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Hsieh CCJ, Lo YC, Wang HH, Shen HY, Chen YY, Lee YC. Amelioration of the brain structural connectivity is accompanied with changes of gut microbiota in a tuberous sclerosis complex mouse model. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:68. [PMID: 38296969 PMCID: PMC10830571 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02752-y] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disease that causes benign tumors and dysfunctions in many organs, including the brain. Aside from the brain malformations, many individuals with TSC exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms. Among these symptoms, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common co-morbidities, affecting up to 60% of the population. Past neuroimaging studies strongly suggested that the impairments in brain connectivity contribute to ASD, whether or not TSC-related. Specifically, the tract-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis provides information on the fiber integrity and has been used to study the neuropathological changes in the white matter of TSC patients with ASD symptoms. In our previous study, curcumin, a diet-derived mTOR inhibitor has been shown to effectively mitigate learning and memory deficits and anxiety-like behavior in Tsc2+/- mice via inhibiting astroglial proliferation. Recently, gut microbiota, which is greatly influenced by the diet, has been considered to play an important role in regulating several components of the central nervous system, including glial functions. In this study, we showed that the abnormal social behavior in the Tsc2+/- mice can be ameliorated by the dietary curcumin treatment. Second, using tract-based DTI analysis, we found that the Tsc2+/- mice exhibited altered fractional anisotropy, axial and radial diffusivities of axonal bundles connecting the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, and amygdala, indicating a decreased brain network. Third, the dietary curcumin treatment improved the DTI metrics, in accordance with changes in the gut microbiota composition. At the bacterial phylum level, we showed that the abundances of Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Tenericutes were significantly correlated with the DTI metrics FA, AD, and RD, respectively. Finally, we revealed that the expression of myelin-associated proteins, myelin bassic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP) was increased after the treatment. Overall, we showed a strong correlation between structural connectivity alterations and social behavioral deficits, as well as the diet-dependent changes in gut microbiota composition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yu-Chun Lo
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Hui Wang
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ying Shen
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - You-Yin Chen
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Chao Lee
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- International Master Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Kuo CJ, Lee KH, Huang CC, Wang IF, Hsieh CCJ, Lin HC, Lee YC. Purα regulates the induction of Znf179 transcription during neuronal differentiation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 533:1477-1483. [PMID: 33333713 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Development of the mammalian central nervous system is an important process, which is accomplished through precise regulations of many different genes. Zinc finger protein 179 (Znf179) is one of the essential genes that plays a critical role in neuronal differentiation. In our previous study, Znf179 knockout mice displayed brain malformation and impaired brain functions. We have also previously shown that Znf179 involves in cell cycle regulation, but the regulatory mechanism of Znf179 expression is not yet fully characterized. Herein, we identified that Purα is an essential factor for the promotor activity of Znf179. We also showed concurrent expression of Znf179 and Purα during neuronal differentiation. We also found that overexpression of Purα increased Znf179 expression in neuronal differentiated P19 cells. Through its direct binding to Znf179, as shown using DAPA, Purα upregulates Znf179 expression, suggesting that Purα is important for the regulation of Znf179 expression during neuronal differentiation. Our data indicated that Purα is involved in the transcriptional regulation of Znf179 gene during neuronal differentiation, and is indispensable during the brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Jen Kuo
- Health Management Center, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Haur Lee
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chen Huang
- PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Neuroscience, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Fang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Christine Chin-Jung Hsieh
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chuan Lin
- PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Neuroscience, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Chao Lee
- PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Neuroscience, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Li SJ, Lo YC, Lai HY, Lin SH, Lin HC, Lin TC, Chang CW, Chen TC, Chin-Jung Hsieh C, Yang SH, Chiu FM, Kuo CH, Chen YY. Uncovering the Modulatory Interactions of Brain Networks in Cognition with Central Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Neuroscience 2020; 440:65-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Hsieh CCJ, Lo YC, Li SJ, Lin TC, Chang CW, Chen TC, Yang SH, Lee YC, Chen YY. Detection of endophenotypes associated with neuropsychiatric deficiencies in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex using diffusion tensor imaging. Brain Pathol 2020; 31:4-19. [PMID: 32530070 PMCID: PMC8018051 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare hereditary disease, which results from the mutation of either TSC1 or TSC2, and its clinical features include benign tumors and dysfunctions in numerous organs, including the brain. Many individuals with TSC manifest neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as learning impairments, cognitive deficits and anxiety. Current pharmacological treatment for TSC is the use of mTOR inhibitors. However, they are not effective in treating neuropsychiatric symptoms. We previously used curcumin, a diet-derived mTOR inhibitor, which possesses both anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties, to improve learning and memory deficits in Tsc2+/- mice. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provides microstructural information in brain tissue and has been used to study the neuropathological changes in TSC. In this study, we confirmed that the impaired recognition memory and increased anxiety-like behavior in Tsc2+/- mice can be reversed by curcumin treatment. Second, we found altered fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity in the anterior cingulate cortex and the hippocampus of the Tsc2+/- mice, which may indicate altered circuitry. Finally, the mTOR complex 1 hyperactivity was found in the cortex and hippocampus, coinciding with abnormal cortical myelination and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in the hippocampal CA1 of Tsc2+/- mice, both of which can be rescued with curcumin treatment. Overall, DTI is sensitive to the subtle alterations that cannot be detected by conventional imaging, suggesting that noninvasive DTI may be suitable for longitudinally monitoring the in vivo neuropathology associated with the neuropsychiatric symptoms in TSC, thereby facilitating future clinical trials of pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Chin-Jung Hsieh
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11574, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Lo
- PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Ju Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chun Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Wen Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chieh Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hung Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chao Lee
- PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - You-Yin Chen
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11574, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan.,PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
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Chang CW, Lo YC, Lin SH, Yang SH, Lin HC, Lin TC, Li SJ, Hsieh CCJ, Ro V, Chung YJ, Chang YC, Lee CW, Kuo CH, Chen SY, Chen YY. Modulation of Theta-Band Local Field Potential Oscillations Across Brain Networks With Central Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Spatial Working Memory. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1269. [PMID: 32038122 PMCID: PMC6988804 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established technique for the treatment of movement and psychiatric disorders through the modulation of neural oscillatory activity and synaptic plasticity. The central thalamus (CT) has been indicated as a potential target for stimulation to enhance memory. However, the mechanisms underlying local field potential (LFP) oscillations and memory enhancement by CT-DBS remain unknown. In this study, we used CT-DBS to investigate the mechanisms underlying the changes in oscillatory communication between the CT and hippocampus, both of which are involved in spatial working memory. Local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from microelectrode array implanted in the CT, dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis (CA) region 1, and CA region 3. Functional connectivity (FC) strength was assessed by LFP-LFP coherence calculations for these brain regions. In addition, a T-maze behavioral task using a rat model was performed to assess the performance of spatial working memory. In DBS group, our results revealed that theta oscillations significantly increased in the CT and hippocampus compared with that in sham controls. As indicated by coherence, the FC between the CT and hippocampus significantly increased in the theta band after CT-DBS. Moreover, Western blotting showed that the protein expressions of the dopamine D1 and α4-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were enhanced, whereas that of the dopamine D2 receptor decreased in the DBS group. In conclusion, the use of CT-DBS resulted in elevated theta oscillations, increased FC between the CT and hippocampus, and altered synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, suggesting that CT-DBS is an effective approach for improving spatial working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Wen Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Lo
- The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Huang Lin
- Department of Neurology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien City, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hung Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ching Lin
- Department and Institute of Physiology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chun Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Ju Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Christine Chin-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming University, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vina Ro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Jung Chung
- Department and Institute of Physiology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Chi Chang
- Department and Institute of Physiology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Wei Lee
- The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department and Institute of Physiology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Hung Kuo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Neurological Institute, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shin-Yuan Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien City, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Taiwan
| | - You-Yin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming University, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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