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Cheng J, Yuan L, Yu S, Gu B, Luo Q, Wang X, Zhao Y, Gai C, Li T, Liu W, Wang Z, Liu D, Ho RCM, Ho CSH. Programmed cell death factor 4-mediated hippocampal synaptic plasticity is involved in early life stress and susceptibility to depression. Behav Brain Res 2024; 468:115028. [PMID: 38723677 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) increases the risk of depression later in life. Programmed cell death factor 4 (PDCD4), an apoptosis-related molecule, extensively participates in tumorigenesis and inflammatory diseases. However, its involvement in a person's susceptibility to ELS-related depression is unknown. To examine the effects and underlying mechanisms of PDCD4 on ELS vulnerability, we used a "two-hit" stress mouse model: an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into neonatal mice was performed on postnatal days 7-9 (P7-P9) and inescapable foot shock (IFS) administration in adolescent was used as a later-life challenge. Our study shows that compared with mice that were only exposed to the LPS or IFS, the "two-hit" stress mice developed more severe depression/anxiety-like behaviors and social disability. We detected the levels of PDCD4 in the hippocampus of adolescent mice and found that they were significantly increased in "two-hit" stress mice. The results of immunohistochemical staining and Sholl analysis showed that the number of microglia in the hippocampus of "two-hit" stress mice significantly increased, with morphological changes, shortened branches, and decreased numbers. However, knocking down PDCD4 can prevent the number and morphological changes of microglia induced by ELS. In addition, we confirmed through the Golgi staining and immunohistochemical staining results that knocking down PDCD4 can ameliorate ELS-induced synaptic plasticity damage. Mechanically, the knockdown of PDCD4 exerts neuroprotective effects, possibly via the mediation of BDNF/AKT/CREB signaling. Combined, these results suggest that PDCD4 may play an important role in the ELS-induced susceptibility to depression and, thus, may become a therapeutic target for depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Cheng
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Lin Yuan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Shuwen Yu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Bing Gu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Qian Luo
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Xixi Wang
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Yijing Zhao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Chengcheng Gai
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Weiyang Liu
- Jinan Xicheng Experimental High School, Dezhou Road, Jinan, Shandong 1999, PR China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
| | - Dexiang Liu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
| | - Roger C M Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cyrus S H Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Sancho-Balsells A, Borràs-Pernas S, Flotta F, Chen W, Del Toro D, Rodríguez MJ, Alberch J, Blivet G, Touchon J, Xifró X, Giralt A. Brain-gut photobiomodulation restores cognitive alterations in chronically stressed mice through the regulation of Sirt1 and neuroinflammation. J Affect Disord 2024; 354:574-588. [PMID: 38490587 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic stress is an important risk factor for the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). Recent studies have shown microbiome dysbiosis as one of the pathogenic mechanisms associated with MDD. Thus, it is important to find novel non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies that can modulate gut microbiota and brain activity. One such strategy is photobiomodulation (PBM), which involves the non-invasive use of light. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS Brain-gut PBM could have a synergistic beneficial effect on the alterations induced by chronic stress. METHODS We employed the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) protocol to induce a depressive-like state in mice. Subsequently, we administered brain-gut PBM for 6 min per day over a period of 3 weeks. Following PBM treatment, we examined behavioral, structural, molecular, and cellular alterations induced by CUMS. RESULTS We observed that the CUMS protocol induces profound behavioral alterations and an increase of sirtuin1 (Sirt1) levels in the hippocampus. We then combined the stress protocol with PBM and found that tissue-combined PBM was able to rescue cognitive alterations induced by CUMS. This rescue was accompanied by a restoration of hippocampal Sirt1 levels, prevention of spine density loss in the CA1 of the hippocampus, and the modulation of the gut microbiome. PBM was also effective in reducing neuroinflammation and modulating the morphology of Iba1-positive microglia. LIMITATIONS The molecular mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of tissue-combined PBM are not fully understood. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that non-invasive photobiomodulation of both the brain and the gut microbiome could be beneficial in the context of stress-induced MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sancho-Balsells
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sara Borràs-Pernas
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Flotta
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Wanqi Chen
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Del Toro
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel J Rodríguez
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; Production and Validation Centre of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Xavier Xifró
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
| | - Albert Giralt
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain.
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Pang B, Wu X, Chen H, Yan Y, Du Z, Yu Z, Yang X, Wang W, Lu K. Exploring the memory: existing activity-dependent tools to tag and manipulate engram cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 17:1279032. [PMID: 38259503 PMCID: PMC10800721 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1279032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The theory of engrams, proposed several years ago, is highly crucial to understanding the progress of memory. Although it significantly contributes to identifying new treatments for cognitive disorders, it is limited by a lack of technology. Several scientists have attempted to validate this theory but failed. With the increasing availability of activity-dependent tools, several researchers have found traces of engram cells. Activity-dependent tools are based on the mechanisms underlying neuronal activity and use a combination of emerging molecular biological and genetic technology. Scientists have used these tools to tag and manipulate engram neurons and identified numerous internal connections between engram neurons and memory. In this review, we provide the background, principles, and selected examples of applications of existing activity-dependent tools. Using a combination of traditional definitions and concepts of engram cells, we discuss the applications and limitations of these tools and propose certain developmental directions to further explore the functions of engram cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Pang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailun Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Yan
- School of Basic Medicine Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zibo Du
- The First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihan Yu
- School of Basic Medicine Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiai Yang
- Department of Neurology, Ankang Central Hospital, Ankang, China
| | - Wanshan Wang
- Laboratory Animal Management Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Southern Medical Laboratory Animal Sci. and Tech. Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Kangrong Lu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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