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Baker MR, Lee AS, Rajadhyaksha AM. L-type calcium channels and neuropsychiatric diseases: Insights into genetic risk variant-associated genomic regulation and impact on brain development. Channels (Austin) 2023; 17:2176984. [PMID: 36803254 PMCID: PMC9980663 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2023.2176984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent human genetic studies have linked a variety of genetic variants in the CACNA1C and CACNA1D genes to neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. This is not surprising given the work from multiple laboratories using cell and animal models that have established that Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 L-type calcium channels (LTCCs), encoded by CACNA1C and CACNA1D, respectively, play a key role in various neuronal processes that are essential for normal brain development, connectivity, and experience-dependent plasticity. Of the multiple genetic aberrations reported, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CACNA1C and CACNA1D that are present within introns, in accordance with the growing body of literature establishing that large numbers of SNPs associated with complex diseases, including neuropsychiatric disorders, are present within non-coding regions. How these intronic SNPs affect gene expression has remained a question. Here, we review recent studies that are beginning to shed light on how neuropsychiatric-linked non-coding genetic variants can impact gene expression via regulation at the genomic and chromatin levels. We additionally review recent studies that are uncovering how altered calcium signaling through LTCCs impact some of the neuronal developmental processes, such as neurogenesis, neuron migration, and neuron differentiation. Together, the described changes in genomic regulation and disruptions in neurodevelopment provide possible mechanisms by which genetic variants of LTCC genes contribute to neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelyn R. Baker
- Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Andrew S. Lee
- Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, USA
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
- CONTACT Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY
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Del Rivero Morfin PJ, Chavez DS, Jayaraman S, Yang L, Kochiss AL, Colecraft HM, Liu XS, Marx SO, Rajadhyaksha AM, Ben-Johny M. A Genetically Encoded Actuator Selectively Boosts L-type Calcium Channels in Diverse Physiological Settings. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.22.558856. [PMID: 37790372 PMCID: PMC10542531 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.558856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
L-type Ca 2+ channels (Ca V 1.2/1.3) convey influx of calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) that orchestrate a bevy of biological responses including muscle contraction and gene transcription. Deficits in Ca V 1 function play a vital role in cardiac and neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet conventional pharmacological approaches to upregulate Ca V 1 are limited, as excessive Ca 2+ influx leads to cytotoxicity. Here, we develop a genetically encoded enhancer of Ca V 1.2/1.3 channels (GeeC) to manipulate Ca 2+ entry in distinct physiological settings. Specifically, we functionalized a nanobody that targets the Ca V macromolecular complex by attaching a minimal effector domain from a Ca V enhancer-leucine rich repeat containing protein 10 (Lrrc10). In cardiomyocytes, GeeC evoked a 3-fold increase in L-type current amplitude. In neurons, GeeC augmented excitation-transcription (E-T) coupling. In all, GeeC represents a powerful strategy to boost Ca V 1.2/1.3 function in distinct physiological settings and, in so doing, lays the groundwork to illuminate new insights on neuronal and cardiac physiology and disease.
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Hackett J, Nadkarni V, Singh RS, Carthy CL, Antigua S, Hall BS, Rajadhyaksha AM. Repeat investigation during social preference behavior is suppressed in male mice with prefrontal cortex cacna1c (Ca v1.2)-deficiency through the dysregulation of neural dynamics. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.24.546368. [PMID: 37425963 PMCID: PMC10326975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in social behavior are observed in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders and several lines of evidence have demonstrated that dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in social deficits. We have previously shown that loss of neuropsychiatric risk gene Cacna1c that codes for the Cav1.2 isoform of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) in the PFC result in impaired sociability as tested using the three-chamber social approach test. In this study we aimed to further characterize the nature of the social deficit associated with a reduction in PFC Cav1.2 channels (Cav1.2PFCKO mice) by testing male mice in a range of social and nonsocial tests while examining PFC neural activity using in vivo GCaMP6s fiber photometry. We found that during the first investigation of the social and non-social stimulus in the three-chamber test, both Cav1.2PFCKO male mice and Cav1.2PFCGFP controls spent significantly more time with the social stimulus compared to a non-social object. In contrast, during repeat investigations while Cav1.2PFCWT mice continued to spend more time with the social stimulus, Cav1.2PFCKO mice spent equal amount of time with both social and non-social stimuli. Neural activity recordings paralleled social behavior with increase in PFC population activity in Cav1.2PFCWT mice during first and repeat investigations, which was predictive of social preference behavior. In Cav1.2PFCKO mice, there was an increase in PFC activity during first social investigation but not during repeat investigations. These behavioral and neural differences were not observed during a reciprocal social interaction test nor during a forced alternation novelty test. To evaluate a potential deficit in reward-related processes, we tested mice in a three-chamber test wherein the social stimulus was replaced by food. Behavioral testing revealed that both Cav1.2PFCWT and Cav1.2PFCKO mice showed a preference for food over object with significantly greater preference during repeat investigation. Interestingly, there was no increase in PFC activity when Cav1.2PFCWT or Cav1.2PFCKO first investigated the food however activity significantly increased in Cav1.2PFCWT mice during repeat investigations of the food. This was not observed in Cav1.2PFCKO mice. In summary, a reduction in Cav1.2 channels in the PFC suppresses the development of a sustained social preference in mice that is associated with lack of PFC neuronal population activity that may be related to deficits in social reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hackett
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Viraj Nadkarni
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Ronak S. Singh
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Camille L. Carthy
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Susan Antigua
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Baila S. Hall
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
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4
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Fetcho RN, Hall BS, Estrin DJ, Walsh AP, Schuette PJ, Kaminsky J, Singh A, Roshgodal J, Bavley CC, Nadkarni V, Antigua S, Huynh TN, Grosenick L, Carthy C, Komer L, Adhikari A, Lee FS, Rajadhyaksha AM, Liston C. Regulation of social interaction in mice by a frontostriatal circuit modulated by established hierarchical relationships. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2487. [PMID: 37120443 PMCID: PMC10148889 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Social hierarchies exert a powerful influence on behavior, but the neurobiological mechanisms that detect and regulate hierarchical interactions are not well understood, especially at the level of neural circuits. Here, we use fiber photometry and chemogenetic tools to record and manipulate the activity of nucleus accumbens-projecting cells in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC-NAcSh) during tube test social competitions. We show that vmPFC-NAcSh projections signal learned hierarchical relationships, and are selectively recruited by subordinate mice when they initiate effortful social dominance behavior during encounters with a dominant competitor from an established hierarchy. After repeated bouts of social defeat stress, this circuit is preferentially activated during social interactions initiated by stress resilient individuals, and plays a necessary role in supporting social approach behavior in subordinated mice. These results define a necessary role for vmPFC-NAcSh cells in the adaptive regulation of social interaction behavior based on prior hierarchical interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert N Fetcho
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY, USA
| | - Baila S Hall
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David J Estrin
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander P Walsh
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter J Schuette
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jesse Kaminsky
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashna Singh
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacob Roshgodal
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlotte C Bavley
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Viraj Nadkarni
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan Antigua
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thu N Huynh
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Logan Grosenick
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Camille Carthy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren Komer
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Francis S Lee
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Conor Liston
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, New York, NY, USA.
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Martínez-Rivera A, Hao J, Rice R, Inturrisi CE, Rajadhyaksha AM. Ca v1.3 L-type Ca 2+ channel-activated CaMKII/ERK2 pathway in the ventral tegmental area is required for cocaine conditioned place preference. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109368. [PMID: 36481277 PMCID: PMC9796157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that pharmacological blockade of ventral tegmental area (VTA) Cav1.3 L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) using Cav1.2 dihydropyridine insensitive (Cav1.2DHP-/-) mutant mice attenuates cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP). However, the molecular mechanisms by which Cav1.3 channels mediate the effects of cocaine in the VTA remain largely unknown. In this study using Cav1.2DHP-/- male mice, we find that cocaine place preference increases CaM kinase IIα, ERK2, and CREB phosphorylation in the VTA, proteins strongly linked to cocaine behaviors. To further explore the causal role of these intracellular signaling proteins in cocaine preference, the CaM kinase II inhibitor, KN93 was directly injected into the VTA of male mice before each cocaine conditioning session. We found that KN93 attenuates conditioned preference for cocaine compared to vehicle treated mice and decreased VTA ERK2 and CREB phosphorylation. Additionally, blockade of the ERK pathway with the MEK inhibitor, U0126 or knockdown of ERK2 using siRNA, attenuated cocaine preference and VTA CREB phosphorylation but not CaMKIIα phosphorylation, suggesting that ERK is activated downstream of CaMKIIα. Examination of postsynaptic density (PSD) GluA1 subunit of AMPA receptors in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) that we have previously shown to be upregulated following long withdrawal periods, was blunted by KN93, U0126 and ERK2 siRNA when examined 30 days following cocaine CPP. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Cav1.3 channels in the VTA are required for cocaine reward behavior and activation of the CaMKIIα/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in the VTA is necessary for long-lasting changes in the NAc. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'L-type calcium channel mechanisms in neuropsychiatric disorders'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene Martínez-Rivera
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jin Hao
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Rice
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Knouse MC, McGrath AG, Deutschmann AU, Rich MT, Zallar LJ, Rajadhyaksha AM, Briand LA. Sex differences in the medial prefrontal cortical glutamate system. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:66. [PMID: 36348414 PMCID: PMC9641904 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00468-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex underlies a variety of psychiatric illnesses, including substance use disorder, depression, and anxiety. Despite the established sex differences in prevalence and presentation of these illnesses, the neural mechanisms driving these differences are largely unexplored. Here, we investigate potential sex differences in glutamatergic transmission within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The goal of these experiments was to determine if there are baseline sex differences in transmission within this region that may underlie sex differences in diseases that involve dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex. METHODS Adult male and female C57Bl/6J mice were used for all experiments. Mice were killed and bilateral tissue samples were taken from the medial prefrontal cortex for western blotting. Both synaptosomal and total GluA1 and GluA2 levels were measured. In a second set of experiments, mice were killed and ex vivo slice electrophysiology was performed on prepared tissue from the medial prefrontal cortex. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and rectification indices were measured. RESULTS Females exhibit higher levels of synaptosomal GluA1 and GluA2 in the mPFC compared to males. Despite similar trends, no statistically significant differences are seen in total levels of GluA1 and GluA2. Females also exhibit both a higher amplitude and higher frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and greater inward rectification in the mPFC compared to males. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we conclude that there are sex differences in glutamatergic transmission in the mPFC. Our data suggest that females have higher levels of glutamatergic transmission in this region. This provides evidence that the development of sex-specific pharmacotherapies for various psychiatric diseases is important to create more effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa C. Knouse
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
| | - Anna G. McGrath
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
| | - Andre U. Deutschmann
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
| | - Matthew T. Rich
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Lia J. Zallar
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XPediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XWeill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Lisa A. Briand
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA ,grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
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7
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Wang HG, Bavley CC, Li A, Jones RM, Hackett J, Bayleyen Y, Lee FS, Rajadhyaksha AM, Pitt GS. Scn2a severe hypomorphic mutation decreases excitatory synaptic input and causes autism-associated behaviors. JCI Insight 2021; 6:150698. [PMID: 34156984 PMCID: PMC8410058 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
SCN2A, encoding the neuronal voltage-gated Na+ channel NaV1.2, is one of the most commonly affected loci linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Most ASD-associated mutations in SCN2A are loss-of-function mutations, but studies examining how such mutations affect neuronal function and whether Scn2a mutant mice display ASD endophenotypes have been inconsistent. We generated a protein truncation variant Scn2a mouse model (Scn2aΔ1898/+) by CRISPR that eliminates the NaV1.2 channel's distal intracellular C-terminal domain, and we analyzed the molecular and cellular consequences of this variant in a heterologous expression system, in neuronal culture, in brain slices, and in vivo. We also analyzed multiple behaviors in WT and Scn2aΔ1898/+ mice and correlated behaviors with clinical data obtained in human subjects with SCN2A variants. Expression of the NaV1.2 mutant in a heterologous expression system revealed decreased NaV1.2 channel function, and cultured pyramidal neurons isolated from Scn2aΔ1898/+ forebrain showed correspondingly reduced voltage-gated Na+ channel currents without compensation from other CNS voltage-gated Na+ channels. Na+ currents in inhibitory neurons were unaffected. Consistent with loss of voltage-gated Na+ channel currents, Scn2aΔ1898/+ pyramidal neurons displayed reduced excitability in forebrain neuronal culture and reduced excitatory synaptic input onto the pyramidal neurons in brain slices. Scn2aΔ1898/+ mice displayed several behavioral abnormalities, including abnormal social interactions that reflect behavior observed in humans with ASD and with harboring loss-of-function SCN2A variants. This model and its cellular electrophysiological characterizations provide a framework for tracing how a SCN2A loss-of-function variant leads to cellular defects that result in ASD-associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charlotte C. Bavley
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anfei Li
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
| | - Rebecca M. Jones
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, White Plains, New York, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan Hackett
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Francis S. Lee
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
| | - Geoffrey S. Pitt
- Cardiovascular Research Institute
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
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Sridharan PS, Lu Y, Rice RC, Pieper AA, Rajadhyaksha AM. Loss of Cav1.2 channels impairs hippocampal theta burst stimulation-induced long-term potentiation. Channels (Austin) 2021; 14:287-293. [PMID: 32799605 PMCID: PMC7515572 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2020.1807851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CACNA1 C, which codes for the Cav1.2 isoform of L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs), is a prominent risk gene in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions. A role forLTCCs, and Cav1.2 in particular, in transcription-dependent late long-term potentiation (LTP) has long been known. Here, we report that elimination of Cav1.2 channels in glutamatergic neurons also impairs theta burst stimulation (TBS)-induced LTP in the hippocampus, known to be transcription-independent and dependent on N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and local protein synthesis at synapses. Our expansion of the established role of Cav1.2channels in LTP broadens understanding of synaptic plasticity and identifies a new cellular phenotype for exploring treatment strategies for cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethy S Sridharan
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center , Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Yuan Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine , Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Richard C Rice
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University , New York, NY, USA.,Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University , New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew A Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center , Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine , Iowa City, IA, USA.,Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University , New York, NY, USA.,Geriatric Psychiatry, GRECC, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center , Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University , New York, NY, USA.,Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University , New York, NY, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University , New York, NY, USA
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9
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Noterman MF, Chaubey K, Lin-Rahardja K, Rajadhyaksha AM, Pieper AA, Taylor EB. Dual-process brain mitochondria isolation preserves function and clarifies protein composition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2019046118. [PMID: 33836587 PMCID: PMC7980376 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019046118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain requires continuously high energy production to maintain ion gradients and normal function. Mitochondria critically undergird brain energetics, and mitochondrial abnormalities feature prominently in neuropsychiatric disease. However, many unique aspects of brain mitochondria composition and function are poorly understood. Developing improved neuroprotective therapeutics thus requires more comprehensively understanding brain mitochondria, including accurately delineating protein composition and channel-transporter functional networks. However, obtaining pure mitochondria from the brain is especially challenging due to its distinctive lipid and cell structure properties. As a result, conflicting reports on protein localization to brain mitochondria abound. Here we illustrate this problem with the neuropsychiatric disease-associated L-type calcium channel Cav1.2α1 subunit previously observed in crude mitochondria. We applied a dual-process approach to obtain functionally intact versus compositionally pure brain mitochondria. One branch utilizes discontinuous density gradient centrifugation to isolate semipure mitochondria suitable for functional assays but unsuitable for protein localization because of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contamination. The other branch utilizes self-forming density gradient ultracentrifugation to remove ER and yield ultrapure mitochondria that are suitable for investigating protein localization but functionally compromised. Through this process, we evaluated brain mitochondria protein content and observed the absence of Cav1.2α1 and other previously reported mitochondrial proteins, including the NMDA receptor, ryanodine receptor 1, monocarboxylate transporter 1, excitatory amino acid transporter 1, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Conversely, we confirmed mitochondrial localization of several plasma membrane proteins previously reported to also localize to mitochondria. We expect this dual-process isolation procedure will enhance understanding of brain mitochondria in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F Noterman
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Kalyani Chaubey
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Kristi Lin-Rahardja
- Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Andrew A Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106;
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Eric B Taylor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242;
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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10
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Lin Y, Afshar S, Rajadhyaksha AM, Potash JB, Han S. A Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Autism Risk Genes: Validation of Known Genes and Discovery of New Candidates. Front Genet 2020; 11:500064. [PMID: 33133139 PMCID: PMC7513695 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.500064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic basis. The role of de novo mutations in ASD has been well established, but the set of genes implicated to date is still far from complete. The current study employs a machine learning-based approach to predict ASD risk genes using features from spatiotemporal gene expression patterns in human brain, gene-level constraint metrics, and other gene variation features. The genes identified through our prediction model were enriched for independent sets of ASD risk genes, and tended to be down-expressed in ASD brains, especially in frontal and parietal cortex. The highest-ranked genes not only included those with strong prior evidence for involvement in ASD (for example, NBEA, HERC1, and TCF20), but also indicated potentially novel candidates, such as, MYCBP2 and CAND1, which are involved in protein ubiquitination. We also showed that our method outperformed state-of-the-art scoring systems for ranking curated ASD candidate genes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of our predicted risk genes revealed biological processes clearly relevant to ASD, including neuronal signaling, neurogenesis, and chromatin remodeling, but also highlighted other potential mechanisms that might underlie ASD, such as regulation of RNA alternative splicing and ubiquitination pathway related to protein degradation. Our study demonstrates that human brain spatiotemporal gene expression patterns and gene-level constraint metrics can help predict ASD risk genes. Our gene ranking system provides a useful resource for prioritizing ASD candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lin
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shiva Afshar
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States.,Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States.,Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - James B Potash
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shizhong Han
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD, United States
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11
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Burgdorf CE, Jing D, Yang R, Huang C, Hill MN, Mackie K, Milner TA, Pickel VM, Lee FS, Rajadhyaksha AM. Endocannabinoid genetic variation enhances vulnerability to THC reward in adolescent female mice. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaay1502. [PMID: 32095523 PMCID: PMC7015690 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay1502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence represents a developmental period with the highest risk for initiating cannabis use. Little is known about whether genetic variation in the endocannabinoid system alters mesolimbic reward circuitry to produce vulnerability to the rewarding properties of the exogenous cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Using a genetic knock-in mouse model (FAAHC/A) that biologically recapitulates the human polymorphism associated with problematic drug use, we find that in adolescent female mice, but not male mice, this FAAH polymorphism enhances the mesolimbic dopamine circuitry projecting from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and alters cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) levels at inhibitory and excitatory terminals in the VTA. These developmental changes collectively increase vulnerability of adolescent female FAAHC/A mice to THC preference that persists into adulthood. Together, these findings suggest that this endocannabinoid genetic variant is a contributing factor for increased susceptibility to cannabis dependence in adolescent females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E. Burgdorf
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Deqiang Jing
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ruirong Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Chienchun Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Matthew N. Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Teresa A. Milner
- Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Virginia M. Pickel
- Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Francis S. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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12
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Bavley CC, Rajadhyaksha AM. Anxiety, the chicken or the egg of addiction: targeting G9a for the treatment of comorbid anxiety and cocaine addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1345-1346. [PMID: 30760826 PMCID: PMC6785016 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0329-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Treating cocaine addiction is a major challenge and currently no FDA approved pharmacotherapies exist. One complicating factor is a high rate of comorbidity between cocaine and neuropsychiatric conditions such as anxiety. The relationship between anxiety symptoms and cocaine addiction is complicated; anxiety can be both a predisposing factor and a consequence of cocaine use as anxiety symptoms often emerge during drug use and withdrawal. Identifying and understanding the shared biological mechanisms that lead to comorbid anxiety and cocaine addiction, irrespective of which comes first, is critical for the identification of new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte C. Bavley
- 000000041936877Xgrid.5386.8Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065 USA ,000000041936877Xgrid.5386.8Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- 000000041936877Xgrid.5386.8Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065 USA ,000000041936877Xgrid.5386.8Feil Family Brain and Mind and Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065 USA
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13
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Addy NA, Nunes EJ, Hughley SM, Small KM, Baracz SJ, Haight JL, Rajadhyaksha AM. The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2361-2372. [PMID: 29773910 PMCID: PMC6180103 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0080-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Previous preclinical and clinical investigations have focused on the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) as a potential therapeutic target for substance abuse. While some clinical studies have examined the ability of LTCC blockers to alter cocaine's subjective effects, very few LTCC studies have examined cocaine relapse. Here, we examined whether ventral tegmental area (VTA)-specific or systemic administration of the LTCC inhibitor, isradipine, altered cocaine-seeking behavior in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats first received 10 days of cocaine self-administration training (2 h sessions), where active lever depression resulted in delivery of a ∼0.5 mg/kg cocaine infusion paired with a tone + light cue. Rats then underwent 10 days of forced abstinence, without access to cocaine or cocaine cues. Rats were then returned to the opertant chamber for the cue-induced cocaine-seeking test, where active lever depression in the original training context resulted in tone + light cue presentation. We found VTA specific or systemic isradipine administration robustly attenuated cocaine-seeking, without altering cocaine-taking nor natural reward seeking. Dopamine (DA) signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core is necessary and sufficient for cue-induced drug-seeking. Surprisingly in our study, isradipine enhanced tonic and phasic DA signaling in cocaine abstinent rats, with no change in sucrose abstinent nor naïve rats. Strikingly, isradipine's behavioral effects were dependent upon NAc core DA receptor activation. Together, our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which the FDA-approved drug, isradipine, could act to decrease cocaine relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nii A. Addy
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA ,0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 USA ,0000000419368710grid.47100.32Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Eric J. Nunes
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Shannon M. Hughley
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Keri M. Small
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Sarah J. Baracz
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Joshua L. Haight
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- 000000041936877Xgrid.5386.8Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA ,000000041936877Xgrid.5386.8Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA
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14
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Akuffo AA, Alontaga AY, Metcalf R, Beatty MS, Becker A, McDaniel JM, Hesterberg RS, Goodheart WE, Gunawan S, Ayaz M, Yang Y, Karim MR, Orobello ME, Daniel K, Guida W, Yoder JA, Rajadhyaksha AM, Schönbrunn E, Lawrence HR, Lawrence NJ, Epling-Burnette PK. Ligand-mediated protein degradation reveals functional conservation among sequence variants of the CUL4-type E3 ligase substrate receptor cereblon. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:6187-6200. [PMID: 29449372 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.816868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon binding to thalidomide and other immunomodulatory drugs, the E3 ligase substrate receptor cereblon (CRBN) promotes proteosomal destruction by engaging the DDB1-CUL4A-Roc1-RBX1 E3 ubiquitin ligase in human cells but not in mouse cells, suggesting that sequence variations in CRBN may cause its inactivation. Therapeutically, CRBN engagers have the potential for broad applications in cancer and immune therapy by specifically reducing protein expression through targeted ubiquitin-mediated degradation. To examine the effects of defined sequence changes on CRBN's activity, we performed a comprehensive study using complementary theoretical, biophysical, and biological assays aimed at understanding CRBN's nonprimate sequence variations. With a series of recombinant thalidomide-binding domain (TBD) proteins, we show that CRBN sequence variants retain their drug-binding properties to both classical immunomodulatory drugs and dBET1, a chemical compound and targeting ligand designed to degrade bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) via a CRBN-dependent mechanism. We further show that dBET1 stimulates CRBN's E3 ubiquitin-conjugating function and degrades BRD4 in both mouse and human cells. This insight paves the way for studies of CRBN-dependent proteasome-targeting molecules in nonprimate models and provides a new understanding of CRBN's substrate-recruiting function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afua A Akuffo
- From the Department of Immunology.,the Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rebecca S Hesterberg
- From the Department of Immunology.,the Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612
| | | | - Steven Gunawan
- the Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612
| | - Muhammad Ayaz
- the Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612
| | | | - Md Rezaul Karim
- the Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey A Yoder
- the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, and
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medicine, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory, New York, New York 10065
| | - Ernst Schönbrunn
- the Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612
| | | | - Nicholas J Lawrence
- the Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612
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15
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Na ES, De Jesús-Cortés H, Martinez-Rivera A, Kabir ZD, Wang J, Ramesh V, Onder Y, Rajadhyaksha AM, Monteggia LM, Pieper AA. Correction: D-cycloserine improves synaptic transmission in an animal mode of Rett syndrome. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192057. [PMID: 29370281 PMCID: PMC5785006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183026.].
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16
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Martínez-Rivera A, Hao J, Tropea TF, Giordano TP, Kosovsky M, Rice RC, Lee A, Huganir RL, Striessnig J, Addy NA, Han S, Rajadhyaksha AM. Enhancing VTA Ca v1.3 L-type Ca 2+ channel activity promotes cocaine and mood-related behaviors via overlapping AMPA receptor mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1735-1745. [PMID: 28194001 PMCID: PMC5555837 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetic factors significantly influence susceptibility for substance abuse and mood disorders. Rodent studies have begun to elucidate a role of Cav1.3 L-type Ca2+ channels in neuropsychiatric-related behaviors, such as addictive and depressive-like behaviors. Human studies have also linked the CACNA1D gene, which codes for the Cav1.3 protein, with bipolar disorder. However, the neurocircuitry and the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of Cav1.3 in neuropsychiatric phenotypes are not well established. In the present study, we directly manipulated Cav1.3 channels in Cav1.2 dihydropyridine insensitive mutant mice and found that ventral tegmental area (VTA) Cav1.3 channels mediate cocaine-related and depressive-like behavior through a common nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell calcium-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (CP-AMPAR) mechanism that requires GluA1 phosphorylation at S831. Selective activation of VTA Cav1.3 with (±)-BayK-8644 (BayK) enhanced cocaine conditioned place preference and cocaine psychomotor activity while inducing depressive-like behavior, an effect not observed in S831A phospho-mutant mice. Infusion of the CP-AMPAR-specific blocker Naspm into the NAc shell reversed the cocaine and depressive-like phenotypes. In addition, activation of VTA Cav1.3 channels resulted in social behavioral deficits. In contrast to the cocaine- and depression-related phenotypes, GluA1/A2 AMPARs in the NAc core mediated social deficits, independent of S831-GluA1 phosphorylation. Using a candidate gene analysis approach, we also identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the CACNA1D gene associated with cocaine dependence in human subjects. Together, our findings reveal novel, overlapping mechanisms through which VTA Cav1.3 mediates cocaine-related, depressive-like and social phenotypes, suggesting that Cav1.3 may serve as a target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene Martínez-Rivera
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jin Hao
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas F. Tropea
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas P. Giordano
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Kosovsky
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard C. Rice
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amy Lee
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Richard L. Huganir
- Department of Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joerg Striessnig
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nii A. Addy
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Science, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shizhong Han
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA,Corresponding author genetics: Shizhong Han, Department of Psychiatry - 22G GH, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, Phone: 319-353-8773,
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding author: Anjali Rajadhyaksha, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, Box 91, New York, NY 10065, USA, Tel: 212.746.5999,
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17
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Na ES, De Jesús-Cortés H, Martinez-Rivera A, Kabir ZD, Wang J, Ramesh V, Onder Y, Rajadhyaksha AM, Monteggia LM, Pieper AA. D-cycloserine improves synaptic transmission in an animal model of Rett syndrome. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183026. [PMID: 28813484 PMCID: PMC5559075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT), a leading cause of intellectual disability in girls, is predominantly caused by mutations in the X-linked gene MECP2. Disruption of Mecp2 in mice recapitulates major features of RTT, including neurobehavioral abnormalities, which can be reversed by re-expression of normal Mecp2. Thus, there is reason to believe that RTT could be amenable to therapeutic intervention throughout the lifespan of patients after the onset of symptoms. A common feature underlying neuropsychiatric disorders, including RTT, is altered synaptic function in the brain. Here, we show that Mecp2tm1.1Jae/y mice display lower presynaptic function as assessed by paired pulse ratio, as well as decreased long term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal Schaffer–collateral-CA1 synapses. Treatment of Mecp2tm1.1Jae/y mice with D-cycloserine (DCS), an FDA-approved analog of the amino acid D-alanine with antibiotic and glycinergic activity, corrected the presynaptic but not LTP deficit without affecting deficient hippocampal BDNF levels. DCS treatment did, however, partially restore lower BDNF levels in the brain stem and striatum. Thus, treatment with DCS may mitigate the severity of some of the neurobehavioral symptoms experienced by patients with Rett syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa S. Na
- Department of Psychology & Philosophy, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, United States of America
| | - Héctor De Jesús-Cortés
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Arlene Martinez-Rivera
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Zeeba D. Kabir
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jieqi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Vijayashree Ramesh
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Yasemin Onder
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AMR); (LMM); (AAP)
| | - Lisa M. Monteggia
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AMR); (LMM); (AAP)
| | - Andrew A. Pieper
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- Department of Free Radical and Radiation Biology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AMR); (LMM); (AAP)
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18
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Abstract
The L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, encoded by the CACNA1C and CACNA1D genes, respectively, are important regulators of calcium influx into cells and are critical for normal brain development and plasticity. In humans, CACNA1C has emerged as one of the most widely reproduced and prominent candidate risk genes for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Separately, CACNA1D has been found to be associated with BD and autism spectrum disorder, as well as cocaine dependence, a comorbid feature associated with psychiatric disorders. Despite growing evidence of a significant link between CACNA1C and CACNA1D and psychiatric disorders, our understanding of the biological mechanisms by which these LTCCs mediate neuropsychiatric-associated endophenotypes, many of which are shared across the different disorders, remains rudimentary. Clinical studies with LTCC blockers testing their efficacy to alleviate symptoms associated with BD, SCZ, and drug dependence have provided mixed results, underscoring the importance of further exploring the neurobiological consequences of dysregulated Cav1.2 and Cav1.3. Here, we provide a review of clinical studies that have evaluated LTCC blockers for BD, SCZ, and drug dependence-associated symptoms, as well as rodent studies that have identified Cav1.2- and Cav1.3-specific molecular and cellular cascades that underlie mood (anxiety, depression), social behavior, cognition, and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeba D Kabir
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arlene Martínez-Rivera
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Fischer DK, Rice RC, Martinez Rivera A, Donohoe M, Rajadhyaksha AM. Altered reward sensitivity in female offspring of cocaine-exposed fathers. Behav Brain Res 2017; 332:23-31. [PMID: 28552600 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Recent rodent studies have demonstrated that parental cocaine exposure can influence offspring behavior, supporting the idea that environmental insults can impact subsequent generations. However, studies on the effects of paternal cocaine exposure are limited and multiple inconsistencies exist. In the current study, we behaviorally characterize the effects of paternal cocaine exposure in a C57BL/6J intergenerational mouse model. Male sires were administered cocaine hydrochloride (20mg/kg) or saline (0.01mL/g) once a day for 75days, and bred with drug naïve females twenty-four hours after the final injection. Offspring, separated by sex, were tested in a battery of behaviors. We found that paternal cocaine exposure altered sensitivity to the rewarding and stimulant effects of psychostimulants and natural reward (sucrose) in female offspring; female cocaine-sired offspring showed blunted cocaine preference using cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) at a low dose (5mg/kg), but displayed similar preference at a higher dose (10mg/kg) compared to saline-sired controls. Additionally, cocaine-sired female offspring exhibited higher psychomotor sensitivity to cocaine (10mg/kg) and amphetamine (2mg/kg) and consumed more sucrose. Cocaine-sired males exhibited increased psychomotor effects of cocaine and amphetamine. Male offspring also displayed an anxiety-like phenotype. No effect of paternal cocaine exposure was observed on depressive-like, learning and memory or social behavior in male or female offspring. Collectively, our findings show that paternal, chronic cocaine exposure induces intergenerational behavioral effects in male and female offspring with greatest impact on sensitivity to psychostimulants and sucrose in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arlene Martinez Rivera
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Donohoe
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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Xu J, Lu Z, Narayan A, Le Rouzic VP, Xu M, Hunkele A, Brown TG, Hoefer WF, Rossi GC, Rice RC, Martínez-Rivera A, Rajadhyaksha AM, Cartegni L, Bassoni DL, Pasternak GW, Pan YX. Alternatively spliced mu opioid receptor C termini impact the diverse actions of morphine. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:1561-1573. [PMID: 28319053 DOI: 10.1172/jci88760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive 3' alternative splicing of the mu opioid receptor gene OPRM1 creates multiple C-terminal splice variants. However, their behavioral relevance remains unknown. The present study generated 3 mutant mouse models with truncated C termini in 2 different mouse strains, C57BL/6J (B6) and 129/SvEv (129). One mouse truncated all C termini downstream of Oprm1 exon 3 (mE3M mice), while the other two selectively truncated C-terminal tails encoded by either exon 4 (mE4M mice) or exon 7 (mE7M mice). Studies of these mice revealed divergent roles for the C termini in morphine-induced behaviors, highlighting the importance of C-terminal variants in complex morphine actions. In mE7M-B6 mice, the exon 7-associated truncation diminished morphine tolerance and reward without altering physical dependence, whereas the exon 4-associated truncation in mE4M-B6 mice facilitated morphine tolerance and reduced morphine dependence without affecting morphine reward. mE7M-B6 mutant mice lost morphine-induced receptor desensitization in the brain stem and hypothalamus, consistent with exon 7 involvement in morphine tolerance. In cell-based studies, exon 7-associated variants shifted the bias of several mu opioids toward β-arrestin 2 over G protein activation compared with the exon 4-associated variant, suggesting an interaction of exon 7-associated C-terminal tails with β-arrestin 2 in morphine-induced desensitization and tolerance. Together, the differential effects of C-terminal truncation illustrate the pharmacological importance of OPRM1 3' alternative splicing.
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De Jesús-Cortés H, Rajadhyaksha AM, Pieper AA. Cacna1c: Protecting young hippocampal neurons in the adult brain. Neurogenesis (Austin) 2016; 3:e1231160. [PMID: 27900342 DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2016.1231160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disease is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and fourth worldwide.1,2 Not surprisingly, human genetic studies have revealed a common genetic predisposition for many forms of neuropsychiatric disease, potentially explaining why overlapping symptoms are commonly observed across multiple diagnostic categories. For example, the CACNA1C gene was recently identified in the largest human genome-wide association study to date as a risk loci held in common across 5 major forms of neuropsychiatric disease: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.3 This gene encodes for the Cav1.2 subunit of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (LTCC), accounting for 85% of LTCCs in the brain, while the Cav1.3 subunit comprises the remainder.4 In neurons, LTCCs mediate calcium influx in response to membrane depolarization,5 thereby regulating neurotransmission and gene expression. Here, we describe our recent finding that Cav1.2 also controls survival of young hippocampal neurons in the adult brain, which has been linked to the etiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric disease. We also describe the effective restoration of young hippocampal neuron survival in adult Cav1.2 forebrain-specific conditional knockout mice using the neuroprotective compound P7C3-A20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor De Jesús-Cortés
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew A Pieper
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurology, Department of Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, Department of Radiation Oncology Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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22
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Del Prete D, Rice RC, Rajadhyaksha AM, D'Adamio L. Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) May Act as a Substrate and a Recognition Unit for CRL4CRBN and Stub1 E3 Ligases Facilitating Ubiquitination of Proteins Involved in Presynaptic Functions and Neurodegeneration. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:17209-27. [PMID: 27325702 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.733626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid precursor protein (APP), whose mutations cause Alzheimer disease, plays an important in vivo role and facilitates transmitter release. Because the APP cytosolic region (ACR) is essential for these functions, we have characterized its brain interactome. We found that the ACR interacts with proteins that regulate the ubiquitin-proteasome system, predominantly with the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases Stub1, which binds the NH2 terminus of the ACR, and CRL4(CRBN), which is formed by Cul4a/b, Ddb1, and Crbn, and interacts with the COOH terminus of the ACR via Crbn. APP shares essential functions with APP-like protein-2 (APLP2) but not APP-like protein-1 (APLP1). Noteworthy, APLP2, but not APLP1, interacts with Stub1 and CRL4(CRBN), pointing to a functional pathway shared only by APP and APLP2. In vitro ubiquitination/ubiquitome analysis indicates that these E3 ligases are enzymatically active and ubiquitinate the ACR residues Lys(649/650/651/676/688) Deletion of Crbn reduces ubiquitination of Lys(676) suggesting that Lys(676) is physiologically ubiquitinated by CRL4(CRBN) The ACR facilitated in vitro ubiquitination of presynaptic proteins that regulate exocytosis, suggesting a mechanism by which APP tunes transmitter release. Other dementia-related proteins, namely Tau and apoE, interact with and are ubiquitinated via the ACR in vitro This, and the evidence that CRBN and CUL4B are linked to intellectual disability, prompts us to hypothesize a pathogenic mechanism, in which APP acts as a modulator of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase(s), shared by distinct neuronal disorders. The well described accumulation of ubiquitinated protein inclusions in neurodegenerative diseases and the link between the ubiquitin-proteasome system and neurodegeneration make this concept plausible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Del Prete
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461 and
| | - Richard C Rice
- the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, and
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065
| | - Luciano D'Adamio
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461 and
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Kabir ZD, Lee AS, Rajadhyaksha AM. L-type Ca 2+ channels in mood, cognition and addiction: integrating human and rodent studies with a focus on behavioural endophenotypes. J Physiol 2016; 594:5823-5837. [PMID: 26913808 DOI: 10.1113/jp270673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain Cav 1.2 and Cav 1.3 L-type Ca2+ channels play key physiological roles in various neuronal processes that contribute to brain function. Genetic studies have recently identified CACNA1C as a candidate risk gene for bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and CACNA1D for BD and ASD, suggesting a contribution of Cav 1.2 and Cav 1.3 Ca2+ signalling to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. Once considered sole clinical entities, it is now clear that BD, SCZ, MDD and ASD share common phenotypic features, most likely due to overlapping neurocircuitry and common molecular mechanisms. A major future challenge lies in translating the human genetic findings to pathological mechanisms that are translatable back to the patient. One approach for tackling such a daunting scientific endeavour for complex behaviour-based neuropsychiatric disorders is to examine intermediate biological phenotypes in the context of endophenotypes within distinct behavioural domains. This will better allow us to integrate findings from genes to behaviour across species, and improve the chances of translating preclinical findings to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z D Kabir
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - A S Lee
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - A M Rajadhyaksha
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. .,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. .,Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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24
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Inan M, Zhao M, Manuszak M, Karakaya C, Rajadhyaksha AM, Pickel VM, Schwartz TH, Goldstein PA, Manfredi G. Energy deficit in parvalbumin neurons leads to circuit dysfunction, impaired sensory gating and social disability. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 93:35-46. [PMID: 27105708 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin-expressing, fast spiking interneurons have high-energy demands, which make them particularly susceptible to energy impairment. Recent evidence suggests a link between mitochondrial dysfunction in fast spiking cortical interneurons and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the effect of mitochondrial dysfunction restricted to parvalbumin interneurons has not been directly addressed in vivo. To investigate the consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction in parvalbumin interneurons in vivo, we generated conditional knockout mice with a progressive decline in oxidative phosphorylation by deleting cox10 gene selectively in parvalbumin neurons (PV-Cox10 CKO). Cox10 ablation results in defective assembly of cytochrome oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the electron transfer chain, and leads to mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction. PV-Cox10 CKO mice showed a progressive loss of cytochrome oxidase in cortical parvalbumin interneurons. Cytochrome oxidase protein levels were significantly reduced starting at postnatal day 60, and this was not associated with a change in parvalbumin interneuron density. Analyses of intrinsic electrophysiological properties in layer 5 primary somatosensory cortex revealed that parvalbumin interneurons could not sustain their typical high frequency firing, and their overall excitability was enhanced. An increase in both excitatory and inhibitory input onto parvalbumin interneurons was observed in PV-Cox10 CKO mice, resulting in a disinhibited network with an imbalance of excitation/inhibition. Investigation of network oscillations in PV-Cox10 CKO mice, using local field potential recordings in anesthetized mice, revealed significantly increased gamma and theta frequency oscillation power in both medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. PV-Cox10 CKO mice did not exhibit muscle strength or gross motor activity deficits in the time frame of the experiments, but displayed impaired sensory gating and sociability. Taken together, these data reveal that mitochondrial dysfunction in parvalbumin interneurons can alter their intrinsic physiology and network connectivity, resulting in behavioral alterations similar to those observed in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melis Inan
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mingrui Zhao
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Monica Manuszak
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cansu Karakaya
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Department of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Virginia M Pickel
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Theodore H Schwartz
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Peter A Goldstein
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Giovanni Manfredi
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States.
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Lee AS, De Jesús-Cortés H, Kabir ZD, Knobbe W, Orr M, Burgdorf C, Huntington P, McDaniel L, Britt JK, Hoffmann F, Brat DJ, Rajadhyaksha AM, Pieper AA. The Neuropsychiatric Disease-Associated Gene cacna1c Mediates Survival of Young Hippocampal Neurons. eNeuro 2016; 3:ENEURO.0006-16.2016. [PMID: 27066530 PMCID: PMC4819284 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0006-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variations in CACNA1C, which encodes the Cav1.2 subunit of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs), are associated with multiple forms of neuropsychiatric disease that manifest high anxiety in patients. In parallel, mice harboring forebrain-specific conditional knockout of cacna1c (forebrain-Cav1.2 cKO) display unusually high anxiety-like behavior. LTCCs in general, including the Cav1.3 subunit, have been shown to mediate differentiation of neural precursor cells (NPCs). However, it has not previously been determined whether Cav1.2 affects postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo. Here, we show that forebrain-Cav1.2 cKO mice exhibit enhanced cell death of young hippocampal neurons, with no change in NPC proliferation, hippocampal size, dentate gyrus thickness, or corticosterone levels compared with wild-type littermates. These mice also exhibit deficits in brain levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and Cre recombinase-mediated knockdown of adult hippocampal Cav1.2 recapitulates the deficit in young hippocampal neurons survival. Treatment of forebrain-Cav1.2 cKO mice with the neuroprotective agent P7C3-A20 restored the net magnitude of postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis to wild-type levels without ameliorating their deficit in BDNF expression. The role of Cav1.2 in young hippocampal neurons survival may provide new approaches for understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disease associated with aberrations in CACNA1C. Visual Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni S. Lee
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
| | - Héctor De Jesús-Cortés
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Zeeba D. Kabir
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
| | - Whitney Knobbe
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Madeline Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Caitlin Burgdorf
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
| | - Paula Huntington
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Latisha McDaniel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Jeremiah K. Britt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Franz Hoffmann
- Institute of Pharmacology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Research Group 923, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel J. Brat
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065
| | - Andrew A. Pieper
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Department of Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, Department of Radiation Oncology Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Department of Veteran Affairs, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
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26
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Moeller S, Lau NM, Green PHR, Hellberg D, Higgins JJ, Rajadhyaksha AM, Alaedini A. Lack of association between autism and anti-GM1 ganglioside antibody. Neurology 2013; 81:1640-1. [PMID: 24068789 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a9f3dd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sina Moeller
- From the Department of Medicine (S.M., N.M.L., P.H.R.G., A.A.), Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Center for Clinical Research (D.H.), Uppsala University, Falun, Sweden; and Departments of Pediatrics (J.J.H., A.M.R.) and Neurology & Neuroscience (A.M.R.), Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ajamian
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Armin Alaedini
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
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28
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Schierberl KC, Rajadhyaksha AM. Stereotaxic microinjection of viral vectors expressing Cre recombinase to study the role of target genes in cocaine conditioned place preference. J Vis Exp 2013. [PMID: 23929203 DOI: 10.3791/50600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microinjecting recombinant adenoassociated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing Cre recombinase into distinct mouse brain regions to selectively knockout genes of interest allows for enhanced temporally- and regionally-specific control of gene deletion, compared to existing methods. While conditional deletion can also be achieved by mating mice that express Cre recombinase under the control of specific gene promoters with mice carrying a floxed gene, stereotaxic microinjection allows for targeting of discrete brain areas at experimenter-determined time points of interest. In the context of cocaine conditioned place preference, and other cocaine behavioral paradigms such as self-administration or psychomotor sensitization that can involve withdrawal, extinction and/or reinstatement phases, this technique is particularly useful in exploring the unique contribution of target genes to these distinct phases of behavioral models of cocaine-induced plasticity. Specifically, this technique allows for selective ablation of target genes during discrete phases of a behavior to test their contribution to the behavior across time. Ultimately, this understanding allows for more targeted therapeutics that are best able to address the most potent risk factors that present themselves during each phase of addictive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn C Schierberl
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
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29
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Lau NM, Green PHR, Taylor AK, Hellberg D, Ajamian M, Tan CZ, Kosofsky BE, Higgins JJ, Rajadhyaksha AM, Alaedini A. Markers of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity in Children with Autism. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66155. [PMID: 23823064 PMCID: PMC3688832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gastrointestinal symptoms are a common feature in children with autism, drawing attention to a potential association with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. However, studies to date regarding the immune response to gluten in autism and its association with celiac disease have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to assess immune reactivity to gluten in pediatric patients diagnosed with autism according to strict criteria and to evaluate the potential link between autism and celiac disease. METHODS Study participants included children (with or without gastrointestinal symptoms) diagnosed with autism according to both the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R) (n = 37), their unaffected siblings (n = 27), and age-matched healthy controls (n = 76). Serum specimens were tested for antibodies to native gliadin, deamidated gliadin, and transglutaminase 2 (TG2). Affected children were genotyped for celiac disease associated HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 alleles. RESULTS Children with autism had significantly higher levels of IgG antibody to gliadin compared with unrelated healthy controls (p<0.01). The IgG levels were also higher compared to the unaffected siblings, but did not reach statistical significance. The IgG anti-gliadin antibody response was significantly greater in the autistic children with gastrointestinal symptoms in comparison to those without them (p<0.01). There was no difference in IgA response to gliadin across groups. The levels of celiac disease-specific serologic markers, i.e., antibodies to deamidated gliadin and TG2, did not differ between patients and controls. An association between increased anti-gliadin antibody and presence of HLA-DQ2 and/or -DQ8 was not observed. CONCLUSIONS A subset of children with autism displays increased immune reactivity to gluten, the mechanism of which appears to be distinct from that in celiac disease. The increased anti-gliadin antibody response and its association with GI symptoms points to a potential mechanism involving immunologic and/or intestinal permeability abnormalities in affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nga M. Lau
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Peter H. R. Green
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Annette K. Taylor
- Kimball Genetics, a Division of LabCorp, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Dan Hellberg
- Center for Clinical Research, Uppsala Univeristy, Falun, Sweden
| | - Mary Ajamian
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Caroline Z. Tan
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Barry E. Kosofsky
- Department of Neurology & Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Higgins
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Department of Neurology & Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Armin Alaedini
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ajamian
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barry E. Kosofsky
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gary P. Wormser
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | | | - Armin Alaedini
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Corresponding author: Armin Alaedini; Columbia University Medical Center; 1130 Saint Nicholas Ave., 9 Floor; New York, NY 10032; Tel: 212-851-4582;
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31
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Lee AS, Gonzales KL, Lee A, Moosmang S, Hofmann F, Pieper AA, Rajadhyaksha AM. Selective genetic deletion of cacna1c in the mouse prefrontal cortex. Mol Psychiatry 2012; 17:1051. [PMID: 23096954 PMCID: PMC5837808 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2012.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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32
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Lee AS, Ra S, Rajadhyaksha AM, Britt JK, De Jesus-Cortes H, Gonzales KL, Lee A, Moosmang S, Hofmann F, Pieper AA, Rajadhyaksha AM. Forebrain elimination of cacna1c mediates anxiety-like behavior in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2012; 17:1054-5. [PMID: 22665262 PMCID: PMC3481072 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2012.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A S Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA,Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Ra
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aditi M Rajadhyaksha
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - J K Britt
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - H De Jesus-Cortes
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - K L Gonzales
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Lee
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - S Moosmang
- Research Group 923, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - F Hofmann
- Institute for Pharmacology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - A A Pieper
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA,E-mails: and
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA,E-mails: and
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Kabir ZD, Lourenco F, Byrne ME, Katzman A, Lee F, Rajadhyaksha AM, Kosofsky BE. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype impacts the prenatal cocaine-induced mouse phenotype. Dev Neurosci 2012; 34:184-97. [PMID: 22572518 DOI: 10.1159/000337712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal cocaine exposure leads to persistent alterations in the growth factor brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus, brain regions important in cognitive functioning. BDNF plays an important role in the strengthening of existing synaptic connections as well as in the formation of new contacts during learning. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the BDNF gene (Val66Met), leading to a Met substitution for Val at codon 66 in the prodomain, is common in human populations, with an allele frequency of 20-30% in Caucasians. To study the interaction between prenatal cocaine exposure and BDNF, we have utilized a line of BDNF Val66Met transgenic mice on a Swiss Webster background in which BDNF(Met) is endogenously expressed. Examination of baseline levels of mature BDNF protein in the mPFC of prenatally cocaine-treated wild-type (Val66Val) and Val66Met mice revealed significantly lower levels compared to prenatally saline-treated mice. In contrast, in the hippocampus of prenatally saline- and cocaine-treated adult Val66Met mice, there were significantly lower levels of mature BDNF protein compared to Val66Val mice. In extinction of a conditioned fear, we found that prenatally cocaine-treated Val66Met mice had a deficit in recall of extinction. Examination of mature BDNF protein levels immediately after the test for extinction recall revealed lower levels in the mPFC of prenatally cocaine-treated Val66Met mice compared to saline-treated mice. However, 2 h after the extinction test, there was increased BDNF exons I, IV, and IX mRNA expression in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC in the prenatally cocaine-treated BDNF Val66Met mice compared to prenatally saline-treated mice. Taken together, our results suggest the possibility that prenatal cocaine-induced constitutive alterations in BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the mPFC differentially poises animals for alterations in behaviorally induced gene activation, which are interactive with BDNF genotype and differentially impact those behaviors. Such findings in our prenatal cocaine mouse model suggest a gene X environment interaction of potential clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeba D Kabir
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Rajadhyaksha AM, Ra S, Kishinevsky S, Lee AS, Romanienko P, DuBoff M, Yang C, Zupan B, Byrne M, Daruwalla ZR, Mark W, Kosofsky BE, Toth M, Higgins JJ. Behavioral characterization of cereblon forebrain-specific conditional null mice: a model for human non-syndromic intellectual disability. Behav Brain Res 2011; 226:428-34. [PMID: 21995942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.09.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Revised: 09/24/2011] [Accepted: 09/27/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
A nonsense mutation in the human cereblon gene (CRBN) causes a mild type of autosomal recessive non-syndromic intellectual disability (ID). Animal studies show that crbn is a cytosolic protein with abundant expression in the hippocampus (HPC) and neocortex (CTX). Its diverse functions include the developmental regulation of ion channels at the neuronal synapse, the mediation of developmental programs by ubiquitination, and a target for herpes simplex type I virus in HPC neurons. To test the hypothesis that anomalous CRBN expression leads to HPC-mediated memory and learning deficits, we generated germ-line crbn knock-out mice (crbn(-/-)). We also inactivated crbn in forebrain neurons in conditional knock-out mice in which crbn exons 3 and 4 are deleted by cre recombinase under the direction of the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha promoter (CamKII(cre/+), crbn(-/-)). crbn mRNA levels were negligible in the HPC, CTX, and cerebellum (CRBM) of the crbn(-/-) mice. In contrast, crbn mRNA levels were reduced 3- to 4-fold in the HPC, CTX but not in the CRBM in CamKII(cre/+), crbn(-/-) mice as compared to wild type (CamKII(cre/+), crbn(+/+)). Contextual fear conditioning showed a significant decrease in the percentage of freezing time in CamKII(cre/+), crbn(-/-) and crbn(-/-) mice while motor function, exploratory motivation, and anxiety-related behaviors were normal. These findings suggest that CamKII(cre/+), crbn(-/-) mice exhibit selective HPC-dependent deficits in associative learning and supports the use of these mice as in vivo models to study the functional consequences of CRBN aberrations on memory and learning in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Tropea TF, Kabir ZD, Kaur G, Rajadhyaksha AM, Kosofsky BE. Enhanced dopamine D1 and BDNF signaling in the adult dorsal striatum but not nucleus accumbens of prenatal cocaine treated mice. Front Psychiatry 2011; 2:67. [PMID: 22162970 PMCID: PMC3232639 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 11/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous work from our group and others utilizing animal models have demonstrated long-lasting structural and functional alterations in the meso-cortico-striatal dopamine pathway following prenatal cocaine (PCOC) treatment. We have shown that PCOC treatment results in augmented D1-induced cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cocaine-induced immediate-early gene expression in the striatum of adult mice. In this study we further examined basal as well as cocaine or D1-induced activation of a set of molecules known to be mediators of neuronal plasticity following psychostimulant treatment, with emphasis in the dorsal striatum (Str) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) of adult mice exposed to cocaine in utero. Basally, in the Str of PCOC treated mice there were significantly higher levels of (1) CREB and Ser133 P-CREB (2) Thr34 P-DARPP-32 and (3) GluA1 and Ser 845 P-GluA1 when compared to prenatal saline (PSAL) treated mice. In the NAc there were significantly higher basal levels of (1) CREB and Ser133 P-CREB, (2) Thr202/Tyr204 P-ERK2, and (3) Ser845 P-GluA1. Following acute administration of cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) or D1 agonist (SKF 82958; 1 mg/kg, i.p.) there were significantly higher levels of Ser133 P-CREB, Thr34 P-DARPP-32, and Thr202/Tyr204 P-ERK2 in the Str that were evident in all animals tested. However, these cocaine-induced increases in phosphorylation were significantly augmented in PCOC mice compared to PSAL mice. In sharp contrast to the observations in the Str, in the NAc, acute administration of cocaine or D1 agonist significantly increased P-CREB and P-ERK2 in PSAL mice, a response that was not evident in PCOC mice. Examination of Ser 845 P-GluA1 revealed that cocaine or D1 agonist significantly increased levels in PSAL mice, but significantly decreased levels in the PCOC mice in both the Str and NAc. We also examined changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our studies revealed significantly higher levels of the BDNF precursor, pro-BDNF, and one of its receptors, TrkB in the Str of PCOC mice compared to PSAL mice. These results suggest a persistent up-regulation of molecules critical to D1 and BDNF signaling in the Str of adult mice exposed to cocaine in utero. These molecular adaptations may underlie components of the behavioral deficits evident in exposed animals and a subset of exposed humans, and may represent a therapeutic target for ameliorating aspects of the PCOC-induced phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Tropea
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College New York, NY, USA
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Rajadhyaksha AM, Elemento O, Puffenberger EG, Schierberl KC, Xiang JZ, Putorti ML, Berciano J, Poulin C, Brais B, Michaelides M, Weleber RG, Higgins JJ. Mutations in FLVCR1 cause posterior column ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa. Am J Hum Genet 2010; 87:643-54. [PMID: 21070897 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2010] [Revised: 10/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of inherited retinal diseases has advanced our knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in sensory neural signaling. Dysfunction of two specific sensory modalities, vision and proprioception, characterizes the phenotype of the rare, autosomal-recessive disorder posterior column ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (PCARP). Using targeted DNA capture and high-throughput sequencing, we analyzed the entire 4.2 Mb candidate sequence on chromosome 1q32 to find the gene mutated in PCARP in a single family. Employing comprehensive bioinformatic analysis and filtering, we identified a single-nucleotide coding variant in the feline leukemia virus subgroup C cellular receptor 1 (FLVCR1), a gene encoding a heme-transporter protein. Sanger sequencing confirmed the FLVCR1 mutation in this family and identified different homozygous missense mutations located within the protein's transmembrane channel segment in two other unrelated families with PCARP. To determine whether the selective pathologic features of PCARP correlated with FLVCR1 expression, we examined wild-type mouse Flvcr1 mRNA levels in the posterior column of the spinal cord and the retina via quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR. The Flvcr1 mRNA levels were most abundant in the retina, followed by the posterior column of the spinal cord and other brain regions. These results suggest that aberrant FLVCR1 causes a selective degeneration of a subpopulation of neurons in the retina and the posterior columns of the spinal cord via dysregulation of heme or iron homeostasis. This finding broadens the molecular basis of sensory neural signaling to include common mechanisms that involve proprioception and vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, 10065, USA
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Ren JQ, Jiang Y, Wang Z, McCarthy D, Rajadhyaksha AM, Tropea TF, Kosofsky BE, Bhide PG. Prenatal L-DOPA exposure produces lasting changes in brain dopamine content, cocaine-induced dopamine release and cocaine conditioned place preference. Neuropharmacology 2010; 60:295-302. [PMID: 20854831 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Revised: 09/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine, its receptors and transporter are present in the brain beginning from early in the embryonic period. Dopamine receptor activation can influence developmental events including neurogenesis, neuronal migration and differentiation raising the possibility that dopamine imbalance in the fetal brain can alter development of the brain and behavior. We examined whether elevated dopamine levels during gestation can produce persisting changes in brain dopamine content and dopamine-mediated behaviors. We administered L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) in drinking water to timed-pregnant CD1 mice from the 11th day of gestation until the day of parturition. The prenatal L-DOPA exposure led to significantly lower cocaine conditioned place preference, a behavioral test of reward, at postnatal day 60 (P60). However, in vivo microdialysis measurements showed significant increases in cocaine-induced dopamine release in the caudate putamen of P26 and P60 mice exposed to L-DOPA prenatally, ruling out attenuated dopamine release in the caudate putamen as a contributor to decreased conditioned place preference. Although dopamine release was induced in the nucleus accumbens of prenatally L-DOPA exposed mice at P60 by cocaine, the dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens was not significantly different between the L-DOPA and control groups. However, basal dopamine release was significantly higher in the prenatally L-DOPA exposed mice at P60 suggesting that the L-DOPA exposed mice may require a higher dose of cocaine for induction of cocaine place preference than the controls. The prenatal L-DOPA exposure did not alter cocaine-induced locomotor response, suggesting dissociation between the effects of prenatal L-DOPA exposure on conditioned place preference and locomotor activity. Tissue concentration of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum and ventral midbrain were significantly affected by the L-DOPA exposure as well as by developmental changes over the P14-P60 period. Thus, elevation of dopamine levels during gestation can produce persisting changes in brain dopamine content, cocaine-induced dopamine release and cocaine conditioned place preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Qian Ren
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
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Higgins JJ, Tal AL, Sun X, Hauck SCR, Hao J, Kosofosky BE, Rajadhyaksha AM. Temporal and spatial mouse brain expression of cereblon, an ionic channel regulator involved in human intelligence. J Neurogenet 2010; 24:18-26. [PMID: 20131966 DOI: 10.3109/01677060903567849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A mild form of autosomal recessive, nonsyndromal intellectual disability (ARNSID) in humans is caused by a homozygous nonsense mutation in the cereblon gene (mutCRBN). Rodent crbn protein binds to the intracellular C-terminus of the large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+)channel (BK(Ca)). An mRNA variant (human SITE 2 INSERT or mouse strex) of the BK(Ca) gene (KCNMA1) that is normally expressed during embryonic development is aberrantly expressed in mutCRBN human lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) as compared to wild-type (wt) LCLs. The present study analyzes the temporal and spatial distribution of crbn and kcnma1 mRNAs in the mouse brain by the quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The spatial expression pattern of endogenous and exogenous crbn proteins is characterized by immunostaining. The results show that neocortical (CTX) crbn and kcnma1 mRNA expression increases from embryonic stages to adulthood. The strex mRNA variant is >3.5-fold higher in embryos and decreases rapidly postnatally. Mouse crbn mRNA is abundant in the cerebellum (CRBM), with less expression in the CTX, hippocampus (HC), and striatum (Str) in adult mice. The intracytoplasmic distribution of endogenous crbn protein in the mouse CRBM, CTX, HC, and Str is similar to the immunostaining pattern described previously for the BK(Ca) channel. Exogenous hemagglutinin (HA) epitope-tagged human wt- and mutCRBN proteins using cDNA transfection in HEK293T cell lines showed the same intracellular expression distribution as endogenous mouse crbn protein. The results suggest that mutCRBN may cause ARNSID by disrupting the developmental regulation of BK(Ca) in brain regions that are critical for memory and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Higgins
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA.
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Gregus AM, Inra CN, Giordano TP, Costa ACS, Rajadhyaksha AM, Inturrisi CE. Spinal mediators that may contribute selectively to antinociceptive tolerance but not other effects of morphine as revealed by deletion of GluR5. Neuroscience 2010; 169:475-87. [PMID: 20359526 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2010] [Revised: 03/23/2010] [Accepted: 03/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Several groups maintain that morphine tolerance and dependence correlate with increased activity of protein kinases ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK and PKC as well as elevated levels of the neuropeptides dynorphin (DYN), substance P (sP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH). They demonstrate that tolerance and dependence can be prevented, and sometimes reversed, by constitutive genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of these factors. Recently, we showed that mice with a constitutive deletion of the GluR5 subunit of kainate receptors (GluR5 KO) are not different from wild type (WT) littermates with respect to baseline nociceptive thresholds as well as acute morphine antinociception, morphine physical dependence and conditioned place preference. However, unlike WT, GluR5 KO mice do not develop antinociceptive tolerance following systemic morphine administration. In this report, we examined levels of these mediators in SCDH of WT and GluR5 KO mice following subcutaneous implantation of placebo or morphine pellets. Surprisingly, spinal DYN and CGRP, along with phosphorylated ERK2 (pERK2), P38 (pP38) and PKCgamma (pPKCgamma) are elevated by deletion of GluR5. Additionally, chronic systemic morphine administration increased spinal pERK2, pP38 and pPKCgamma levels in both tolerant WT and non-tolerant GluR5 KO mice. In contrast, while morphine increased spinal DYN and CGRP in WT mice, DYN remained unchanged and CGRP was reduced in GluR5 KO mice. These observations suggest that spinal ERK2, P38 and PKCgamma are likely involved in multiple adaptive responses following systemic morphine administration, whereas DYN and CGRP may contribute selectively to the development of antinociceptive tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Gregus
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Gregus AM, Tropea TF, Wang Y, Hauck SCR, Costa ACS, Rajadhyaksha AM, Inturrisi CE. Deletion of the GluR5 subunit of kainate receptors affects cocaine sensitivity and preference. Neurosci Lett 2009; 468:186-9. [PMID: 19878705 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2009] [Revised: 08/29/2009] [Accepted: 10/22/2009] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We have demonstrated previously that mice expressing a constitutive deletion of the kainate receptor subunit GluR5 (GluR5 KO) do not differ from wildtype (WT) littermates of a congenic C57BL/6 background with regard to both the development of morphine physical dependence as measured by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs and to morphine reward as revealed by the expression of conditioned place preference (CPP). However, unlike WT, GluR5 KO mice fail to develop antinociceptive tolerance following repeated systemic morphine administration. In this report, we examined the impact of GluR5 deletion on cocaine-mediated CPP and locomotor sensitization. Expression of CPP was evident in WT mice following repeated daily administration of 20mg/kg (but not 10mg/kg) i.p. cocaine. Interestingly, GluR5 KO mice exhibited enhanced cocaine preference as compared with WT mice at both 10 and 20mg/kg doses. In addition, while GluR5 KO mice did not differ from WT with respect to baseline locomotor activity, mutant mice demonstrated increased locomotor hyperactivity versus WT mice after repeated injection of 15mg/kg i.p. cocaine. Collectively, these data indicate that GluR5 appears to negatively modulate some psychostimulant and rewarding properties of cocaine, as demonstrated by heightened sensitization and salience in mutant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Gregus
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Bogulavsky JJ, Gregus AM, Kim PTH, Costa ACS, Rajadhyaksha AM, Inturrisi CE. Deletion of the glutamate receptor 5 subunit of kainate receptors affects the development of morphine tolerance. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2008; 328:579-87. [PMID: 18957577 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.108.144121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports utilizing pharmacological antagonists implicate kainate receptor (KAR) activation in the development of morphine tolerance, dependence, conditioned place preference (CPP), and locomotor sensitization, but the role of glutamate receptor (GluR) 5-containing KAR in these effects remains unclear because of limited selectivity of the inhibitors employed. Therefore, we examined responses to systemic morphine treatment in mice expressing a constitutive deletion of GluR5 [GluR5 knockout (KO)]. Unlike wild-type (WT) littermates, GluR5 KO mice do not develop tolerance after repeated morphine administration by subcutaneous injection or via subcutaneous pellet implantation. In contrast, GluR5 KO mice do not differ from WT with respect to thermal or mechanical nociceptive thresholds, acute morphine antinociception, morphine disposition in the central nervous system (CNS), morphine physical dependence as revealed by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal or development of place preference and locomotor hyperresponsiveness after chronic morphine administration. It is surprising that continuous subcutaneous infusion of the GluR2/GluR5-preferring antagonist LY293558 [(3S,4aR,6R,8aR)-6-[2-(1(2)H-tetrazole-5-yl)ethyl]decahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid] decreased the number of naloxone-precipitated jumps to a similar extent in WT and GluR5 KO mice. We observed opioid-induced hypersensitivity in both groups during morphine withdrawal as demonstrated by equivalent reductions in thermal and mechanical thresholds; however, this hypersensitivity was not evident during continuous systemic morphine infusion. These data collectively indicate that KARs containing the GluR5 subunit contribute to the development of morphine tolerance without affecting nociceptive thresholds, morphine analgesia, or disposition in CNS of morphine and its metabolite morphine-3-glucuronide. In addition, constitutive deletion of GluR5 does not alter the morphine-induced increase in locomotor activity or the acquisition of morphine reward as measured by a CPP paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna J Bogulavsky
- Department of Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Tropea TF, Kosofsky BE, Rajadhyaksha AM. Enhanced CREB and DARPP-32 phosphorylation in the nucleus accumbens and CREB, ERK, and GluR1 phosphorylation in the dorsal hippocampus is associated with cocaine-conditioned place preference behavior. J Neurochem 2008; 106:1780-90. [PMID: 18554320 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05518.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Environment-induced relapse is a major concern in drug addiction because of the strong associations formed between drug reward and environment. Cocaine-conditioned place preference is an ideal experimental tool to examine adaptations in the molecular pathways that are activated upon re-exposure to an environment previously paired with drug reward. To better understand the mechanism of cocaine-conditioned place preference we have used western blot analysis to examine changes in phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein 32 (DARPP-32), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and GluR1, key molecular substrates altered by cocaine, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dorsal hippocampus (DHC) of C57BL/6 mice. Our studies revealed that re-exposing mice to an environment in which they were previously given cocaine resulted in increased levels of Ser133 phospho-CREB and Thr34 phospho-DARPP-32 with a corresponding decrease in Thr75 phospho-DARPP-32 in the NAc. In DHC there were increased levels of phospho-CREB, Thr183/Tyr185 phospho-ERK, and Ser845 phospho-GluR1. These data suggest that the formation of contextual drug reward associations involves recruitment of the DHC-NAc circuit with activation of the DARPP-32/CREB pathway in the NAc and the ERK/CREB pathway in the DHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Tropea
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, and University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, USA
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Higgins JJ, Hao J, Kosofsky BE, Rajadhyaksha AM. Dysregulation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel expression in nonsyndromal mental retardation due to a cereblon p.R419X mutation. Neurogenetics 2008; 9:219-23. [PMID: 18414909 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-008-0128-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2008] [Accepted: 03/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A nonsense mutation (R419X) in the human cereblon gene [mutation (mut) CRBN] causes a mild type of autosomal recessive nonsyndromal mental retardation (ARNSMR). CRBN, a cytosolic protein, regulates the assembly and neuronal surface expression of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca)) in brain regions involved in memory and learning. Using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we show that mut CRBN disturbs the development of adult brain BK(Ca) isoforms. These changes are predicted to result in BK(Ca) channels with a higher intracellular Ca(2+) sensitivity, faster activation, and slower deactivation kinetics. Such alterations may contribute to cognitive impairments in patients with mild ARNSMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Higgins
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Covington HE, Tropea TF, Rajadhyaksha AM, Kosofsky BE, Miczek KA. NMDA receptors in the rat VTA: a critical site for social stress to intensify cocaine taking. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2008; 197:203-16. [PMID: 18097654 PMCID: PMC2664317 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-007-1024-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2007] [Accepted: 11/13/2007] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cocaine strengthens behaviors associated with its administration. The stress response by individuals that are defeated in a brief aggressive confrontation can also promote enduring behavioral consequences similar to those of stimulants. OBJECTIVES The study intends to find whether intermittent episodes of defeat promote cocaine's reinforcing effects by triggering N-methyl-D: -aspartic acid (NMDA)-receptor-mediated plasticity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Long-Evans rats were investigated after four social defeats in three experiments. Two experiments examined systemic or intra-VTA antagonism of NMDA receptors during stress on the later expression of behavioral sensitization and cocaine self-administration during fixed and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement (0.3 mg/kg/infusion), including a novel 24-h variable-dose continuous access binge (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg/infusion, delivered in an irregular sequence). Third, the expression of receptor proteins NR1 (NMDA) and GluR1 [alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)] were examined in VTA and nucleus accumbens. RESULTS Intermittent defeats augment locomotor responses to cocaine and increase cocaine taking. Rates of responding during binges are increased after defeat stress. These effects are prevented when NMDA or AMPA receptor antagonists are administered before defeats. VTA infusions of the NMDA antagonist AP-5 (5 nmol/side) before stress prevents locomotor sensitization to cocaine and intensified responding for cocaine during a PR schedule or binge. Episodic defeats increase GluR1 AMPA subunit protein expression in the VTA. CONCLUSIONS Social stress stimulates NMDA receptors in the VTA, and this neural action of defeat may be essential for prompting a later increase in cocaine intake during binges.
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Giordano TP, Satpute SS, Striessnig J, Kosofsky BE, Rajadhyaksha AM. Up-regulation of dopamine D(2)L mRNA levels in the ventral tegmental area and dorsal striatum of amphetamine-sensitized C57BL/6 mice: role of Ca(v)1.3 L-type Ca(2+) channels. J Neurochem 2006; 99:1197-206. [PMID: 17026527 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04186.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine D(2) long (D(2)L) and D(2) short (D(2)S) isoforms of the D(2) receptor play an important role in psychostimulant-induced neuronal adaptations. In this study, we used quantitative real-time PCR to specifically amplify these two splice variants to examine their mRNA expression in the dorsal striatum (dStr), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of amphetamine-sensitized C57BL/6 mice. We found a significant increase in D(2)L mRNA in the VTA and dStr of amphetamine-treated mice that positively correlated with the sensitized locomotor response. We also found a significant increase in D(2)S mRNA in the VTA. We further examined the role of the Ca(v)1.3 subtype of L-type Ca(2+) channels in up-regulation of D(2)L and D(2)S mRNA in the VTA. Amphetamine-pretreated Ca(v)1.3 wild-type (Ca(v)1.3(+/+)) mice exhibited sensitized behavior and a significant increase in D(2)L and D(2)S mRNA compared with saline-pretreated mice Amphetamine-pretreated homozygous Ca(v)1.3 knockout (Ca(v)1.3(-/-)) mice did not exhibit sensitized behavior. There was a significant increase in D(2)S mRNA, but not D(2)L mRNA. In conclusion, our results find that amphetamine increases D(2)L mRNA expression in the dStr and the VTA, an adaptation that correlates with expression of sensitized behavior and dependence on Ca(v)1.3 Ca(2+) channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- T P Giordano
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
There is growing evidence for the role of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels in mediating aspects of the addictive properties of psychostimulants. L-type Ca2+ channels activate Ca2+ second-messenger pathways that regulate protein phosphorylation and thereby activation of target gene expression. Here the authors will review recent progress in our understanding of L-type Ca2+ channel-activated signal transduction pathways that contribute to molecular neuroadaptations evident following acute and chronic exposures to psychostimulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Labortory of Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience, and Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
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Rajadhyaksha AM, Kosofsky BE. Psychostimulants, Protein phosphorylation and Gene expression: a growing role of L-type calcium channels. Cellscience 2005; 2:127-144. [PMID: 16724157 PMCID: PMC1466347 DOI: 10.1901/jaba.2005.2-127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
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