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Rajabi P, Noori AS, Sargolzaei J. Autism spectrum disorder and various mechanisms behind it. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 245:173887. [PMID: 39378931 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a range of social, communicative, and behavioral challenges. This comprehensive review delves into key aspects of ASD. Clinical Overview and genetic features provide a foundational understanding of ASD, highlighting the clinical presentation and genetic underpinnings that contribute to its complexity. We explore the intricate neurobiological mechanisms at play in ASD, including structural and functional differences that may underlie the condition's hallmark traits. Emerging research has shed light on the role of the immune system and neuroinflammation in ASD. This section investigates the potential links between immunological factors and ASD, offering insights into the condition's pathophysiology. We examine how atypical functional connectivity and alterations in neurotransmitter systems may contribute to the unique cognitive and behavioral features of ASD. In the pursuit of effective interventions, this section reviews current therapeutic strategies, ranging from behavioral and educational interventions to pharmacological approaches, providing a glimpse into the diverse and evolving landscape of ASD treatment. This holistic exploration of mechanisms in ASD aims to contribute to our evolving understanding of the condition and to guide the development of more targeted and personalized interventions for individuals living with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Rajabi
- Department of Psychiatry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Ali Sabbah Noori
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran
| | - Javad Sargolzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran.
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2
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Pâslaru AC, Călin A, Morozan VP, Stancu M, Tofan L, Panaitescu AM, Zăgrean AM, Zăgrean L, Moldovan M. Burst-Suppression EEG Reactivity to Photic Stimulation-A Translational Biomarker in Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury. Biomolecules 2024; 14:953. [PMID: 39199341 PMCID: PMC11352952 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The reactivity of an electroencephalogram (EEG) to external stimuli is impaired in comatose patients showing burst-suppression (BS) patterns following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI). We explored the reactivity of BS induced by isoflurane in rat models of HIBI and controls using intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) delivered to one eye. The relative time spent in suppression referred to as the suppression ratio (SR) was measured on the contralateral fronto-occipital cortical EEG channel. The BS reactivity (BSR) was defined as the decrease in the SR during IPS from the baseline before stimulation (SRPRE). We found that BSR increased with SRPRE. To standardize by anesthetic depth, we derived the BSR index (BSRi) as BSR divided by SRPRE. We found that the BSRi was decreased at 3 days after transient global cerebral ischemia in rats, which is a model of brain injury after cardiac arrest. The BSRi was also reduced 2 months after experimental perinatal asphyxia in rats, a model of birth asphyxia, which is a frequent neonatal complication in humans. Furthermore, Oxytocin attenuated BSRi impairment, consistent with a neuroprotective effect in this model. Our data suggest that the BSRi is a promising translational marker in HIBI which should be considered in future neuroprotection studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru-Cătălin Pâslaru
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Alexandru Călin
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London SE59RS, UK;
| | - Vlad-Petru Morozan
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Mihai Stancu
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
- Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Laurențiu Tofan
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Anca Maria Panaitescu
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Filantropia, 011132 Bucharest, Romania
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana-Maria Zăgrean
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Leon Zăgrean
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Mihai Moldovan
- Division of Physiology—Neuroscience, Department of Functional Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.-C.P.); (V.-P.M.); (M.S.); (L.T.); (A.M.P.); (A.-M.Z.); (L.Z.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Weber KT, Varian BJ, Erdman SE. The gut microbiome and sociability. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1372274. [PMID: 38629051 PMCID: PMC11018908 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1372274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome plays an important role in the maturation of the neural, immune, and endocrine systems. Research data from animal models shows that gut microbiota communicate with the host's brain in an elaborate network of signaling pathways, including the vagus nerve. Part of the microbiome's influence extends to the behavioral and social development of its host. As a social species, a human's ability to communicate with others is imperative to their survival and quality of life. Current research explores the gut microbiota's developmental influence as well as how these gut-brain pathways can be leveraged to alleviate the social symptoms associated with various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases. One intriguing vein of research in animal models centers on probiotic treatment, which leads to downstream increased circulation of endogenous oxytocin, a neuropeptide hormone relevant to sociability. Further research may lead to therapeutic applications in humans, particularly in the early stages of their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Susan E. Erdman
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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Aranberri Ruiz A. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Improve Emotional State. Biomedicines 2024; 12:407. [PMID: 38398009 PMCID: PMC10886536 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020407] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Emotional experiences are a part of our lives. The maladaptive functioning of an individual's emotional field can lead to emotional disturbances of various kinds, such as anxiety and depression. Currently, there is an increasing prevalence of emotional disorders that cause great human suffering and high socioeconomic costs. Emotional processing has a biological basis. The major neuroscientific theories of emotion are based on biological functioning, and all of them take into account the anatomy and function of the tenth cranial nerve: the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve connects the subdiaphragmatic and supradiaphragmatic areas and modulates emotional processing as the basis of interoceptive functioning. Auricular vagus nerve stimulation is a new and innovative neuromodulation technique based on the function of the vagus nerve. Several interventions have shown that this new neurostimulation technique is a very promising resource for treating emotional disorders. In this paper, we summarise three neuroscientific theories of emotion, explain what transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation is, and present arguments for its use and continued research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainara Aranberri Ruiz
- Department of Basic Psychological Process and Development, University of the Basque Country, 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
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5
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He J, Li Q, Zhang Q. rvTWAS: identifying gene-trait association using sequences by utilizing transcriptome-directed feature selection. Genetics 2024; 226:iyad204. [PMID: 38001381 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Toward the identification of genetic basis of complex traits, transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) is successful in integrating transcriptome data. However, TWAS is only applicable for common variants, excluding rare variants in exome or whole-genome sequences. This is partly because of the inherent limitation of TWAS protocols that rely on predicting gene expressions. Our previous research has revealed the insight into TWAS: the 2 steps in TWAS, building and applying the expression prediction models, are essentially genetic feature selection and aggregations that do not have to involve predictions. Based on this insight disentangling TWAS, rare variants' inability of predicting expression traits is no longer an obstacle. Herein, we developed "rare variant TWAS," or rvTWAS, that first uses a Bayesian model to conduct expression-directed feature selection and then uses a kernel machine to carry out feature aggregation, forming a model leveraging expressions for association mapping including rare variants. We demonstrated the performance of rvTWAS by thorough simulations and real data analysis in 3 psychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. We confirmed that rvTWAS outperforms existing TWAS protocols and revealed additional genes underlying psychiatric disorders. Particularly, we formed a hypothetical mechanism in which zinc finger genes impact all 3 disorders through transcriptional regulations. rvTWAS will open a door for sequence-based association mappings integrating gene expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingni He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Qingrun Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
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Olğun Y, Poyraz CA, Bozluolçay M, Konukoğlu D, Poyraz BÇ. Plasma Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Dementias: Unrevealing the Potential of Serum Oxytocin, BDNF, NPTX1, TREM2, TNF-alpha, IL-1 and Prolactin. Curr Alzheimer Res 2024; 21:109-119. [PMID: 38803182 DOI: 10.2174/0115672050313419240520051751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dementia encompasses a range of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by cognitive decline and functional impairment. The identification of reliable biomarkers is essential for accurate diagnosis and gaining insights into the mechanisms underlying diseases. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the plasma biomarker profiles associated with Brain- Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Oxytocin, Neuronal Pentraxin-1 (NPTX1), Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin- 1 (IL-1) and Prolactin in Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementias (FTD) and healthy controls. METHODS Serum levels of the aforementioned biomarkers were analyzed in 23 AD, 28 DLB, 15 FTD patients recruited from outpatient units and 22 healthy controls. Diagnostic evaluations followed established criteria and standardized clinical tests were conducted. Blood samples were collected and analyzed using ELISA and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay methods. RESULTS Serum BDNF and oxytocin levels did not significantly differ across groups. NPTX1, TREM2, TNF-alpha and IL-1 levels also did not show significant differences among dementia groups. However, prolactin levels exhibited distinct patterns, with lower levels in male DLB patients and higher levels in female AD patients compared to controls. CONCLUSION The study findings suggest potential shared mechanisms in dementia pathophysiology and highlight the importance of exploring neuroendocrine responses, particularly in AD and DLB. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the role of these biomarkers in dementia diagnosis and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeşim Olğun
- Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cana Aksoy Poyraz
- Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Melda Bozluolçay
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Dildar Konukoğlu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Burç Çağrı Poyraz
- Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
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7
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Winter A, Gruber M, Thiel K, Flinkenflügel K, Meinert S, Goltermann J, Winter NR, Borgers T, Stein F, Jansen A, Brosch K, Wroblewski A, Thomas-Odenthal F, Usemann P, Straube B, Alexander N, Jamalabadi H, Nenadić I, Bonnekoh LM, Dohm K, Leehr EJ, Opel N, Grotegerd D, Hahn T, van den Heuvel MP, Kircher T, Repple J, Dannlowski U. Shared and distinct structural brain networks related to childhood maltreatment and social support: connectome-based predictive modeling. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4613-4621. [PMID: 37714950 PMCID: PMC10914611 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02252-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with changes in structural brain connectivity even in the absence of mental illness. Social support, an important protective factor in the presence of childhood maltreatment, has been positively linked to white matter integrity. However, the shared effects of current social support and CM and their association with structural connectivity remain to be investigated. They might shed new light on the neurobiological basis of the protective mechanism of social support. Using connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM), we analyzed structural connectomes of N = 904 healthy adults derived from diffusion-weighted imaging. CPM predicts phenotypes from structural connectivity through a cross-validation scheme. Distinct and shared networks of white matter tracts predicting childhood trauma questionnaire scores and the social support questionnaire were identified. Additional analyses were applied to assess the stability of the results. CM and social support were predicted significantly from structural connectome data (all rs ≥ 0.119, all ps ≤ 0.016). Edges predicting CM and social support were inversely correlated, i.e., positively correlated with CM and negatively with social support, and vice versa, with a focus on frontal and temporal regions including the insula and superior temporal lobe. CPM reveals the predictive value of the structural connectome for CM and current social support. Both constructs are inversely associated with connectivity strength in several brain tracts. While this underlines the interconnectedness of these experiences, it suggests social support acts as a protective factor following adverse childhood experiences, compensating for brain network alterations. Future longitudinal studies should focus on putative moderating mechanisms buffering these adverse experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Winter
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Marius Gruber
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Katharina Thiel
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kira Flinkenflügel
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Susanne Meinert
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Janik Goltermann
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils R Winter
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tiana Borgers
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Frederike Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Core-Facility Brainimaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Brosch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Adrian Wroblewski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Florian Thomas-Odenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Paula Usemann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Straube
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Nina Alexander
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hamidreza Jamalabadi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Igor Nenadić
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Linda M Bonnekoh
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Katharina Dohm
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Elisabeth J Leehr
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils Opel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Dominik Grotegerd
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tim Hahn
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Martijn P van den Heuvel
- Connectome Lab, Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tilo Kircher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jonathan Repple
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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Kamrani-Sharif R, Hayes AW, Gholami M, Salehirad M, Allahverdikhani M, Motaghinejad M, Emanuele E. Oxytocin as neuro-hormone and neuro-regulator exert neuroprotective properties: A mechanistic graphical review. Neuropeptides 2023; 101:102352. [PMID: 37354708 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2023.102352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegeneration is progressive cell loss in specific neuronal populations, often resulting in clinical consequences with significant medical, societal, and economic implications. Because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, oxytocin has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective and neurobehavioral therapeutic agent, including modulating mood disturbances and cognitive enchantment. METHODS Literature searches were conducted using the following databases Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Google Scholar, the Core Collection, and Cochrane from January 2000 to February 2023 for articles dealing with oxytocin neuroprotective properties in preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders and diseases with a focus on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis/cell death. RESULTS The neuroprotective effects of oxytocin appears to be mediated by its anti-inflammatory properties, inhibition of neuro inflammation, activation of several antioxidant enzymes, inhibition of oxidative stress and free radical formation, activation of free radical scavengers, prevent of mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibition of apoptosis. CONCLUSION Oxytocin acts as a neuroprotective agent by preventing neuro-apoptosis, neuro-inflammation, and neuronal oxidative stress, and by restoring mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Kamrani-Sharif
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A Wallace Hayes
- University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mina Gholami
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Salehirad
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Allahverdikhani
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Motaghinejad
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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9
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Karayel-Basar M, Uras I, Kiris I, Baykal AT. Detection of proteomic alterations at different stages in a Huntington's disease mouse model via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) imaging. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:2985-3002. [PMID: 37525529 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16103] [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: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease leading to the inability to carry out daily activities and for which no cure exists. The underlying mechanisms of the disease have not been fully elucidated yet. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) allows the spatial information of proteins to be obtained upon the tissue sections without homogenisation. In this study, we aimed to examine proteomic alterations in the brain tissue of an HD mouse model with MALDI-MSI coupled to LC-MS/MS system. We used 3-, 6- and 12-month-old YAC128 mice representing pre-stage, mild stage and pathological stage of the HD and their non-transgenic littermates, respectively. The intensity levels of 89 proteins were found to be significantly different in YAC128 in comparison to their control mice in the pre-stage, 83 proteins in the mild stage, and 82 proteins in the pathological stage. Among them, Tau, EF2, HSP70, and NogoA proteins were validated with western blot analysis. In conclusion, the results of this study have provided remarkable new information about the spatial proteomic alterations in the HD mouse model, and we suggest that MALDI-MSI is an excellent technique for identifying such regional proteomic changes and could offer new perspectives in examining complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Karayel-Basar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Irep Uras
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Irem Kiris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Tarik Baykal
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
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10
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Jin Y, Song D, Yan Y, Quan Z, Qing H. The Role of Oxytocin in Early-Life-Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10430. [PMID: 37445607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life stress during critical periods of brain development can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Oxytocin is a critical social regulator and anti-inflammatory hormone that modulates stress-related functions and social behaviors and alleviates diseases. Oxytocin-related neural systems show high plasticity in early postpartum and adolescent periods. Early-life stress can influence the oxytocin system long term by altering the expression and signaling of oxytocin receptors. Deficits in social behavior, emotional control, and stress responses may result, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Oxytocin is regarded as an important target for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we describe the history of oxytocin and its role in neural circuits and related behaviors. We then review abnormalities in the oxytocin system in early-life stress and the functions of oxytocin in treating stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Da Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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11
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Baudon A, Clauss Creusot E, Charlet A. [Emergent role of astrocytes in oxytocin-mediated modulatory control of neuronal circuits and brain functions]. Biol Aujourdhui 2023; 216:155-165. [PMID: 36744981 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2022022] [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: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin has been in the focus of scientists for decades due to its profound and pleiotropic effects on physiology, activity of neuronal circuits and behaviors. Until recently, it was believed that oxytocinergic action exclusively occurs through direct activation of neuronal oxytocin receptors. However, several studies demonstrated the existence and functional relevance of astroglial oxytocin receptors in various brain regions in the mouse and rat brain. Astrocytic signaling and activity are critical for many important physiological processes including metabolism, neurotransmitter clearance from the synaptic cleft and integrated brain functions. While it can be speculated that oxytocinergic action on astrocytes predominantly facilitates neuromodulation via the release of gliotransmitters, the precise role of astrocytic oxytocin receptors remains elusive. In this review, we discuss the latest studies on the interaction between the oxytocinergic system and astrocytes, and give details of underlying intracellular cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Baudon
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, 8 allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Etienne Clauss Creusot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, 8 allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, 8 allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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12
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SCGN deficiency is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:3. [PMID: 36588101 PMCID: PMC9806109 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01225-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1-2% of all children and poses a great social and economic challenge for the globe. As a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, the development of its treatment is extremely challenging. Multiple pathways have been linked to the pathogenesis of ASD, including signaling involved in synaptic function, oxytocinergic activities, immune homeostasis, chromatin modifications, and mitochondrial functions. Here, we identify secretagogin (SCGN), a regulator of synaptic transmission, as a new risk gene for ASD. Two heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in SCGN are presented in ASD probands. Deletion of Scgn in zebrafish or mice leads to autism-like behaviors and impairs brain development. Mechanistically, Scgn deficiency disrupts the oxytocin signaling and abnormally activates inflammation in both animal models. Both ASD probands carrying Scgn mutations also show reduced oxytocin levels. Importantly, we demonstrate that the administration of oxytocin and anti-inflammatory drugs can attenuate ASD-associated defects caused by SCGN deficiency. Altogether, we identify a convergence between a potential autism genetic risk factor SCGN, and the pathological deregulation in oxytocinergic signaling and immune responses, providing potential treatment for ASD patients suffering from SCGN deficiency. Our study also indicates that it is critical to identify and stratify ASD patient populations based on their disease mechanisms, which could greatly enhance therapeutic success.
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13
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The Role of Oxytocin in Abnormal Brain Development: Effect on Glial Cells and Neuroinflammation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233899. [PMID: 36497156 PMCID: PMC9740972 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The neonatal period is critical for brain development and determinant for long-term brain trajectory. Yet, this time concurs with a sensitivity and risk for numerous brain injuries following perinatal complications such as preterm birth. Brain injury in premature infants leads to a complex amalgam of primary destructive diseases and secondary maturational and trophic disturbances and, as a consequence, to long-term neurocognitive and behavioral problems. Neuroinflammation is an important common factor in these complications, which contributes to the adverse effects on brain development. Mediating this inflammatory response forms a key therapeutic target in protecting the vulnerable developing brain when complications arise. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays an important role in the perinatal period, and its importance for lactation and social bonding in early life are well-recognized. Yet, novel functions of OT for the developing brain are increasingly emerging. In particular, OT seems able to modulate glial activity in neuroinflammatory states, but the exact mechanisms underlying this connection are largely unknown. The current review provides an overview of the oxytocinergic system and its early life development across rodent and human. Moreover, we cover the most up-to-date understanding of the role of OT in neonatal brain development and the potential neuroprotective effects it holds when adverse neural events arise in association with neuroinflammation. A detailed assessment of the underlying mechanisms between OT treatment and astrocyte and microglia reactivity is given, as well as a focus on the amygdala, a brain region of crucial importance for socio-emotional behavior, particularly in infants born preterm.
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14
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Maternal stress and vulnerability to depression: coping and maternal care strategies and its consequences on adolescent offspring. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:463. [PMID: 36333302 PMCID: PMC9636172 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02220-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Depressive mothers often find mother-child interaction to be challenging. Maternal stress may further impair mother-child attachment, which may increase the risk of negative developmental consequences. We used rats with different vulnerability to depressive-like behavior (Wistar and Kyoto) to investigate the impact of stress (maternal separation-MS) on maternal behavior and adolescent offspring cognition. MS in Kyoto dams increased pup-contact, resulting in higher oxytocin levels and lower anxiety-like behavior after weaning, while worsening their adolescent offspring cognitive behavior. Whereas MS in Wistar dams elicited higher quality of pup-directed behavior, increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the offspring, which seems to have prevented a negative impact on cognition. Hypothalamic oxytocin seems to affect the salience of the social environment cues (negatively for Kyoto) leading to different coping strategies. Our findings highlight the importance of contextual and individual factors in the understanding of the oxytocin role in modulating maternal behavior and stress regulatory processes.
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15
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Tsingotjidou AS. Oxytocin: A Multi-Functional Biomolecule with Potential Actions in Dysfunctional Conditions; From Animal Studies and Beyond. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1603. [PMID: 36358953 PMCID: PMC9687803 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a hormone secreted from definite neuroendocrine neurons located in specific nuclei in the hypothalamus (mainly from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei), and its main known function is the contraction of uterine and/or mammary gland cells responsible for parturition and breastfeeding. Among the actions of the peripherally secreted oxytocin is the prevention of different degenerative disorders. These actions have been proven in cell culture and in animal models or have been tested in humans based on hypotheses from previous studies. This review presents the knowledge gained from the previous studies, displays the results from oxytocin intervention and/or treatment and proposes that the well described actions of oxytocin might be connected to other numerous, diverse actions of the biomolecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia S Tsingotjidou
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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16
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Gonzalez A, Hammock EAD. Oxytocin and microglia in the development of social behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210059. [PMID: 35858111 PMCID: PMC9272152 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a well-established regulator of social behaviour. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, regulate brain development and maintenance in health and disease. Oxytocin and microglia interact: microglia appear to regulate the oxytocin system and are, in turn, regulated by oxytocin, which appears to have anti-inflammatory effects. Both microglia and oxytocin are regulated in sex-specific ways. Oxytocin and microglia may work together to promote experience-dependent circuit refinement through multiple developmental-sensitive periods contributing to individual differences in social behaviour. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Gonzalez
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. D. Hammock
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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17
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Quintana GR, Mac Cionnaith CE, Pfaus JG. Behavioral, Neural, and Molecular Mechanisms of Conditioned Mate Preference: The Role of Opioids and First Experiences of Sexual Reward. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8928. [PMID: 36012194 PMCID: PMC9409009 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although mechanisms of mate preference are thought to be relatively hard-wired, experience with appetitive and consummatory sexual reward has been shown to condition preferences for partner related cues and even objects that predict sexual reward. Here, we reviewed evidence from laboratory species and humans on sexually conditioned place, partner, and ejaculatory preferences in males and females, as well as the neurochemical, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms putatively responsible. From a comprehensive review of the available data, we concluded that opioid transmission at μ opioid receptors forms the basis of sexual pleasure and reward, which then sensitizes dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin systems responsible for attention, arousal, and bonding, leading to cortical activation that creates awareness of attraction and desire. First experiences with sexual reward states follow a pattern of sexual imprinting, during which partner- and/or object-related cues become crystallized by conditioning into idiosyncratic "types" that are found sexually attractive and arousing. These mechanisms tie reward and reproduction together, blending proximate and ultimate causality in the maintenance of variability within a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo R. Quintana
- Departamento de Psicología y Filosofía, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000007, Chile
| | - Conall E. Mac Cionnaith
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B1R6, Canada
| | - James G. Pfaus
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Division of Sexual Neuroscience, Center for Sexual Health and Intervention, Czech National Institute of Mental Health, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
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18
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Marazziti D, Diep PT, Carter S, Carbone MG. Oxytocin: An Old Hormone, A Novel Psychotropic Drug And Possible Use In Treating Psychiatric Disorders. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:5615-5687. [PMID: 35894453 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220727120646] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin is a nonapeptide synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Historically, this molecule has been involved as a key factor in the formation of infant attachment, maternal behavior and pair bonding and, more generally, in linking social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. In the last decades, the whole oxytocin system has gained a growing interest as it was proposed to be implicated in etiopathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS With the main goal of an in-depth understanding of the oxytocin role in the regulation of different functions and complex behaviors as well as its intriguing implications in different neuropsychiatric disorders, we performed a critical review of the current state of art. We carried out this work through PubMed database up to June 2021 with the search terms: 1) "oxytocin and neuropsychiatric disorders"; 2) "oxytocin and neurodevelopmental disorders"; 3) "oxytocin and anorexia"; 4) "oxytocin and eating disorders"; 5) "oxytocin and obsessive-compulsive disorder"; 6) "oxytocin and schizophrenia"; 7) "oxytocin and depression"; 8) "oxytocin and bipolar disorder"; 9) "oxytocin and psychosis"; 10) "oxytocin and anxiety"; 11) "oxytocin and personality disorder"; 12) "oxytocin and PTSD". RESULTS Biological, genetic, and epigenetic studies highlighted quality and quantity modifications in the expression of oxytocin peptide or in oxytocin receptor isoforms. These alterations would seem to be correlated with a higher risk of presenting several neuropsychiatric disorders belonging to different psychopathological spectra. Collaterally, the exogenous oxytocin administration has shown to ameliorate many neuropsychiatric clinical conditions. CONCLUSION Finally, we briefly analyzed the potential pharmacological use of oxytocin in patient with severe symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunoregulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Phuoc-Tan Diep
- Department of Histopathology, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Carter
- Director Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Manuel G Carbone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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19
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Bonaldo B, Gioiosa L, Panzica G, Marraudino M. Exposure to either Bisphenol A or S Represents a Risk for Crucial Behaviors for Pup Survival, Such as Spontaneous Maternal Behavior in Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 113:1283-1297. [PMID: 35850097 DOI: 10.1159/000526074] [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: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal behavior depends on a multitude of factors, including environmental ones, such as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), which are increasingly attracting attention. Bisphenol A (BPA), an EDC present in plastic, is known to exert negative effects on maternal behavior. Bisphenol S (BPS), a BPA substitute, seems to share some endocrine disrupting properties. In this study, we focused on the analysis of the effects of low-dose (i.e., 4 µg/kg body weight/day, EFSA TDI for BPA) BPA or BPS exposure throughout pregnancy and lactation in mice. METHODS We administered adult C57BL/6 J females orally BPA, BPS, or vehicle from mating to offspring weaning. We assessed the number of pups at birth, the sex ratio, and the percentage of dead pups in each litter, and during the first postnatal week, we observed spontaneous maternal behavior. At the weaning of the pups, we sacrificed the dams and analyzed the oxytocin system, known to be involved in the control of maternal care, in the hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei. RESULTS At birth, pups from BPA-treated dams tended to have a lower male-to-female ratio compared to controls, while the opposite was observed among BPS-treated dams' litters. During the first postnatal week, offspring mortality impacted differentially in the BPA and BPS litters, with more female dead pups among the BPA litters, while more male dead pups in the BPS litters, sharpening the difference in the sex ratio. BPA- and BPS-treated dams spent significantly less time in pup-related behaviors than controls. Oxytocin immunoreactivity in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei was increased only in the BPA-treated dams. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Alterations in maternal care, along with the treatment itself, may affect, later in life, the offspring's physiology and behavior. Exposure to BPs during sensitive developmental periods represents a risk for both dams and offspring, even at low environmentally relevant doses, through the functional alteration of neural circuits controlling fundamental behaviors for pup survival, such as maternal behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitta Bonaldo
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini," University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Gioiosa
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - GianCarlo Panzica
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini," University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marilena Marraudino
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini," University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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20
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Zhu S, Qing Y, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Ding F, Zhang R, Yao S, Kendrick KM, Zhao W. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation increases eye-gaze on salient facial features and oxytocin release. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14107. [PMID: 35638321 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Non-invasive, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) via the ear is used therapeutically in epilepsy, pain, and depression, and may also have beneficial effects on social cognition. However, the underlying mechanisms of taVNS are unclear and evidence regarding its role in social cognition improvement is limited. To investigate the impact of taVNS on social cognition we have studied its effects on gaze toward emotional faces in combination with eye-tracking and on the release of the neuropeptide oxytocin which plays a key role in influencing social cognition and motivation. A total of 54 subjects were enrolled (49 were included in the final analysis) in a sham-controlled, participant-blind, crossover experiment, consisting of two treatment sessions 1 week apart. In one session participants received 30-min taVNS (tragus), and in the other, they received 30-min sham (earlobe) stimulation with the treatment order counterbalanced. The proportion of time spent viewing the faces and facial features (eyes, nose, and mouth) was measured together with resting pupil size. Additionally, saliva samples were taken for the measurement of oxytocin concentrations by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Saliva oxytocin concentrations increased significantly after taVNS compared to sham stimulation, while resting pupil size did not. In addition, taVNS increased time spent viewing the nose region irrespective of face emotion, and this was positively correlated with increased saliva oxytocin concentrations. Our findings suggest that taVNS biases visual attention toward socially salient facial features across different emotions and this is associated with its effects on increasing endogenous oxytocin release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Zhu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanan Qing
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Fangyuan Ding
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuxia Yao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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21
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Casale R, Hansson P. The analgesic effect of localized vibration: a systematic review. Part 1: the neurophysiological basis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2022; 58:306-315. [PMID: 35102735 PMCID: PMC9980599 DOI: 10.23736/s1973-9087.22.07415-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The analgesic action of localized vibration (LV), which is used in rehabilitation medicine to treat various clinical conditions, is usually attributed to spinal gate control, but is actually more complex. The aim of this review is: 1) to provide neurophysiological insights into the mechanisms underlying the ways in which afferent activity set up by LV induces analgesia through interactions with the nociceptive system throughout the nervous system; 2) to give a broader vision of the different effects induced by LV, some of them still related to basic science speculation. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The Medline, EMBASE, AMED, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and ROAD databases were searched for animal and human neurophysiological and neurohormonal studies related to the direct effects of LV on nociceptive transmission and pain perception and were supplemented by published books and theses. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The spinal gate control mechanism through Aβ-fibers activation seems to be the most effective antinociceptive system activated by LV at frequencies between 100 and 250 Hz (high-frequency LV [HF-LV]) when applied in the same segment as the pain. A gating effect can be obtained also when it is applied contralaterally to the painful site or to adjacent dermatomes. Kinesthetic illusions of movement induced by HF-LV may induce a stronger analgesic effect. Activation of C-mechanoreceptors induced by a massage-like LV of low frequency and low intensity may interfere with pain through the activation of the limbic system. This action does not involve any gating mechanism. Frequency is more important than intensity as different frequencies induce activity in different cortical and cerebellar areas; these activations may be related to plastic cortical changes tentatively reversing pain-related maladaptive disorganization. Distraction/shift of attention or cortisol-mediated stress-induced analgesia are not involved in LV analgesic action in humans for both LF and HF. The release of opioidergic neuropeptides (analgesia not reversed by naloxone) as well as a reduction in substance P in the CSF does not seem to play a major role in the HF-LV action. Decrease in calcitonin and TRPV1 expression in the trigeminal ganglia in animals has been induced by HF-LV but the role of LF-LV is not completely deciphered. Both high and low LV induce the release of oxytocin, which may induce antinociceptive responses in animals and contribute to controlling pain in humans. CONCLUSIONS Although many aspects of LV-induced pain alleviation deserve more in-depth basic and translational studies, there are sound neurophysiological reasons for using LV in the therapeutic armamentarium of pain control. Laboratory animal and human data indicate that LV relieves pain not only by acting on the spinal gate, but also at higher levels of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Per Hansson
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Neuropathic Pain, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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22
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Zagrean AM, Georgescu IA, Iesanu MI, Ionescu RB, Haret RM, Panaitescu AM, Zagrean L. Oxytocin and vasopressin in the hippocampus. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2022; 118:83-127. [PMID: 35180939 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2021.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) are related neuropeptides that exert a wide range of effects on general health, homeostasis, development, reproduction, adaptability, cognition, social and nonsocial behaviors. The two peptides are mainly of hypothalamic origin and execute their peripheral and central physiological roles via OXT and AVP receptors, which are members of the G protein-coupled receptor family. These receptors, largely distributed in the body, are abundantly expressed in the hippocampus, a brain region particularly vulnerable to stress exposure and various lesions. OXT and AVP have important roles in the hippocampus, by modulating important processes like neuronal excitability, network oscillatory activity, synaptic plasticity, and social recognition memory. This chapter includes an overview regarding OXT and AVP structure, synthesis, receptor distribution, and functions, focusing on their relationship with the hippocampus and mechanisms by which they influence hippocampal activity. Brief information regarding hippocampal structure and susceptibility to lesions is also provided. The roles of OXT and AVP in neurodevelopment and adult central nervous system function and disorders are highlighted, discussing their potential use as targeted therapeutic tools in neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Maria Zagrean
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Ioana-Antoaneta Georgescu
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mara Ioana Iesanu
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Rosana-Bristena Ionescu
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Department of Clinical Neurosciences and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Mihai Haret
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Maria Panaitescu
- Filantropia Clinical Hospital Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Leon Zagrean
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
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23
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Benameur T, Panaro MA, Porro C. Exosomes and their Cargo as a New Avenue for Brain and Treatment of CNS-Related Diseases. Open Neurol J 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/1874205x-v16-e2201190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), which belong to nanoscale vesicles, including microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes, are now considered a new important tool for intercellular neuronal communication in the Central Nervous System (CNS) under physiological and pathological conditions. EVs are shed into blood, peripheral body fluids and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by a large variety of cells.
EVs can act locally on neighboring and distant cells. EVs represent the fingerprints of the originating cells and can carry a variety of molecular constituents of their cell of origin, including protein, lipids, DNA and microRNAs (miRNAs).
The most studied EVs are the exosomes because they are ubiquitous and have the capacity to transfer cell-derived components and bioactive molecules to target cells. In this minireview, we focused on cell-cell communication in CNS mediated by exosomes and their important cargo as an innovative way to treat or follow up with CNS diseases.
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Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview. Cells 2022; 11:cells11010171. [PMID: 35011733 PMCID: PMC8750948 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lithium has been a mainstay of therapy for patients with bipolar disorders for several decades. However, it may exert a variety of adverse effects that can affect patients' compliance. Sexual and erectile dysfunction has been reported in several studies by patients who take lithium as monotherapy or combined with other psychotherapeutic agents. The exact mechanisms underlying such side effects of lithium are not completely understood. It seems that both central and peripheral mechanisms are involved in the lithium-related sexual dysfunction. Here, we had an overview of the epidemiology of lithium-related sexual and erectile dysfunction in previous clinical studies as well as possible pathologic pathways that could be involved in this adverse effect of lithium based on the previous preclinical studies. Understanding such mechanisms could potentially open a new avenue for therapies that can overcome lithium-related sexual dysfunction and improve patients' adherence to the medication intake.
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Chun EK, Donovan M, Liu Y, Wang Z. Behavioral, neurochemical, and neuroimmune changes associated with social buffering and stress contagion. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 16:100427. [PMID: 35036478 PMCID: PMC8749234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Social buffering can provide protective effects on stress responses and their subsequent negative health outcomes. Although social buffering is beneficial for the recipient, it can also have anxiogenic effects on the provider of the social buffering - a phenomena referred to as stress contagion. Social buffering and stress contagion usually occur together, but they have traditionally been studied independently, thus limiting our understanding of this dyadic social interaction. In the present study, we examined the effects of preventative social buffering and stress contagion in socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). We tested the hypothesis that this dynamic social interaction is associated with coordinated alterations in behaviors, neurochemical activation, and neuroimmune responses. To do so, adult male prairie voles were stressed via an acute immobilization restraint tube (IMO) either alone (Alone) or with their previously pair-bonded female partner (Partner) in the cage for 1 h. In contrast, females were placed in a cage containing either an empty IMO tube (Empty) or one that contained their pair-bonded male (Partner). Anxiety-like behavior was tested on the elevated plus maze (EPM) following the 60-mins test and brain sections were processed for neurochemical/neuroimmune marker labeling for all subjects. Our data indicate that females in the Partner group were in contact with and sniffed the IMO tube more, showed fewer anxiety-like behaviors, and had a higher level of oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) compared to the Empty group females. Males in the Partner group had lower levels of anxiety-like behavior during the EPM test, greater activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone expressing neurons in the PVN, lower activation of serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe, and lower levels of microgliosis in the nucleus accumbens. Taken together, these data suggest brain region- and neurochemical-specific alterations as well as neuroinflammatory changes that may be involved in the regulation of social buffering and stress contagion behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen K. Chun
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Meghan Donovan
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, 1700 N Wheeling St, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Zuoxin Wang
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
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Friuli M, Eramo B, Valenza M, Scuderi C, Provensi G, Romano A. Targeting the Oxytocinergic System: A Possible Pharmacological Strategy for the Treatment of Inflammation Occurring in Different Chronic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10250. [PMID: 34638587 PMCID: PMC8508899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Unresolved inflammation represents a central feature of different human pathologies including neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. The epidemiologic relevance of such disorders justifies the increasing interest in further understanding the mechanisms underpinning the inflammatory process occurring in such chronic diseases to provide potential novel pharmacological approaches. The most common and effective therapies for controlling inflammation are glucocorticoids; however, a variety of other molecules have been demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory potential, including neuropeptides. In recent years, the oxytocinergic system has seen an explosion of scientific studies, demonstrating its potential to contribute to a variety of physiological processes including inflammation. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to understand the role of oxytocin in the modulation of inflammation occurring in different chronic diseases. The criterion we used to select the diseases was based on the emerging literature showing a putative involvement of the oxytocinergic system in inflammatory processes in a variety of pathologies including neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and obesity. The evidence reviewed here supports a beneficial role of oxytocin in the control of both peripheral and central inflammatory response happening in the aforementioned pathologies. Although future studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanistic details underlying such regulation, this review supports the idea that the modulation of the endogenous oxytocinergic system might represent a new potential pharmacological approach for the treatment of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Friuli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Barbara Eramo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Caterina Scuderi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
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Oxytocin and Bone: Review and Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168551. [PMID: 34445256 PMCID: PMC8395200 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent data demonstrate the anabolic effect of oxytocin on bone. Bone cells express oxytocin receptors. Oxytocin promotes osteoblasts differentiation and function, leading to an increased bone formation with no effect on bone resorption and an improvement of bone microarchitecture. Oxytocin is synthetized by osteoblasts, and this synthesis is stimulated by estrogen. Animal studies demonstrate a direct action of oxytocin on bone, as the systemic administration of oxytocin prevents and reverses the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency. Although oxytocin is involved in bone formation in both sexes during development, oxytocin treatment has no effect on male osteoporosis, underlining the importance of estrogen that amplifies its local autocrine and paracrine secretion. There are few human data showing a decrease in the oxytocin serum level in anorexia nervosa independently of estrogen and in amenorrheic women associated with impaired bone microarchitecture; in post-menopausal women a higher oxytocin serum level is associated with higher bone density, but not in osteoporotic men. Oxytocin displays many effects that may be beneficial in the management of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive disorders, breast cancer, diabetes and body fat gain, all age-related diseases affecting elderly women, opening exciting therapeutic perspectives, although the issue is to find a single route, dosage and schedule able to reach all these targets.
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Wang Y, Zhan G, Cai Z, Jiao B, Zhao Y, Li S, Luo A. Vagus nerve stimulation in brain diseases: Therapeutic applications and biological mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:37-53. [PMID: 33894241 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Brain diseases, including neurodegenerative, cerebrovascular and neuropsychiatric diseases, have posed a deleterious threat to human health and brought a great burden to society and the healthcare system. With the development of medical technology, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an alternative treatment for refractory epilepsy, refractory depression, cluster headaches, and migraines. Furthermore, current evidence showed promising results towards the treatment of more brain diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and stroke. Nonetheless, the biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of VNS in brain diseases remain only partially elucidated. This review aims to delve into the relevant preclinical and clinical studies and update the progress of VNS applications and its potential mechanisms underlying the biological effects in brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Gaofeng Zhan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Ziwen Cai
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Bo Jiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Shiyong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Ailin Luo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Wu Z, Xie C, Kuang H, Wu J, Chen X, Liu H, Liu T. Oxytocin mediates neuroprotection against hypoxic-ischemic injury in hippocampal CA1 neuron of neonatal rats. Neuropharmacology 2021; 187:108488. [PMID: 33556384 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) is one of the most prevalent causes of death during the perinatal period. The lack of exposure to oxytocin is associated with NHIE-mediated severe brain injury. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study combined immunohistochemistry with electrophysiological recordings of hippocampal CA1 neurons to investigate the role of oxytocin in an in vitro model of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury (oxygen and glucose deprivation, OGD) in postnatal day 7-10 rats. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that oxytocin largely reduced the relative intensity of TOPRO-3 staining following OGD in the hippocampal CA1 region. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording revealed that the OGD-induced onset time of anoxic depolarization (AD) was significantly delayed by oxytocin. This protective effect of oxytocin was blocked by pretreatment with [d(CH2)51, Tyr (Me)2, Thr4, Orn8, des-Gly-NH29] vasotocin (dVOT, an oxytocin receptor antagonist) or bicuculline (a GABAA receptor antagonist). Interestingly, oxytocin enhanced inhibitory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons, which were abolished by tetrodotoxin or dVOT. In contrast, oxytocin had no effect on excitatory postsynaptic currents but induced an inward current in 86% of the pyramidal neurons tested. Taken together, these results demonstrate that oxytocin receptor signaling plays a critical role in attenuating neonatal neural death by facilitating GABAergic transmission, which may help to regulate the excitatory-inhibitory balance in local neuronal networks in NHIE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 St. Yongwaizheng, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, PR China
| | - Changning Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 St. Yongwaizheng, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, PR China
| | - Haixia Kuang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 St. Yongwaizheng, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, PR China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 St. Yongwaizheng, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, PR China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 St. Yongwaizheng, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, PR China
| | - Huibao Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Xinyu Maternal and Child Health Hospital, 292 S. Laodong, Xinyu, Jiangxi, 338025, PR China.
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 St. Yongwaizheng, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, PR China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Benameur
- College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, King Faisal University Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Maria A Panaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Chiara Porro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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