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Matrone M, Kotzalidis GD, Romano A, Bozzao A, Cuomo I, Valente F, Gabaglio C, Lombardozzi G, Trovini G, Amici E, Perrini F, De Persis S, Iasevoli F, De Filippis S, de Bartolomeis A. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia: Addressing white matter integrity, intracortical glutamate levels, clinical and cognitive profiles between early- and adult-onset patients. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 114:110493. [PMID: 34883221 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment-resistance in schizophrenia is 30-40%. Its neurobiology remains unclear; to explore it, we conducted a combined spectrometry/tractography/cognitive battery and psychopathological rating study on patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), dividing the sample into early-onset (N = 21) and adult-onset TRS (N = 20). Previous studies did not differentiate between early- (onset 13-18 years) and adult-onset (>18 years at formal diagnosis of schizophrenia) TRS. METHODS We evaluated cross-sectionally 41 TRS patients (26 male and 15 female) and 20 matched healthy controls (HCs) with psychopathological and cognitive testing prior to participating in brain imaging scanning using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging to determine the relationship between their symptoms and their glutamate levels and white matter integrity. RESULTS TRS patients scored lower than HCs on all cognitive domains; early-onset patients performed better than adult-onset patients only on the Symbol Coding domain. TRS correlated with symptom severity, especially negative symptoms. Glutamate levels and glutamate/creatine were increased in anterior cingulate cortex. Diffusion tensor imaging showed low fractional anisotropy in TRS patients in specific white matter tracts compared to HCs (bilateral anterior thalamic radiation, cortico-spinal tract, forceps minor, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and right uncinate fasciculus). CONCLUSIONS We identified specific magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging alterations in TRS patients. Adult-onset TRS differed little from early-onset TRS on most measures; this points to alterations being present since the outset of schizophrenia and may constitute a biological signature of treatment-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Matrone
- Section of Psychiatry Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science, and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Georgios D Kotzalidis
- NESMOS (Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs) Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Romano
- NESMOS (Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs) Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Bozzao
- NESMOS (Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs) Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Cuomo
- UOC SM I Distretto ASL ROMA 1, C.C. Regina Cœli, Via della Lungara 29, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Valente
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Institute of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Gabaglio
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Ginevra Lombardozzi
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Giada Trovini
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Emanuela Amici
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Filippo Perrini
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy; UOC SMREE Distretto ASL ROMA 6, TSMREE, Via S. Biagio, 12, 00049, Velletri, Rome, Italy.
| | - Simone De Persis
- UOSD Attività Terapeutiche Riabilitative per i Disturbi da uso di Sostanze e nuove Dipendenze, ASL Rieti, Via Salaria per Roma 36, 02100 Rieti, Italy.
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Section of Psychiatry Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science, and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Sergio De Filippis
- Clinica Neuropsichiatrica Villa von Siebenthal, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Via della Madonnina 1, 00045 Genzano di Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science, and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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Brofiga M, Pisano M, Raiteri R, Massobrio P. On the road to the brain-on-a-chip: a review on strategies, methods, and applications. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34280903 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac15e4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The brain is the most complex organ of our body. Such a complexity spans from the single-cell morphology up to the intricate connections that hundreds of thousands of neurons establish to create dense neuronal networks. All these components are involved in the genesis of the rich patterns of electrophysiological activity that characterize the brain. Over the years, researchers coming from different disciplines developedin vitrosimplified experimental models to investigate in a more controllable and observable way how neuronal ensembles generate peculiar firing rhythms, code external stimulations, or respond to chemical drugs. Nowadays, suchin vitromodels are namedbrain-on-a-chippointing out the relevance of the technological counterpart as artificial tool to interact with the brain: multi-electrode arrays are well-used devices to record and stimulate large-scale developing neuronal networks originated from dissociated cultures, brain slices, up to brain organoids. In this review, we will discuss the state of the art of the brain-on-a-chip, highlighting which structural and biological features a realisticin vitrobrain should embed (and how to achieve them). In particular, we identified two topological features, namely modular and three-dimensional connectivity, and a biological one (heterogeneity) that takes into account the huge number of neuronal types existing in the brain. At the end of this travel, we will show how 'far' we are from the goal and how interconnected-brain-regions-on-a-chip is the most appropriate wording to indicate the current state of the art.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Brofiga
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Marietta Pisano
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberto Raiteri
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.,CNR- Institute of Biophysics, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Massobrio
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.,National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Genova, Italy
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3
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Montagnese M, Leptourgos P, Fernyhough C, Waters F, Larøi F, Jardri R, McCarthy-Jones S, Thomas N, Dudley R, Taylor JP, Collerton D, Urwyler P. A Review of Multimodal Hallucinations: Categorization, Assessment, Theoretical Perspectives, and Clinical Recommendations. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:237-248. [PMID: 32772114 PMCID: PMC7825001 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hallucinations can occur in different sensory modalities, both simultaneously and serially in time. They have typically been studied in clinical populations as phenomena occurring in a single sensory modality. Hallucinatory experiences occurring in multiple sensory systems-multimodal hallucinations (MMHs)-are more prevalent than previously thought and may have greater adverse impact than unimodal ones, but they remain relatively underresearched. Here, we review and discuss: (1) the definition and categorization of both serial and simultaneous MMHs, (2) available assessment tools and how they can be improved, and (3) the explanatory power that current hallucination theories have for MMHs. Overall, we suggest that current models need to be updated or developed to account for MMHs and to inform research into the underlying processes of such hallucinatory phenomena. We make recommendations for future research and for clinical practice, including the need for service user involvement and for better assessment tools that can reliably measure MMHs and distinguish them from other related phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Montagnese
- Neuroimaging Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Pantelis Leptourgos
- Department of Psychiatry, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Flavie Waters
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Frank Larøi
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway,Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,Norwegian Center of Excellence for Mental Disorders Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Renaud Jardri
- University of Lille, INSERM U1172, CHU Lille, Centre Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France,Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, ENS, INSERM U960, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | | | - Neil Thomas
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia,The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rob Dudley
- Gateshead Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK,School of Psychology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John-Paul Taylor
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Daniel Collerton
- School of Psychology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Prabitha Urwyler
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK,Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Department of Neurology, University Neurorehabilitation Unit, University Hospital Bern—Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +41 31 632 76 07, fax: +41 31 632 75 76, e-mail:
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Dauth S, Maoz BM, Sheehy SP, Hemphill MA, Murty T, Macedonia MK, Greer AM, Budnik B, Parker KK. Neurons derived from different brain regions are inherently different in vitro: a novel multiregional brain-on-a-chip. J Neurophysiol 2016; 117:1320-1341. [PMID: 28031399 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00575.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain in vitro models are critically important to developing our understanding of basic nervous system cellular physiology, potential neurotoxic effects of chemicals, and specific cellular mechanisms of many disease states. In this study, we sought to address key shortcomings of current brain in vitro models: the scarcity of comparative data for cells originating from distinct brain regions and the lack of multiregional brain in vitro models. We demonstrated that rat neurons from different brain regions exhibit unique profiles regarding their cell composition, protein expression, metabolism, and electrical activity in vitro. In vivo, the brain is unique in its structural and functional organization, and the interactions and communication between different brain areas are essential components of proper brain function. This fact and the observation that neurons from different areas of the brain exhibit unique behaviors in vitro underline the importance of establishing multiregional brain in vitro models. Therefore, we here developed a multiregional brain-on-a-chip and observed a reduction of overall firing activity, as well as altered amounts of astrocytes and specific neuronal cell types compared with separately cultured neurons. Furthermore, this multiregional model was used to study the effects of phencyclidine, a drug known to induce schizophrenia-like symptoms in vivo, on individual brain areas separately while monitoring downstream effects on interconnected regions. Overall, this work provides a comparison of cells from different brain regions in vitro and introduces a multiregional brain-on-a-chip that enables the development of unique disease models incorporating essential in vivo features.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Due to the scarcity of comparative data for cells from different brain regions in vitro, we demonstrated that neurons isolated from distinct brain areas exhibit unique behaviors in vitro. Moreover, in vivo proper brain function is dependent on the connection and communication of several brain regions, underlining the importance of developing multiregional brain in vitro models. We introduced a novel brain-on-a-chip model, implementing essential in vivo features, such as different brain areas and their functional connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Dauth
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Ben M Maoz
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Sean P Sheehy
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Matthew A Hemphill
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Tara Murty
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Mary Kate Macedonia
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Angie M Greer
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Bogdan Budnik
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Resource Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin Kit Parker
- Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
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5
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Leicht G, Vauth S, Polomac N, Andreou C, Rauh J, Mußmann M, Karow A, Mulert C. EEG-Informed fMRI Reveals a Disturbed Gamma-Band-Specific Network in Subjects at High Risk for Psychosis. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:239-49. [PMID: 26163477 PMCID: PMC4681551 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Abnormalities of oscillatory gamma activity are supposed to reflect a core pathophysiological mechanism underlying cognitive disturbances in schizophrenia. The auditory evoked gamma-band response (aeGBR) is known to be reduced across all stages of the disease. The present study aimed to elucidate alterations of an aeGBR-specific network mediated by gamma oscillations in the high-risk state of psychosis (HRP) by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) informed by electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS EEG and fMRI were simultaneously recorded from 27 HRP individuals and 26 healthy controls (HC) during performance of a cognitively demanding auditory reaction task. We used single trial coupling of the aeGBR with the corresponding blood oxygen level depending response (EEG-informed fMRI). RESULTS A gamma-band-specific network was significantly lower active in HRP subjects compared with HC (random effects analysis, P < .01, Bonferroni-corrected for multiple comparisons) accompanied by a worse task performance. This network involved the bilateral auditory cortices, the thalamus and frontal brain regions including the anterior cingulate cortex, as well as the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS For the first time we report a reduced activation of an aeGBR-specific network in HRP subjects brought forward by EEG-informed fMRI. Because the HRP reflects the clinical risk for conversion to psychotic disorders including schizophrenia and the aeGBR has repeatedly been shown to be altered in patients with schizophrenia the results of our study point towards a potential applicability of aeGBR disturbances as a marker for the prediction of transition of HRP subjects to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Leicht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and
| | - Sebastian Vauth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and,These authors contributed equally to the article
| | - Nenad Polomac
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and
| | - Christina Andreou
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and
| | - Jonas Rauh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and
| | - Marius Mußmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and
| | - Anne Karow
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Mulert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB) and
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Samsom JN, Wong AHC. Schizophrenia and Depression Co-Morbidity: What We have Learned from Animal Models. Front Psychiatry 2015; 6:13. [PMID: 25762938 PMCID: PMC4332163 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia are at an increased risk for the development of depression. Overlap in the symptoms and genetic risk factors between the two disorders suggests a common etiological mechanism may underlie the presentation of comorbid depression in schizophrenia. Understanding these shared mechanisms will be important in informing the development of new treatments. Rodent models are powerful tools for understanding gene function as it relates to behavior. Examining rodent models relevant to both schizophrenia and depression reveals a number of common mechanisms. Current models which demonstrate endophenotypes of both schizophrenia and depression are reviewed here, including models of CUB and SUSHI multiple domains 1, PDZ and LIM domain 5, glutamate Delta 1 receptor, diabetic db/db mice, neuropeptide Y, disrupted in schizophrenia 1, and its interacting partners, reelin, maternal immune activation, and social isolation. Neurotransmission, brain connectivity, the immune system, the environment, and metabolism emerge as potential common mechanisms linking these models and potentially explaining comorbid depression in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- James N Samsom
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada
| | - Albert H C Wong
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada
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7
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Antipsychotic treatment modulates glutamate transport and NMDA receptor expression. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2014; 264 Suppl 1:S67-82. [PMID: 25214389 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-014-0534-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients often suffer from treatment-resistant cognitive and negative symptoms, both of which are influenced by glutamate neurotransmission. Innovative therapeutic strategies such as agonists at metabotropic glutamate receptors or glycin reuptake inhibitors try to modulate the brain's glutamate network. Interactions of amino acids with monoamines have been described on several levels, and first- and second-generation antipsychotic agents (FGAs, SGAs) are known to exert modulatory effects on the glutamatergic system. This review summarizes the current knowledge on effects of FGAs and SGAs on glutamate transport and receptor expression derived from pharmacological studies. Such studies serve as a control for molecular findings in schizophrenia brain tissue and are clinically relevant. Moreover, they may validate animal models for psychosis, foster basic research on antipsychotic substances and finally lead to a better understanding of how monoaminergic and amino acid neurotransmissions are intertwined. In the light of these results, important differences dependent on antipsychotic substances, dosage and duration of treatment became obvious. While some post-mortem findings might be confounded with multifold drug effects, others are unlikely to be influenced by antipsychotic treatment and could represent important markers of schizophrenia pathophysiology. In similarity to the convergence of toxic and psychotomimetic effects of dopaminergic, serotonergic and anti-glutamatergic substances, the therapeutic mechanisms of SGAs might merge on a yet to be defined molecular level. In particular, serotonergic effects of SGAs, such as an agonism at 5HT1A receptors, represent important targets for further clinical research.
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8
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Kang JI, Park HJ, Kim SJ, Kim KR, Lee SY, Lee E, An SK, Kwon JS, Lee JD. Reduced binding potential of GABA-A/benzodiazepine receptors in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis: an [18F]-fluoroflumazenil positron emission tomography study. Schizophr Bull 2014; 40:548-57. [PMID: 23588475 PMCID: PMC3984508 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbt052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered transmission of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence of GABA-A/benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor binding abnormalities in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis in comparison with normal controls using [(18)F]-fluoroflumazenil (FFMZ) positron emission tomography (PET). In particular, we set regions of interest in the striatum (caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens) and medial temporal area (hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus). METHODS Eleven BZ-naive people at UHR and 15 normal controls underwent PET scanning using [(18)F]-FFMZ to measure GABA-A/BZ receptor binding potential. The regional group differences between UHR individuals and normal controls were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 software. Participants were evaluated using the structured interview for prodromal syndromes and neurocognitive function tasks. RESULTS People at UHR demonstrated significantly reduced binding potential of GABA-A/BZ receptors in the right caudate. CONCLUSIONS Altered GABAergic transmission and/or the imbalance of inhibitory and excitatory systems in the striatum may be present at the putative prodromal stage and play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee In Kang
- *To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Psychiatry, Severance Mental Health Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, 119, 1926 Beon-gil, Gyeongchung-daero, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do 464-100, South Korea; tel: +82-31-760-9404, fax: +82-31-761-7582, e-mail:
| | - Hae-Jeong Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea;,Department of Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;,Department of Nuclear Medicine, BK21 Project for Medical Science, and Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea;,†These two authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors
| | - Se Joo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea;,Clinical and Neurobiological Lab for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;,Department of Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyung Ran Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea;,Section of Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Su Young Lee
- Section of Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;,Department of Psychiatry, Cheil General Hospital & Women’s Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea;,Section of Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suk Kyoon An
- Section of Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;,Department of Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;,Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Mental Health Hospital, Seoul, South Korea;,Graduate Program in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea;,*To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Psychiatry, Severance Mental Health Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, 119, 1926 Beon-gil, Gyeongchung-daero, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do 464-100, South Korea; tel: +82-31-760-9404, fax: +82-31-761-7582, e-mail:
| | - Jun Soo Kwon
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Doo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, BK21 Project for Medical Science, and Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
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Deng C, Dean B. Mapping the pathophysiology of schizophrenia: interactions between multiple cellular pathways. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:238. [PMID: 24348332 PMCID: PMC3842583 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Deng
- Antipsychotic Research Laboratory, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute Wollongong, NSW, Australia ; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong Wollongong, NSW, Australia ; Schizophrenia Research Institute Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brian Dean
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Parkville, VIC, Australia ; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Cioffi CL. Modulation of NMDA receptor function as a treatment for schizophrenia. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:5034-44. [PMID: 23916256 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness that afflicts nearly 1% of the world's population. Currently available antipsychotics treat positive symptoms, but are largely ineffective at addressing negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. Thus, improved pharmacotherapies that treat all aspects of the disease remain a critical unmet need. There is mounting evidence that links NMDA receptor hypofunction and the expression of schizophrenia, and numerous drug discovery programs have developed agents that directly or indirectly potentiate NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission. Several compounds have emerged that show promise for treating all symptom sub-domains in both preclinical models and clinical studies, and we will review recent developments in many of these areas.
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11
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Peselmann N, Schmitt A, Gebicke-Haerter PJ, Zink M. Aripiprazole differentially regulates the expression of Gad67 and γ-aminobutyric acid transporters in rat brain. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2013; 263:285-97. [PMID: 22968646 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-012-0367-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The molecular etiology of schizophrenia comprises abnormal neurotransmission of the amino acid GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid). Neuropathological studies convincingly revealed reduced expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (Gad67) in GABAergic interneurons. Several antipsychotics influence the expression of GABAergic genes, but aripiprazole (APZ), a partial dopaminergic and serotonergic receptor agonist, has not been involved into these studies so far. We treated Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks or 4 months with APZ suspended in drinking water and doses of 10 and 40 mg per kg body weight. Gene expression of Gad67, the vesicular GABA transporter Slc32a1 (solute carrier family, Vgat), the transmembrane transporters Slc6a1 (Gat1) and Slc6a11 (Gat3) was assessed by semiquantitative radioactive in situ hybridization. APZ treatment resulted in time- and dose-dependent effects with qualitative differences between brain regions. In the 10-mg group, Slc6a1 was strongly induced after 4 weeks in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex, followed by an induction of Gad67 in the same regions after 4 months, while frontocortical regions as well as basal ganglia showed dose-dependent reductions of Gad67 expression after 4 months. In several frontocortical and subcortical regions, we observed a decrease of Slc32a1 and an increase of Slc6a11 expression. In conclusion, APZ modulates gene expression of GABAergic marker genes involved into pathogenetic theories of schizophrenia. APZ only partially mirrors the effects of other antipsychotics with some important differences regarding brain regions. The findings might be explained by regulatory connections between serotonergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission and should be validated in behavioral animal models of psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Peselmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
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12
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Deng C, Pan B, Engel M, Huang XF. Neuregulin-1 signalling and antipsychotic treatment: potential therapeutic targets in a schizophrenia candidate signalling pathway. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 226:201-15. [PMID: 23389757 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3003-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the signalling pathways underlying the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is an essential step in the rational development of new antipsychotic drugs for this devastating disease. Evidence from genetic, transgenic and post-mortem studies have strongly supported neuregulin-1 (NRG1)-ErbB4 signalling as a schizophrenia susceptibility pathway. NRG1-ErbB4 signalling plays crucial roles in regulating neurodevelopment and neurotransmission, with implications for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Post-mortem studies have demonstrated altered NRG1-ErbB4 signalling in the brain of schizophrenia patients. Antipsychotic drugs have different effects on NRG1-ErbB4 signalling depending on treatment duration. Abnormal behaviours relevant to certain features of schizophrenia are displayed in NRG1/ErbB4 knockout mice or those with NRG1/ErbB4 over-expression, some of these abnormalities can be improved by antipsychotic treatment. NRG1-ErbB4 signalling has extensive interactions with the GABAergic, glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission systems that are involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. These interactions provide a number of targets for the development of new antipsychotic drugs. Furthermore, the key interaction points between NRG1-ErbB4 signalling and other schizophrenia susceptibility genes may also potentially provide specific targets for new antipsychotic drugs. In general, identification of these targets in NRG1-ErbB4 signalling and interacting pathways will provide unique opportunities for the development of new generation antipsychotics with specific efficacy and fewer side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Deng
- Antipsychotic Research Laboratory, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522 NSW, Australia.
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13
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Voineskos D, Rogasch NC, Rajji TK, Fitzgerald PB, Daskalakis ZJ. A review of evidence linking disrupted neural plasticity to schizophrenia. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2013; 58:86-92. [PMID: 23442895 DOI: 10.1177/070674371305800205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The adaptations resulting from neural plasticity lead to changes in cognition and behaviour, which are strengthened through repeated exposure to the novel environment or stimulus. Learning and memory have been hypothesized to occur through modifications of the strength of neural circuits, particularly in the hippocampus and cortex. Cognitive deficits, specifically in executive functioning and negative symptoms, may be a corollary to deficits in neural plasticity. Moreover, the main excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters associated with neural plasticity have also been extensively investigated for their role in the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) represents some of the most promising approaches to directly explore the physiological manifestations of neural plasticity in the human brain. Three TMS paradigms (use-dependent plasticity, paired associative stimulation, and repetitive TMS) have been used to evaluate neurophysiological measures of neural plasticity in the healthy brain and in patients with schizophrenia, and to examine the brain's responses to such stimulation. In schizophrenia, deficits in neural plasticity have been consistently shown which parallel the molecular evidence appearing to be entwined with this debilitating disorder. Such pathophysiology may underlie the learning and memory deficits that are key symptoms of this disorder and may even be a key mechanism involved in treatment with antipsychotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Voineskos
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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14
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Systems biology in psychiatric research: from complex data sets over wiring diagrams to computer simulations. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 829:567-92. [PMID: 22231839 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-458-2_36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The classification of psychiatric disorders has always been a problem in clinical settings. The present debate about the major systems in clinical practice, DSM-IV and ICD-10, has resulted in attempts to improve and replace those schemes by some that include more endophenotypic and molecular features. However, these disorders not only require more precise diagnostic tools, but also have to be viewed more extensively in their dynamic behaviors, which require more precise data sets related to their origins and developments. This enormous challenge in brain research has to be approached on different levels of the biological system by new methods, including improvements in electroencephalography, brain imaging, and molecular biology. All these methods entail accumulations of large data sets that become more and more difficult to interpret. In particular, on the molecular level, there is an apparent need to use highly sophisticated computer programs to tackle these problems. Evidently, only interdisciplinary work among mathematicians, physicists, biologists, and clinicians can further improve our understanding of complex diseases of the brain.
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Field JR, Walker AG, Conn PJ. Targeting glutamate synapses in schizophrenia. Trends Mol Med 2011; 17:689-98. [PMID: 21955406 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2011.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Revised: 08/12/2011] [Accepted: 08/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Although early clinical observations implicated dopamine dysfunction in the neuropathology of schizophrenia, accumulating evidence suggests that multiple neurotransmitter pathways are dysregulated. The psychotomimetic actions of NMDA receptor antagonists point to an imbalance of glutamatergic signaling. Encouragingly, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have elucidated several potential targets for increasing NMDA receptor function and equilibrating glutamatergic tone, including the metabotropic glutamate receptors 2, 3 and 5, the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors M(1) and M(4), and the glycine transporter GlyT1. Highly specific allosteric and orthosteric ligands have been developed that modify the activity of these novel target proteins, and in this review we summarize both the glutamatergic mechanisms and the novel compounds that are increasing the promise for a multifaceted pharmacological approach to treat schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie R Field
- Department of Pharmacology and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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Segnitz N, Ferbert T, Schmitt A, Gass P, Gebicke-Haerter PJ, Zink M. Effects of chronic oral treatment with aripiprazole on the expression of NMDA receptor subunits and binding sites in rat brain. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 217:127-42. [PMID: 21484241 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2262-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Accepted: 03/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The glutamatergic theory of schizophrenia proposes a dysfunction of ionotropic N-methyl-D: -aspartate receptors (NMDA-R). Several therapeutic strategies address NMDA-R function and the effects of antipsychotic agents on NMDA-R expression have been described. Within the second-generation antipsychotics, the partial dopaminergic and serotonergic agonist aripiprazole (APZ) was able to counteract the behavioral effects of NMDA-R antagonists. OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the effects of APZ on NMDA-R subunit expression and binding. METHODS We treated Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks or 4 months with APZ in daily oral doses of 10 and 40 mg per kilogram of body weight. Gene expression of the NMDA-R subunits NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, and NR2D, respectively, was assessed by semiquantitative radioactive in situ hybridization and in parallel receptor binding using (3)H-MK-801 receptor autoradiography. RESULTS Increased expression levels of NR1 (4 weeks), NR2A (4 weeks), NR2C (4 weeks and 4 months), and NR2D (4 months) were observed in several hippocampal and cortical brain regions. The parallel reduced expression of NR2B mRNAs (4 months) resulted in a relative increase of the NR2A/NR2B ratio. Marked differences between specific brain regions, the doses of APZ, and the time points of assessment became obvious. On the receptor level, increased MK-801-binding was found after 4 weeks in the 40-mg group and after 4 months in the 10-mg group. CONCLUSIONS The effects of APZ converge in enhanced NMDA receptor expression and a shift of subunit composition towards adult-type receptors. Our results confirm the regulatory connections between dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmissions with relevance for cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Segnitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, P.O. Box 122120, 68072 Mannheim, Germany
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Leicht G, Karch S, Karamatskos E, Giegling I, Möller HJ, Hegerl U, Pogarell O, Rujescu D, Mulert C. Alterations of the early auditory evoked gamma-band response in first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia: hints to a new intermediate phenotype. J Psychiatr Res 2011; 45:699-705. [PMID: 21067772 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Revised: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence of abnormalities of high-frequency oscillations in the gamma-range of the electroencephalography in schizophrenia. The generation of neural activity in the gamma-band was shown to be critically related to a glutamatergic and GABAergic microcircuit which is also known to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Recently, a reduction of the early auditory evoked gamma-band response (eGBR) in schizophrenic patients was reported. In order to investigate the possible applicability of this neurophysiological marker as an intermediate phenotype for schizophrenia, this is the main question of our investigation: Is the early eGBR decreased regarding evoked power and phase locking in first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia? METHODS We investigated the early eGBR in 17 unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia and in age-, gender- and education-matched groups of schizophrenic patients and healthy controls using an auditory reaction task. RESULTS First-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenic patients showed a significant reduction of evoked power and phase locking of the early eGBR compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION This study shows significantly reduced evoked power and phase locking of the early auditory eGBR in first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia pointing to the applicability of this marker as a heritable intermediate phenotype for schizophrenia. The findings are in line with the hypothesis of a disturbed GABAergic interneural modulation of pyramidal cells in schizophrenia and findings of different schizophrenia risk genes associated with transmission at glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Leicht
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch (PNB), Hamburg, Germany.
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Andersen SL, Navalta CP. Annual Research Review: New frontiers in developmental neuropharmacology: can long-term therapeutic effects of drugs be optimized through carefully timed early intervention? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2011; 52:476-503. [PMID: 21309771 PMCID: PMC3115525 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02376.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Our aim is to present a working model that may serve as a valuable heuristic to predict enduring effects of drugs when administered during development. Our primary tenet is that a greater understanding of neurodevelopment can lead to improved treatment that intervenes early in the progression of a given disorder and prevents symptoms from manifesting. The immature brain undergoes significant changes during the transitions between childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Such changes in innervation, neurotransmitter levels, and their respective signaling mechanisms have profound and observable changes on typical behavior, but also increase vulnerability to psychiatric disorders when the maturational process goes awry. Given the remarkable plasticity of the immature brain to adapt to its external milieu, preventive interventions may be possible. We intend for this review to initiate a discussion of how currently used psychotropic agents can influence brain development. Drug exposure during sensitive periods may have beneficial long-term effects, but harmful delayed consequences may be possible as well. Regardless of the outcome, this information needs to be used to improve or develop alternative approaches for the treatment of childhood disorders. With this framework in mind, we present what is known about the effects of stimulants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics on brain maturation (including animal studies that use more clinically-relevant dosing paradigms or relevant animal models). We endeavor to provocatively set the stage for altering treatment approaches for improving mental health in non-adult populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L. Andersen
- Laboratory for Developmental Neuropharmacology, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Carryl P. Navalta
- Program for Behavioral Science, Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School
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Cai HL, Zhu RH, Li HD, Zhang XH, Hu L, Yang W, Ye HS. Elevated plasma γ-aminobutyrate/glutamate ratio and responses to risperidone antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2010; 34:1273-8. [PMID: 20637820 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Revised: 07/05/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) and Glutamate (Glu) are respectively two major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and recent theories propose that both of their signaling complexes are compromised in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS The changes in plasma GABA, Glu and GABA/Glu ratio in schizophrenia have been studied and may be potential clinical markers. Here, we examined if plasma GABA, Glu and GABA/Glu ratio are altered in 32 schizophrenics, including a comprehensive investigation of their involvements with clinical course of a 6-week risperidone antipsychotic treatment. RESULTS Plasma levels of GABA and Glu were significantly lower in patients than in controls, while plasma GABA/Glu ratio was significantly elevated. During treatment, a non-significant further decrease of plasma GABA, a significant increase of plasma Glu and a significant reduction of plasma GABA/Glu ratio were observed. The ratio returned to the control level at week 6 even though concentrations of GABA and Glu were still distant from normal. After the Bonferroni correction, partial correlation analyses showed that plasma GABA and GABA/Glu ratio were positively correlated with the dose of risperidone and plasma concentration of 9-hydroxyrisperidone. The reduction of plasma GABA/Glu ratio was positively correlated with the improvement of activation symptom cluster. CONCLUSIONS The elevated plasma GABA/Glu ratio reinforces the idea of an abnormal GABA-Glu interaction in schizophrenia. The ratio may be a good peripheral state-like marker in schizophrenia research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Lin Cai
- Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
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20
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Hui KKS, Marina O, Liu J, Rosen BR, Kwong KK. Acupuncture, the limbic system, and the anticorrelated networks of the brain. Auton Neurosci 2010; 157:81-90. [PMID: 20494627 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2010.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2010] [Revised: 03/31/2010] [Accepted: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The study of the mechanism of acupuncture action was revolutionized by the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Over the past decade, our fMRI studies of healthy subjects have contributed substantially to elucidating the central effect of acupuncture on the human brain. These studies have shown that acupuncture stimulation, when associated with sensations comprising deqi, evokes deactivation of a limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network, which encompasses the limbic system, as well as activation of somatosensory brain regions. These networks closely match the default mode network and the anti-correlated task-positive network described in the literature. We have also shown that the effect of acupuncture on the brain is integrated at multiple levels, down to the brainstem and cerebellum. Our studies support the hypothesis that the effect of acupuncture on the brain goes beyond the effect of attention on the default mode network or the somatosensory stimulation of acupuncture needling. The amygdala and hypothalamus, in particular, show decreased activation during acupuncture stimulation that is not commonly associated with default mode network activity. At the same time, our research shows that acupuncture stimulation needs to be done carefully, limiting stimulation when the resulting sensations are very strong or when sharp pain is elicited. When acupuncture induced sharp pain, our studies show that the deactivation was attenuated or reversed in direction. Our results suggest that acupuncture mobilizes the functionally anti-correlated networks of the brain to mediate its actions, and that the effect is dependent on the psychophysical response. In this work we also discuss multiple avenues of future research, including the role of neurotransmitters, the effect of different acupuncture techniques, and the potential clinical application of our research findings to disease states including chronic pain, major depression, schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen K S Hui
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
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Uusi-Oukari M, Korpi ER. Regulation of GABA(A) receptor subunit expression by pharmacological agents. Pharmacol Rev 2010; 62:97-135. [PMID: 20123953 DOI: 10.1124/pr.109.002063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor system, the main fast-acting inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the brain, is the pharmacological target for many drugs used clinically to treat, for example, anxiety disorders and epilepsy, and to induce and maintain sedation, sleep, and anesthesia. These drugs facilitate the function of pentameric GABA(A) receptors that exhibit widespread expression in all brain regions and large structural and pharmacological heterogeneity as a result of composition from a repertoire of 19 subunit variants. One of the main problems in clinical use of GABA(A) receptor agonists is the development of tolerance. Most drugs, in long-term use and during withdrawal, have been associated with important modulations of the receptor subunit expression in brain-region-specific manner, participating in the mechanisms of tolerance and dependence. In most cases, the molecular mechanisms of regulation of subunit expression are poorly known, partly as a result of neurobiological adaptation to altered neuronal function. More knowledge has been obtained on the mechanisms of GABA(A) receptor trafficking and cell surface expression and the processes that may contribute to tolerance, although their possible pharmacological regulation is not known. Drug development for neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, alcoholism, schizophrenia, and anxiety, has been ongoing for several years. One key step to extend drug development related to GABA(A) receptors is likely to require deeper understanding of the adaptational mechanisms of neurons, receptors themselves with interacting proteins, and finally receptor subunits during drug action and in neuropsychiatric disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Uusi-Oukari
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku, Itainen Pitkakatu 4, 20014 Turku, Finland.
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Treatment of co-morbid cocaine dependence in schizophrenia with topiramate. Schizophr Res 2010; 116:97. [PMID: 19854620 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.09.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2009] [Revised: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 09/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Abstract
The hippocampus is abnormal in schizophrenia. Smaller hippocampal volume is the most consistent finding and is present already in the early stages of the illness. The underlying cellular substrate is a subtle, yet functionally significant reduction of hippocampal interneurons. Neuroimaging studies have revealed a pattern of increased hippocampal activity at baseline and decreased recruitment during the performance of memory tasks. Hippocampal lesion models in rodents have replicated some of the pharmacological, anatomical and behavioral phenotype of schizophrenia. Taken together, this pattern of findings points to a disinhibition of hippocampal pyramidal cells and abnormal cortico-hippocampal interactions in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Heckers
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Room 3060, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
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Diminished dosage of 22q11 genes disrupts neurogenesis and cortical development in a mouse model of 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:16434-45. [PMID: 19805316 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0905696106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The 22q11 deletion (or DiGeorge) syndrome (22q11DS), the result of a 1.5- to 3-megabase hemizygous deletion on human chromosome 22, results in dramatically increased susceptibility for "diseases of cortical connectivity" thought to arise during development, including schizophrenia and autism. We show that diminished dosage of the genes deleted in the 1.5-megabase 22q11 minimal critical deleted region in a mouse model of 22q11DS specifically compromises neurogenesis and subsequent differentiation in the cerebral cortex. Proliferation of basal, but not apical, progenitors is disrupted, and subsequently, the frequency of layer 2/3, but not layer 5/6, projection neurons is altered. This change is paralleled by aberrant distribution of parvalbumin-labeled interneurons in upper and lower cortical layers. Deletion of Tbx1 or Prodh (22q11 genes independently associated with 22q11DS phenotypes) does not similarly disrupt basal progenitors. However, expression analysis implicates additional 22q11 genes that are selectively expressed in cortical precursors. Thus, diminished 22q11 gene dosage disrupts cortical neurogenesis and interneuron migration. Such developmental disruption may alter cortical circuitry and establish vulnerability for developmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism.
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