1
|
Zhuo C, Tian H, Song X, Jiang D, Chen G, Cai Z, Ping J, Cheng L, Zhou C, Chen C. Microglia and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: translating scientific progress into novel therapeutic interventions. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:42. [PMID: 37429882 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a core clinical feature of schizophrenia, exerting profound adverse effects on social functioning and quality of life in a large proportion of patients with schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia-related cognitive impairment are not well understood. Microglia, the primary resident macrophages in the brain, have been shown to play important roles in psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Increasing evidence has revealed excessive microglial activation in cognitive deficits related to a broad range of diseases and medical conditions. Relative to that about age-related cognitive deficits, current knowledge about the roles of microglia in cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is limited, and such research is in its infancy. Thus, we conducted this review of the scientific literature with a focus on the role of microglia in schizophrenia-associated cognitive impairment, aiming to gain insight into the roles of microglial activation in the onset and progression of such impairment and to consider how scientific advances could be translated to preventive and therapeutic interventions. Research has demonstrated that microglia, especially those in the gray matter of the brain, are activated in schizophrenia. Upon activation, microglia release key proinflammatory cytokines and free radicals, which are well-recognized neurotoxic factors contributing to cognitive decline. Thus, we propose that the inhibition of microglial activation holds potential for the prevention and treatment of cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. This review identifies potential targets for the development of new treatment strategies and eventually the improvement of care for these patients. It might also help psychologists and clinical investigators in planning future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Sensory Information Processing Abnormalities in Schizophrenia (SIPAS-Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.
- Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetic and Co-morbidity (PNGC-Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Anding Hospital, 300222, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Key Laboratory of Sensory Information Processing Abnormalities in Schizophrenia (SIPAS-Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Deguo Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ziyao Cai
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jing Ping
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Langlang Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chunhua Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
| | - Chunmian Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang YW, Hu N, Li XH. Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Brain Organoids. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:948818. [PMID: 35846370 PMCID: PMC9283755 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.948818] [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: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Revealing the mechanisms of neural development and the pathogenesis of neural diseases are one of the most challenging missions in life science. Pluripotent stem cells derived brain organoids mimic the development, maturation, signal generation, and function of human brains, providing unique advantage for neurology. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and multielectrode array independently revealed the similarity between brain organoids and immature human brain at early developmental stages, in the context of gene transcription and dynamic network of neuronal signals. Brain organoids provided the unique opportunity to investigate the underlying mechanism of neural differentiation, senescence, and pathogenesis. In this review, we summarized the latest knowledge and technology in the brain organoid field, the current and potential applications in disease models and pre-clinic studies, with emphasizing the importance of transcriptional and epigenetic analysis.
Collapse
|