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Manta A, Georganta A, Roumpou A, Zoumpourlis V, Spandidos DA, Rizos E, Peppa M. Metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: Underlying mechanisms and therapeutic approaches (Review). Mol Med Rep 2025; 31:114. [PMID: 40017113 PMCID: PMC11894597 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2025.13479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2025] [Indexed: 03/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) represents a considerable health concern, not only due to its impact on cognitive and psychiatric domains, but also because of its association with metabolic abnormalities. Individuals with SCZ face an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MS), which contributes to the increased cardiovascular burden and reduced life expectancy observed in this population. Metabolic alterations are associated with both the SCZ condition itself and extrinsic factors, particularly the use of antipsychotic medications. Additionally, the link between SCZ and MS seems to be guided by distinct genetic parameters. The present narrative review summarizes the relationship between SCZ and MS and emphasizes the various therapeutic approaches for managing its components in patients with these conditions. Recommended therapeutic approaches include lifestyle modifications as the primary strategy, with a focus on behavioral lifestyle programs, addressing dietary patterns and physical activity. Pharmacological interventions include administering common antidiabetic medications and the selection of less metabolically harmful antipsychotics. Alternative interventions with limited clinical application are also discussed. Ultimately, a personalized therapeutic approach encompassing both the psychological and metabolic aspects is essential for the effective management of MS in patients with SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aspasia Manta
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Georganta
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Afroditi Roumpou
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis Zoumpourlis
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Rizos
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12641 Athens, Greece
| | - Melpomeni Peppa
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Worf K, Matosin N, Gerstner N, Fröhlich AS, Koller AC, Degenhardt F, Thiele H, Rietschel M, Udawela M, Scarr E, Dean B, Theis FJ, Mueller NS, Knauer-Arloth J. Exon-variant interplay and multi-modal evidence identify endocrine dysregulation in severe psychiatric disorders impacting excitatory neurons. Transl Psychiatry 2025; 15:153. [PMID: 40253403 PMCID: PMC12009313 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-025-03366-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2025] [Accepted: 03/31/2025] [Indexed: 04/21/2025] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia share genetic architecture, yet their molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Both common and rare genetic variants contribute to neural dysfunction, impacting cognition and behavior. This study investigates the molecular effects of genetic variants on human cortical single-cell types using a single-exon analysis approach. Integrating exon-level eQTLs (common variants influencing exon expression) and joint exon eQT-Scores (combining polygenic risk scores with exon-level gene expression) from a postmortem psychiatric cohort (BD = 15, MDD = 24, schizophrenia = 68, controls = 62) with schizophrenia-focused rare variant data from the SCHEMA consortium, we identified 110 core genes enriched in pathways including circadian entrainment (FDR = 0.02), cortisol synthesis and secretion (FDR = 0.026), and dopaminergic synapse (FDR = 0.038). Additional enriched pathways included hormone signaling (FDRs < 0.0298, including insulin, GnRH, aldosterone, and growth hormone pathways) and, notably, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes (FDR = 0.0028). These pathways highlight shared molecular mechanisms in the three disorders. Single-nuclei RNA sequencing data from three cortical regions revealed that these core set genes are predominantly expressed in excitatory neuron layers 2-6 of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, linking molecular changes to cell types involved in cognitive dysfunction. Our results demonstrate the power of integrating multimodal genetic and transcriptomic data at the exon level. This approach moves beyond symptom-based diagnoses toward molecular classifications, identifying potential therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Worf
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
- TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Natalie Matosin
- Department of Gene and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Nathalie Gerstner
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
- Department of Gene and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna S Fröhlich
- Department of Gene and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna C Koller
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Degenhardt
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Holger Thiele
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, University Medical Center Mannheim/University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Madhara Udawela
- The Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Scarr
- The Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Brian Dean
- The Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
- TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Nikola S Mueller
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Janine Knauer-Arloth
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Gene and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
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Raven F, Medina AV, Schmidt K, He A, Vankampen AA, Balendran V, Aton SJ. Brief sleep disruption alters synaptic structures among hippocampal and neocortical somatostatin-expressing interneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2024.07.22.604591. [PMID: 39211205 PMCID: PMC11360998 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.22.604591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Study objectives Brief sleep loss alters cognition and synaptic structures of principal neurons in hippocampus and neocortex. However, while in vivo recording and bioinformatic data suggest that inhibitory interneurons are more strongly affected by sleep loss, it is unclear how sleep and sleep deprivation affect interneurons' synapses. Disruption of the SST+ interneuron population seems to be a critical early sign of neuropathology in Alzheimer's dementia, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder - and the risk of developing all three is increased by habitual sleep loss. We aimed to test how the synaptic structures of SST+ interneurons in various brain regions are affected by brief sleep disruption. Methods We used Brainbow 3.0 to label SST+ interneurons in the dorsal hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and visual cortex of male SST-CRE transgenic mice, then compared synaptic structures in labeled neurons after a 6-h period of ad lib sleep, or gentle handling sleep deprivation (SD) starting at lights on. Results Dendritic spine density among SST+ interneurons in both hippocampus and neocortex was altered in a subregion-specific manner, with increased overall and thin spine density in CA1, dramatic increases in spine volume and surface area in CA3, and small but significant changes (primarily decreases) in spine size in CA1, PFC and V1. Conclusions Our suggest that the synaptic connectivity of SST+ interneurons is significantly altered in a brain region-specific manner by a few hours of sleep loss. This suggests a cell type-specific mechanism by which sleep loss disrupts cognition and alters excitatory-inhibitory balance in brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Raven
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019
| | - Alexis Vega Medina
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019
| | - Kailynn Schmidt
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005
| | - Annie He
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019
| | - Anna A. Vankampen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019
| | - Vinodh Balendran
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019
| | - Sara J. Aton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019
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Dienel SJ, Wade KL, Fish KN, Lewis DA. Alterations in Prefrontal Cortical Somatostatin Neurons in Schizophrenia: Evidence for Weaker Inhibition of Pyramidal Neuron Dendrites. Biol Psychiatry 2025:S0006-3223(25)00052-6. [PMID: 39848397 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.010] [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] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 01/07/2025] [Accepted: 01/10/2025] [Indexed: 01/25/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Certain cognitive processes require inhibition provided by the somatostatin (SST) class of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This inhibition onto pyramidal neuron dendrites depends on both SST and GABA signaling. Although SST messenger RNA (mRNA) levels are lower in the DLPFC in schizophrenia, it is not known whether SST neurons exhibit alterations in the capacity to synthesize GABA, principally via the 67-kilodalton isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67). METHODS GAD67 and SST mRNA levels were quantified in individual SST neurons using fluorescence in situ hybridization in DLPFC layers 2/superficial 3, where SST neurons are enriched, in individuals with schizophrenia (n = 46) and unaffected comparison (n = 46) individuals. Findings were compared with GAD67 and SST mRNA levels quantified by polymerase chain reaction and to final educational attainment, a proxy measure for cognitive functioning. RESULTS GAD67 (F1,84 = 13.1, p = .0005, Cohen's d = -0.78) and SST (F1,84 = 10.1, p = .002, Cohen's d = -0.64) mRNA levels in SST neurons were lower in schizophrenia, with no group differences in the relative density of SST neurons (F1,84 = 0.21, p = .65). A presynaptic index of dendritic inhibition, derived by summing the alterations in GAD67 and SST mRNAs, was lower in 80.4% of individuals with schizophrenia and was associated with final educational attainment (adjusted odds ratio = 1.44, p = .022). CONCLUSIONS Deficits in both GAD67 and SST mRNAs within SST neurons indicate that these neurons have a markedly reduced ability to inhibit postsynaptic pyramidal neuron dendrites in schizophrenia. These alterations likely contribute to cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Dienel
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kirsten L Wade
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kenneth N Fish
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David A Lewis
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Hagihara H, Miyakawa T. Postmortem evidence of decreased brain pH in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:460. [PMID: 39496593 PMCID: PMC11535390 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03173-7] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 11/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder that shares symptoms, genetics, and molecular changes in the brain with other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Decreased brain pH, associated with increased lactate levels due to altered energy metabolism and neuronal hyperexcitation, has been consistently observed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We recently demonstrated similar brain alterations in various animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders, including MDD. However, our understanding of brain pH alterations in human patients with MDD remains limited. METHODS We conducted meta-analyses to assess postmortem brain pH in patients with MDD compared to control subjects, examining its relationships with recurrence of depressive episodes and illness duration, utilizing publicly available demographic data. Studies reporting individual raw pH data were identified through searches in the Stanley Medical Research Institute database, NCBI GEO database, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The data were analyzed using the random effects model, ANOVA, and ANCOVA. RESULTS The random effects model, using 39 curated datasets (790 patients and 957 controls), indicated a significant decrease in brain pH in patients with MDD (Hedges' g = -0.23, p = 0.0056). A two-way ANCOVA revealed that the effect of diagnosis on pH remained significant when considering covariates, including postmortem interval, age at death, and sex. Patients with recurrent episodes, but not a single episode, showed significantly lower pH than controls in both females and males (256 patients and 279 controls from seven datasets). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between brain pH and illness duration (115 patients from five datasets). Female preponderance of decreased pH was also found, possibly due to a longer illness duration and a higher tendency of recurrent episodes in females. CONCLUSION This study suggests a decrease in brain pH in patients with MDD, potentially associated with recurrent episodes and longer illness duration. As suggested from previous animal model studies, altered brain energy metabolism, leading to decreased pH, may serve as a potential transdiagnostic endophenotype for MDD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Hagihara
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
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Okuda T, Kimoto S, Kawabata R, Bian Y, Tsubomoto M, Okamura K, Enwright JF, Kikuchi M, Lewis DA, Hashimoto T. Alterations in inhibitory neuron subtype-selective transcripts in the prefrontal cortex: comparisons across schizophrenia and mood disorders. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1-10. [PMID: 39478366 PMCID: PMC11578916 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724002344] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 11/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In schizophrenia (SZ), impairments in cognitive functions, such as working memory, have been associated with alterations in certain types of inhibitory neurons that utilize the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). For example, GABA neurons that express parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SST) have more prominent gene expression alterations than those that express vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In bipolar disorder (BD) and major depression (MD), which exhibit similar, but less severe, cognitive impairments than SZ, alterations of transcript levels in GABA neurons have also been reported. However, the extent to which GABA neuron subtype-selective transcripts in the DLPFC are affected, and the relative magnitudes of the diagnosis-associated effects, have not been directly compared across SZ, BD, and MD in the same study. METHODS We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to examine levels of GABA neuron subtype-selective transcripts (PV, potassium voltage-gated channel modifier subfamily-S member-3, SST, VIP, and calretinin mRNAs), as well as the pan-GABA neuron marker 67 kDa glutamate decarboxylase mRNA, in DLPFC total gray matter of 160 individuals, including those with SZ, BD, or MD and unaffected comparison (UC) individuals. RESULTS Relative to UC individuals, individuals with SZ exhibited large deficits in levels of all transcripts except for calretinin mRNA, whereas individuals with BD or MD showed a marked deficit only for PV or SST mRNAs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that broader and more severe alterations in DLPFC GABA neurons might contribute to the greater cognitive impairments in SZ relative to BD and MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Okuda
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Sohei Kimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, 634-8521, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Rika Kawabata
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Yufan Bian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Makoto Tsubomoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Kazuya Okamura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - John F. Enwright
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Mitsuru Kikuchi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
- Research Center for Child Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - David A. Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Takanori Hashimoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Hokuriku Hospital, Nanto, 939-1893, Japan
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Hughes H, Brady LJ, Schoonover KE. GABAergic dysfunction in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: implications for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and affective disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1440834. [PMID: 39381500 PMCID: PMC11458443 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1440834] [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: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The microcircuitry within superficial layers of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), composed of excitatory pyramidal neurons and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, has been suggested as the neural substrate of working memory performance. In schizophrenia, working memory impairments are thought to result from alterations of microcircuitry within the DLPFC. GABAergic interneurons, in particular, are crucially involved in synchronizing neural activity at gamma frequency, the power of which increases with working memory load. Alterations of GABAergic interneurons, particularly parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) subtypes, are frequently observed in schizophrenia. Abnormalities of GABAergic neurotransmission, such as deficiencies in the 67 kDA isoform of GABA synthesis enzyme (GAD67), vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT), and GABA reuptake transporter 1 (GAT1) in presynaptic boutons, as well as postsynaptic alterations in GABA A receptor subunits further contribute to impaired inhibition. This review explores GABAergic abnormalities of the postmortem DLPFC in schizophrenia, with a focus on the roles of interneuron subtypes involved in cognition, and GABAergic neurotransmission within presynaptic boutons and postsynaptic alterations. Where available, comparisons between schizophrenia and affective disorders that share cognitive pathology such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder will be made. Challenges in directly measuring GABA levels are addressed, emphasizing the need for innovative techniques. Understanding GABAergic abnormalities and their implications for neural circuit dysfunction in schizophrenia is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Hughes
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Lillian J. Brady
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuskegee, AL, United States
- Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Kirsten E. Schoonover
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuskegee, AL, United States
- Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuskegee, AL, United States
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
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Dautan D, Monai A, Maltese F, Chang X, Molent C, Mauro D, Galbusera A, Vecchia D, Antonelli F, Benedetti A, Drago F, Leggio GM, Pagani M, Fellin T, Gozzi A, Schumann G, Managò F, Papaleo F. Cortico-cortical transfer of socially derived information gates emotion recognition. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1318-1332. [PMID: 38769153 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01647-x] [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] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Emotion recognition and the resulting responses are important for survival and social functioning. However, how socially derived information is processed for reliable emotion recognition is incompletely understood. Here, we reveal an evolutionarily conserved long-range inhibitory/excitatory brain network mediating these socio-cognitive processes. Anatomical tracing in mice revealed the existence of a subpopulation of somatostatin (SOM) GABAergic neurons projecting from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to the retrosplenial cortex (RSC). Through optogenetic manipulations and Ca2+ imaging fiber photometry in mice and functional imaging in humans, we demonstrate the specific participation of these long-range SOM projections from the mPFC to the RSC, and an excitatory feedback loop from the RSC to the mPFC, in emotion recognition. Notably, we show that mPFC-to-RSC SOM projections are dysfunctional in mouse models relevant to psychiatric vulnerability and can be targeted to rescue emotion recognition deficits in these mice. Our findings demonstrate a cortico-cortical circuit underlying emotion recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Dautan
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Monai
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Maltese
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Xiao Chang
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Cinzia Molent
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Daniele Mauro
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Alberto Galbusera
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Dania Vecchia
- Optical Approaches to Brain Function Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Antonelli
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Arianna Benedetti
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Leggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Pagani
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Tommaso Fellin
- Optical Approaches to Brain Function Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Charite Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, CCM, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca Managò
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.
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