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Eassa NE, Perez SM, Boley AM, Elam HB, Sharmin D, Cook JM, Lodge DJ. α5-GABAA Receptor Modulation Reverses Behavioral and Neurophysiological Correlates of Psychosis in Rats with Ventral Hippocampal Alzheimer's Disease-like Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11788. [PMID: 37511546 PMCID: PMC10380527 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Of the 35 million people in the world suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD), up to half experience comorbid psychosis. Antipsychotics, used to treat psychosis, are contraindicated in elderly patients because they increase the risk of premature death. Reports indicate that the hippocampus is hyperactive in patients with psychosis and those with AD. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the ventral hippocampus (vHipp) can regulate dopamine system function, which is thought to underlie symptoms of psychosis. A viral-mediated approach was used to express mutated human genes known to contribute to AD pathology: the Swedish (K670N, M671L), Florida (I716V), and London (V717I) mutations of amyloid precursor protein and two mutations (M146L and L286V) of presenilin 1 specifically in the vHipp, to investigate the selective contribution of AD-like pathology in this region. We observed a significant increase in dopamine neuron population activity and behavioral deficits in this AD-AAV model that mimics observations in rodent models with psychosis-like symptomatologies. Further, systemic administration of MP-III-022 (α5-GABAA receptor selective positive allosteric modulator) was able to reverse aberrant dopamine system function in AD-AAV rats. This study provides evidence for the development of drugs that target α5-GABAA receptors for patients with AD and comorbid psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E. Eassa
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (N.E.E.); (A.M.B.); (H.B.E.); (D.J.L.)
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Perez
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (N.E.E.); (A.M.B.); (H.B.E.); (D.J.L.)
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Angela M. Boley
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (N.E.E.); (A.M.B.); (H.B.E.); (D.J.L.)
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Hannah B. Elam
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (N.E.E.); (A.M.B.); (H.B.E.); (D.J.L.)
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Dishary Sharmin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA; (D.S.); (J.M.C.)
| | - James M. Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA; (D.S.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Daniel J. Lodge
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (N.E.E.); (A.M.B.); (H.B.E.); (D.J.L.)
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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Aranđelović J, Santrač A, Batinić B, Todorović L, Stevanović V, Tiruveedhula VVNPB, Sharmin D, Rashid F, Stanojević B, Cook JM, Savić MM. Effects of α5 GABA A receptor modulation on social interaction, memory, and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 28:1767-1778. [PMID: 35822698 PMCID: PMC9532908 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13914] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims GABAergic modulation involved in cognitive processing appears to be substantially changed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a widely used 5xFAD model of AD, we aimed to assess if negative and positive allosteric modulators of α5 GABAA receptors (NAM and PAM, respectively) would affect social interaction, social, object and spatial memory, and neuroinflammation. Methods After 10‐day treatment with PAM, NAM, or solvent, 6‐month‐old transgenic and non‐transgenic 5xFAD mice underwent testing in a behavioral battery. Gene expressions of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, GFAP, and IBA‐1 were determined in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex by qPCR. Results PAM treatment impaired spatial learning in transgenic females compared to solvent‐treated transgenic females, and social recognition in transgenic and non‐transgenic males. NAM treatment declined social interaction in transgenic and non‐transgenic males, while had beneficial effect on cognitive flexibility in non‐transgenic males compared to solvent‐treated non‐transgenic males. Transgenic animals have not fully displayed cognitive symptoms, but neuroinflammation was confirmed. NAM reduced proinflammatory gene expressions in transgenic females and astrogliosis in transgenic males compared to pathological controls. Conclusion PAM and NAM failed to exert favorable behavioral effects in transgenic animals. Suppression of neuroinflammation obtained with NAM calls for more studies with GABAergic ligands in amyloid beta‐ and/or tau‐dependent models with prominent neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Aranđelović
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Anja Santrač
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Bojan Batinić
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Lidija Todorović
- Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Stevanović
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Dishary Sharmin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Farjana Rashid
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Boban Stanojević
- Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, Rayne Institute, London, UK
| | - James M Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Miroslav M Savić
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Santrač A, Bijelić D, Stevanović V, Banićević M, Aranđelović J, Batinić B, Sharmin D, Cook JM, Savić MM. Postweaning positive modulation of α5GABAA receptors improves autism-like features in prenatal valproate rat model in a sex-specific manner. Autism Res 2022; 15:806-820. [PMID: 35266641 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as a common neurodevelopmental disorder that encompasses impairments in social communication and interaction, as well as repetitive and restrictive behavior, still awaits an effective treatment strategy. The involvement of GABAergic neurotransmission, and especially a deficit of GABAA receptors that contain the α5 subunits, were implicated in pathogenesis of ASD. Therefore, we tested MP-III-022, a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) selective for α5GABAA receptors, in Wistar rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid, as an animal model useful for studying ASD. Postweaning rats of both sexes were treated for 7 days with vehicle or MP-III-022 at two doses pharmacokinetically determined as selective, and thereafter tested in a behavioral battery (social interaction test, elevated plus maze, spontaneous locomotor activity, and standard and reverse Morris water maze). Additional rats were used for establishing a primary neuronal culture and performing calcium imaging, and determination of hippocampal mRNA levels of GABRA5, NKCC1, and KCC2. MP-III-022 prevented impairments in many parameters connected with social, repetitive and restrictive behavioral domains. The lower and higher dose was more effective in males and females, respectively. Intriguingly, MP-III-022 elicited certain changes in control animals similar to those manifested in valproate animals themselves. Behavioral results were mirrored in GABA switch and spontaneous neuronal activity, assessed with calcium imaging, and also in expression changes of three genes analyzed. Our data support a role of α5GABAA receptors in pathophysiology of ASD, and suggest a potential application of selective PAMs in its treatment, that needs to be researched in a sex-specific manner. LAY SUMMARY: In rats prenatally exposed to valproate as a model of autism, a modulator of α5GABAA receptors ameliorated social, repetitive and restrictive impairments, and, intriguingly, elicited certain autism-like changes in control rats. Behavioral results were mirrored in GABA switch and spontaneous neuronal activity, and partly in gene expression changes. This shows a role of α5GABAA receptors in pathophysiology of ASD, and a potential application of their selective modulators in its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Santrač
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dunja Bijelić
- Centre for Laser Microscopy, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry "Jean Giaja", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Stevanović
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Banićević
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia.,Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jovana Aranđelović
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Bojan Batinić
- Department of Physiology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dishary Sharmin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - James M Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Miroslav M Savić
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia
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Perez SM, McCoy AM, Prevot TD, Mian MY, Carreno FR, Frazer A, Cook JM, Sibille E, Lodge DJ. Hippocampal α5-GABA A Receptors Modulate Dopamine Neuron Activity in the Rat Ventral Tegmental Area. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 3:78-86. [PMID: 36712569 PMCID: PMC9874136 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aberrant dopamine neuron activity is attributable to hyperactivity in hippocampal subfields driving a pathological increase in dopamine neuron activity, which is positively correlated with psychosis in humans. Evidence indicates that hippocampal hyperactivity is due to loss of intrinsic GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acidergic) inhibition. We have previously demonstrated that hippocampal GABAergic neurotransmission can be modulated by targeting α5-GABAA receptors, which are preferentially expressed in hippocampal regions. Positive and negative allosteric modulators of α5-GABAA receptors (α5-PAMs and α5-NAMs) elicit effects on hippocampal-dependent behaviors. We posited that the selective manipulation of hippocampal inhibition, using α5-PAMs or α5-NAMs, would modulate dopamine activity in control rats. Further, α5-PAMs would reverse aberrant dopamine neuron activity in a rodent model with schizophrenia-related pathophysiologies (methylazoxymethanol acetate [MAM] model). Methods We performed in vivo extracellular recordings of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in anesthetized rats to compare the effects of two novel, selective α5-PAMs (GL-II-73, MP-III-022), a nonselective α-PAM (midazolam), and two selective α5-NAMs (L-655,708, TB 21007) in control and MAM-treated male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 5-9). Results Systemic or intracranial administration of selective α5-GABAA receptor modulators regulated dopamine activity. Specifically, both α5-NAMs increased dopamine neuron activity in control rats, whereas GL-II-73, MP-III-022, and L-655,708 attenuated aberrant dopamine neuron activity in MAM-treated rats, an effect mediated by the ventral hippocampus. Conclusions This study demonstrated that α5-GABAA receptor modulation can regulate dopamine neuron activity under control or abnormal activity, providing additional evidence that α5-PAMs and α5-NAMs may have therapeutic applications in psychosis and other psychiatric diseases where aberrant hippocampal activity is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Perez
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas,Address correspondence to Stephanie M. Perez, Ph.D.
| | - Alexandra M. McCoy
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Thomas D. Prevot
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Md Yeunus Mian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Flavia R. Carreno
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Alan Frazer
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - James M. Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Etienne Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel J. Lodge
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
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