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Behzad A, Feldmann-Schulz C, Lenz B, Clarkson L, Ludwig C, Luttenberger K, Völkl S, Kornhuber J, Mühle C, von Zimmermann C. TaKeTiNa Music Therapy for Outpatient Treatment of Depression: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2494. [PMID: 38731019 PMCID: PMC11084329 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Depression is a prevalent and debilitating illness that significantly affects psychological and physical well-being. Apart from conventional therapies such as psychotherapy and medication, individuals with depression often lack opportunities for activities that are generally perceived as enjoyable, such as music, meditation, and arts, which have demonstrated therapeutic effectiveness. TaKeTiNa music therapy has been employed as a therapeutic intervention for more than two decades. However, there is a notable absence of well-designed clinical trials investigating its antidepressant effects, a gap we aim to address in our current study. Furthermore, shifts in the progression of depression may manifest both psychologically, by influencing emotional states, and physiologically, by leading to alterations in lipid and sphingolipid metabolism, cortisol levels, and immune system function. Our study seeks to analyze the impact of TaKeTiNa music therapy on both levels. METHODS This is a prospective monocentric randomized waitlist-controlled clinical trial. It investigates the influence of TaKeTiNa music therapy on patients with major depression in an outpatient setting. Therefore, interested persons are randomly assigned to two groups, an intervention group or a control group, after completing a screening procedure. The intervention group starts with an eight-week TaKeTiNa music therapy intervention. The waiting group receives the same therapy program after completing the follow-up period. Blood and saliva sampling as well as responses to questionnaires are obtained at specific time points. DISCUSSION Our study investigates the effects of TaKeTiNa music therapy, a non-pharmacological antidepressant treatment option, on depressive symptoms. We also address functional and causal immunological changes; hormonal changes, such as changes in cortisol levels; and metabolic changes, such as changes in serum lipids and sphingolipids, during the course of depression. We expect that this study will provide evidence to expand the range of treatment options available for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Behzad
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.B.)
| | - Christoph Feldmann-Schulz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucy Clarkson
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
| | - Celine Ludwig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
| | - Katharina Luttenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
| | - Simon Völkl
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.B.)
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
| | - Claudia von Zimmermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany (K.L.); (C.M.)
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Padilha M, Ferreira ALL, Normando P, Schincaglia RM, Freire SR, Keller VN, Figueiredo ACC, Yin X, Brennan L, Kac G. Maternal serum amino acids and hydroxylated sphingomyelins at pregnancy are associated with anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and throughout the first year after delivery. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:579-587. [PMID: 38316261 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.227] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies suggest an interplay between maternal metabolome and mental health. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association of maternal serum metabolome at pregnancy with anxiety scores during pregnancy and throughout the first year postpartum. METHODS A prospective cohort of Brazilian women collected 119 serum metabolome at pregnancy (28-38 weeks) and anxiety scores measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at pregnancy (n = 118), 1 (n = 83), 6 (n = 68), and 12 (n = 57) months postpartum. Targeted metabolomics quantified metabolites belonging to amino acids (AA), biogenic amines/amino acid-related compounds, acylcarnitines, lysophosphatidylcholines, diacyl phosphatidylcholines, alkyl:acyl phosphatidylcholines, non-hydroxylated and hydroxylated sphingomyelins [SM(OH)], and hexoses classes. Linear mixed-effect models were used to evaluate the association of metabolites and STAI scores. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses were employed to identify clusters and metabolites, which drove their main differences. Multiple comparison-adjusted p-values (q-value) ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS AA (β = -1.44) and SM(OH) (β = -1.49) classes showed an association with STAI scores trajectory (q-value = 0.047). Two clusters were identified based on these classes. Women in cluster 2 had decreased AA and SM(OH) concentrations and higher STAI scores (worse symptoms) trajectory (β = 2.28; p-value = 0.041). Isoleucine, leucine, valine, SM(OH) 22:1, 22:2, and 24:1 drove the main differences between the clusters. LIMITATIONS The target semiquantitative metabolome analysis and small sample size limited our conclusions. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that AA and SM(OH) during pregnancy play a role in anxiety symptoms throughout the first year postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Padilha
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Lorena Lima Ferreira
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Normando
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raquel Machado Schincaglia
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Samary Rosa Freire
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Victor Nahuel Keller
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Amanda Caroline Cunha Figueiredo
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Xiaofei Yin
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, Conway Institute, UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lorraine Brennan
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, Conway Institute, UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gilberto Kac
- Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Brazdis RM, von Zimmermann C, Lenz B, Kornhuber J, Mühle C. Peripheral Upregulation of Parkinson's Disease-Associated Genes Encoding α-Synuclein, β-Glucocerebrosidase, and Ceramide Glucosyltransferase in Major Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3219. [PMID: 38542193 PMCID: PMC10970259 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the high comorbidity of Parkinson's disease (PD) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and the involvement of sphingolipids in both conditions, we investigated the peripheral expression levels of three primarily PD-associated genes: α-synuclein (SNCA), lysosomal enzyme β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA1), and UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) in a sex-balanced MDD cohort. Normalized gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR in patients suffering from MDD (unmedicated n = 63, medicated n = 66) and controls (remitted MDD n = 39, healthy subjects n = 61). We observed that expression levels of SNCA (p = 0.036), GBA1 (p = 0.014), and UGCG (p = 0.0002) were higher in currently depressed patients compared to controls and remitted patients, and expression of GBA1 and UGCG decreased in medicated patients during three weeks of therapy. Additionally, in subgroups, expression was positively correlated with the severity of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, we identified correlations between the gene expression levels and PD-related laboratory parameters. Our findings suggest that SNCA, GBA1, and UGCG analysis could be instrumental in the search for biomarkers of MDD and in understanding the overlapping pathological mechanisms underlying neuro-psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razvan-Marius Brazdis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (R.-M.B.); (B.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Claudia von Zimmermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (R.-M.B.); (B.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (R.-M.B.); (B.L.); (J.K.)
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (R.-M.B.); (B.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (R.-M.B.); (B.L.); (J.K.)
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Kind L, Luttenberger K, Leßmann V, Dorscht L, Mühle C, Müller CP, Siegmann EM, Schneider S, Kornhuber J. New ways to cope with depression-study protocol for a randomized controlled mixed methods trial of bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) and mental model therapy (MMT). Trials 2023; 24:602. [PMID: 37736688 PMCID: PMC10514980 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07629-x] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the growing gap between the demand and supply of therapeutic services for people suffering from depression, with this study, we are investigating the effectiveness and factors of influence of new approaches in group treatments for depression. Two previous studies have already identified bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) as an effective option. It combines psychotherapeutic interventions with action- and body-oriented bouldering exercises. Mental model therapy (MMT) is a new cognitive-behavioral approach for treating depression. It focuses on identifying cognitive distortions, biases in decision making, and false assumptions and aims to correct and replace them with useful mental models. We aim to investigate the effectiveness of the interventions compared with a control group (CG) and to assess the factors of influence in a mixed methods approach. METHODS The study is being conducted as a randomized controlled intervention trial. Adult participants with unipolar depression are being randomized into three groups (BPT, MMT, or CG), and the first two groups are undergoing a 10-week treatment phase. CG follows their individual standard treatment as usual. A priori power analysis revealed that about 120 people should be included to capture a moderate effect. The primary outcome of the study is depression rated with the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before (t0), directly after (t1), and 12 months after the intervention phase (t2). Data are being collected via questionnaires, computer-assisted video interviews, and physical examinations. The primary hypotheses will be statistically analyzed by mixed model ANOVAs to compare the three groups over time. For secondary outcomes, further multivariate methods (e.g., mixed model ANOVAs and regression analyses) will be conducted. Qualitative data will be evaluated on the basis of the qualitative thematic analysis. DISCUSSION This study is investigating psychological and physical effects of BPT and MMT and its factors of influence on outpatients suffering from depression compared with a CG in a highly naturalistic design. The study could therefore provide insight into the modes of action of group therapy for depression and help to establish new short-term group treatments. Methodological limitations of the study might be the clinical heterogeneity of the sample and confounding effects due to simultaneous individual psychotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN, ISRCTN12347878. Registered 28 March 2022, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12347878 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Leona Kind
- Centre for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Katharina Luttenberger
- Centre for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vivien Leßmann
- Centre for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lisa Dorscht
- Centre for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian P Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Siegmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sophia Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
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Zoicas I, Mühle C, Schumacher F, Kleuser B, Kornhuber J. Development of Comorbid Depression after Social Fear Conditioning in Mice and Its Effects on Brain Sphingolipid Metabolism. Cells 2023; 12:1355. [PMID: 37408189 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, there are no animal models for studying both specific social fear and social fear with comorbidities. Here, we investigated whether social fear conditioning (SFC), an animal model with face, predictive and construct validity for social anxiety disorder (SAD), leads to the development of comorbidities at a later stage over the course of the disease and how this affects the brain sphingolipid metabolism. SFC altered both the emotional behavior and the brain sphingolipid metabolism in a time-point-dependent manner. While social fear was not accompanied by changes in non-social anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior for at least two to three weeks, a comorbid depressive-like behavior developed five weeks after SFC. These different pathologies were accompanied by different alterations in the brain sphingolipid metabolism. Specific social fear was accompanied by increased activity of ceramidases in the ventral hippocampus and ventral mesencephalon and by small changes in sphingolipid levels in the dorsal hippocampus. Social fear with comorbid depression, however, altered the activity of sphingomyelinases and ceramidases as well as the sphingolipid levels and sphingolipid ratios in most of the investigated brain regions. This suggests that changes in the brain sphingolipid metabolism might be related to the short- and long-term pathophysiology of SAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Zoicas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian Schumacher
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Burkhard Kleuser
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Mühle C, Kornhuber J. Characterization of a Neutral Sphingomyelinase Activity in Human Serum and Plasma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032467. [PMID: 36768790 PMCID: PMC9916453 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations of sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes play a role in various diseases. However, peripheral biomarkers for such changes are limited. Particularly, in the increasingly reported involvement of neutral sphingomyelinase (NSM) with four described isoforms in tissues or cells, a peripheral marker is lacking. We here describe the detection of an NSM activity in human serum and plasma samples which hydrolyses fluorescently labeled sphingomyelin to ceramide in a time- and volume-dependent manner. Reaction rates were linear up to 10 days, and serum volumes above 2 vol-% were inhibitory. Biochemical properties were different from acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) with respect to detergent specificity (sodium deoxycholate), pH profile (pH 7-9), and cation dependence: Serum NSM activity was inhibited by EDTA ≥ 1 µM and restored in EDTA-anticoagulated plasma with the addition of ≥ 100 µM Co2+. It was independent of Mg2+, the typical cofactor of cellular NSM species, and even inhibited by [Mg2+] ≥ 20 mM. Serum NSM activity was not correlated with ASM activity and was independent of sex and age in 24 healthy adults. Since human peripheral NSM activity is very low and activities in rodents are even lower or undetectable, future research should aim to increase the reaction rate and determine the source of this enzymatic activity. The established activity could serve as a future biomarker or therapeutic target in diseases affected by sphingolipid derangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Mühle
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-9131-85-44738; Fax: +49-9131-85-36381
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Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Major Depressive Disorder: A Multilevel Pilot Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415460. [PMID: 36555097 PMCID: PMC9779321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a controversially discussed inflammatory marker in major depressive disorder (MDD). While some studies show an association of high MIF protein levels with depression, animal models have yielded conflicting results. Thus, it remains elusive as to whether MIF plays an anti- or pro-depressive role. Therefore, we aimed to examine the potential of MIF at the genetic, expression and protein levels as a risk factor and biomarker to diagnose, monitor, or predict the course of MDD. Patients with a current major depressive episode (n = 66 with, and n = 63 without, prior medication) and remitted patients (n = 39) were compared with healthy controls (n = 61). Currently depressed patients provided a second blood sample after three weeks of therapy. Depression severity was assessed by self-evaluation and clinician rating scales. We genotyped for three MIF polymorphisms and analyzed peripheral MIF expression and serum levels. The absence of minor allele homozygous individuals in the large group of 96 female patients compared with 10-16% in female controls suggests a protective effect for MDD, which was not observed in the male group. There were no significant group differences of protein and expression levels, however, both showed predictive potential for the course of depression severity in some subgroups. While MIF protein levels, but not MIF expression, decreased during treatment, they were not associated with changes in depression severity. This project is the first to investigate three biological levels of MIF in depression. The data hint toward a genetic effect in women, but do not provide robust evidence for the utility of MIF as a biomarker for the diagnosis or monitoring of MDD. The observed predictive potential requires further analysis, emphasizing future attention to confounding factors such as sex and premedication.
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Zhu X, Hollinger KR, Huang Y, Borjabad A, Kim BH, Arab T, Thomas AG, Moniruzzaman M, Lovell L, Turchinovich A, Witwer KW, Volsky DJ, Haughey NJ, Slusher BS. Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 inhibition attenuates extracellular vesicle release and improves neurobehavioral deficits in murine HIV. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 169:105734. [PMID: 35462006 PMCID: PMC9202342 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLH) have significantly higher rates of cognitive impairment (CI) and major depressive disorder (MDD) versus the general population. The enzyme neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) is involved in the biogenesis of ceramide and extracellular vesicles (EVs), both of which are dysregulated in PLH, CI, and MDD. Here we evaluated EcoHIV-infected mice for behavioral abnormalities relevant to depression and cognition deficits, and assessed the behavioral and biochemical effects of nSMase2 inhibition. Mice were infected with EcoHIV and daily treatment with either vehicle or the nSMase2 inhibitor (R)-(1-(3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethylimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazin-8-yl)pyrrolidin-3-yl)-carbamate (PDDC) began 3 weeks post-infection. After 2 weeks of treatment, mice were subjected to behavior tests. EcoHIV-infected mice exhibited behavioral abnormalities relevant to MDD and CI that were reversed by PDDC treatment. EcoHIV infection significantly increased cortical brain nSMase2 activity, resulting in trend changes in sphingomyelin and ceramide levels that were normalized by PDDC treatment. EcoHIV-infected mice also exhibited increased levels of brain-derived EVs and altered microRNA cargo, including miR-183-5p, miR-200c-3p, miR-200b-3p, and miR-429-3p, known to be associated with MDD and CI; all were normalized by PDDC. In conclusion, inhibition of nSMase2 represents a possible new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HIV-associated CI and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Zhu
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen R Hollinger
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yiyao Huang
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alejandra Borjabad
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Boe-Hyun Kim
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Tanina Arab
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ajit G Thomas
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mohammed Moniruzzaman
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lyndah Lovell
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrey Turchinovich
- Heidelberg Biolabs GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Cancer Genome Research, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kenneth W Witwer
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David J Volsky
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Norman J Haughey
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Barbara S Slusher
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Increased acid sphingomyelinase levels in pediatric patients with obesity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10996. [PMID: 35768443 PMCID: PMC9243121 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14687-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The level of secretory acid sphingomyelinase (S-ASM), a key enzyme in the sphingolipid metabolism, is elevated in a variety of human diseases, including in the serum of obese adults. Alterations in S-ASM were also found to induce morphological changes in erythrocytes. Consequently, the inhibition of S-ASM by functional Inhibitors of ASM (FIASMA) may have broad clinical implications. The purpose of this study was to assess S-ASM activity in pediatric patients with obesity and healthy matched controls, as well as to investigate the erythrocyte morphology using transmission electron microscopy. We recruited 46 obese patients (mean age 11 ± 2.9 years) and 44 controls (mean age 10.8 ± 2.9 years). S-ASM activity was significantly higher (Wilcoxon signed-rank test p-value: 0.004) in obese patients (mean 396.4 ± 49.7 pmol/ml/h) than in controls (mean 373.7 ± 23.1 pmol/ml/h). No evidence of morphological differences in erythrocytes was found between the two populations. We then carried out a case–control study based on the spontaneous reporting system database to compare FIASMAs with NON-FIASMAs in terms of weight gain risk. Children who received FIASMA had a significantly lower frequency of weight gain reports than patients who took NON-FIASMA agents (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest there is an intriguing possibility that S-ASM may play a role in pediatric obesity. This pilot study could serve as the basis for future studies in this interesting field of research.
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Schumacher F, Edwards MJ, Mühle C, Carpinteiro A, Wilson GC, Wilker B, Soddemann M, Keitsch S, Scherbaum N, Müller BW, Lang UE, Linnemann C, Kleuser B, Müller CP, Kornhuber J, Gulbins E. Ceramide levels in blood plasma correlate with major depressive disorder severity and its neutralization abrogates depressive behavior in mice. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102185. [PMID: 35753355 PMCID: PMC9304786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe disease of unknown pathogenesis that will affect ∼10% of people during their lifetime. Therapy for MDD requires prolonged treatment and often fails, predicating a need for novel treatment strategies. Here, we report increased ceramide levels in the blood plasma of MDD patients and in murine stress-induced models of MDD. These blood plasma ceramide levels correlated with the severity of MDD in human patients and were independent of age, sex, or body mass index. In addition, intravenous injection of anti-ceramide antibodies or neutral ceramidase rapidly abrogated stress-induced MDD, and intravenous injection of blood plasma from mice with MDD induced depression-like behavior in untreated mice, which was abrogated by ex vivo pre-incubation of the plasma with anti-ceramide antibodies or ceramidase. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that ceramide accumulated in endothelial cells of the hippocampus of stressed mice, evidenced by the quantitative measurement of ceramide in purified hippocampus endothelial cells. We found ceramide inhibited the activity of phospholipase D (PLD) in endothelial cells in vitro and in the hippocampus in vivo and thereby decreased phosphatidic acid in the hippocampus. Finally, we show intravenous injection of PLD or phosphatidic acid abrogated MDD, indicating the significance of this pathway in MDD pathogenesis. Our data indicate that ceramide controls PLD activity and phosphatidic acid formation in hippocampal endothelial cells and thereby mediates MDD. We propose that neutralization of plasma ceramide could represent a rapid-acting targeted treatment for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schumacher
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael J Edwards
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Carpinteiro
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Greg C Wilson
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Barbara Wilker
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Soddemann
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Simone Keitsch
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Norbert Scherbaum
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernhard W Müller
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Undine E Lang
- Department für Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Linnemann
- Department für Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Burkhard Kleuser
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian P Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Acid Sphingomyelinase Is a Modulator of Contextual Fear. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063398. [PMID: 35328819 PMCID: PMC8954852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) regulates a variety of physiological processes and plays an important role in emotional behavior. The role of ASM in fear-related behavior has not been investigated so far. Using transgenic mice overexpressing ASM (ASMtg) and ASM deficient mice, we studied whether ASM regulates fear learning and expression of cued and contextual fear in a classical fear conditioning paradigm, a model used to investigate specific attributes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We show that ASM does not affect fear learning as both ASMtg and ASM deficient mice display unaltered fear conditioning when compared to wild-type littermates. However, ASM regulates the expression of contextual fear in a sex-specific manner. While ASM overexpression enhances the expression of contextual fear in both male and female mice, ASM deficiency reduces the expression of contextual fear specifically in male mice. The expression of cued fear, however, is not regulated by ASM as ASMtg and ASM deficient mice display similar tone-elicited freezing levels. This study shows that ASM modulates the expression of contextual fear but not of cued fear in a sex-specific manner and adds a novel piece of information regarding the involvement of ASM in hippocampal-dependent aversive memory.
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Suo X, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Zhao G, Zhu Y, Liu Y, Zhai J. A mental health survey among young front-line clinicians in high-risk areas during the COVID-19 sporadic epidemic in China. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:872331. [PMID: 36111303 PMCID: PMC9468417 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.872331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sporadic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic has placed enormous psychological stress on people, especially clinicians. The objective of this study was to examine depression, anxiety, quality of life (QOL), and related social psychological factors among young front-line clinicians in high-risk areas during the COVID-19 sporadic epidemic in China and to provide a reference for formulating reasonable countermeasures. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, demographic information, COVID-19-related questions, anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10, PSS-10), and QOL (World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief version, WHOQOL-BREF) were collected. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationships between anxiety and/or depression and other related problems. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test the relationships among factors influencing QOL. RESULTS A total of 146 young front-line clinicians were included. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and anxiety-depression comorbidity were 37.7% (95% CI = 29.7-45.6%), 26.0% (95% CI = 18.8-33.2%), and 24.0% (95% CI = 17.0-31.0%), respectively. Severe stress (OR = 1.258, 95% CI = 1.098-1.442, P < 0.01) and insomnia (OR = 1.282, 95% CI = 1.135-1.447, P < 0.01) were positively correlated with depression. Severe stress (OR = 1.487, 95% CI = 1.213-1.823, P < 0.01) and insomnia (OR = 1.131, 95% CI = 1.003-1.274, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with anxiety. Severe stress (OR = 1.532, 95% CI = 1.228-1.912, P < 0.01) was positively correlated with anxiety-depression comorbidity. However, insomnia (OR = 1.081, 95% CI = 0.963-1.214, P > 0.05) was not correlated with anxiety-depression comorbidity. The belief that the vaccine will stop the COVID-19 pandemic (OR = 0.099, 95% CI = 0.014-0.715, P < 0.05) was negatively correlated with anxiety and anxiety-depression comorbidity (OR = 0.101, 95% CI = 0.014-0.744, P < 0.05). Severe stress (B = -0.068, 95% CI = -0.129 to -0.007, P < 0.05) and insomnia (B = -0.127, 95% CI = -0.188 to -0.067, P < 0.01) were negatively correlated with QOL. The belief that the vaccine could provide protection (B = 1.442, 95% CI = 0.253-2.631, P < 0.05) was positively correlated with QOL. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and even anxiety-depression comorbidity was high among young front-line clinicians in high-risk areas during the COVID-19 sporadic epidemic in China. Various biological and psychological factors as well as COVID-19-related factors were associated with mental health issues and QOL. Psychological intervention should evaluate these related factors and formulate measures for these high-risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingbo Suo
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qingxia Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | | | - Yanan Zhu
- Harbin First Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jinguo Zhai
- Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
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13
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Kornhuber J, Gulbins E. New Molecular Targets for Antidepressant Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:894. [PMID: 34577594 PMCID: PMC8472072 DOI: 10.3390/ph14090894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and severe mental disorder that is usually recurrent and has a high risk of suicide. This disorder manifests not only with psychological symptoms but also multiple changes throughout the body, including increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Peripheral markers of oxidative stress and inflammation are elevated. MDD is therefore best described as a multisystem whole-body disease. Pharmacological treatment with antidepressants usually requires several weeks before the desired effects manifest. Previous theories of depression, such as the monoamine or neurogenesis hypotheses, do not explain these characteristics well. In recent years, new mechanisms of action have been discovered for long-standing antidepressants that also shed new light on depression, including the sphingolipid system and the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany;
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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14
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Rhein C, Zoicas I, Marx LM, Zeitler S, Hepp T, von Zimmermann C, Mühle C, Richter-Schmidinger T, Lenz B, Erim Y, Reichel M, Gulbins E, Kornhuber J. mRNA Expression of SMPD1 Encoding Acid Sphingomyelinase Decreases upon Antidepressant Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115700. [PMID: 34071826 PMCID: PMC8198802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe psychiatric condition with key symptoms of low mood and lack of motivation, joy, and pleasure. Recently, the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)/ceramide system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD. ASM is a lysosomal glycoprotein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, an abundant component of membranes, into the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide, which impacts signaling pathways. ASM activity is inhibited by several common antidepressant drugs. Human and murine studies have confirmed that increased ASM activity and ceramide levels are correlated with MDD. To define a molecular marker for treatment monitoring, we investigated the mRNA expression of SMPD1, which encodes ASM, in primary cell culture models, a mouse study, and a human study with untreated MDD patients before and after antidepressive treatment. Our cell culture study showed that a common antidepressant inhibited ASM activity at the enzymatic level and also at the transcriptional level. In a genetically modified mouse line with depressive-like behavior, Smpd1 mRNA expression in dorsal hippocampal tissue was significantly decreased after treatment with a common antidepressant. The large human study showed that SMPD1 mRNA expression in untreated MDD patients decreased significantly after antidepressive treatment. This translational study shows that SMPD1 mRNA expression could serve as a molecular marker for treatment and adherence monitoring of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosima Rhein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (T.H.); (Y.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-9131-85-44542
| | - Iulia Zoicas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Lena M. Marx
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Stefanie Zeitler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Tobias Hepp
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (T.H.); (Y.E.)
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Claudia von Zimmermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Tanja Richter-Schmidinger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Yesim Erim
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (T.H.); (Y.E.)
| | - Martin Reichel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, D-45147 Essen, Germany;
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; (I.Z.); (L.M.M.); (S.Z.); (C.v.Z.); (C.M.); (T.R.-S.); (B.L.); (M.R.); (J.K.)
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15
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Frankowska M, Jesus FM, Mühle C, Pacheco JV, Maior RS, Sadakierska‐Chudy A, Smaga I, Piechota M, Kalinichenko LS, Gulbins E, Kornhuber J, Filip M, Müller CP, Barros M. Cocaine attenuates acid sphingomyelinase activity during establishment of addiction-related behavior-A translational study in rats and monkeys. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12955. [PMID: 32761719 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is a severe psychiatric condition for which currently no effective pharmacotherapy is available. Brain mechanisms for the establishment of addiction-related behaviors are still not fully understood, and specific biomarkers for cocaine use are not available. Sphingolipids are major membrane lipids, which shape neuronal membrane composition and dynamics in the brain. Here, we investigated how chronic cocaine exposure during establishment of addiction-related behaviors affects the activity of the sphingolipid rheostat controlling enzymes in the brain of rats. As we detected specific effects on several enzymes in the brain, we tested whether the activity of selected enzymes in the blood may serve as potential biomarker for cocaine exposure in non-human primates (Callithrix penicillata). We found that intravenous cocaine self-administration led to a reduced mRNA expression of Cers1, Degs1 and Degs2, and Smpd1 in the prefrontal cortex of rats, as well as a reduction of Cers4 expression in the striatum. These effects reversed after 10 days of abstinence. Monkeys showed a robust cocaine-induced place preference (CPP). This coincided with a reduction in blood acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity after CPP establishment. This effect normalized after 15 days of abstinence. Altogether, these findings suggest that the establishment of cocaine addiction-related behaviors coincides with changes in the activity of sphingolipid controlling enzymes. In particular, blood ASM levels may serve as a translational biomarker for recent cocaine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Frankowska
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences Maj Institute of Pharmacology Krakow Poland
| | - Fernando M. Jesus
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences University of Brasilia Brasilia Brazil
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nürnberg (FAU) Erlangen Germany
| | - Jéssica V.N. Pacheco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences University of Brasilia Brasilia Brazil
| | - Rafael S. Maior
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Brasília Brasilia Brazil
- Primate Center Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia Brasilia Brazil
| | - Anna Sadakierska‐Chudy
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences Maj Institute of Pharmacology Krakow Poland
| | - Irena Smaga
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences Maj Institute of Pharmacology Krakow Poland
| | - Marcin Piechota
- Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences Maj Institute of Pharmacology Krakow Poland
| | - Liubov S. Kalinichenko
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nürnberg (FAU) Erlangen Germany
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology University of Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
- Department of Surgery University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nürnberg (FAU) Erlangen Germany
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences Maj Institute of Pharmacology Krakow Poland
| | - Christian P. Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nürnberg (FAU) Erlangen Germany
| | - Marilia Barros
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences University of Brasilia Brasilia Brazil
- Primate Center Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia Brasilia Brazil
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Chung HY, Claus RA. Keep Your Friends Close, but Your Enemies Closer: Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase During Infection and Host Response. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 7:616500. [PMID: 33553211 PMCID: PMC7859284 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.616500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Breakdown of the inert and constitutive membrane building block sphingomyelin to the highly active lipid mediator ceramide by extracellularly active acid sphingomyelinase is tightly regulated during stress response and opens the gate for invading pathogens, triggering the immune response, development of remote organ failure, and tissue repair following severe infection. How do one enzyme and one mediator manage all of these affairs? Under physiological conditions, the enzyme is located in the lysosomes and takes part in the noiseless metabolism of sphingolipids, but following stress the protein is secreted into circulation. When secreted, acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is able to hydrolyze sphingomyelin present at the outer leaflet of membranes to ceramide. Its generation troubles the biophysical context of cellular membranes resulting in functional assembly and reorganization of proteins and receptors, also embedded in highly conserved response mechanisms. As a consequence of cellular signaling, not only induction of cell death but also proliferation, differentiation, and fibrogenesis are affected. Here, we discuss the current state of the art on both the impact and function of the enzyme during host response and damage control. Also, the potential role of lysosomotropic agents as functional inhibitors of this upstream alarming cascade is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha-Yeun Chung
- Section Translational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Ralf A Claus
- Department for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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17
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Ex vivo glucocorticoid receptor-mediated IL-10 response predicts the course of depression severity. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2021; 128:95-104. [PMID: 33447872 PMCID: PMC7815576 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02288-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Directly measuring hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function, an important player in affective disorders, is intensive and invasive. A crucial component of this system, the activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), can be assessed ex vivo instead. Here, we investigated GR sensitivity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) to determine its predictive potential. Psychometric data and blood samples were collected from patients experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE, n = 87), healthy control subjects (n = 49), and patients with remitted MDD (n = 31) at baseline and (for patients) after median 20 days of follow-up after treatment as usual. Blood cells were stimulated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide and the effect was suppressed by increasing dexamethasone (DEX) concentrations. The resultant cytokine secretion profile (for IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) was considered indicative of GR activity. Higher baseline scores of the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were associated with a stronger decrease of logIC IL-6 (indicating an increase of GR sensitivity). Higher baseline logEC IL-10 (indicating a lower GR sensitivity) and a stronger reduction of logEC IL-10 (indicating a stronger increase in GR sensitivity) were associated with a stronger decrease in the MADRS score. Patients with remitted MDD showed higher logIC TNF-α values (indicating lower GR sensitivity) in comparison to patients with a current MDD at baseline and follow-up. Initially low GR sensitivity measured ex vivo in peripheral blood cells that increases over the course of treatment could serve as a predictive marker for stronger improvement in depression severity.
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18
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Jaddoa E, Masania J, Masiero E, Sgamma T, Arroo R, Sillence D, Zetterström T. Effect of antidepressant drugs on the brain sphingolipid system. J Psychopharmacol 2020; 34:716-725. [PMID: 32403969 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120915412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depression is a common mood disorder and the central sphingolipid system has been identified as a possible drug target of this condition. Here we investigated the action of antidepressant drugs on sphingolipid levels in rat brain regions, plasma and in cultured mouse macrophages. METHODS Two antidepressant drugs were tested: the serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine and the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor desipramine, either following acute or chronic treatments. Content of sphingosine and ceramide were analysed using LC-MS or HPLC-UV, respectively. This was from samples of brain, plasma and cultured mouse macrophages. Antidepressant-induced effects on mRNA expression for two key genes of the sphingolipid pathway, SMPD1 and ASAH1, were also measured by using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Chronic but not acute administration of paroxetine or desipramine reduced sphingosine levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus (only paroxetine) but not in the striatum. Ceramide levels were also measured in the hippocampus following chronic paroxetine and likewise to sphingosine this treatment reduced its levels. The corresponding collected plasma samples from chronically treated animals did not show any decrease of sphingosine compared to the corresponding controls. Both drugs failed to reduce sphingosine levels from cultured mouse macrophages. The drug-induced decrease of sphingolipids coincided with reduced mRNA expression of two enzymes of the central sphingolipid pathway, i.e. acid sphingomyelinase (SMPD1) and acid ceramidase (ASAH1). CONCLUSIONS This study supports the involvement of brain sphingolipids in the mechanism of action by antidepressant drugs and for the first time highlights their differential effects on brain versus plasma levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estabraq Jaddoa
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Jinit Masania
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Eva Masiero
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Tiziana Sgamma
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Randolph Arroo
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Daniel Sillence
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Tyra Zetterström
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
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Zoicas I, Mühle C, Schmidtner AK, Gulbins E, Neumann ID, Kornhuber J. Anxiety and Depression Are Related to Higher Activity of Sphingolipid Metabolizing Enzymes in the Rat Brain. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051239. [PMID: 32429522 PMCID: PMC7290887 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in sphingolipid metabolism have been suggested to contribute to the pathophysiology of major depression. In this study, we investigated the activity of acid and neutral sphingomyelinases (ASM, NSM) and ceramidases (AC, NC), respectively, in twelve brain regions of female rats selectively bred for high (HAB) versus low (LAB) anxiety-like behavior. Concomitant with their highly anxious and depressive-like phenotype, HAB rats showed increased activity of ASM and NSM as well as of AC and NC in multiple brain regions associated with anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, including the lateral septum, hypothalamus, ventral hippocampus, ventral and dorsal mesencephalon. Strong correlations between anxiety-like behavior and ASM activity were found in female HAB rats in the amygdala, ventral hippocampus and dorsal mesencephalon, whereas NSM activity correlated with anxiety levels in the dorsal mesencephalon. These results provide novel information about the sphingolipid metabolism, especially about the sphingomyelinases and ceramidases, in major depression and comorbid anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Zoicas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (C.M.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-9131-85-46005; Fax: +49-9131-85-36381
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (C.M.); (J.K.)
| | - Anna K. Schmidtner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany; (A.K.S.); (I.D.N.)
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
| | - Inga D. Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany; (A.K.S.); (I.D.N.)
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (C.M.); (J.K.)
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20
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von Zimmermann C, Winkelmann M, Richter-Schmidinger T, Mühle C, Kornhuber J, Lenz B. Physical Activity and Body Composition Are Associated With Severity and Risk of Depression, and Serum Lipids. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:494. [PMID: 32581872 PMCID: PMC7292005 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity and a healthy body composition are said to reduce the risk of major depressive disorder. Nonetheless, deeper insight is needed into which specific forms of physical activity (and their relation to body composition) are effective in improving and preventing depressive symptoms. METHODS We compared different self-reported physical activities of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and body composition measures between patients with a current major depressive episode (MDE; N = 130) and healthy control subjects (N = 61). These parameters were also tested for correlations with depression severity and serum lipid levels in patients and controls. RESULTS Patients with a current MDE reported significantly fewer hours spent on total physical activity, walking or bicycling for travel, and vigorous-intensity activities at leisure than healthy control subjects. More time spent on vigorous-intensity activities at work, less time spent on walking or bicycling for travel, higher body fat mass, and lower body muscle mass correlated significantly with stronger depression severity. Physical activity and body measures correlated significantly with serum lipid levels. LIMITATIONS Self-reports of physical activity, only short-term follow-up of 20 days, cross-sectional study design without examination of causal role of exercise. CONCLUSIONS More time spent on traveling by foot or by bike is especially associated with a lower risk of and milder depression. These results highlight the differential role of physical activity in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia von Zimmermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Merle Winkelmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tanja Richter-Schmidinger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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21
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van Kruining D, Luo Q, van Echten-Deckert G, Mielke MM, Bowman A, Ellis S, Oliveira TG, Martinez-Martinez P. Sphingolipids as prognostic biomarkers of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and psychiatric diseases and their emerging role in lipidomic investigation methods. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 159:232-244. [PMID: 32360155 PMCID: PMC7665829 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lipids play an important role in neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and psychiatric disorders and an imbalance in sphingolipid levels is associated with disease. Although early diagnosis and intervention of these disorders would clearly have favorable long-term outcomes, no diagnostic tests currently exist that can accurately identify people at risk. Reliable prognostic biomarkers that are easily accessible would be beneficial to determine therapy and treatment response in clinical trials. Recent advances in lipidomic investigation methods have greatly progressed the knowledge of sphingolipids in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders over the past decades although more longitudinal studies are needed to understand its exact role in these disorders to be used as potential tools in the clinic. In this review, we give an overview of the current knowledge of sphingolipids in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders and explore recent advances in investigation methods. Finally, the potential of sphingolipid metabolism products and signaling molecules as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognostic, or surrogate markers of treatment response is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan van Kruining
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Qian Luo
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerhild van Echten-Deckert
- LIMES Institute for Membrane Biology and Lipid Biochemistry, Kekulé-Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michelle M Mielke
- Department of Health Sciences Research and Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Andrew Bowman
- The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Shane Ellis
- The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Tiago Gil Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), ICVS/3B's, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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22
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Matanes F, Twal WO, Hammad SM. Sphingolipids as Biomarkers of Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1159:109-138. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21162-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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