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Beckenstrom AC, Coloma PM, Dawson GR, Finlayson AK, Malik A, Post A, Steiner MA, Potenza MN. Use of experimental medicine approaches for the development of novel psychiatric treatments based on orexin receptor modulation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105107. [PMID: 36828161 PMCID: PMC10165155 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite progress in understanding the pathological mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders, translation from animal models into clinical use remains a significant bottleneck. Preclinical studies have implicated the orexin neuropeptide system as a potential target for psychiatric disorders through its role in regulating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes. Clinical studies are investigating orexin modulation in addiction and mood disorders. Here we review performance-outcome measures (POMs) arising from experimental medicine research methods which may show promise as markers of efficacy of orexin receptor modulators in humans. POMs provide objective measures of brain function, complementing patient-reported or clinician-observed symptom evaluation, and aid the translation from preclinical to clinical research. Significant challenges include the development, validation, and operationalization of these measures. We suggest that collaborative networks comprising clinical practitioners, academics, individuals working in the pharmaceutical industry, drug regulators, patients, patient advocacy groups, and other relevant stakeholders may provide infrastructure to facilitate validation of experimental medicine approaches in translational research and in the implementation of these approaches in real-world clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Beckenstrom
- P1vital Ltd, Manor House, Howbery Business Park, Wallingford OX10 8BA, UK.
| | - Preciosa M Coloma
- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Gerard R Dawson
- P1vital Ltd, Manor House, Howbery Business Park, Wallingford OX10 8BA, UK
| | - Ailidh K Finlayson
- P1vital Ltd, Manor House, Howbery Business Park, Wallingford OX10 8BA, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Asad Malik
- P1vital Ltd, Manor House, Howbery Business Park, Wallingford OX10 8BA, UK
| | - Anke Post
- Corlieve Therapeutics, Swiss Innovation Park, Hegenheimermattweg 167A, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | | | - Marc N Potenza
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, 1 Church Street, Room 726, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA; The Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, 100 College St, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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Vawter MP, Schulmann A, Alhassen L, Alhassen W, Hamzeh AR, Sakr J, Pauluk L, Yoshimura R, Wang X, Dai Q, Sanathara N, Civelli O, Alachkar A. Melanin Concentrating Hormone Signaling Deficits in Schizophrenia: Association With Memory and Social Impairments and Abnormal Sensorimotor Gating. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 23:53-65. [PMID: 31563948 PMCID: PMC7442395 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyz051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence from anatomical, pharmacological, and genetic studies supports a role for the neuropeptide melanin concentrating hormone system in modulating emotional and cognitive functions. Genome-wide association studies revealed a potential association between the melanin concentrating hormone receptor (MCHR1) gene locus and schizophrenia, and the largest genome-wide association study conducted to date shows a credible genome-wide association. METHODS We analyzed MCHR1 and pro-melanin concentrating hormone RNA-Seq expression in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. Disruptions in the melanin concentrating hormone system were modeled in the mouse brain by germline deletion of MCHR1 and by conditional ablation of melanin concentrating hormone expressing neurons using a Cre-inducible diphtheria toxin system. RESULTS MCHR1 expression is decreased in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia samples (false discovery rate (FDR) P < .05, CommonMind and PsychEncode combined datasets, n = 901) while pro-melanin concentrating hormone is below the detection threshold. MCHR1 expression decreased with aging (P = 6.6E-57) in human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The deletion of MCHR1 was found to lead to behavioral abnormalities mimicking schizophrenia-like phenotypes: hyperactivity, increased stereotypic and repetitive behavior, social impairment, impaired sensorimotor gating, and disrupted cognitive functions. Conditional ablation of pro-melanin concentrating hormone neurons increased repetitive behavior and produced a deficit in sensorimotor gating. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that early disruption of the melanin concentrating hormone system interferes with neurodevelopmental processes, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further neurobiological research on the developmental timing and circuits that are affected by melanin concentrating hormone may lead to a therapeutic target for early prevention of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marquis P Vawter
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA,Correspondence: Marquis P. Vawter, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617 (); and Dr Amal Alachkar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA ()
| | - Anton Schulmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA,Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA
| | - Lamees Alhassen
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Wedad Alhassen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Abdul Rezzak Hamzeh
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra
| | - Jasmine Sakr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Lucas Pauluk
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Ryan Yoshimura
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Xuejie Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Qi Dai
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Nayna Sanathara
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Olivier Civelli
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA,Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Amal Alachkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA,Correspondence: Marquis P. Vawter, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617 (); and Dr Amal Alachkar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA ()
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Nevárez N, de Lecea L. Recent advances in understanding the roles of hypocretin/orexin in arousal, affect, and motivation. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30254737 PMCID: PMC6127742 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15097.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypocretins (Hcrts) are two alternatively spliced neuropeptides (Hcrt1/Ox-A and Hcrt2/Ox-B) that are synthesized exclusively in the hypothalamus. Data collected in the 20 years since their discovery have supported the view that the Hcrts play a broad role in the control of arousal with a particularly important role in the maintenance of wakefulness and sleep-to-wake transitions. While this latter point has received an overwhelming amount of research attention, a growing literature has begun to broaden our understanding of the many diverse roles that the Hcrts play in physiology and behavior. Here, we review recent advances in the neurobiology of Hcrt in three sections. We begin by surveying findings on Hcrt function within normal sleep/wake states as well as situations of aberrant sleep (that is, narcolepsy). In the second section, we discuss research establishing a role for Hcrt in mood and affect (that is, anxiety, stress, and motivation). Finally, in the third section, we briefly discuss future directions for the field and place an emphasis on analytical modeling of Hcrt neural activity. We hope that the data discussed here provide a broad overview of recent progress in the field and make clear the diversity of roles played by these neuromodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Nevárez
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Luan X, Sun X, Guo F, Zhang D, Wang C, Ma L, Xu L. Lateral hypothalamic Orexin-A-ergic projections to the arcuate nucleus modulate gastric functionin vivo. J Neurochem 2017; 143:697-707. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Luan
- Department of Pathophysiology; Medical College of Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Xiangrong Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology; Medical College of Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology; Medical College of Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology; Medical College of Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology; Medical College of Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Li Ma
- Departmemt of Clinical Nutrition; Affiliated Hospital; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Luo Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology; Medical College of Qingdao University; Qingdao China
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GABAergic Neurons of the Central Amygdala Promote Cataplexy. J Neurosci 2017; 37:3995-4006. [PMID: 28235898 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4065-15.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Narcolepsy is characterized by chronic sleepiness and cataplexy-sudden muscle paralysis triggered by strong, positive emotions. This condition is caused by a lack of orexin (hypocretin) signaling, but little is known about the neural mechanisms that mediate cataplexy. The amygdala regulates responses to rewarding stimuli and contains neurons active during cataplexy. In addition, lesions of the amygdala reduce cataplexy. Because GABAergic neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) target brainstem regions known to regulate muscle tone, we hypothesized that these cells promote emotion-triggered cataplexy. We injected adeno-associated viral vectors coding for Cre-dependent DREADDs or a control vector into the CeA of orexin knock-out mice crossed with vGAT-Cre mice, resulting in selective expression of the excitatory hM3 receptor or the inhibitory hM4 receptor in GABAergic neurons of the CeA. We measured sleep/wake behavior and cataplexy after injection of saline or the hM3/hM4 ligand clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) under baseline conditions and under conditions that should elicit positive emotions. In mice expressing hM3, CNO approximately doubled the amount of cataplexy in the first 3 h after dosing under baseline conditions. Rewarding stimuli (chocolate or running wheels) also increased cataplexy, but CNO produced no further increase. In mice expressing hM4, CNO reduced cataplexy in the presence of chocolate or running wheels. These results demonstrate that GABAergic neurons of the CeA are sufficient and necessary for the production of cataplexy in mice, and they likely are a key part of the mechanism through which positive emotions trigger cataplexy.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cataplexy is one of the major symptoms of narcolepsy, but little is known about how strong, positive emotions trigger these episodes of muscle paralysis. Prior research shows that amygdala neurons are active during cataplexy and cataplexy is reduced by lesions of the amygdala. We found that cataplexy is substantially increased by selective activation of GABAergic neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). We also demonstrate that inhibition of these neurons reduces reward-promoted cataplexy. These results build upon prior work to establish the CeA as a crucial element in the neural mechanisms of cataplexy. These results demonstrate the importance of the CeA in regulating responses to rewarding stimuli, shedding light on the broader neurobiology of emotions and motor control.
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Xu L, Wang H, Gong Y, Pang M, Sun X, Guo F, Gao S. Nesfatin-1 regulates the lateral hypothalamic area melanin-concentrating hormone-responsive gastric distension-sensitive neurons and gastric function via arcuate nucleus innervation. Metabolism 2017; 67:14-25. [PMID: 28081774 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2016.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Nesfatin-1, a recently discovered neuropeptide involved in satiety. Recent studies have revealed that central nesfatin-1 inhibits gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion, though the mechanisms involved in these processes are not known. We aim to explore the effects of nesfatin-1 on a population of gastric distension (GD)-sensitive neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LHA), gastric motility, and gastric secretion and the role for an arcuate nucleus (Arc)-LHA neural pathway in these processes. Single unit extracellular discharge recordings were made in of LHA. Further, gastric motility and gastric secretion in rats were monitored. Retrograde tracing and fluorescent immunohistochemical staining were used to explore nesfatin-1 neuron projection. The results revealed that administration of nesfatin-1 to the LHA or electric stimulation of the Arc could alter the neuronal activity of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-responsive, GD-responsive neurons in LHA, which could be blocked by pretreatment with MCH receptor-1 antagonist PMC-3881-PI or weakened by pretreatment of a nesfatin-1 antibody in LHA. Administration of nesfatin-1 into LHA could inhibit gastric motility and gastric secretion, and these effects could be enhanced by administration of PMC-3881-PI. Electrical stimulation of Arc promoted the gastric motility and gastric secretion. Nesfatin-1 antibody or PMC-3881-PI pretreatment to LHA had no effect on Arc stimulation-induced gastric motility, but these pretreatments did alter Arc stimulation-induced effects on gastric secretion. Our findings suggest that nesfatin-1 signaling in LHA participates in the regulation of efferent information from the gastrointestinal tract and gastric secretion which also involve MCH signaling. Further, they show that a nesfatin-1-positive Arc to LHA pathway is critical for these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luo Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| | - Hongbo Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jimo People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yanling Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Mingjie Pang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital (Group), Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangrong Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shengli Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Alachkar A, Alhassen L, Wang Z, Wang L, Onouye K, Sanathara N, Civelli O. Inactivation of the melanin concentrating hormone system impairs maternal behavior. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 26:1826-1835. [PMID: 27617778 PMCID: PMC5929110 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In order to prepare the mother for the demands of pregnancy and lactation, the maternal brain is subjected to a number of adaptations. Maternal behaviors are regulated by complex neuronal interactions. Here, we show that the melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) system is an important regulator of maternal behaviors. First, we report that melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 knockout (MCHR1 KO) mice display a disruption of maternal behavior. Early postpartum MCHR1 KO females exhibit poor nesting, deficits in pup retrieval and maternal aggression. In addition, ablation of MCH receptors results in decreased milk production and prolactin mRNA levels. Then we show that these results are in line with those obtained in wild type mice (WT) treated with the specific MCHR1 antagonist GW803430. Furthermore, following pups retrieval, MCHR1 KO mice display a lower level of Fos expression than WT mice in the ventral tegmental area, and nucleus accumbens. With the progression of the lactation period, however, the MCHR1 KO mice improve maternal care towards their pups. This is manifested by an increase in the pups׳ survival rate and the decrease in pups׳ retrieval time beyond the second day after parturition. In conclusion, we show that the MCH system plays a significant role in the initiation of maternal behavior. In this context, MCH may play a role in integrating information from multiple sources, and connecting brain reward, homeostatic and regulatory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Alachkar
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States.
| | - Lamees Alhassen
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States
| | - Lien Wang
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States
| | - Kara Onouye
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States
| | - Nayna Sanathara
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States
| | - Olivier Civelli
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States; Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States; Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, 369 Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, United States
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Szymusiak RS. New Insights into Melanin Concentrating Hormone and Sleep: A Critical Topics Forum. Sleep 2013. [DOI: 10.5665/sleep.3184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald S. Szymusiak
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Departments of Medicine and Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
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