
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Catale C, Bussone S, Lo Iacono L, Viscomi MT, Palacios D, Troisi A, Carola V. Exposure to different early-life stress experiences results in differentially altered DNA methylation in the brain and immune system. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100249. [PMID: 33344704 PMCID: PMC7739045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of a proportional relationship between the number of early-life stress (ELS) events experienced and the impoverishment of child mental health has been hypothesized. However, different types of ELS experiences may be associated with different neuro-psycho-biological impacts, due to differences in the intrinsic nature of the stress. DNA methylation is one of the molecular mechanisms that have been implicated in the "translation" of ELS exposure into neurobiological and behavioral abnormalities during adulthood. Here, we investigated whether different ELS experiences resulted in differential impacts on global DNA methylation levels in the brain and blood samples from mice and humans. ELS exposure in mice resulted in observable changes in adulthood, with exposure to social isolation inducing more dramatic alterations in global DNA methylation levels in several brain structures compared with exposure to a social threatening environment. Moreover, these two types of stress resulted in differential impacts on the epigenetic programming of different brain regions and cellular populations, namely microglia. In a pilot clinical study, blood global DNA methylation levels and exposure to childhood neglect or abuse were investigated in patients presenting with major depressive disorder or substance use disorder. A significant effect of the mental health diagnosis on global methylation levels was observed, but no effect of either childhood abuse or neglect was detected. These findings demonstrate that different types of ELS have differential impacts on epigenetic programming, through DNA methylation in specific brain regions, and that these differential impacts are associated with the different behavioral outcomes observed after ELS experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Catale
- Department of Psychology, Ph.D. Program in "Behavioral Neuroscience", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Bussone
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Lo Iacono
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Viscomi
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Section of Histology and Embryology, University "Cattolica Del S. Cuore", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alfonso Troisi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Carola
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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17
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Gao X, Liu S, Song H, Feng X, Duan M, Huang L, Zhou F. AgeGuess, a Methylomic Prediction Model for Human Ages. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:80. [PMID: 32211384 PMCID: PMC7075810 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging was a biological process under regulations from both inherited genetic factors and various molecular modifications within cells during the lifespan. Multiple studies demonstrated that the chronological age may be accurately predicted using the methylomic data. This study proposed a three-step feature selection algorithm AgeGuess for the age regression problem. AgeGuess selected 107 methylomic features as the gender-independent age biomarkers and the Support Vector Regressor (SVR) model using these biomarkers achieved 2.0267 in the mean absolute deviation (MAD) compared with the real chronological ages. Another regression algorithm Ridge achieved a slightly better MAD 1.9859 using the same biomarkers. The gender-independent age prediction models may be further improved by establishing two gender-specific models. And it's interesting to observe that there were only two methylation biomarkers shared by the two gender-specific biomarker sets and these two biomarkers were within the two known age-associated biomarker genes CALB1 and KLF14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Gao
- BioKnow Health Informatics Laboratory Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- BioKnow Health Informatics Laboratory Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haoqiu Song
- BioKnow Health Informatics Laboratory Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,College of Computer Science, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Feng
- BioKnow Health Informatics Laboratory Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meiyu Duan
- BioKnow Health Informatics Laboratory Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fengfeng Zhou
- BioKnow Health Informatics Laboratory Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering, College of Computer Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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18
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Camilo C, Maschietto M, Vieira HC, Tahira AC, Gouveia GR, Feio Dos Santos AC, Negrão AB, Ribeiro M, Laranjeira R, Vallada H, Brentani H. Genome-wide DNA methylation profile in the peripheral blood of cocaine and crack dependents. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 41:485-493. [PMID: 31116258 PMCID: PMC6899365 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Cocaine use disorders (CUDs) represent a major public health problem in many countries. To better understand the interaction between the environmental modulations and phenotype, the aim of the present study was to investigate the DNA methylation pattern of CUD patients, who had concomitant cocaine and crack dependence, and healthy controls. Methods: We studied DNA methylation profiles in the peripheral blood of 23 CUD patients and 24 healthy control subjects using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays. Results: Comparison between CUD patients and controls revealed 186 differentially methylated positions (DMPs; adjusted p-value [adjP] < 10-5) related to 152 genes, with a subset of CpGs confirmed by pyrosequencing. DNA methylation patterns discriminated CUD patients and control groups. A gene network approach showed that the EHMT1, EHMT2, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAP2K1, and HDAC5 genes, which are involved in transcription and chromatin regulation cellular signaling pathways, were also associated with cocaine dependence. Conclusion: The investigation of DNA methylation patterns may contribute to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in CUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Camilo
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana Maschietto
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Henrique C Vieira
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana C Tahira
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gisele R Gouveia
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana C Feio Dos Santos
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - André B Negrão
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Ribeiro
- Unidade de Pesquisa em Álcool e Drogas (UNIAD), Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Laranjeira
- Unidade de Pesquisa em Álcool e Drogas (UNIAD), Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Homero Vallada
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Helena Brentani
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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19
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Fan XY, Shi G, Zhao P. Methylation in Syn and Psd95 genes underlie the inhibitory effect of oxytocin on oxycodone-induced conditioned place preference. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:1464-1475. [PMID: 31735530 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Oxycodone (Oxy) is one of the most effective analgesics in medicine, but is associated with the development of dependence. Recent studies demonstrating epigenetic changes in the brain after exposure to opiates have provided an insight into possible mechanisms underlying addiction. Oxytocin (OT), an endogenous neuropeptide well known for preventing drug abuse, is a promising pharmacotherapy to counteract addiction. Therefore, we explored the mechanism of Oxy addiction and the role of OT in Oxy-induced epigenetic alterations. In this study, drug-induced changes in conditioned place preference (CPP), i.e. the expression of synaptic proteins and synaptic density in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) were measured. We also sought to identify DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), ten-eleven translocations (TETs), global 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), and DNA methylation of two genes implicated in plasticity (Synaptophysin, Syn; Post-synaptic density protein 95, Psd95). Oxy (3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) induced CPP acquisition in Sprague-Dawley rats. Oxy down-regulated DNMT1 and up-regulated TET1-3, leading to a decrease in global 5-mC levels and differential demethylation at exon 1 of Syn and exon 2 of Psd95. These changes in DNA methylation of Syn and Psd95 elevated the expression of synaptic proteins (SYN, PSD95) and synaptic density in the VTA. Pretreatment with OT (2.5 µg, i.c.v.) via its receptor specifically blocked Oxy CPP, normalized synaptic density, and regulated DNMT1 and TET2-3 causing reverse of DNA demethylation of Syn and Psd95. DNA methylation is an important gene regulation mechanism underlying Oxy CPP, and OT - via its receptor - could specifically inhibit Oxy addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, 110004, Shenyang, China
| | - Guang Shi
- Department of Neurology, Liaoning Provincial People's Hospital, Shenyang, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, 110004, Shenyang, China.
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20
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Taqi MM, Faisal M, Zaman H. OPRM1 A118G Polymorphisms and Its Role in Opioid Addiction: Implication on Severity and Treatment Approaches. PHARMACOGENOMICS & PERSONALIZED MEDICINE 2019; 12:361-368. [PMID: 31819591 PMCID: PMC6885558 DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s198654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The epidemic of opioid addiction is shaping up as the most serious clinical issues of current times. Opioids have the greatest propensity to develop addiction after first exposure. Molecular, genetic variations, epigenetic alterations, and environmental factors are also implicated in the development of opioid addiction. Genetic and epigenetic variations in candidate genes have been identified for their associations with opioid addiction. OPRM1 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism rs1799971 (A118G) is the most prominent candidate due to its significant association with onset and treatment of opioid addiction. Marked inter-individual variability in response to available maintenance pharmacotherapies is the common feature observed in individuals with opioid addiction. Several therapies are only effective among subgroups of opioid individuals which indicate that ethnic, environmental factors and genetic polymorphism including rs1799971 may be responsible for the response to treatment. Pharmacogenetics has the potential to enhance our understanding around the underlying genetic, epigenetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for the heterogeneous response of maintenance pharmacotherapies in opioid addiction. A more detailed understanding of molecular, epigenetic and genetic variants especially the implication of OPRM1 A118G polymorphism in an individual may serve as the way forward to address the opioid epidemic. Personalized medicine, which involves developing targeted pharmacotherapies in accordance with individual genetic and epigenetic makeup, are required to develop safe and effective treatments for opioid addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Mumtaz Taqi
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Muhammad Faisal
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.,Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Hadar Zaman
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
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21
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Saad L, Sartori M, Pol Bodetto S, Romieu P, Kalsbeek A, Zwiller J, Anglard P. Regulation of Brain DNA Methylation Factors and of the Orexinergic System by Cocaine and Food Self-Administration. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:5315-5331. [PMID: 30603957 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1453-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitors of DNA methylation and orexin type-1 receptor antagonists modulate the neurobiological effects driving drugs of abuse and natural reinforcers by activating common brain structures of the mesolimbic reward system. In this study, we applied a self-administration paradigm to assess the involvement of factors regulating DNA methylation processes and satiety or appetite signals. These factors include Dnmts and Tets, miR-212/132, orexins, and orx-R1 genes. The study focused on dopamine projection areas such as the prefrontal cortex (PFCx) and caudate putamen (CPu) and in the hypothalamus (HP) that is interconnected with the reward system. Striking changes were observed in response to both reinforcers, but differed depending on contingent and non-contingent delivery. Expression also differed in the PFCx and the CPu. Cocaine and food induced opposite effects on Dnmt3a expression in both brain structures, whereas they repressed both miRs to a different extent, without affecting their primary transcript in the CPu. Unexpectedly, orexin mRNAs were found in the CPu, suggesting a transport from their transcription site in the HP. The orexin receptor1 gene was found to be induced by cocaine in the PFCx, consistent with a regulation by DNA methylation. Global levels of 5-methylcytosines in the PFCx were not significantly altered by cocaine, suggesting that it is rather their distribution that contributes to long-lasting behaviors. Together, our data demonstrate that DNA methylation regulating factors are differentially altered by cocaine and food. At the molecular level, they support the idea that neural circuits activated by both reinforcers do not completely overlap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Saad
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maxime Sartori
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- IGBMC, Inserm U 964, CNRS UMR 7104, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Sarah Pol Bodetto
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Romieu
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Andries Kalsbeek
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jean Zwiller
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Patrick Anglard
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364 CNRS, Neuropôle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- INSERM, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France.
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22
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Nestler EJ, Lüscher C. The Molecular Basis of Drug Addiction: Linking Epigenetic to Synaptic and Circuit Mechanisms. Neuron 2019; 102:48-59. [PMID: 30946825 PMCID: PMC6587180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Addiction is a disease in which, after a period of recreational use, a subset of individuals develops compulsive use that does not stop even in light of major negative consequences. Here, we review the evidence for underlying epigenetic remodeling in brain in two settings. First, excessive dopamine signaling during drug use may modulate gene expression, altering synaptic function and circuit activity and leading over time to maladaptive behaviors in vulnerable individuals. Second, on a longer timescale, life experience can shape the epigenetic landscape in brain and thereby may contribute to an individual's vulnerability by amplifying drug-induced changes in gene expression that drive the transition to addiction. We conclude by exploring how epigenetic mechanisms might serve as therapeutic targets for addiction treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Nestler
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christian Lüscher
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Clinic of Neurology, Departement of Clinical Neurosiences, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
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23
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López AJ, Siciliano CA, Calipari ES. Activity-Dependent Epigenetic Remodeling in Cocaine Use Disorder. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2019; 258:231-263. [PMID: 31628597 DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by cycles of abstinence, drug seeking, and relapse. SUD is characterized by aberrant learning processes which develop after repeated exposure to drugs of abuse. At the core of this phenotype is the persistence of symptoms, such as craving and relapse to drug seeking, long after the cessation of drug use. The neural basis of these behavioral changes has been linked to dysfunction in neural circuits across the brain; however, the molecular drivers that allow for these changes to persist beyond the lifespan of any individual protein remain opaque. Epigenetic adaptations - where DNA is modified to increase or decrease the probability of gene expression at key genes - have been identified as a mechanism underlying the long-lasting nature of drug-seeking behavior. Thus, to understand SUD, it is critical to define the interplay between neuronal activation and longer-term changes in transcription and epigenetic remodeling and define their role in addictive behaviors. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of drug-induced changes to circuit function, recent discoveries in epigenetic mechanisms that mediate these changes, and, ultimately, how these adaptations drive the persistent nature of relapse, with emphasis on adaptations in models of cocaine use disorder. Understanding the complex interplay between epigenetic gene regulation and circuit activity will be critical in elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying SUD. This, with the advent of novel genetic-based techniques, will allow for the generation of novel therapeutic avenues to improve treatment outcomes in SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J López
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Cody A Siciliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Infection, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Infection, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
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24
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Abstract
The opioid epidemic is at the epicenter of the drug crisis, resulting in an inconceivable number of overdose deaths and exorbitant associated medical costs that have crippled many communities across the socioeconomic spectrum in the United States. Classic medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder predominantly target the opioid system and thus have been underutilized, in part due to their own potential for abuse and heavy regulatory burden for patients and clinicians. Opioid antagonists are now evolving in their use, not only to prevent acute overdoses but as extended-use treatment options. Strategies that target specific genetic and epigenetic factors, along with novel nonopioid medications, hold promise as future therapeutic interventions for opioid abuse. Success in increasing the treatment options in the clinical toolbox will, hopefully, help to end the historical pattern of recurring opioid epidemics. [AJP at 175: Remembering Our Past As We Envision Our Future Drug Addiction in Relation to Problems of Adolescence Zimmering and colleagues wrote in the midst of an opiate epidemic among young people that "only the human being, or rather certain types of human beings, will return to the enslaving, self-destructive habit." (Am J Psychiatry 1952; 109:272-278 )].
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin L. Hurd
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine, Addiction Institute, Mount Sinai Behavioral Health System, New York
| | - Charles P. O’Brien
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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25
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Cabana-Domínguez J, Arenas C, Cormand B, Fernàndez-Castillo N. MiR-9, miR-153 and miR-124 are down-regulated by acute exposure to cocaine in a dopaminergic cell model and may contribute to cocaine dependence. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:173. [PMID: 30166527 PMCID: PMC6117282 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0224-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most used psychostimulant drugs worldwide. MicroRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that are highly expressed in brain, and several studies have shown that cocaine can alter their expression. In a previous study, we identified several protein-coding genes that are differentially expressed in a dopaminergic neuron-like model after an acute exposure to cocaine. Now, we used the prediction tool WebGestalt to identify miRNA molecules potentially involved in the regulation of these genes. Using the same cellular model, we found that seven of these miRNAs are down-regulated by cocaine: miR-124-3p, miR-124-5p, miR-137, miR-101-3p, miR-9-5p, miR-369-3p and miR-153-3p, the last three not previously related to cocaine. Furthermore, we found that three of the miRNA genes that are differentially expressed in our model (hsa-miR-9-1, hsa-miR-153-1 and hsa-miR-124-3) are nominally associated with cocaine dependence in a case-control study (2,085 cases and 4,293 controls). In summary, we highlighted novel miRNAs that may be involved in those cocaine-induced changes of gene expression that underlie addiction. Moreover, we identified genetic variants that contribute to cocaine dependence in three of these miRNA genes, supporting the idea that genes differentially expressed under cocaine may play an important role in the susceptibility to cocaine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Concepció Arenas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
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26
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Anier K, Urb M, Kipper K, Herodes K, Timmusk T, Zharkovsky A, Kalda A. Cocaine-induced epigenetic DNA modification in mouse addiction-specific and non-specific tissues. Neuropharmacology 2018; 139:13-25. [PMID: 29964092 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine-related DNA methylation studies have primarily focused on the specific brain regions associated with drug addiction (e.g., the nucleus accumbens, NAc). To date, no studies have focused on the complex role of both DNA methylation and demethylation in the mechanisms of psychostimulant-induced addiction in the brain and peripheral tissues. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated cocaine treatment and withdrawal (animals were withdrawn from seven days of repeated injections of cocaine that caused behavioral sensitization) effects on epigenetic DNA modifiers (i.e., DNA methyltransferases, [DNMTs] and ten-eleven translocation enzymes [TETs]) in an addiction-specific brain region (NAc), a structure outside the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (cerebellum, Cer), and in peripheral blood cells (PBCs). Using a mouse behavioral sensitization model, we demonstrated that acute cocaine (AC; 0.5 h) treatment significantly decreased Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, Tet1, and Tet2 mRNA levels in the NAc and PBC, whereas at 24 h after AC treatment, Dnmt mRNA expression and enzyme activity levels were significantly increased. Acute procaine treatment caused the opposite effect on the Dnmt3a mRNA level in PBCs; this outcome suggests that the inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels may be the mechanism that alters Dnmt expression in PBCs. Cocaine withdrawal is associated with increased expression of Dnmts in the NAc, Cer and PBCs and the decreased expression of Tet1 and Tet3 in the NAc. Additionally, cocaine withdrawal increased DNMT but decreased TET activity levels, and these changes were associated with enhanced global and selected candidate gene promoter-region DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation levels in the NAc and PBCs. Together, these data indicate that cocaine treatment and withdrawal affect the expression of epigenetic DNA modifiers in both addiction-specific brain structures and structures outside of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and PBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Anier
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Mari Urb
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Karin Kipper
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Koit Herodes
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Alexander Zharkovsky
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Anti Kalda
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu 50411, Estonia.
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27
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Pierce RC, Fant B, Swinford-Jackson SE, Heller EA, Berrettini WH, Wimmer ME. Environmental, genetic and epigenetic contributions to cocaine addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1471-1480. [PMID: 29453446 PMCID: PMC5983541 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0008-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Decades of research on cocaine has produced volumes of data that have answered many important questions about the nature of this highly addictive drug. Sadly, none of this information has translated into the development of effective therapies for the treatment of cocaine addiction. This review endeavors to assess the current state of cocaine research in an attempt to identify novel pathways for therapeutic development. For example, risk of cocaine addiction is highly heritable but genome-wide analyses comparing cocaine-dependent individuals to controls have not resulted in promising targets for drug development. Is this because the genetics of addiction is too complex or because the existing research methodologies are inadequate? Likewise, animal studies have revealed dozens of enduring changes in gene expression following prolonged exposure to cocaine, none of which have translated into therapeutics either because the resulting compounds were ineffective or produced intolerable side-effects. Recently, attention has focused on epigenetic modifications resulting from repeated cocaine intake, some of which appear to be heritable through changes in the germline. While epigenetic changes represent new vistas for therapeutic development, selective manipulation of epigenetic marks is currently challenging even in animals such that translational potential is a distant prospect. This review will reveal that despite the enormous progress made in understanding the molecular and physiological bases of cocaine addiction, there is much that remains a mystery. Continued advances in genetics and molecular biology hold potential for revealing multiple pathways toward the development of treatments for the continuing scourge of cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Christopher Pierce
- 0000 0004 1936 8972grid.25879.31Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Bruno Fant
- 0000 0004 1936 8972grid.25879.31Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Sarah E. Swinford-Jackson
- 0000 0004 1936 8972grid.25879.31Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Heller
- 0000 0004 1936 8972grid.25879.31Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Wade H. Berrettini
- 0000 0004 1936 8972grid.25879.31Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Mathieu E. Wimmer
- 0000 0001 2248 3398grid.264727.2Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
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