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Chen D, Wang J, Cao J, Zhu G. cAMP-PKA signaling pathway and anxiety: Where do we go next? Cell Signal 2024; 122:111311. [PMID: 39059755 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111311] [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: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an intracellular second messenger that is derived from the conversion of adenosine triphosphate catalysed by adenylyl cyclase (AC). Protein kinase A (PKA), the main effector of cAMP, is a dimeric protein kinase consisting of two catalytic subunits and two regulatory subunits. When cAMP binds to the regulatory subunits of PKA, it leads to the dissociation and activation of PKA, which allows the catalytic subunit of PKA to phosphorylate target proteins, thereby regulating various physiological functions and metabolic processes in cellular function. Recent researches also implicate the involvement of cAMP-PKA signaling in the pathologenesis of anxiety disorder. However, there are still debates on the prevention and treatment of anxiety disorders from this signaling pathway. To review the function of cAMP-PKA signaling in anxiety disorder, we searched the publications with the keywords including "cAMP", "PKA" and "Anxiety" from Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI databases. The results showed that the number of publications on cAMP-PKA pathway in anxiety disorder tended to increase. Bioinformatics results displayed a close association between the cAMP-PKA pathway and the occurrence of anxiety. Mechanistically, cAMP-PKA signaling could influence brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide Y and participate in the regulation of anxiety. cAMP-PKA signaling could also oppose the dysfunctions of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), intestinal flora, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroinflammation, and signaling proteins (MAPK and AMPK) in anxiety. In addition, chemical agents with the ability to activate cAMP-PKA signaling demonstrated therapy potential against anxiety disorders. This review emphasizes the central roles of cAMP-PKA signaling in anxiety and the targets of the cAMP-PKA pathway would be potential candidates for treatment of anxiety. Nevertheless, more laboratory investigations to improve the therapeutic effect and reduce the adverse effect, and continuous clinical research will warrant the drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daokang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Jingji Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinical Medical Research Center of Anhui Province, The Second Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230061, China.
| | - Jian Cao
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
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De Jager JE, Boesjes R, Roelandt GHJ, Koliaki I, Sommer IEC, Schoevers RA, Nuninga JO. Shared effects of electroconvulsive shocks and ketamine on neuroplasticity: A systematic review of animal models of depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105796. [PMID: 38981574 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105796] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Electroconvulsive shocks (ECS) and ketamine are antidepressant treatments with a relatively fast onset of therapeutic effects compared to conventional medication and psychotherapy. While the exact neurobiological mechanisms underlying the antidepressant response of ECS and ketamine are unknown, both interventions are associated with neuroplasticity. Restoration of neuroplasticity may be a shared mechanism underlying the antidepressant efficacy of these interventions. In this systematic review, literature of animal models of depression is summarized to examine the possible role of neuroplasticity in ECS and ketamine on a molecular, neuronal, synaptic and functional level, and specifically to what extent these mechanisms are shared between both interventions. The results highlight that hippocampal neurogenesis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are consistently increased after ECS and ketamine. Moreover, both interventions positively affect glutamatergic neurotransmission, astrocyte and neuronal morphology, synaptic density, vasculature and functional plasticity. However, a small number of studies investigated these processes after ECS. Understanding the shared fundamental mechanisms of fast-acting antidepressants can contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for patients with severe depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesca E De Jager
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Center, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Rutger Boesjes
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs H J Roelandt
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ilektra Koliaki
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Iris E C Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Center, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Robert A Schoevers
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jasper O Nuninga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Center, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands; University Medical Centre Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, the Netherlands
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Chen M, Ma S, Liu H, Dong Y, Tang J, Ni Z, Tan Y, Duan C, Li H, Huang H, Li Y, Cao X, Lingle CJ, Yang Y, Hu H. Brain region-specific action of ketamine as a rapid antidepressant. Science 2024; 385:eado7010. [PMID: 39116252 DOI: 10.1126/science.ado7010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Ketamine has been found to have rapid and potent antidepressant activity. However, despite the ubiquitous brain expression of its molecular target, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), it was not clear whether there is a selective, primary site for ketamine's antidepressant action. We found that ketamine injection in depressive-like mice specifically blocks NMDARs in lateral habenular (LHb) neurons, but not in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. This regional specificity depended on the use-dependent nature of ketamine as a channel blocker, local neural activity, and the extrasynaptic reservoir pool size of NMDARs. Activating hippocampal or inactivating LHb neurons swapped their ketamine sensitivity. Conditional knockout of NMDARs in the LHb occluded ketamine's antidepressant effects and blocked the systemic ketamine-induced elevation of serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. This distinction of the primary versus secondary brain target(s) of ketamine should help with the design of more precise and efficient antidepressant treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Department of Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Shuangshuang Ma
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Hanxiao Liu
- Department of Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yiyan Dong
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jingxiang Tang
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Zheyi Ni
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yi Tan
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Chenchi Duan
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hui Li
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaohua Cao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Christopher J Lingle
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63105, USA
| | - Yan Yang
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Hailan Hu
- Department of Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu 322000, China
- Institute of Fundamental and Transdisciplinary Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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Roh SH, Mendez-Vazquez H, Sathler MF, Doolittle MJ, Zaytseva A, Brown H, Sainsbury M, Kim S. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid reduces synaptic δ-catenin levels and disrupts ultrasonic vocalization in neonates. Neuropharmacology 2024; 253:109963. [PMID: 38657945 PMCID: PMC11127754 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109963] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) is an effective and commonly prescribed drug for epilepsy and bipolar disorder. However, children born from mothers treated with VPA during pregnancy exhibit an increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although VPA may impair brain development at the cellular level, the mechanism of VPA-induced ASD has not been completely addressed. A previous study has found that VPA treatment strongly reduces δ-catenin mRNA levels in cultured human neurons. δ-catenin is important for the control of glutamatergic synapses and is strongly associated with ASD. VPA inhibits dendritic morphogenesis in developing neurons, an effect that is also found in neurons lacking δ-catenin expression. We thus hypothesize that prenatal exposure to VPA significantly reduces δ-catenin levels in the brain, which impairs glutamatergic synapses to cause ASD. Here, we found that prenatal exposure to VPA markedly reduced δ-catenin levels in the brain of mouse pups. VPA treatment also impaired dendritic branching in developing mouse cortical neurons, which was partially reversed by elevating δ-catenin expression. Prenatal VPA exposure significantly reduced synaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor levels and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) in the brain of mouse pups, indicating dysfunctions in glutamatergic synaptic transmission. VPA exposure also significantly altered ultrasonic vocalization (USV) in newly born pups when they were isolated from their nest. Moreover, VPA-exposed pups show impaired hypothalamic response to isolation, which is required to produce animals' USVs following isolation from the nest. Therefore, these results suggest that VPA-induced ASD pathology can be mediated by the loss of δ-catenin functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Morgan Sainsbury
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Seonil Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, USA; Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, USA.
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Lee R, Kim G, Kim S. Co-activation of selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes is required to reverse hippocampal network dysfunction and prevent fear memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.08.602576. [PMID: 39026693 PMCID: PMC11257460 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia with no known cause and cure. Research suggests that a reduction of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons' activity in the hippocampus by beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is a crucial trigger for cognitive impairment in AD via hyperexcitability. Therefore, enhancing hippocampal inhibition is thought to be protective against AD. However, hippocampal inhibitory cells are highly diverse, and these distinct interneuron subtypes differentially regulate hippocampal inhibitory circuits and cognitive processes. Moreover, Aβ unlikely affects all subtypes of inhibitory interneurons in the hippocampus equally. Hence, identifying the affected interneuron subtypes in AD to enhance hippocampal inhibition optimally is conceptually and practically challenging. We have previously found that Aβ selectively binds to two of the three major hippocampal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes, α7- and α4β2-nAChRs, but not α3β4-nAChRs, and inhibits these two receptors in cultured hippocampal inhibitory interneurons to decrease their activity, leading to hyperexcitation and synaptic dysfunction in excitatory neurons. We have also revealed that co-activation of α7- and α4β2-nAChRs is required to reverse the Aβ-induced adverse effects in hippocampal excitatory neurons. Here, we discover that α7- and α4β2-nAChRs predominantly control the nicotinic cholinergic signaling and neuronal activity in hippocampal parvalbumin-positive (PV+) and somatostatin-positive (SST+) inhibitory interneurons, respectively. Furthermore, we reveal that co-activation of these receptors is necessary to reverse hippocampal network dysfunction and fear memory loss in the amyloid pathology model mice. We thus suggest that co-activation of PV+ and SST+ cells is a novel strategy to reverse hippocampal dysfunction and cognitive decline in AD.
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Guldager MB, Chaves Filho AM, Biojone C, Joca S. Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol in depression. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 177:251-293. [PMID: 39029987 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread and debilitating condition affecting a significant portion of the global population. Traditional treatment for MDD has primarily involved drugs that increase brain monoamines by inhibiting their uptake or metabolism, which is the basis for the monoaminergic hypothesis of depression. However, these treatments are only partially effective, with many patients experiencing delayed responses, residual symptoms, or complete non-response, rendering the current view of the hypothesis as reductionist. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promising results in preclinical models and human studies. Its mechanism is not well-understood, but may involve monoamine and endocannabinoid signaling, control of neuroinflammation and enhanced neuroplasticity. This chapter will explore CBD's effects in preclinical and clinical studies, its molecular mechanisms, and its potential as a treatment for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Bock Guldager
- Department of Biomedicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit (TNU), Department of Clinical Medicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Caroline Biojone
- Department of Biomedicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit (TNU), Department of Clinical Medicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sâmia Joca
- Department of Biomedicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit (TNU), Department of Clinical Medicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Wang Y, Chang S, Chen D. Research trends and hotspots of ketamine from 2014 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1407301. [PMID: 38948929 PMCID: PMC11211255 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1407301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite this growing interest, there remains a lack of comprehensive and systematic bibliometric analyses of ketamine research. This study aimed to summarize the progress in ketamine research through bibliometric analysis, providing insights into the development and direction of the field. Methods Publications related to ketamine were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database on February 15, 2024. In conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, a variety of bibliographic elements were meticulously collected to map the landscape of research within a specific field. Results Between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2023, a total of 10,328 articles on ketamine research were published across 1,752 academic journals by 45,891 authors from 8,914 institutions in 128 countries. The publication volume has shown a steady increase over this period. The United States of America (USA) and the People's Republic of China lead in both publication and citation counts. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Yale University emerge as the most active institutions in this research domain. Carlos Zarate of the NIH National Institute of Mental Health was noted for the highest number of significant publications and received the most co-citations. The analysis revealed key research themes including mechanism of action, adverse events, psychiatric applications, and perioperative implications. Conclusion This study provided comprehensive bibliometric and knowledge mapping analysis of the global ketamine research landscape, offering valuable insights into the trends, key contributors, and thematic focus areas within the field. By delineating the evolution of ketamine research, this study aims to guide future scholarly endeavors and enhance our understanding of ketamine's therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yida Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sile Chang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongxu Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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Duan WY, Peng K, Qin HM, Li BM, Xu YX, Wang DJ, Yu L, Wang H, Hu J, Wang QX. Esketamine accelerates emergence from isoflurane general anaesthesia by activating the paraventricular thalamus glutamatergic neurones in mice. Br J Anaesth 2024; 132:334-342. [PMID: 38044237 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delayed emergence from general anaesthesia poses a significant perioperative safety hazard. Subanaesthetic doses of ketamine not only deepen anaesthesia but also accelerate recovery from isoflurane anaesthesia; however, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. Esketamine exhibits a more potent receptor affinity and fewer adverse effects than ketamine and exhibits shorter recovery times after brief periods of anaesthesia. As the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) plays a pivotal role in regulating wakefulness, we studied its role in the emergence process during combined esketamine and isoflurane anaesthesia. METHODS The righting reflex and cortical electroencephalography were used as measures of consciousness in mice during isoflurane anaesthesia with coadministration of esketamine. The expression of c-Fos was used to determine neuronal activity changes in PVT neurones after esketamine administration. The effect of esketamine combined with isoflurane anaesthesia on PVT glutamatergic (PVTGlu) neuronal activity was monitored by fibre photometry, and chemogenetic technology was used to manipulate PVTGlu neuronal activity. RESULTS A low dose of esketamine (5 mg kg-1) accelerated emergence from isoflurane general anaesthesia (474 [30] s vs 544 [39] s, P=0.001). Esketamine (5 mg kg-1) increased PVT c-Fos expression (508 [198] vs 258 [87], P=0.009) and enhanced the population activity of PVTGlu neurones (0.03 [1.7]% vs 6.9 [3.4]%, P=0.002) during isoflurane anaesthesia (1.9 [5.7]% vs -5.1 [5.3]%, P=0.016) and emergence (6.1 [6.2]% vs -1.1 [5.0]%, P=0.022). Chemogenetic suppression of PVTGlu neurones abolished the arousal-promoting effects of esketamine (459 [33] s vs 596 [33] s, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that esketamine promotes recovery from isoflurane anaesthesia by activating PVTGlu neurones. This mechanism could explain the rapid arousability exhibited upon treatment with a low dose of esketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ying Duan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang Peng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui-Min Qin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bai-Ming Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun-Xin Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan-Jun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qing-Xiu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Roh SH, Mendez-Vazquez H, Sathler MF, Doolittle MJ, Zaytseva A, Brown H, Sainsbury M, Kim S. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid reduces synaptic δ-catenin levels and disrupts ultrasonic vocalization in neonates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.14.571709. [PMID: 38168404 PMCID: PMC10760095 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.14.571709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) is an effective and commonly prescribed drug for epilepsy and bipolar disorder. However, children born from mothers treated with VPA during pregnancy exhibit an increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although VPA may impair brain development at the cellular level, the mechanism of VPA-induced ASD has not been completely addressed. A previous study has found that VPA treatment strongly reduces δ-catenin mRNA levels in cultured human neurons. δ-catenin is important for the control of glutamatergic synapses and is strongly associated with ASD. VPA inhibits dendritic morphogenesis in developing neurons, an effect that is also found in neurons lacking δ-catenin expression. We thus hypothesize that prenatal exposure to VPA significantly reduces δ-catenin levels in the brain, which impairs glutamatergic synapses to cause ASD. Here, we found that prenatal exposure to VPA markedly reduced δ-catenin levels in the brain of mouse pups. VPA treatment also impaired dendritic branching in developing mouse cortical neurons, which was reversed by elevating δ-catenin expression. Prenatal VPA exposure significantly reduced synaptic AMPA receptor levels and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) in the brain of mouse pups, indicating dysfunctions in glutamatergic synaptic transmission. VPA exposure also significantly altered ultrasonic vocalization (USV) in newly born pups when they were isolated from their nest. Moreover, VPA-exposed pups show impaired hypothalamic response to isolation, which is required to produce animals' USVs following isolation from the nest. Therefore, these results suggest that VPA-induced ASD pathology can be mediated by the loss of δ-catenin functions. Highlights Prenatal exposure of valproic acid (VPA) in mice significantly reduces synaptic δ-catenin protein and AMPA receptor levels in the pups' brains.VPA treatment significantly impairs dendritic branching in cultured cortical neurons, which is reversed by increased δ-catenin expression.VPA exposed pups exhibit impaired communication such as ultrasonic vocalization.Neuronal activation linked to ultrasonic vocalization is absent in VPA-exposed pups.The loss of δ-catenin functions underlies VPA-induced autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in early childhood.
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