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Li X, Ramos-Rolón AP, Kass G, Pereira-Rufino LS, Shifman N, Shi Z, Volkow ND, Wiers CE. Imaging neuroinflammation in individuals with substance use disorders. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e172884. [PMID: 38828729 PMCID: PMC11142750 DOI: 10.1172/jci172884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests a role of neuroinflammation in substance use disorders (SUDs). This Review presents findings from neuroimaging studies assessing brain markers of inflammation in vivo in individuals with SUDs. Most studies investigated the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) using PET; neuroimmune markers myo-inositol, choline-containing compounds, and N-acetyl aspartate using magnetic resonance spectroscopy; and fractional anisotropy using MRI. Study findings have contributed to a greater understanding of neuroimmune function in the pathophysiology of SUDs, including its temporal dynamics (i.e., acute versus chronic substance use) and new targets for SUD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Li
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Astrid P. Ramos-Rolón
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gabriel Kass
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lais S. Pereira-Rufino
- Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Naomi Shifman
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhenhao Shi
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Corinde E. Wiers
- Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Chirokoff V, Pohl KM, Berthoz S, Fatseas M, Misdrahi D, Serre F, Auriacombe M, Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV, Chanraud S. Multi-level prediction of substance use: Interaction of white matter integrity, resting-state connectivity and inhibitory control measured repeatedly in every-day life. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13400. [PMID: 38706091 PMCID: PMC11070496 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are characterized by inhibition deficits related to disrupted connectivity in white matter pathways, leading via interaction to difficulties in resisting substance use. By combining neuroimaging with smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA), we questioned how biomarkers moderate inhibition deficits to predict use. Thus, we aimed to assess white matter integrity interaction with everyday inhibition deficits and related resting-state network connectivity to identify multi-dimensional predictors of substance use. Thirty-eight patients treated for alcohol, cannabis or tobacco use disorder completed 1 week of EMA to report substance use five times and complete Stroop inhibition testing twice daily. Before EMA tracking, participants underwent resting state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scanning. Regression analyses were conducted between mean Stroop performances and whole-brain fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter. Moderation testing was conducted between mean FA within significant clusters as moderator and the link between momentary Stroop performance and use as outcome. Predictions between FA and resting-state connectivity strength in known inhibition-related networks were assessed using mixed modelling. Higher FA values in the anterior corpus callosum and bilateral anterior corona radiata predicted higher mean Stroop performance during the EMA week and stronger functional connectivity in occipital-frontal-cerebellar regions. Integrity in these regions moderated the link between inhibitory control and substance use, whereby stronger inhibition was predictive of the lowest probability of use for the highest FA values. In conclusion, compromised white matter structural integrity in anterior brain systems appears to underlie impairment in inhibitory control functional networks and compromised ability to refrain from substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine Chirokoff
- Univ. Bordeaux, INCIA CNRS‐UMR 5287BordeauxFrance
- EPHEPSL Research UniversityParisFrance
| | - Kilian M. Pohl
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sylvie Berthoz
- Univ. Bordeaux, INCIA CNRS‐UMR 5287BordeauxFrance
- Department of Psychiatry for Adolescents and Young AdultsInstitut Mutualiste MontsourisParisFrance
| | - Melina Fatseas
- Univ. Bordeaux, INCIA CNRS‐UMR 5287BordeauxFrance
- CH Charles PerrensBordeauxFrance
- CHU BordeauxBordeauxFrance
| | - David Misdrahi
- Univ. Bordeaux, INCIA CNRS‐UMR 5287BordeauxFrance
- CH Charles PerrensBordeauxFrance
| | - Fuschia Serre
- CNRS UMR 6033 – Sleep, Addiction and Neuropsychiatry (SANPSY)University of BordeauxBordeauxFrance
| | - Marc Auriacombe
- CH Charles PerrensBordeauxFrance
- CNRS UMR 6033 – Sleep, Addiction and Neuropsychiatry (SANPSY)University of BordeauxBordeauxFrance
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA
| | - Edith V. Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sandra Chanraud
- Univ. Bordeaux, INCIA CNRS‐UMR 5287BordeauxFrance
- EPHEPSL Research UniversityParisFrance
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Steiner NL, Purohit DC, Tiefenthaler CM, Mandyam CD. Abstinence and Fear Experienced during This Period Produce Distinct Cortical and Hippocampal Adaptations in Alcohol-Dependent Rats. Brain Sci 2024; 14:431. [PMID: 38790410 PMCID: PMC11118749 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrate that ethanol dependence induced by repeating cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE) followed by protracted abstinence produces significant gray matter damage via myelin dysfunction in the rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and alterations in neuronal excitability in the mPFC and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Specifically, abstinence-induced neuroadaptations have been associated with persistent elevated relapse to drinking. The current study evaluated the effects of forced abstinence for 1 day (d), 7 d, 21 d, and 42 d following seven weeks of CIE on synaptic plasticity proteins in the mPFC and DG. Immunoblotting revealed reduced expression of CaMKII in the mPFC and enhanced expression of GABAA and CaMKII in the DG at the 21 d time point, and the expression of the ratio of GluN2A/2B subunits did not change at any of the time points studied. Furthermore, cognitive performance via Pavlovian trace fear conditioning (TFC) was evaluated in 3 d abstinent rats, as this time point is associated with negative affect. In addition, the expression of the ratio of GluN2A/2B subunits and a 3D structural analysis of neurons in the mPFC and DG were evaluated in 3 d abstinent rats. Behavioral analysis revealed faster acquisition of fear responses and reduced retrieval of fear memories in CIE rats compared to controls. TFC produced hyperplasticity of pyramidal neurons in the mPFC under control conditions and this effect was not evident or blunted in abstinent rats. Neurons in the DG were unaltered. TFC enhanced the GluN2A/2B ratio in the mPFC and reduced the ratio in the DG and was not altered by abstinence. These findings indicate that forced abstinence from CIE produces distinct and divergent alterations in plasticity proteins in the mPFC and DG. Fear learning-induced changes in structural plasticity and proteins contributing to it were more profound in the mPFC during forced abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah L. Steiner
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; (N.L.S.)
| | | | - Casey M. Tiefenthaler
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Chitra D. Mandyam
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; (N.L.S.)
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA;
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
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van Rhijn S, Teixeira-Dias M, Medford N, Nicholson T, Okai D, Shotbolt P, Deeley Q. Predictive Utility of Diffusion MRI After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Civilian Populations: A Systematic Review. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:appineuropsych20230122. [PMID: 38528807 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20230122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A considerable number of people experience persisting symptoms and functional limitations after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It is unclear whether subtle white matter changes contribute to this phenomenon. In this systematic review, the authors evaluated whether microstructural white matter indices on advanced MRI are related to clinical dysfunction among patients without abnormalities on standard brain computed tomography (CT) or MRI (uncomplicated mTBI). METHODS A search of multiple databases was performed. Studies with individuals who experienced blast-related, sports-related, or multiple mTBIs were excluded. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) metrics and cognitive, neuropsychiatric, or functional outcome measures were extracted from each study. RESULTS Thirteen studies were selected (participants with mTBI, N=553; healthy control group, N=438). Seven DTI studies evaluated cognitive function, with five reporting significant correlations between reduced white matter integrity and deficits in attention, processing speed, and executive function at 6-12 months after injury (three studies included only individuals with uncomplicated mTBI). Four studies found significant correlations between DTI metrics and persistent postconcussive symptoms after 3-12 months (one study included only individuals with uncomplicated mTBI). Two SWI studies reported conflicting findings regarding the relationship between the presence of microbleeds and postconcussive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that indices of microstructural white matter integrity may relate to clinical presentation 3-12 months after injury in uncomplicated mTBI. However, analysis methods and brain regions studied varied across studies. Further research is needed to identify relationships between white matter indices in specific brain regions and symptom persistence beyond 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne van Rhijn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Maria Teixeira-Dias
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Nick Medford
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Timothy Nicholson
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - David Okai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Paul Shotbolt
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Quinton Deeley
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
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Huang MC, Tu HY, Chung RH, Kuo HW, Liu TH, Chen CH, Mochly-Rosen D, Liu YL. Changes of neurofilament light chain in patients with alcohol dependence following withdrawal and the genetic effect from ALDH2 Polymorphism. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:423-432. [PMID: 37314537 PMCID: PMC10719424 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01635-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Neurofilament light chain (NFL), as a measure of neuroaxonal injury, has recently gained attention in alcohol dependence (AD). Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is the major enzyme which metabolizes the alcohol breakdown product acetaldehyde. An ALDH2 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs671) is associated with less ALDH2 enzyme activity and increased neurotoxicity. We examined the blood NFL levels in 147 patients with AD and 114 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and genotyped rs671. We also followed NFL level, alcohol craving and psychological symptoms in patients with AD after 1 and 2 weeks of detoxification. We found the baseline NFL level was significantly higher in patients with AD than in controls (mean ± SD: 264.2 ± 261.8 vs. 72.1 ± 35.6 pg/mL, p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that NFL concentration could discriminate patients with AD from controls (area under the curve: 0.85; p < 0.001). The NFL levels were significantly reduced following 1 and 2 weeks of detoxification, with the extent of reduction correlated with the improvement of craving, depression, and anxiety (p < 0.001). Carriers with the rs671 GA genotype, which is associated with less ALDH2 activity, had higher NLF levels either at baseline or after detoxification compared with GG carriers. In conclusion, plasma NFL level was increased in patients with AD and reduced after early abstinence. Reduction in NFL level corroborated well with the improvement of clinical symptoms. The ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism may play a role in modulating the extent of neuroaxonal injury and its recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Chyi Huang
- Department of Addiction Sciences, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Psychiatric Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Yuan Tu
- Department of Addiction Sciences, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ren-Hua Chung
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Wei Kuo
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Hsia Liu
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Che-Hong Chen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daria Mochly-Rosen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yu-Li Liu
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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6
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Selim MK, Harel M, De Santis S, Perini I, Sommer WH, Heilig M, Zangen A, Canals S. Repetitive deep TMS in alcohol dependent patients halts progression of white matter changes in early abstinence. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:176-185. [PMID: 38085120 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
AIM Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent form of addiction, with a great burden on society and limited treatment options. A recent clinical trial reported significant clinical benefits of deep transcranial magnetic stimulations (Deep TMS) targeting midline frontocortical areas. However, the underlying biological substrate remained elusive. Here, we report the effect of Deep TMS on the microstructure of white matter. METHODS A total of 37 (14 females) AUD treatment-seeking patients were randomized to sham or active Deep TMS. Twenty (six females) age-matched healthy controls were included. White matter integrity was evaluated by fractional anisotropy (FA). Secondary measures included brain functional connectivity and self-reports of craving and drinking units in the 3 months of follow-up period. RESULTS White matter integrity was compromised in patients with AUD relative to healthy controls, as reflected by the widespread reduction in FA. This alteration progressed during early abstinence (3 weeks) in the absence of Deep TMS. However, stimulation of midline frontocortical areas arrested the progression of FA changes in association with decreased craving and relapse scores. Reconstruction of axonal tracts from white-matter regions showing preserved FA values identified cortical regions in the posterior cingulate and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices where functional connectivity was persistently modulated. These effects were absent in the sham-stimulated group. CONCLUSIONS By integrating brain structure and function to characterize the alcohol-dependent brain, this study provides mechanistic insights into the TMS effect, pointing to myelin plasticity as a possible mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Kotb Selim
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Maayan Harel
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Irene Perini
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Wolfgang H Sommer
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Abraham Zangen
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
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7
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Cao HL, Wei W, Meng YJ, Deng W, Li T, Li ML, Guo WJ. Disrupted white matter structural networks in individuals with alcohol dependence. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 168:13-21. [PMID: 37871461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have demonstrated widespread white matter microstructure damage in individuals with alcoholism. However, very little is known about the alterations in the topological architecture of white matter structural networks in alcohol dependence (AD). This study included 67 AD patients and 69 controls. The graph theoretical analysis method was applied to examine the topological organization of the white matter structural networks, and network-based statistics (NBS) were employed to detect structural connectivity alterations. Compared to controls, AD patients exhibited abnormal global network properties characterized by increased small-worldness, normalized clustering coefficient, clustering coefficient, and shortest path length; and decreased global efficiency and local efficiency. Further analyses revealed decreased nodal efficiency and degree centrality in AD patients mainly located in the default mode network (DMN), including the precuneus, anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, median cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and medial part of the superior frontal gyrus. Furthermore, based on NBS approaches, patients displayed weaker subnetwork connectivity mainly located in the region of the DMN. Additionally, altered network metrics were correlated with intelligence quotient (IQ) scores and global assessment function (GAF) scores. Our results may reveal the disruption of whole-brain white matter structural networks in AD individuals, which may contribute to our comprehension of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction at the level of white matter structural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Ling Cao
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurobiology, Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ya-Jing Meng
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Deng
- Department of Neurobiology, Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ming-Li Li
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Wan-Jun Guo
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Neurobiology, Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
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8
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van Oort J, Diazgranados N, George DT, Horneffer Y, Schwandt M, Goldman D, Momenan R. Preliminary evidence for changes in frontoparietal network connectivity in the early abstinence period in alcohol use disorder: a longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1185770. [PMID: 37575566 PMCID: PMC10420071 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1185770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The early abstinence period is a crucial phase in alcohol use disorder (AUD) in which patients have to find a new equilibrium and may start recovery, or conversely, relapse. However, the changes in brain functions during this key period are still largely unknown. We set out to study longitudinal changes in large-scale brain networks during the early abstinence period using resting-state scans. We scanned AUD patients twice in a well-controlled inpatient setting, with the first scan taking place shortly after admission and the second scan 4 weeks (±9 days) later near the end of the treatment period. We studied 37 AUD patients (22 males) and 27 healthy controls (16 males). We focused on three networks that are affected in AUD and underly core symptom dimensions in this disorder: the frontoparietal networks (left and right FPN) and default mode network (DMN). Both the whole brain and within network connectivity of these networks were studied using dual regression. Finally, we explored correlations between these brain networks and various neuropsychological and behavioral measures. In contrast to the controls (Z = -1.081, p = 0.280), the AUD patients showed a decrease in within left FPN connectivity (Z = -2.029, p = 0.042). However, these results did not survive a strict Bonferroni correction. The decrease in left FPN connectivity during the early abstinence period in AUD may reflect an initially upregulated FPN, which recovers to a lower resting-state connectivity level during subsequent weeks of abstinence. The AUD patients showed a trend for a positive association between the change in left FPN connectivity and trait anxiety (rs = 0.303, p = 0.068), and a trend for a negative association between the change in left FPN connectivity and delay discounting (rs = -0.283, p = 0.089) (uncorrected for multiple comparisons). This suggests that the FPN might be involved in top-down control of impulsivity and anxiety, which are important risk factors for relapse. Although there were no statistically significant results (after multiple comparison correction), our preliminary findings encourage further research into the dynamic neuroadaptations during the clinically crucial early abstinence period and could inform future study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper van Oort
- Clinical NeuroImaging Research Core, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nancy Diazgranados
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David T. George
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yvonne Horneffer
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Melanie Schwandt
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David Goldman
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Reza Momenan
- Clinical NeuroImaging Research Core, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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9
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Hodges CB, Steinberg JL, Zuniga EA, Ma L, Bjork JM, Moeller FG. Chronic Cocaine Use and White Matter Coherence: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2023; 84:585-597. [PMID: 36971714 PMCID: PMC10488304 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.21-00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic substance use and its effects on brain function and structure has long been of interest to clinicians and researchers. Prior cross-sectional comparisons of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics have suggested deleterious effects of chronic substance use (i.e., cocaine use) on white matter coherence. However, it is unclear how these effects may replicate across geographic regions when examined with similar technologies. In this study, we sought to conduct a replication of previous work in this area and determine whether there are any patterns of persistent differences in white matter microstructure between individuals with a history of cocaine use disorder (CocUD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) and healthy controls. METHOD A total of 46 participants (21 healthy controls, 25 chronic cocaine users) were recruited from the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Information regarding past and current substance use was collected from all participants. Participants also completed structural and DTI scans. RESULTS Consistent with previous DTI studies, significant differences were found between fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity (AD) CocUD and controls, with CocUD showing lower FA and AD in the right inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus, the genu, body, and splenium of the corpus callosum, and the anterior, posterior, and superior corona radiata, among several other regions. These differences were not significant for other diffusivity metrics. Lifetime alcohol consumption was greater in the CocUD group, but lifetime alcohol consumption did not show a significant linear relationship with any of the DTI metrics in within-group regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS These data align with previously reported declines in white matter coherence in chronic cocaine users. However, it is less clear whether comorbid alcohol consumption results in an additive deleterious effect on white matter microstructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper B. Hodges
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Joel L. Steinberg
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Edward A. Zuniga
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Liangsuo Ma
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - James M. Bjork
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - F. Gerard Moeller
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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10
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Pérez-Cervera L, De Santis S, Marcos E, Ghorbanzad-Ghaziany Z, Trouvé-Carpena A, Selim MK, Pérez-Ramírez Ú, Pfarr S, Bach P, Halli P, Kiefer F, Moratal D, Kirsch P, Sommer WH, Canals S. Alcohol-induced damage to the fimbria/fornix reduces hippocampal-prefrontal cortex connection during early abstinence. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:101. [PMID: 37344865 PMCID: PMC10286362 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01597-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alcohol dependence is characterized by a gradual reduction in cognitive control and inflexibility to contingency changes. The neuroadaptations underlying this aberrant behavior are poorly understood. Using an animal model of alcohol use disorders (AUD) and complementing diffusion-weighted (dw)-MRI with quantitative immunohistochemistry and electrophysiological recordings, we provide causal evidence that chronic intermittent alcohol exposure affects the microstructural integrity of the fimbria/fornix, decreasing myelin basic protein content, and reducing the effective communication from the hippocampus (HC) to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Using a simple quantitative neural network model, we show how disturbed HC-PFC communication may impede the extinction of maladaptive memories, decreasing flexibility. Finally, combining dw-MRI and psychometric data in AUD patients, we discovered an association between the magnitude of microstructural alteration in the fimbria/fornix and the reduction in cognitive flexibility. Overall, these findings highlight the vulnerability of the fimbria/fornix microstructure in AUD and its potential contribution to alcohol pathophysiology. Fimbria vulnerability to alcohol underlies hippocampal-prefrontal cortex dysfunction and correlates with cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez-Cervera
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Encarni Marcos
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Zahra Ghorbanzad-Ghaziany
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
- Radiation Science and Biomedical Imaging, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Alejandro Trouvé-Carpena
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Mohamed Kotb Selim
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Úrsula Pérez-Ramírez
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Simone Pfarr
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Patrick Bach
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Patrick Halli
- Department of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - David Moratal
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Peter Kirsch
- Department of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H Sommer
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
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11
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Ruiz-España S, Ortiz-Ramón R, Pérez-Ramírez Ú, Díaz-Parra A, Ciccocioppo R, Bach P, Vollstädt-Klein S, Kiefer F, Sommer WH, Canals S, Moratal D. MRI texture-based radiomics analysis for the identification of altered functional networks in alcoholic patients and animal models. Comput Med Imaging Graph 2023; 104:102187. [PMID: 36696812 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2023.102187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex condition representing a leading risk factor for death, disease and disability. Its high prevalence and severe health consequences make necessary a better understanding of the brain network alterations to improve diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of resting-state fMRI 3D texture features as a novel source of biomarkers to identify AUD brain network alterations following a radiomics approach. A longitudinal study was conducted in Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring msP rats (N = 36) who underwent resting-state functional and structural MRI before and after 30 days of alcohol or water consumption. A cross-sectional human study was also conducted among 33 healthy controls and 35 AUD patients. The preprocessed functional data corresponding to control and alcohol conditions were used to perform a probabilistic independent component analysis, identifying seven independent components as resting-state networks. Forty-three radiomic features extracted from each network were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Holm correction to identify the network most affected by alcohol consumption. Features extracted from this network were then used in the machine learning process, evaluating two feature selection methods and six predictive models within a nested cross-validation structure. The classification was evaluated by computing the area under the ROC curve. Images were quantized using different numbers of gray-levels to test their influence on the results. The influence of ageing, data preprocessing, and brain iron accumulation were also analyzed. The methodology was validated using structural scans. The striatal network in alcohol-exposed msP rats presented the most significant number of altered features. The radiomics approach supported this result achieving good classification performance in animals (AUC = 0.915 ± 0.100, with 12 features) and humans (AUC = 0.724 ± 0.117, with 9 features) using a random forest model. Using the structural scans, high accuracy was achieved with a multilayer perceptron in both species (animals: AUC > 0.95 with 2 features, humans: AUC > 0.82 with 18 features). The best results were obtained using a feature selection method based on the p-value. The proposed radiomics approach is able to identify AUD patients and alcohol-exposed rats with good accuracy, employing a subset of 3D features extracted from fMRI. Furthermore, it can help identify relevant networks in drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ruiz-España
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Ortiz-Ramón
- GRID Research Group, Universidad Internacional de Valencia - VIU, Valencia, Spain
| | - Úrsula Pérez-Ramírez
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Antonio Díaz-Parra
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Patrick Bach
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Vollstädt-Klein
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H Sommer
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de San Juan, 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
| | - David Moratal
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
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12
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Sullivan EV, Pfefferbaum A. Alcohol use disorder: Neuroimaging evidence for accelerated aging of brain morphology and hypothesized contribution to age-related dementia. Alcohol 2023; 107:44-55. [PMID: 35781021 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Excessive alcohol use curtails longevity by rendering intoxicated individuals vulnerable to heightened risk from accidents, violence, and alcohol poisoning, and makes chronically heavy drinkers vulnerable to acceleration of age-related medical and psychiatric conditions that can be life threatening (Yoon, Chen, Slater, Jung, & White, 2020). Thus, studies of factors influencing age-alcohol interactions must consider the potential that the alcohol use disorder (AUD) population may not represent the oldest ages of the unaffected population and may well have accrued comorbidities associated with both AUD and aging itself. Herein, we focus on the aging of the brains of men and women with AUD, keeping AUD contextual factors in mind. Knowledge of the potential influence of the AUD-associated co-factors on the condition of brain structure may lead to identifying modifiable risk factors to avert physical declines and may reverse or arrest further AUD-related degradation of the brain. In this narrative review, we 1) describe quantitative, controlled studies of brain macrostructure and microstructure of adults with AUD, 2) consider the possibility of recovery of brain integrity through harm reduction with sustained abstinence or reduced drinking, and 3) speculate on the ramifications of accelerated aging in AUD as contributing to age-related dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith V Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States; Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, United States
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13
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Beck A, Ebrahimi C, Rosenthal A, Charlet K, Heinz A. The Dopamine System in Mediating Alcohol Effects in Humans. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 36705911 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Brain-imaging studies show that the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is determined by a complex interaction of different neurotransmitter systems and multiple psychological factors. In this context, the dopaminergic reinforcement system appears to be of fundamental importance. We focus on the excitatory and depressant effects of acute versus chronic alcohol intake and its impact on dopaminergic neurotransmission. Furthermore, we describe alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission as associated with symptoms of alcohol dependence. We specifically focus on neuroadaptations to chronic alcohol consumption and their effect on central processing of alcohol-associated and reward-related stimuli. Altered reward processing, complex conditioning processes, impaired reinforcement learning, and increased salience attribution to alcohol-associated stimuli enable alcohol cues to drive alcohol seeking and consumption. Finally, we will discuss how the neurobiological and neurochemical mechanisms of alcohol-associated alterations in reward processing and learning can interact with stress, cognition, and emotion processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Beck
- Faculty of Health, Health and Medical University, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Claudia Ebrahimi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annika Rosenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katrin Charlet
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Bach P, de Timary P, Gründer G, Cumming P. Molecular Imaging Studies of Alcohol Use Disorder. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 36639552 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious public health problem in many countries, bringing a gamut of health risks and impairments to individuals and a great burden to society. Despite the prevalence of a disease model of AUD, the current pharmacopeia does not present reliable treatments for AUD; approved treatments are confined to a narrow spectrum of medications engaging inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission and possibly excitatory N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and opioid receptor antagonists. Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can open a window into the living brain and has provided diverse insights into the pathology of AUD. In this narrative review, we summarize the state of molecular imaging findings on the pharmacological action of ethanol and the neuropathological changes associated with AUD. Laboratory and preclinical imaging results highlight the interactions between ethanol and GABA A-type receptors (GABAAR), but the interpretation of such results is complicated by subtype specificity. An abundance of studies with the glucose metabolism tracer fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) concur in showing cerebral hypometabolism after ethanol challenge, but there is relatively little data on long-term changes in AUD. Alcohol toxicity evokes neuroinflammation, which can be tracked using PET with ligands for the microglial marker translocator protein (TSPO). Several PET studies show reversible increases in TSPO binding in AUD individuals, and preclinical results suggest that opioid-antagonists can rescue from these inflammatory responses. There are numerous PET/SPECT studies showing changes in dopaminergic markers, generally consistent with an impairment in dopamine synthesis and release among AUD patients, as seen in a number of other addictions; this may reflect the composite of an underlying deficiency in reward mechanisms that predisposes to AUD, in conjunction with acquired alterations in dopamine signaling. There is little evidence for altered serotonin markers in AUD, but studies with opioid receptor ligands suggest a specific up-regulation of the μ-opioid receptor subtype. Considerable heterogeneity in drinking patterns, gender differences, and the variable contributions of genetics and pre-existing vulnerability traits present great challenges for charting the landscape of molecular imaging in AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bach
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Philippe de Timary
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gerhard Gründer
- Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Paul Cumming
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- International Centre for Education and Research in Neuropsychiatry (ICERN), Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
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15
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Ikuta T, Kessler PB, Swoboda AM, Fisher AK. Arcuate Fasciculus Microstructure Predicts Alcohol Dependence Risk through Higher IQ. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13010129. [PMID: 36672110 PMCID: PMC9856630 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IQ has been found to correlate with alcohol consumption, with a higher IQ being a risk for alcohol misuse. Furthermore, recent research has shown that the microstructure of the arcuate fasciculus is associated with IQ. This study therefore aimed to examine the association between the arcuate fasciculus microstructure, IQ, and alcohol dependence risk. In this study, we performed probabilistic tractography between Wernicke's and Broca's areas in the left and right hemispheres to examine the association of the arcuate fasciculus's integrity with IQ and alcohol dependence risk, using DTI data from 344 individuals. Data regarding IQ were obtained from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II). Alcohol substance involvement (SI) score was derived using the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Quick Screen and was used as an index for alcohol dependence risk. Both the left arcuate fasciculus and IQ were found to have a significant association with alcohol dependence risk. A mediation analysis revealed that this association between the left arcuate fasciculus microstructure and an alcohol dependence risk was mediated by IQ. It is suggested that the left arcuate fasciculus microstructure is associated with IQ which is associated with alcohol dependence risk. While alcohol consumption is known to be robustly toxic to the brain, the left arcuate fasciculus shows exceptional characteristics in which its microstructure integrity is positively associated with an alcohol dependence risk through higher IQ. Clinical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshikazu Ikuta
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Paige B. Kessler
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Alexandria M. Swoboda
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Amy K. Fisher
- Department of Social Work, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
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16
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Tan H, Hubertus S, Thomas S, Lee AM, Gerhardt S, Gerchen MF, Sommer WH, Kiefer F, Schad L, Vollstädt-Klein S. Association between iron accumulation in the dorsal striatum and compulsive drinking in alcohol use disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:249-257. [PMID: 36577866 PMCID: PMC9879829 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06301-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Brain iron accumulation has been observed in neuropsychiatric disorders and shown to be related to neurodegeneration. OBJECTIVES In this study, we used quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), an emerging MRI technique developed for quantifying tissue magnetic susceptibility, to examine brain iron accumulation in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its relation to compulsive drinking. METHODS Based on our previous projects, QSM was performed as a secondary analysis with gradient echo sequence images, in 186 individuals with AUD and 274 healthy participants. Whole-brain susceptibility values were calculated with morphology-enabled dipole inversion and referenced to the cerebrospinal fluid. Then, the susceptibility maps were compared between AUD individuals and healthy participants. The relationship between drinking patterns and susceptibility was explored. RESULTS Whole-brain analyses showed that the susceptibility in the dorsal striatum (putamen and caudate) among AUD individuals was higher than healthy participants and was positively related to the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) scores and the amount of drinking in the past three months. CONCLUSIONS Increased susceptibility suggests higher iron accumulation in the dorsal striatum in AUD. This surrogate for the brain iron level was linearly associated with the compulsive drinking pattern and the recent amount of drinking, which provides us a new clinical perspective in relation to brain iron accumulation, and also might indicate an association of AUD with neuroinflammation as a consequence of brain iron accumulation. The iron accumulation in the striatum is further relevant for functional imaging studies in AUD by potentially producing signal dropout and artefacts in fMRI images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoye Tan
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Simon Hubertus
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sebastian Thomas
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alycia M. Lee
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sarah Gerhardt
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Fungisai Gerchen
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,grid.455092.fBernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H. Sommer
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,Bethania Hospital for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Feuerlein Center on Translational Addiction Medicine, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lothar Schad
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Vollstädt-Klein
- Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany. .,Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
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17
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Hornoiu IL, Lee AM, Tan H, Nakovics H, Bach P, Mann K, Kiefer F, Sommer WH, Vollstädt-Klein S. The Role of Unawareness, Volition, and Neural Hyperconnectivity in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022:S2451-9022(22)00343-3. [PMID: 36948909 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Automated alcohol craving and habitual alcohol consumption characterize the later stages of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study reanalyzed previously collected functional neuroimaging data in combination with the Craving Automated Scale for Alcohol (CAS-A) questionnaire to investigate the neural correlates and brain networks underlying automated drinking characterized by unawareness and nonvolition. METHODS We assessed 49 abstinent male patients with AUD and 36 male healthy control participants during a functional magnetic resonance imaging-based alcohol cue-reactivity task. We performed whole-brain analyses examining the associations between CAS-A scores and other clinical instruments and neural activation patterns in the alcohol versus neutral contrast. Furthermore, we performed psychophysiological interaction analyses to assess the functional connectivity between predefined seed regions and other brain areas. RESULTS In patients with AUD, higher CAS-A scores correlated with greater activation in dorsal striatal, pallidal, and prefrontal regions, including frontal white matter, and with lower activation in visual and motor processing regions. Between-group psychophysiological interaction analyses showed extensive connectivity between the seed regions inferior frontal gyrus and angular gyrus and several frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions in AUD versus healthy control participants. CONCLUSIONS The present study applied a new lens to previously acquired alcohol cue-reactivity functional magnetic resonance imaging data by correlating neural activation patterns with clinical CAS-A scores to elucidate potential neural correlates of automated alcohol craving and habitual alcohol consumption. Our results support previous findings showing that alcohol addiction is associated with hyperactivation in habit-processing regions, with hypoactivation in areas mediating motor and attention processing, and with general hyperconnectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iasmina Livia Hornoiu
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alycia M Lee
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Haoye Tan
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helmut Nakovics
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Patrick Bach
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Mannheim Center of Translational Neuroscience (MCTN), University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Karl Mann
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Mannheim Center of Translational Neuroscience (MCTN), University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H Sommer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Bethanien Hospital for Psychiatry, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sabine Vollstädt-Klein
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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18
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Agunbiade K, Fonville L, McGonigle J, Elliott R, Ersche KD, Flechais R, Orban C, Murphy A, Smith DG, Suckling J, Taylor EM, Deakin B, Robbins TW, Nutt DJ, Lingford‐Hughes AR, Paterson LM, Nutt D, Lingford‐Hughes A, Paterson L, McGonigle J, Flechais R, Orban C, Deakin B, Elliott R, Murphy A, Taylor E, Robbins T, Ersche K, Suckling J, Smith D, Reed L, Passetti F, Faravelli L, Erritzoe D, Mick I, Kalk N, Waldman A, Nestor L, Kuchibatla S, Boyapati V, Metastasio A, Faluyi Y, Fernandez‐Egea E, Abbott S, Sahakian B, Voon V, Rabiner I. Alterations in white matter microstructure in alcohol and alcohol‐polydrug dependence: Associations with lifetime alcohol and nicotine exposure. Addict Biol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9540248 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that alcohol dependence (AD) is associated with microstructural deficits in white matter, but the relationship with lifetime alcohol exposure and the impact of polydrug dependence is not well understood. Using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, we examined white matter microstructure in relation to alcohol and polydrug dependence using data from the Imperial College Cambridge Manchester (ICCAM) platform study. Tract‐based spatial statistics were used to examine fractional anisotropy (FA) in a cohort of abstinent AD participants, most of whom had a lifetime history of dependence to nicotine. A further subgroup also had a lifetime history of dependence to cocaine and/or opiates. Individuals with AD had lower FA throughout the corpus callosum, and negative associations with alcohol and nicotine exposure were found. A group‐by‐age interaction effect was found showing greater reductions with age in the alcohol‐dependent group within corpus callosum, overlapping with the group difference. We found no evidence of recovery with abstinence. A comparison of alcohol‐only‐ and alcohol‐polydrug‐dependent groups found no differences in FA. Overall, our findings show that AD is associated with lower FA and suggest that these alterations are primarily driven by lifetime alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, showing no relationship with exposure to other substances such as cocaine, opiates or cannabis. Reductions in FA across the adult lifespan are more pronounced in AD and offer further support for the notion of accelerated ageing in relation to alcohol dependence. These findings highlight there may be lasting structural differences in white matter in alcohol dependence, despite continued abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kofoworola Agunbiade
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
| | - Leon Fonville
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
| | - John McGonigle
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
| | - Rebecca Elliott
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Karen D. Ersche
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Psychiatry University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Systems Neuroscience University Medical Centre Hamburg‐Eppendorf Hamburg Germany
| | - Remy Flechais
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
| | - Csaba Orban
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
| | - Anna Murphy
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Dana G. Smith
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Psychology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - John Suckling
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Psychiatry University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Eleanor M. Taylor
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Bill Deakin
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Trevor W. Robbins
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Psychology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - David J. Nutt
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
| | | | - Louise M. Paterson
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK
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19
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Degiorgis L, Arefin TM, Ben-Hamida S, Noblet V, Antal C, Bienert T, Reisert M, von Elverfeldt D, Kieffer BL, Harsan LA. Translational Structural and Functional Signatures of Chronic Alcohol Effects in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:1039-1050. [PMID: 35654559 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol acts as an addictive substance that may lead to alcohol use disorder. In humans, magnetic resonance imaging showed diverse structural and functional brain alterations associated with this complex pathology. Single magnetic resonance imaging modalities are used mostly but are insufficient to portray and understand the broad neuroadaptations to alcohol. Here, we combined structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and connectome mapping in mice to establish brain-wide fingerprints of alcohol effects with translatable potential. METHODS Mice underwent a chronic intermittent alcohol drinking protocol for 6 weeks before being imaged under medetomidine anesthesia. We performed open-ended multivariate analysis of structural data and functional connectivity mapping on the same subjects. RESULTS Structural analysis showed alcohol effects for the prefrontal cortex/anterior insula, hippocampus, and somatosensory cortex. Integration with microglia histology revealed distinct alcohol signatures, suggestive of advanced (prefrontal cortex/anterior insula, somatosensory cortex) and early (hippocampus) inflammation. Functional analysis showed major alterations of insula, ventral tegmental area, and retrosplenial cortex connectivity, impacting communication patterns for salience (insula), reward (ventral tegmental area), and default mode (retrosplenial cortex) networks. The insula appeared as a most sensitive brain center across structural and functional analyses. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates alcohol effects in mice, which possibly underlie lower top-down control and impaired hedonic balance documented at the behavioral level, and aligns with neuroimaging findings in humans despite the potential limitation induced by medetomidine sedation. This study paves the way to identify further biomarkers and to probe neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol effects using genetic and pharmacological manipulations in mouse models of alcohol drinking and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Degiorgis
- Integrative Multimodal Imaging in Healthcare team, UMR 7357, Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube); Department of Psychiatry, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tanzil Mahmud Arefin
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Sami Ben-Hamida
- INSERM U1114, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM U1247, research group on alcohol and pharmacodependance (GRAP), University of Picardie Jules-Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Vincent Noblet
- Images, Learning, Geometry and Statistics team, UMR 7357, Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube); Department of Psychiatry, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cristina Antal
- Integrative Multimodal Imaging in Healthcare team, UMR 7357, Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube); Department of Psychiatry, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Faculty of Medicine, Histology Institute and Unité Fonctionnelle de Foetopathologie, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas Bienert
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Reisert
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominik von Elverfeldt
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Laura-Adela Harsan
- Integrative Multimodal Imaging in Healthcare team, UMR 7357, Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube); Department of Psychiatry, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Department of Biophysics and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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20
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Spanagel R. Ten Points to Improve Reproducibility and Translation of Animal Research. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:869511. [PMID: 35530730 PMCID: PMC9070052 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.869511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Findings from animal experiments are often difficult to transfer to humans. In this perspective article I discuss two questions. First, why are the results of animal experiments often so difficult to transfer to humans? And second, what can be done to improve translation from animal experiments to humans? Translation failures are often the result of poor methodology. It is not merely the fact that low statistical power of basic and preclinical studies undermine a "real effect," but the accuracy with which data from animal studies are collected and described, and the resulting robustness of the data is generally very low and often does not allow translation to a much more heterogeneous human condition. Equally important is the fact that the vast majority of publications in the biomedical field in the last few decades have reported positive findings and have thus generated a knowledge bias. Further contributions to reproducibility and translation failures are discussed in this paper, and 10 points of recommendation to improve reproducibility and translation are outlined. These recommendations are: (i) prior to planning an actual study, a systematic review or potential preclinical meta-analysis should be considered. (ii) An a priori power calculation should be carried out. (iii) The experimental study protocol should be pre-registered. (iv) The execution of the study should be in accordance with the most recent ARRIVE guidelines. (v) When planning the study, the generalizability of the data to be collected should also be considered (e.g., sex or age differences). (vi) "Method-hopping" should be avoided, meaning that it is not necessary to use the most advanced technology but rather to have the applied methodology under control. (vii) National or international networks should be considered to carry out multicenter preclinical studies or to obtain convergent evidence. (viii) Animal models that capture DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria should be considered in the context of research on psychiatric disorders. (ix) Raw data of publication should be made publicly available and should be in accordance with the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management. (x) Finally, negative findings should be published to counteract publication bias. The application of these 10 points of recommendation, especially for preclinical confirmatory studies but also to some degree for exploratory studies, will ultimately improve the reproducibility and translation of animal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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21
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Soravia LM, Denier N, Moggi F, Grieder M, Federspiel A, Tschuemperlin RM, Batschelet HM, Vollstädt‐Klein S, Wiest R, Stein M, Bracht T. Reduced structural connectivity of the amygdala is associated with childhood trauma in adult patients with alcohol use disorder. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13164. [PMID: 35470559 PMCID: PMC9286842 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Childhood trauma (CT) is frequent in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and may impact on adult drinking behaviour and treatment outcome. This study aimed to investigate the structural correlates of CT in AUD, focusing on the amygdala, which plays a crucial role in the neurobiology of trauma. We hypothesized reduced amygdala volume and reduced structural connectivity as quantified by fractional anisotropy (FA) and by number of streamlines in those AUD patients with a history of moderate to severe CT (AUD‐CT). T1‐weighted MP2RAGE and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) 3‐Tesla MRI‐scans were acquired in 41 recently abstinent patients with AUD. We compared bilateral amygdala volume and structural connectivity (FA and number of streamlines) of pathways emanating from the amygdala between AUD‐CT (n = 20) and AUD without CT (AUD‐NT, n = 21) using a mixed model multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) controlling for age and gender. AUD‐CT displayed reduced FA and reduced number of streamlines of amygdalar tracts. There were no differences regarding amygdala volume. The severity of physical abuse, a subscale of the childhood trauma questionnaire, was negatively correlated with FA and with number of streamlines. AUD‐CT and AUD‐NT differ regarding structural connectivity of pathways projecting to and from the amygdala, but not regarding amygdala volume. Those alterations of structural connectivity in AUD‐CT may represent a distinguishable neurobiological subtype of AUD, which might be associated with the complex clinical picture and poorer outcome that patients with CT and AUD often present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila M. Soravia
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Clinic Suedhang Kirchlindach Switzerland
| | - Niklaus Denier
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Franz Moggi
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Matthias Grieder
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Raphaela M. Tschuemperlin
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Hallie M. Batschelet
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Sabine Vollstädt‐Klein
- Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim Germany
- Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Roland Wiest
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Maria Stein
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Tobias Bracht
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern Bern Switzerland
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22
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Sommer WH, Canals S, Bifone A, Heilig M, Hyytiä P. From a systems view to spotting a hidden island: A narrative review implicating insula function in alcoholism. Neuropharmacology 2022; 209:108989. [PMID: 35217032 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.108989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Excessive use of alcohol promotes the development of alcohol addiction, but the understanding of how alcohol-induced brain alterations lead to addiction remains limited. To further this understanding, we adopted an unbiased discovery strategy based on the principles of systems medicine. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging data from patients and animal models of alcohol addiction-like behaviors, and developed mathematical models of the 'relapse-prone' network states to identify brain sites and functional networks that can be selectively targeted by therapeutic interventions. Our systems level, non-local, and largely unbiased analyses converged on a few well-defined brain regions, with the insula emerging as one of the most consistent finding across studies. In proof-of-concept experiments we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to guide network dynamics towards increased resilience in animals but an initial translation into a clinical trial targeting the insula failed. Here, in a narrative review, we summarize the key experiments, methodological developments and knowledge gained from this completed round of a discovery cycle moving from identification of 'relapse-prone' network states in humans and animals to target validation and intervention trial. Future concerted efforts are necessary to gain a deeper understanding of insula function a in a state-dependent, circuit-specific and cell population perspective, and to develop the means for insula-directed interventions, before therapeutic targeting of this structure may become possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang H Sommer
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Bethania Hospital for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Angelo Bifone
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Sustainable Future Technologies, Torino, Italy
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University and Dept. of Psychiatry, Linköping Univ. Hospital, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Petri Hyytiä
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
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23
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Zhang T, Song B, Li Y, Duan R, Gong Z, Jing L, Wang K, Ma B, Jia Y. Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Monitoring the Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Alcohol Use Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:831901. [PMID: 35197833 PMCID: PMC8859255 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.831901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveThis study assessed the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels, alcohol consumption, craving, and psychological impairment in participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD).MethodsParticipants with AUD were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments (active or sham rTMS). All participants received 10 daily active or sham rTMS sessions over the left DLPFC for 2 weeks, with follow-up visits at baseline and immediately after the completion of the treatments. Serum samples were obtained before and after the intervention. Days of heavy drinking, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and mental health component scores (MCSs) of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were used to assess the effects of rTMS.ResultsActive rTMS had a significant effect on reducing days of heavy drinking, alcohol craving, and serum NfL levels, and improved social functioning and mental health. The improvement with active rTMS was significantly greater than that with sham rTMS. Correlation analysis revealed that the reduction in the baseline drinking level was positively correlated with declines in the VAS and NfL levels but not with psychological scores.ConclusionRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left DLPFC was associated with reducing alcohol consumption and craving in patients with AUD and positively impacted neuropsychological and social function. Serum NfL levels may be useful as an early serological indicator of alcohol-induced brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bin Song
- Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanfei Li
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ranran Duan
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhe Gong
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lijun Jing
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kaixin Wang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bingquan Ma
- Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanjie Jia
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yanjie Jia,
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24
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Spindler C, Mallien L, Trautmann S, Alexander N, Muehlhan M. A coordinate-based meta-analysis of white matter alterations in patients with alcohol use disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:40. [PMID: 35087021 PMCID: PMC8795454 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01809-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Besides the commonly described gray matter (GM) deficits, there is growing evidence of significant white matter (WM) alterations in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). WM changes can be assessed using volumetric and diffusive magnetic resonance imaging methods, such as voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The aim of the present meta-analysis is to investigate the spatial convergence of the reported findings on WM alterations in AUD. METHODS Systematic literature search on PubMed and further databases revealed 18 studies eligible for inclusion, entailing a total of 462 AUD patients and 416 healthy controls (up to January 18, 2021). All studies that had used either VBM or DTI whole-brain analyzing methods and reported results as peak-coordinates in standard reference space were considered for inclusion. We excluded studies using approaches non-concordant with recent guidelines for neuroimaging meta-analyses and studies investigating patient groups with Korsakoff syndrome or other comorbid substance use disorders (except tobacco). RESULTS Anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) revealed four significant clusters of convergent macro- and microstructural WM alterations in AUD patients that were assigned to the genu and body of the corpus callosum, anterior and posterior cingulum, fornix, and the right posterior limb of the internal capsule. DISCUSSION The changes in WM could to some extent explain the deteriorations in motor, cognitive, affective, and perceptual functions seen in AUD. Future studies are needed to clarify how WM alterations vary over the course of the disorder and to what extent they are reversible with prolonged abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Spindler
- grid.461732.5Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany ,grid.461732.5ICAN Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Louisa Mallien
- grid.461732.5Department of Human Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Trautmann
- grid.461732.5Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany ,grid.461732.5ICPP Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nina Alexander
- grid.461732.5Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany ,grid.10253.350000 0004 1936 9756Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Str. 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany ,grid.10253.350000 0004 1936 9756Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Markus Muehlhan
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany. .,ICAN Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany.
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25
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Guo X, Yan T, Chen M, Ma X, Li R, Li B, Yang A, Chen Y, Fang T, Yu H, Tian H, Chen G, Zhuo C. Differential effects of alcohol-drinking patterns on the structure and function of the brain and cognitive performance in young adult drinkers: A pilot study. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2427. [PMID: 34808037 PMCID: PMC8785638 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study was aimed to determine how different patterns of alcohol consumption drive changes to brain structure and function and their correlation with cognitive impairments in young adult alcohol drinkers. METHODS In this study, we enrolled five groups participants and defined as: long-term abstinence from alcohol (LA), binge drinking (BD), long-term low dosage alcohol consumption but exceeding the safety drinking dosage (LD), long-term alcohol consumption of damaging dosage (LDD), and long-term heavy drinking (HD). All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) to acquire data on brain structure and function, including gray matter volume (GMV), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), functional connectivity (FC), and brain network properties. The cognitive ability was evaluated with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), intelligence quotient (IQ), and short delay free recall (SDFR). RESULTS Compared to LA, GMV significantly decreased in the brain regions in VN, SMN, and VAN in the alcohol-drinking groups (BD, LD, LDD, and HD). ReHo was significantly enhanced in the brain regions in VN, SMN, and VAN, while fALFF significantly increased in the brain regions in VN and SMN. The number of intra- and inter-modular connections within networks (VN, SMN, sensory control network [SCN], and VAN) and their connections to other modules were abnormally changed. These changes adversely affected cognition (e.g., IQ, CVLT, SDFR). CONCLUSION Despite the small sample size, this study provides new evidence supporting the need for young people to abstain from alcohol to protect their brains. These findings present strong reasoning for updating anti-alcohol slogans and guidelines for young people in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Guo
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tongjun Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, 904th Hospital of PLA, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Chen
- Institute of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Department of Alcohol Dependence Management, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Medical University Clinical Hospital of Mental Health, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry Neuroimaging-Genetics and Co-morbidity (PNGC_Lab) of Tianjin Medical University Clinical Hospital of Mental Health, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ranli Li
- Department of Alcohol Dependence Management, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Medical University Clinical Hospital of Mental Health, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry Neuroimaging-Genetics and Co-morbidity (PNGC_Lab) of Tianjin Medical University Clinical Hospital of Mental Health, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Kangtai Mental Health Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Anqu Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Kangtai Mental Health Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Kangtai Mental Health Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Fang
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Brain Circuits Tracing of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNB_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Haiping Yu
- Department of Alcohol Dependence Management, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Brain Circuits Tracing of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNB_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Department of Alcohol Dependence Management, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Brain Circuits Tracing of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNB_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Alcohol Dependence Management, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
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26
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Wu F, Dong P, Wu G, Deng J, Ni Z, Gao X, Li P, Li B, Yuan J, Sun H. Impulsive trait mediates the relationship between white matter integrity of prefrontal-striatal circuits and the severity of dependence in alcoholism. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:985948. [PMID: 36159935 PMCID: PMC9490322 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.985948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol dependence (AD) remains one of the major public health concerns. Impulsivity plays a central role in the transfer from recreational alcohol use to dependence and relapse. White matter dysfunction has been implicated in alcohol addiction behaviors and impulsivity. However, little is known about the role of systematic striatal structural connections underlying the mechanism of impulsive traits in AD. METHODS In our study, we used seed-based classification by probabilistic tractography with five target masks of striatal circuits to explore the differences in white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy, FA) in AD male patients (N = 51) and healthy controls (N = 27). We mainly explored the correlation between FA of the striatal circuits and impulsive traits (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS-11), and the mediation role of impulsivity in white matter integrity and the severity of alcohol dependence. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, AD showed much lower FA in the left and right striatum-supplementary motor area (SMA) and left striatum-amygdala. We also found the decreased FA of right striatum-vlPFC was correlated with higher impulsivity. Besides, the relationship between reduced FA of right striatum-vlPFC and severity of dependence could be mediated by impulsivity. CONCLUSION In our study, we found disrupted white matter integrity in systematic striatal circuits in AD and the decreased FA of right striatum-vlPFC was correlated with higher impulsivity in AD. Our main findings provide evidence for reduced white matter integrity of systematic striatal circuits and the underlying mechanisms of impulsivity in male AD individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Dong
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guowei Wu
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Deng
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaojun Ni
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejiao Gao
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Junliang Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongqiang Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
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Bordier C, Weil G, Bach P, Scuppa G, Nicolini C, Forcellini G, Pérez‐Ramirez U, Moratal D, Canals S, Hoffmann S, Hermann D, Vollstädt‐Klein S, Kiefer F, Kirsch P, Sommer WH, Bifone A. Increased network centrality of the anterior insula in early abstinence from alcohol. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13096. [PMID: 34467604 PMCID: PMC9286046 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal resting‐state functional connectivity, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has been reported in alcohol use disorders (AUD), but findings are so far inconsistent. Here, we exploited recent developments in graph‐theoretical analyses, enabling improved resolution and fine‐grained representation of brain networks, to investigate functional connectivity in 35 recently detoxified alcohol dependent patients versus 34 healthy controls. Specifically, we focused on the modular organization, that is, the presence of tightly connected substructures within a network, and on the identification of brain regions responsible for network integration using an unbiased approach based on a large‐scale network composed of more than 600 a priori defined nodes. We found significant reductions in global connectivity and region‐specific disruption in the network topology in patients compared with controls. Specifically, the basal brain and the insular–supramarginal cortices, which form tightly coupled modules in healthy subjects, were fragmented in patients. Further, patients showed a strong increase in the centrality of the anterior insula, which exhibited stronger connectivity to distal cortical regions and weaker connectivity to the posterior insula. Anterior insula centrality, a measure of the integrative role of a region, was significantly associated with increased risk of relapse. Exploratory analysis suggests partial recovery of modular structure and insular connectivity in patients after 2 weeks. These findings support the hypothesis that, at least during the early stages of abstinence, the anterior insula may drive exaggerated integration of interoceptive states in AUD patients with possible consequences for decision making and emotional states and that functional connectivity is dynamically changing during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecile Bordier
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Rovereto Italy
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 ‐ LilNCog ‐ Lille Neuroscience & Cognition Lille France
| | - Georg Weil
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Patrick Bach
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Giulia Scuppa
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Rovereto Italy
| | - Carlo Nicolini
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Rovereto Italy
| | - Giulia Forcellini
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Rovereto Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences University of Trento Trento Italy
| | - Ursula Pérez‐Ramirez
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Universitat Politècnica de València Valencia Spain
| | - David Moratal
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Universitat Politècnica de València Valencia Spain
| | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández San Juan de Alicante Spain
| | - Sabine Hoffmann
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Derik Hermann
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Sabine Vollstädt‐Klein
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Peter Kirsch
- Department for Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Wolfgang H. Sommer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
| | - Angelo Bifone
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Rovereto Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences University of Torino Torino Italy
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28
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Gerhardt S, Karl D, Mann K, Kiefer F, Vollstädt-Klein S. Association Between Functional and Structural Brain Connectivity of the Default Mode Network in Non-treatment Seeking Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Alcohol 2021; 57:540-551. [PMID: 34929740 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agab079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with alterations within the default mode network (DMN) at rest. Also, impaired white matter structures have been observed in individuals with AUD. This study developed a workflow for examining the relation between functional and structural connectivity, exemplary for nodes of the DMN within a sample of non-treatment seeking individuals with AUD. Furthermore, AUD severity was correlated with both measures independently. METHODS The functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol included anatomical, resting state and diffusion weighted imaging measurements. Independent component analyses and deterministic fiber tracking as well as correlation analyses, including the severity of AUD, were performed. N = 18 out of 23 adult study participants took part in the fMRI examination, and N = 15 were included in the final analyses. RESULTS Established resting-state networks were reliably identified in our sample. Structural connections were found between several nodes of the DMN, whereas only fibers between the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex were reliably detected in all individuals. A negative correlation was observed between brain activation during rest and AUD severity in left parietal and temporal regions and the putamen. A more severe AUD predicted impairments in white matter integrity of the cingulum. CONCLUSION In AUD, information obtained from a combination of resting-state, diffusion weighted data and clinical information has great potential to provide a more profound understanding of the disorder since alterations may already become apparent at earlier stages of the disorder, e.g. in non-treatment seeking individuals. SUMMARY Alcohol use disorder leads to alterations in the default mode network of the resting brain that is associated with the severity of the disorder. Following our workflow, white matter impairments can be observed between some of the nodes of the default mode network using diffusion tensor imaging. Both, resting-state functional and structural connectivity relate to the severity of alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Gerhardt
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Quadrat J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Damian Karl
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Quadrat J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Karl Mann
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Quadrat J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Quadrat J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.,Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.,Feuerlein Center on Translational Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Quadrat J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Vollstädt-Klein
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Quadrat J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.,Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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Ghin F, Beste C, Stock AK. Neurobiological mechanisms of control in alcohol use disorder - moving towards mechanism-based non-invasive brain stimulation treatments. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 133:104508. [PMID: 34942268 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by excessive habitual drinking and loss of control over alcohol intake despite negative consequences. Both of these aspects foster uncontrolled drinking and high relapse rates in AUD patients. Yet, common interventions mostly focus on the phenomenological level, and prioritize the reduction of craving and withdrawal symptoms. Our review provides a mechanistic understanding of AUD and suggests alternative therapeutic approaches targeting the mechanisms underlying dysfunctional alcohol-related behaviours. Specifically, we explain how repeated drinking fosters the development of rigid drinking habits and is associated with diminished cognitive control. These behavioural and cognitive effects are then functionally related to the neurobiochemical effects of alcohol abuse. We further explain how alterations in fronto-striatal network activity may constitute the neurobiological correlates of these alcohol-related dysfunctions. Finally, we discuss limitations in current pharmacological AUD therapies and suggest non-invasive brain stimulation (like TMS and tDCS interventions) as a potential addition/alternative for modulating the activation of both cortical and subcortical areas to help re-establish the functional balance between controlled and automatic behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Ghin
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Stock
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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30
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Leclercq S, Le Roy T, Furgiuele S, Coste V, Bindels LB, Leyrolle Q, Neyrinck AM, Quoilin C, Amadieu C, Petit G, Dricot L, Tagliatti V, Cani PD, Verbeke K, Colet JM, Stärkel P, de Timary P, Delzenne NM. Gut Microbiota-Induced Changes in β-Hydroxybutyrate Metabolism Are Linked to Altered Sociability and Depression in Alcohol Use Disorder. Cell Rep 2021; 33:108238. [PMID: 33053357 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) present with important emotional, cognitive, and social impairments. The gut microbiota has been recently shown to regulate brain functions and behavior but convincing evidence of its role in AUD is lacking. Here, we show that gut dysbiosis is associated with metabolic alterations that affect behavioral (depression, sociability) and neurobiological (myelination, neurotransmission, inflammation) processes involved in alcohol addiction. By transplanting the gut microbiota from AUD patients to mice, we point out that the production of ethanol by specific bacterial genera and the reduction of lipolysis are associated with a lower hepatic synthesis of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which thereby prevents the neuroprotective effect of BHB. We confirm these results in detoxified AUD patients, in which we observe a persisting ethanol production in the feces as well as correlations among low plasma BHB levels and social impairments, depression, or brain white matter alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Leclercq
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tiphaine Le Roy
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology), Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sonia Furgiuele
- Laboratory of Human Biology & Toxicology, UMONS, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Valentin Coste
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laure B Bindels
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Quentin Leyrolle
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Audrey M Neyrinck
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Caroline Quoilin
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Camille Amadieu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Géraldine Petit
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Dricot
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Patrice D Cani
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology), Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kristin Verbeke
- Translational Research Center in Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Marie Colet
- Laboratory of Human Biology & Toxicology, UMONS, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Peter Stärkel
- Laboratory of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe de Timary
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Adult Psychiatry, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Nathalie M Delzenne
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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31
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Sleep disturbances are associated with cortical and subcortical atrophy in alcohol use disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:428. [PMID: 34400604 PMCID: PMC8368207 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01534-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are prominent in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and predict relapse. So far, the mechanisms underlying sleep disruptions in AUD are poorly understood. Because sleep-related regions vastly overlap with regions, where patients with AUD showed pronounced grey matter (GM) reduction; we hypothesized that GM structure could contribute to sleep disturbances associated with chronic alcohol use. We combined sleep EEG recording and high-resolution structural brain imaging to examine the GM-sleep associations in 36 AUD vs. 26 healthy controls (HC). The patterns of GM-sleep associations differed for N3 vs. REM sleep and for AUD vs. HC. For cortical thickness (CT), CT-sleep associations were significant in AUD but not in HC and were lateralized such that lower CT in right hemisphere was associated with shorter N3, whereas in left hemisphere was associated with shorter REM sleep. For the GM density (GMD), we observed a more extensive positive GMD-N3 association in AUD (right orbitofrontal cortex, cerebellum, dorsal cingulate and occipital cortex) than in HC (right orbitofrontal cortex), and the GMD-REM association was positive in AUD (midline, motor and paralimbic regions) whereas negative in HC (the left supramarginal gyrus). GM structure mediated the effect of chronic alcohol use on the duration of N3 and the age by alcohol effect on REM sleep. Our findings provide evidence that sleep disturbances in AUD were associated with GM reductions. Targeting sleep-related regions might improve sleep in AUD and enhance sleep-induced benefits in cognition and emotional regulation for recovery.
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Lanquetin A, Leclercq S, de Timary P, Segobin S, Naveau M, Coulbault L, Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Colombo G, Vivien D, Rubio M, Pitel AL. Role of inflammation in alcohol-related brain abnormalities: a translational study. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab154. [PMID: 34396111 PMCID: PMC8361421 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain abnormalities observed in alcohol use disorder are highly heterogeneous in nature and severity, possibly because chronic alcohol consumption also affects peripheral organs leading to comorbidities that can result in exacerbated brain alterations. Despite numerous studies focussing on the effects of alcohol on the brain or liver, few studies have simultaneously examined liver function and brain damage in alcohol use disorder, and even fewer investigated the relationship between them except in hepatic encephalopathy. And yet, liver dysfunction may be a risk factor for the development of alcohol-related neuropsychological deficits and brain damage well before the development of liver cirrhosis, and potentially through inflammatory responses. The use of animal models enables a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying liver–brain relationships in alcohol use disorder, and more particularly of the inflammatory response at the tissue, cerebral and hepatic levels. The objective of this translational study was to investigate, both in alcohol use disorder patients and in a validated animal model of alcohol use disorder, the links between peripheral inflammation, liver damage and brain alterations. To do this, we conducted an in vivo neuroimaging examination and biological measures to evaluate brain volumes, liver fibrosis and peripheral cytokines in alcohol use disorder patients. In selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, we carried out ex vivo neuroimaging examination and immunohistochemistry to evaluate brain and liver inflammatory responses after chronic (50 consecutive weeks) alcohol drinking. In recently abstinent and non-cirrhotic alcohol use disorder patients, the score of liver fibrosis positively correlated with subcortical regions volumes (especially in right and left putamen) and level of circulating proinflammatory cytokines. In Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, we found macrostructural brain damage and microstructural white matter abnormalities similar to those found in alcohol use disorder patients. In addition, in agreement with the results of peripheral inflammation observed in the patients, we revealed, in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, inflammatory responses in the brain and liver were caused by chronic alcohol consumption. Since the liver is the main source of cytokines in the human body, these results suggest a relationship between liver dysfunction and brain damage in alcohol use disorder patients, even in the absence of major liver disease. These findings encourage considering new therapeutic strategies aiming at treating peripheral organs to limit alcohol-related brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Lanquetin
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Sophie Leclercq
- Institute of Neuroscience and Louvain Drug Research Institute, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe de Timary
- Institute of Neuroscience and Louvain Drug Research Institute, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shailendra Segobin
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Mikaël Naveau
- Normandie Univ UNICAEN, CNRS, UMS 3408, GIP Cyceron, Caen, France
| | - Laurent Coulbault
- Caen University Hospital, Biochemistry Department, Normandie University, UNICAEN, EA 4650, Caen, France
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Denis Vivien
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France.,Department of Clinical Research, CHU Côte de Nacre, Caen 14000, France
| | - Marina Rubio
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Anne-Lise Pitel
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris 75231, France
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33
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Zhao Q, Sullivan EV, Honnorat N, Adeli E, Podhajsky S, De Bellis MD, Voyvodic J, Nooner KB, Baker FC, Colrain IM, Tapert SF, Brown SA, Thompson WK, Nagel BJ, Clark DB, Pfefferbaum A, Pohl KM. Association of Heavy Drinking With Deviant Fiber Tract Development in Frontal Brain Systems in Adolescents. JAMA Psychiatry 2021; 78:407-415. [PMID: 33377940 PMCID: PMC7774050 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Maturation of white matter fiber systems subserves cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and motor development during adolescence. Hazardous drinking during this active neurodevelopmental period may alter the trajectory of white matter microstructural development, potentially increasing risk for developing alcohol-related dysfunction and alcohol use disorder in adulthood. OBJECTIVE To identify disrupted adolescent microstructural brain development linked to drinking onset and to assess whether the disruption is more pronounced in younger rather than older adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This case-control study, conducted from January 13, 2013, to January 15, 2019, consisted of an analysis of 451 participants from the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence cohort. Participants were aged 12 to 21 years at baseline and had at least 2 usable magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans and up to 5 examination visits spanning 4 years. Participants with a youth-adjusted Cahalan score of 0 were labeled as no-to-low drinkers; those with a score of greater than 1 for at least 2 consecutive visits were labeled as heavy drinkers. Exploratory analysis was conducted between no-to-low and heavy drinkers. A between-group analysis was conducted between age- and sex-matched youths, and a within-participant analysis was performed before and after drinking. EXPOSURES Self-reported alcohol consumption in the past year summarized by categorical drinking levels. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Diffusion tensor imaging measurement of fractional anisotropy (FA) in the whole brain and fiber systems quantifying the developmental change of each participant as a slope. RESULTS Analysis of whole-brain FA of 451 adolescents included 291 (64.5%) no-to-low drinkers and 160 (35.5%) heavy drinkers who indicated the potential for a deleterious association of alcohol with microstructural development. Among the no-to-low drinkers, 142 (48.4%) were boys with mean (SD) age of 16.5 (2.2) years and 149 (51.2%) were girls with mean (SD) age of 16.5 (2.1) years and 192 (66.0%) were White participants. Among the heavy drinkers, 86 (53.8%) were boys with mean (SD) age of 20.1 (1.5) years and 74 (46.3%) were girls with mean (SD) age of 20.5 (2.0) years and 142 (88.8%) were White participants. A group analysis revealed FA reduction in heavy-drinking youth compared with age- and sex-matched controls (t154 = -2.7, P = .008). The slope of this reduction correlated with log of days of drinking since the baseline visit (r156 = -0.21, 2-tailed P = .008). A within-participant analysis contrasting developmental trajectories of youths before and after they initiated heavy drinking supported the prediction that drinking onset was associated with and potentially preceded disrupted white matter integrity. Age-alcohol interactions (t152 = 3.0, P = .004) observed for the FA slopes indicated that the alcohol-associated disruption was greater in younger than older adolescents and was most pronounced in the genu and body of the corpus callosum, regions known to continue developing throughout adolescence. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This case-control study of adolescents found a deleterious association of alcohol use with white matter microstructural integrity. These findings support the concept of heightened vulnerability to environmental agents, including alcohol, associated with attenuated development of major white matter tracts in early adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyu Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Edith V. Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Nicolas Honnorat
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Ehsan Adeli
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Simon Podhajsky
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Michael D. De Bellis
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - James Voyvodic
- Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kate B. Nooner
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
| | - Fiona C. Baker
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Ian M. Colrain
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Susan F. Tapert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Sandra A. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla,Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Wesley K. Thompson
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Bonnie J. Nagel
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland
| | - Duncan B. Clark
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California,Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Kilian M. Pohl
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California,Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
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Draps M, Kowalczyk-Grębska N, Marchewka A, Shi F, Gola M. White matter microstructural and Compulsive Sexual Behaviors Disorder - Diffusion Tensor Imaging study. J Behav Addict 2021; 10:55-64. [PMID: 33570504 PMCID: PMC8969848 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2021.00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Even though the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) was added to the ICD-11 under the impulse control category in 2019, its neural mechanisms are still debated. Researchers have noted its similarity both to addiction and to Obssesive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The aim of our study was to address this question by investigating the pattern of anatomical brain abnormalities among CSBD patients. METHODS Reviewing 39 publications on Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) we have identified main abnormalities specific for addictions and OCD. Than we have collected DTI data from 36 heterosexual males diagnosed with CSBD and 31 matched healthy controls. These results were then compared to the addiction and OCD patterns. RESULTS Compared to controls, CSBD individuals showed significant fractional anisotropy (FA) reduction in the superior corona radiata tract, the internal capsule tract, cerebellar tracts and occipital gyrus white matter. Interestingly, all these regions were also identified in previous studies as shared DTI correlates in both OCD and addiction. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Results of our study suggest that CSBD shares similar pattern of abnormalities with both OCD and addiction. As one of the first DTI study comparing structural brain differences between CSBD, addictions and OCD, although it reveals new aspects of CSBD, it is insufficient to determine whether CSBD resembles more an addiction or OCD. Further research, especially comparing directly individuals with all three disorders may provide more conclusive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Draps
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland,Corresponding author. E-mail:
| | | | - Artur Marchewka
- Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Feng Shi
- Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Mateusz Gola
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland,Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computations, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
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Borruto AM, Stopponi S, Li H, Weiss F, Roberto M, Ciccocioppo R. Genetically selected alcohol-preferring msP rats to study alcohol use disorder: Anything lost in translation? Neuropharmacology 2021; 186:108446. [PMID: 33476639 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
For several decades, genetically selected alcohol-preferring rats have been successfully used to mimic and study alcohol use disorders (AUD). These rat lines have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the neurobiology of alcoholism and enabling pharmacological studies to evaluate drug efficacy on alcohol drinking and relapse. Moreover, the results of these studies have identified genetic variables that are linked to AUD vulnerability. This is an up-to-date review that focuses on genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats. To support the translational relevance of the findings that are obtained from msP rats and highlight important similarities to AUD patients, we also discuss the results of recent brain imaging studies. Finally, to demonstrate the importance of studying sex differences in animal models of AUD, we present original data that highlight behavioral differences in the response to alcohol in male and female rats. Female msP rats exhibited higher alcohol consumption compared with males. Furthermore, msP rats of both sexes exhibit higher anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and forced swim test, respectively, compared with unselected Wistar controls. Notably, voluntary alcohol drinking decreases foot-shock stress and depressive-like behavior in both sexes, whereas anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze is attenuated only in males. These findings suggest that male and female msP rats both drink high amounts of alcohol to self-medicate negative affective symptoms. For females, this behavior may be driven by an attempt to treat stress and depressive-like conditions. For males, generalized anxiety appears to be an important additional factor in the motivation to drink alcohol. This article is part of the special issue on 'Vulnerabilities to Substance Abuse.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Borruto
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Hongwu Li
- College of Chemical Engineering, Changchun University of Technology, Changchun, China
| | - Friedbert Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
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36
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Somkuwar SS, Villalpando EG, Quach LW, Head BP, McKenna BS, Scadeng M, Mandyam CD. Abstinence from ethanol dependence produces concomitant cortical gray matter abnormalities, microstructural deficits and cognitive dysfunction. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 42:22-34. [PMID: 33279357 PMCID: PMC7797163 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrate that ethanol dependence induced by repeating cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE) followed by protracted abstinence (CIE-PA) produces significant alterations in oligodendrogenesis in the rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Specifically, CIE-PA produced an unprecedented increase in premyelinating oligodendroglial progenitor cells and myelin, which have been associated with persistent elevated drinking behaviors during abstinence. The current study used neuroimaging and electron microscopy to evaluate the integrity of enhanced myelin and microstructural deficits underlying enhanced myelination in the mPFC in male rats experiencing forced abstinence for 1 day (D), 7D, 21D and 42D following seven weeks of CIE. In vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) detected altered microstructural integrity in the mPFC and corpus callosum (CC). Altered integrity was characterized as reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the CC, and enhanced mean diffusivity (MD) in the mPFC in 7D abstinent rats. Increased MD occurred concomitantly with increases in myelin associated proteins, flayed myelin and enhanced mitochondrial stress in the mPFC in 7D abstinent rats, suggesting that the increases in myelination during abstinence was aberrant. Evaluation of cognitive performance via Pavlovian conditioning in 7D abstinent rats revealed reduced retrieval and recall of fear memories dependent on the mPFC. These findings indicate that forced abstinence from moderate to severe alcohol use disorder produces gray matter damage via myelin dysfunction in the mPFC and that these microstructural changes were associated with deficits in PFC dependent behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leon W Quach
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Brian P Head
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Departments of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Benjamin S McKenna
- Departments of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Miriam Scadeng
- Departments of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Chitra D Mandyam
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Departments of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
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37
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Witt SH, Frank J, Frischknecht U, Treutlein J, Streit F, Foo JC, Sirignano L, Dukal H, Degenhardt F, Koopmann A, Hoffmann S, Koller G, Pogarell O, Preuss UW, Zill P, Adorjan K, Schulze TG, Nöthen M, Spanagel R, Kiefer F, Rietschel M. Acute alcohol withdrawal and recovery in men lead to profound changes in DNA methylation profiles: a longitudinal clinical study. Addiction 2020; 115:2034-2044. [PMID: 32080920 DOI: 10.1111/add.15020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Withdrawal is a serious and sometimes life-threatening event in alcohol-dependent individuals. It has been suggested that epigenetic processes may play a role in this context. This study aimed to identify genes and pathways involved in such processes which hint to relevant mechanisms underlying withdrawal. DESIGN Cross-sectional case-control study and longitudinal within-cases study during alcohol withdrawal and after 2 weeks of recovery SETTING: Addiction medicine departments in two university hospitals in southern Germany. PARTICIPANTS/CASES Ninety-nine alcohol-dependent male patients receiving in-patient treatment and suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms during detoxification and 95 age-matched male controls. MEASUREMENTS Epigenome-wide methylation patterns were analyzed in patients during acute alcohol withdrawal and after 2 weeks of recovery, as well as in age-matched controls using Illumina EPIC bead chips. Methylation levels of patients and controls were tested for association with withdrawal status. Tests were adjusted for technical and batch effects, age, smoking and cell type distribution. Single-site analysis, as well as an analysis of differentially methylated regions and gene ontology analysis, were performed. FINDINGS We found pronounced epigenome-wide significant [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05] differences between patients during withdrawal and after 2 weeks [2876 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites], as well as between patients and controls (9845 and 6094 CpG sites comparing patients at time-point 1 and patients at time-point 2 versus controls, respectively). Analysis of differentially methylated regions and involved pathways revealed an over-representation of gene ontology terms related to the immune system response. Differences between patients and controls diminished after recovery (> 800 CpG sites less), suggesting a partial reversibility of alcohol- and withdrawal-related methylation. CONCLUSIONS Acute alcohol withdrawal in severely dependent male patients appears to be associated with extensive changes in epigenome-wide methylation patterns. In particular, genes involved in immune system response seem to be affected by this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Josef Frank
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ulrich Frischknecht
- Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jens Treutlein
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jerome C Foo
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Sirignano
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helene Dukal
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Franziska Degenhardt
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Genomics, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anne Koopmann
- Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Hoffmann
- Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gabi Koller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Oliver Pogarell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich W Preuss
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, Martin-Luther-University (MLU), Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Peter Zill
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas G Schulze
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Genomics, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Neuroimaging reveals functionally distinct neuronal networks associated with high-level alcohol consumption in two genetic rat models. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 32:229-238. [PMID: 32925226 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Human imaging data suggest that the motivational processes associated with alcohol reward are reflected in the patterns of neural activation after alcohol or alcohol-related cues. In animal models of alcohol drinking, however, the changes in brain activation during voluntary alcohol ingestion are poorly known. In order to improve the translational utility of animal models, we examined alcohol-induced functional brain activation in Alko Alcohol (AA) and Marchigian-Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats that drink voluntarily high levels of alcohol, but exhibit widely different neurochemical and behavioral traits cosegregated with alcohol preference. Brain imaging was performed using manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI), which is based on accumulation of Mn2+ ions in activated neurons, allowing the identification of functional neuronal networks recruited during specific behaviors in awake animals during a subsequent imaging session under anesthesia. MEMRI was performed following 4 weeks of voluntary alcohol drinking, using water drinking as the control. Despite similar levels of alcohol drinking, strikingly different alcohol-induced neuronal activity patterns were observed in AA and msP rats. Overall, functional activation in the AA rats was more widespread, involving large cortical areas and subcortical structures, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, preoptic area, hypothalamus, periaqueductal grey, and substantia nigra. In the msP rats, however, alcohol-related activation was largely confined to prefrontal cortical regions and insular cortex, and olfactory areas. Overlapping areas of activation found in both rat lines included the nucleus accumbens, prelimbic, orbital, and insular cortex. In conclusion, our data reveal strikingly different brain circuits associated with alcohol drinking in two genetically different rat lines and suggest innately different motivational and behavioral processes driving alcohol drinking. These findings have important implications for the use of these lines in translational alcohol research.
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39
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Eed A, Cerdán Cerdá A, Lerma J, De Santis S. Diffusion-weighted MRI in neurodegenerative and psychiatric animal models: Experimental strategies and main outcomes. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 343:108814. [PMID: 32569785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical MRI approaches constitute a key tool to study a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric illnesses, allowing a more direct investigation of the disorder substrate and, at the same time, the possibility of back-translating such findings to human subjects. However, the lack of consensus on the optimal experimental scheme used to acquire the data has led to relatively high heterogeneity in the choice of protocols, which can potentially impact the comparison between results obtained by different groups, even using the same animal model. This is especially true for diffusion-weighted MRI data, where certain experimental choices can impact not only on the accuracy and precision of the extracted biomarkers, but also on their biological meaning. With this in mind, we extensively examined preclinical imaging studies that used diffusion-weighted MRI to investigate neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in rodent models. In this review, we discuss the main findings for each preclinical model, with a special focus on the analysis and comparison of the different acquisition strategies used across studies and their impact on the heterogeneity of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Eed
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC, UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Juan Lerma
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC, UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC, UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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Sawyer KS, Adra N, Salz DM, Kemppainen MI, Ruiz SM, Harris GJ, Oscar-Berman M. Hippocampal subfield volumes in abstinent men and women with a history of alcohol use disorder. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236641. [PMID: 32776986 PMCID: PMC7416961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) has been associated with abnormalities in hippocampal volumes, but these relationships have not been fully explored with respect to sub-regional volumes, nor in association with individual characteristics such as age, gender differences, drinking history, and memory. The present study examined the impact of those variables in relation to hippocampal subfield volumes in abstinent men and women with a history of AUD. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3 Tesla, we obtained brain images from 67 participants with AUD (31 women) and 64 nonalcoholic control (NC) participants (31 women). The average duration of the most recent period of sobriety for AUD participants was 7.1 years. We used Freesurfer 6.0 to segment the hippocampus into 12 regions. These were imputed into statistical models to examine the relationships of brain volume with AUD group, age, gender, memory, and drinking history. Interactions with gender and age were of particular interest. Compared to the NC group, the AUD group had approximately 5% smaller subiculum, CA1, molecular layer, and hippocampal tail regions. Age was negatively associated with volumes for the AUD group in the subiculum and the hippocampal tail, but no significant interactions with gender were identified. The relationships for delayed and immediate memory with hippocampal tail volume differed for AUD and NC groups: Higher scores on tests of immediate and delayed memory were associated with smaller volumes in the AUD group, but larger volumes in the NC group. Length of sobriety was associated with decreasing CA1 volume in women (0.19% per year) and increasing volume size in men (0.38% per year). The course of abstinence on CA1 volume differed for men and women, and the differential relationships of subfield volumes to age and memory could indicate a distinction in the impact of AUD on functions of the hippocampal tail. These findings confirm and extend evidence that AUD, age, gender, memory, and abstinence differentially impact volumes of component parts of the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayle S. Sawyer
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Sawyer Scientific, LLC, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Noor Adra
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Daniel M. Salz
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Maaria I. Kemppainen
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Ruiz
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Gordon J. Harris
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Marlene Oscar-Berman
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
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41
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De Santis S, Cosa-Linan A, Garcia-Hernandez R, Dmytrenko L, Vargova L, Vorisek I, Stopponi S, Bach P, Kirsch P, Kiefer F, Ciccocioppo R, Sykova E, Moratal D, Sommer WH, Canals S. Chronic alcohol consumption alters extracellular space geometry and transmitter diffusion in the brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaba0154. [PMID: 32637601 PMCID: PMC7314532 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba0154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Already moderate alcohol consumption has detrimental long-term effects on brain function. However, how alcohol produces its potent addictive effects despite being a weak reinforcer is a poorly understood conundrum that likely hampers the development of successful interventions to limit heavy drinking. In this translational study, we demonstrate widespread increased mean diffusivity in the brain gray matter of chronically drinking humans and rats. These alterations appear soon after drinking initiation in rats, persist into early abstinence in both species, and are associated with a robust decrease in extracellular space tortuosity explained by a microglial reaction. Mathematical modeling of the diffusivity changes unveils an increased spatial reach of extrasynaptically released transmitters like dopamine that may contribute to alcohol's progressively enhanced addictive potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Alejandro Cosa-Linan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Raquel Garcia-Hernandez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Lesia Dmytrenko
- Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Lydia Vargova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, 150 06 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Vorisek
- Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, 150 06 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | | | - Patrick Bach
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Peter Kirsch
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Eva Sykova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - David Moratal
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Wolfgang H. Sommer
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
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42
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Brain-wide functional architecture remodeling by alcohol dependence and abstinence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:2149-2159. [PMID: 31937658 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909915117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are key factors in the development of alcohol use disorder, which is a pervasive societal problem with substantial economic, medical, and psychiatric consequences. Although our understanding of the neurocircuitry that underlies alcohol use has improved, novel brain regions that are involved in alcohol use and novel biomarkers of alcohol use need to be identified. The present study used a single-cell whole-brain imaging approach to 1) assess whether abstinence from alcohol in an animal model of alcohol dependence alters the functional architecture of brain activity and modularity, 2) validate our current knowledge of the neurocircuitry of alcohol abstinence, and 3) discover brain regions that may be involved in alcohol use. Alcohol abstinence resulted in the whole-brain reorganization of functional architecture in mice and a pronounced decrease in modularity that was not observed in nondependent moderate drinkers. Structuring of the alcohol abstinence network revealed three major brain modules: 1) extended amygdala module, 2) midbrain striatal module, and 3) cortico-hippocampo-thalamic module, reminiscent of the three-stage theory. Many hub brain regions that control this network were identified, including several that have been previously overlooked in alcohol research. These results identify brain targets for future research and demonstrate that alcohol use and dependence remodel brain-wide functional architecture to decrease modularity. Further studies are needed to determine whether the changes in coactivation and modularity that are associated with alcohol abstinence are causal features of alcohol dependence or a consequence of excessive drinking and alcohol exposure.
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43
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De Santis S, Sommer WH, Canals S. Detecting Alcohol-Induced Brain Damage Noninvasively Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:4187-4189. [PMID: 31513372 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
While alcohol's detrimental effects on the brain are widely acknowledged, diagnostic markers for detection and monitoring alcohol-induced brain damage are lacking. A recent study showed that diffusion tensor imaging can be used to monitor this damage and characterized the progression of the observed changes into early abstinence. Here, we discuss the main findings of that study and highlight current technical limitations which, once addressed, can pave the way to the development of new powerful diagnostic markers for alcohol-induced brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d’Alacant 03550, Spain
| | | | - Santiago Canals
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d’Alacant 03550, Spain
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44
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Martínez E, Scoppetta O, Martín A. Permisividad parental y diferencias de género en el consumo de alcohol en escolares. DRUGS AND ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.21501/24631779.3367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
El consumo de alcohol en menores de edad representa un problema social y de salud pública de magnitud considerable. La investigación muestra que la familia es una instancia determinante del riesgo de consumo de sustancias por parte de niños, niñas y adolescentes. Existe evidencia acerca de que la familia puede incidir de manera diferencial de acuerdo con el género, en un contexto en que ha aumentado la proporción de mujeres que consumen sustancias, por lo que esta investigación indagó acerca de la permisividad familiar según el género, en 3064 estudiantes de colegios públicos de Bogotá D.C. Los análisis mostraron el peso de las variables relativas a la permisividad parental, particularmente en el inicio del consumo y en la favorabilidad al consumo de alcohol, en ambos géneros.
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