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Exploring the role of neuropeptides in depression and anxiety. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 114:110478. [PMID: 34801611 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Depression is one of the most prevalent forms of mental disorders and is the most common cause of disability in the Western world. Besides, the harmful effects of stress-related mood disorders on the patients themselves, they challenge the health care system with enormous social and economic impacts. Due to the high proportion of patients not responding to existing drugs, finding new treatment strategies has become an important topic in neurobiology, and there is much evidence that neuropeptides are not only involved in the physiology of stress but may also be clinically important. Based on preclinical trial data, new neuropharmaceutical candidates may target neuropeptides and their receptors and are expected to be essential and valuable tools in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In the current article, we have summarized data obtained from animal models of depressive disorder and transgenic mouse models. We also focus on previously published research data of clinical studies on corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), galanin (GAL), neuropeptide Y (NPY), neuropeptide S (NPS), Oxytocin (OXT), vasopressin (VP), cholecystokinin (CCK), and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) stress research fields.
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Hökfelt T, Barde S, Xu ZQD, Kuteeva E, Rüegg J, Le Maitre E, Risling M, Kehr J, Ihnatko R, Theodorsson E, Palkovits M, Deakin W, Bagdy G, Juhasz G, Prud’homme HJ, Mechawar N, Diaz-Heijtz R, Ögren SO. Neuropeptide and Small Transmitter Coexistence: Fundamental Studies and Relevance to Mental Illness. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:106. [PMID: 30627087 PMCID: PMC6309708 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides are auxiliary messenger molecules that always co-exist in nerve cells with one or more small molecule (classic) neurotransmitters. Neuropeptides act both as transmitters and trophic factors, and play a role particularly when the nervous system is challenged, as by injury, pain or stress. Here neuropeptides and coexistence in mammals are reviewed, but with special focus on the 29/30 amino acid galanin and its three receptors GalR1, -R2 and -R3. In particular, galanin's role as a co-transmitter in both rodent and human noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neurons is addressed. Extensive experimental animal data strongly suggest a role for the galanin system in depression-like behavior. The translational potential of these results was tested by studying the galanin system in postmortem human brains, first in normal brains, and then in a comparison of five regions of brains obtained from depressed people who committed suicide, and from matched controls. The distribution of galanin and the four galanin system transcripts in the normal human brain was determined, and selective and parallel changes in levels of transcripts and DNA methylation for galanin and its three receptors were assessed in depressed patients who committed suicide: upregulation of transcripts, e.g., for galanin and GalR3 in LC, paralleled by a decrease in DNA methylation, suggesting involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. It is hypothesized that, when exposed to severe stress, the noradrenergic LC neurons fire in bursts and release galanin from their soma/dendrites. Galanin then acts on somato-dendritic, inhibitory galanin autoreceptors, opening potassium channels and inhibiting firing. The purpose of these autoreceptors is to act as a 'brake' to prevent overexcitation, a brake that is also part of resilience to stress that protects against depression. Depression then arises when the inhibition is too strong and long lasting - a maladaption, allostatic load, leading to depletion of NA levels in the forebrain. It is suggested that disinhibition by a galanin antagonist may have antidepressant activity by restoring forebrain NA levels. A role of galanin in depression is also supported by a recent candidate gene study, showing that variants in genes for galanin and its three receptors confer increased risk of depression and anxiety in people who experienced childhood adversity or recent negative life events. In summary, galanin, a neuropeptide coexisting in LC neurons, may participate in the mechanism underlying resilience against a serious and common disorder, MDD. Existing and further results may lead to an increased understanding of how this illness develops, which in turn could provide a basis for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Hökfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Swapnali Barde
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zhi-Qing David Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Eugenia Kuteeva
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joelle Rüegg
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Center for Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center, Swetox, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Erwan Le Maitre
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mårten Risling
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Kehr
- Pronexus Analytical AB, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Ihnatko
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Elvar Theodorsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Miklos Palkovits
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - William Deakin
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- NAP 2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Juhasz
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- SE-NAP2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Naguib Mechawar
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Verdun, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Sven Ove Ögren
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Petschner P, Balogh N, Adori C, Tamasi V, Kumar S, Juhasz G, Bagdy G. Downregulation of the Vitamin D Receptor Regulated Gene Set in the Hippocampus After MDMA Treatment. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1373. [PMID: 30559663 PMCID: PMC6287013 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The active ingredient of ecstasy, ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), in addition to its initial reinforcing effects, induces selective and non-selective brain damage. Evidences suggest that the hippocampus (HC), a central region for cognition, may be especially vulnerable to impairments on the long-run, nevertheless, transcription factors that may precede and regulate such chronic changes remained uninvestigated in this region. In the current study, we used gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to reveal possible transcription factor candidates responsible for enhanced vulnerability of HC after MDMA administration. Dark Agouti rats were intraperitoneally injected with saline or 15 mg/kg MDMA. Three weeks later HC gene expression was measured by Illumina whole-genome beadarrays and GSEA was performed with MSigDB transcription factor sets. The number of significantly altered genes on the genome level (significance < 0.001) in up/downregulated sets was also counted. MDMA upregulated one, and downregulated 13 gene sets in the HC of rats, compared to controls, including Pax4, Pitx2, FoxJ2, FoxO1, Oct1, Sp3, AP3, FoxO4, and vitamin D receptor (VDR)-regulated sets (q-value <0.05). VDR-regulated set contained the second highest number of significantly altered genes, including among others, Camk2n2, Gria3, and Grin2a. Most identified transcription factors are implicated in the response to ischemia confirming that serious hypoxia/ischemia occurs in the HC after MDMA administration, which may contribute to the selective vulnerability of this brain region. Moreover, our results also raise the possibility that vitamin D supplementation, in addition to the commonly used antioxidants, could be a potential alternative method to attenuate MDMA-induced chronic hippocampal impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Petschner
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Noemi Balogh
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Adori
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viola Tamasi
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sahel Kumar
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Juhasz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Gonda X, Petschner P, Eszlari N, Baksa D, Edes A, Antal P, Juhasz G, Bagdy G. Genetic variants in major depressive disorder: From pathophysiology to therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 194:22-43. [PMID: 30189291 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In spite of promising preclinical results there is a decreasing number of new registered medications in major depression. The main reason behind this fact is the lack of confirmation in clinical studies for the assumed, and in animals confirmed, therapeutic results. This suggests low predictive value of animal studies for central nervous system disorders. One solution for identifying new possible targets is the application of genetics and genomics, which may pinpoint new targets based on the effect of genetic variants in humans. The present review summarizes such research focusing on depression and its therapy. The inconsistency between most genetic studies in depression suggests, first of all, a significant role of environmental stress. Furthermore, effect of individual genes and polymorphisms is weak, therefore gene x gene interactions or complete biochemical pathways should be analyzed. Even genes encoding target proteins of currently used antidepressants remain non-significant in genome-wide case control investigations suggesting no main effect in depression, but rather an interaction with stress. The few significant genes in GWASs are related to neurogenesis, neuronal synapse, cell contact and DNA transcription and as being nonspecific for depression are difficult to harvest pharmacologically. Most candidate genes in replicable gene x environment interactions, on the other hand, are connected to the regulation of stress and the HPA axis and thus could serve as drug targets for depression subgroups characterized by stress-sensitivity and anxiety while other risk polymorphisms such as those related to prominent cognitive symptoms in depression may help to identify additional subgroups and their distinct treatment. Until these new targets find their way into therapy, the optimization of current medications can be approached by pharmacogenomics, where metabolizing enzyme polymorphisms remain prominent determinants of therapeutic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Gonda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Kutvolgyi Clinical Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Peter Petschner
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nora Eszlari
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Daniel Baksa
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Edes
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Antal
- Department of Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Juhasz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Petschner P, Tamasi V, Adori C, Kirilly E, Ando RD, Tothfalusi L, Bagdy G. Gene expression analysis indicates reduced memory and cognitive functions in the hippocampus and increase in synaptic reorganization in the frontal cortex 3 weeks after MDMA administration in Dark Agouti rats. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:580. [PMID: 30071829 PMCID: PMC6090855 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4929-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is a widely used entactogenic drug known to impair cognitive functions on the long-run. Both hippocampal and frontal cortical regions have well established roles in behavior, memory formation and other cognitive tasks and damage of these regions is associated with altered behavior and cognitive functions frequently described in otherwise healthy MDMA users. Meanwhile, in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients seem to benefit from therapeutic application of the drug, where damage in hippocampal cue extinction may play a role. The aim of this study was to examine the hippocampus, frontal cortex and dorsal raphe of Dark Agouti rats with gene expression arrays (Illumina RatRef bead arrays) looking for possible mechanisms and new candidates contributing to the consequences of a single dose of MDMA (15 mg/kg) 3 weeks earlier. RESULTS The number of differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and the dorsal raphe were 481, 155, and 15, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis of the microarray data revealed reduced expression of 'memory' and 'cognition', 'dendrite development' and 'regulation of synaptic plasticity' gene sets in the hippocampus, parallel to the downregulation of CaMK II subunits, glutamate-, CB1 cannabinoid- and EphA4, EphA5, EphA6 receptors. Downregulated gene sets in the frontal cortex were related to protein synthesis, chromatin organization, transmembrane transport processes, while 'dendrite development', 'regulation of synaptic plasticity' and 'positive regulation of synapse assembly' gene sets were upregulated besides elevated levels of a CaMK II subunit and NMDA2B glutamate receptor. Changes in the dorsal raphe region were mild and in most cases not significant. CONCLUSION The present data raise the possibility of new synapse formation / synaptic reorganization in the frontal cortex 3 weeks after a single neurotoxic dose of MDMA. In contrast, a prolonged depression of new neurite formation in the hippocampus is proposed by downregulations of members in long-term potentiation pathway and synaptic plasticity emphasizing the particular vulnerability of this brain region and proposing a mechanism responsible for cognitive problems in healthy individuals. At the same time, these results underpin benefits of MDMA in PTSD, where the drug may help memory extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Petschner
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology & Neurochemistry Research Group, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Viola Tamasi
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Csaba Adori
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary.,4 Retzius Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eszter Kirilly
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Romeo D Ando
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Tothfalusi
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary. .,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology & Neurochemistry Research Group, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary. .,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4., Budapest, H-1089, Hungary.
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Fang P, Yu M, Wan D, Zhang L, Han L, Shen Z, Shi M, Zhu Y, Zhang Z, Bo P. Regulatory effects of galanin system on development of several age-related chronic diseases. Exp Gerontol 2017; 95:88-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Millón C, Flores-Burgess A, Narváez M, Borroto-Escuela DO, Gago B, Santín L, Castilla-Ortega E, Narváez JÁ, Fuxe K, Díaz-Cabiale Z. The neuropeptides Galanin and Galanin(1-15) in depression-like behaviours. Neuropeptides 2017; 64:39-45. [PMID: 28196617 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Galanin is a 29 amino acid neuropeptide widely distributed in neurons within the central nervous system. Galanin exerts its biological activities through three different G protein-receptors and participates in a number of functions, including mood regulation. Not only Galanin but also Galanin N-terminal fragments like Galanin(1-15) are active at the central level. In this work, we review the latest findings in studies on Galanin and Galanin(1-15) in depression-related behaviours. Our focus is on animal models for depression, and we pay some attention to research data obtained in human studies. Since Serotonin (5-HT), especially through 5-HT1A, and Galanin receptors interact at both pre-and postsynaptic level, the development of drugs targeting potential GAL1-GAL2-5-HT1A heteroreceptor complexes linked to the raphe-hippocampal 5-HT neurons may represent new treatment strategies in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Millón
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
| | - Antonio Flores-Burgess
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Manuel Narváez
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Belén Gago
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Luis Santín
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicobiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Estela Castilla-Ortega
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicobiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - José Ángel Narváez
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zaida Díaz-Cabiale
- Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
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Oztas B, Sahin D, Kir H, Eraldemir FC, Musul M, Kuskay S, Ates N. The effect of leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide-Y on serum Tnf-Α, Il-1β, Il-6, Fgf-2, galanin levels and oxidative stress in an experimental generalized convulsive seizure model. Neuropeptides 2017; 61:31-37. [PMID: 27522536 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to examine the effects of the endogenous ligands leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) on seizure generation, the oxidant/antioxidant balance, and cytokine levels, which are a result of immune response in a convulsive seizure model. With this goal, Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups-Group 1: Saline, Group 2: Saline+PTZ (65mg/kg), Group 3: leptin (4mg/kg)+PTZ, Group 4: ghrelin (80μg/kg)+PTZ, and Group 5: NPY (60μg/kg)+PTZ. All injections were delivered intraperitoneally, and simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) records were obtained. Seizure activity was scored by observing seizure behavior, and the onset time, latency, and seizure duration were determined according to the EEG records. At the end of the experiments, blood samples were obtained in all groups to assess the serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, FGF-2, galanin, nitric oxide (NOֹ), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels. The electrophysiological and biochemical findings (p<0.05) of this study show that all three peptides have anticonvulsant effects in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced generalized tonic-clonic convulsive seizure model. The reduction of the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 caused by leptin, ghrelin, and NPY shows that these peptides may have anti-inflammatory effects in epileptic seizures. Also, leptin significantly increases the serum levels of the endogenous anticonvulsive agent galanin. The fact that each one of these endogenous peptides reduces the levels of MDA and increases the serum levels of GSH leads to the belief that they may have protective effects against oxidative damage that is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Our study contributes to the clarification of the role of these peptides in the brain in seizure-induced oxidative stress and immune system physiology and also presents new approaches to the etiology and treatment of tendency to epileptic seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berrin Oztas
- Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Sahin
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Hale Kir
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Fatma Ceyla Eraldemir
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Mert Musul
- Carsamba State Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Sevinç Kuskay
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Nurbay Ates
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli, Turkey
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Alterations in the neuropeptide galanin system in major depressive disorder involve levels of transcripts, methylation, and peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E8472-E8481. [PMID: 27940914 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1617824113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a substantial burden to patients, families, and society, but many patients cannot be treated adequately. Rodent experiments suggest that the neuropeptide galanin (GAL) and its three G protein-coupled receptors, GAL1-3, are involved in mood regulation. To explore the translational potential of these results, we assessed the transcript levels (by quantitative PCR), DNA methylation status (by bisulfite pyrosequencing), and GAL peptide by RIA of the GAL system in postmortem brains from depressed persons who had committed suicide and controls. Transcripts for all four members were detected and showed marked regional variations, GAL and galanin receptor 1 (GALR1) being most abundant. Striking increases in GAL and GALR3 mRNA levels, especially in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus and the dorsal raphe nucleus, in parallel with decreased DNA methylation, were found in both male and female suicide subjects as compared with controls. In contrast, GAL and GALR3 transcript levels were decreased, GALR1 was increased, and DNA methylation was increased in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of male suicide subjects, however, there were no changes in the anterior cingulate cortex. Thus, GAL and its receptor GALR3 are differentially methylated and expressed in brains of MDD subjects in a region- and sex-specific manner. Such an epigenetic modification in GALR3, a hyperpolarizing receptor, might contribute to the dysregulation of noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD. Thus, one may speculate that a GAL3 antagonist could have antidepressant properties by disinhibiting the firing of these neurons, resulting in increased release of noradrenaline and serotonin in forebrain areas involved in mood regulation.
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Pałasz A, Suszka-Świtek A, Filipczyk Ł, Bogus K, Rojczyk E, Worthington J, Krzystanek M, Wiaderkiewicz R. Escitalopram affects spexin expression in the rat hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum. Pharmacol Rep 2016; 68:1326-1331. [PMID: 27710862 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spexin (SPX) is a recently discovered neuropeptide that exhibits a large spectrum of central and peripheral regulatory activity, especially when considered as a potent anorexigenic factor. It has already been proven that antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), can modulate peptidergic signaling in various brain structures. Despite these findings, there is so far no information regarding the influence of treatment with the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram on brain SPX expression. METHODS In this current study we measured SPX mRNA and protein expression in the selected brain structures (hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum) of rats chronically treated with a 10mg/kg dose of escitalopram using quantitative Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Strikingly, long-term (4 week) drug treatment led to the downregulation of SPX expression in the rat hypothalamus. This supports the hypothesis that SPX may be involved in the hypothalamic serotonin-dependent actions of SSRI antidepressants and possibly also in the central mechanism of body mass increase. Conversely, SPX expression increased in the hippocampus and striatum. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of the effects of a neuropsychiatric medication on SPX expression in animal brain. Our findings shed a new light on the pharmacology of antidepressants and may contribute to a better understanding of the alternative mechanisms responsible for antidepressant action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Pałasz
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Suszka-Świtek
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland
| | - Łukasz Filipczyk
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bogus
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland
| | - Ewa Rojczyk
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland
| | - John Worthington
- Manchester Immunology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9PT, UK; Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Marek Krzystanek
- Department and Clinic of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Ziolowa 45/47, Katowice 40-635, Poland
| | - Ryszard Wiaderkiewicz
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland
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Wang P, Li H, Barde S, Zhang MD, Sun J, Wang T, Zhang P, Luo H, Wang Y, Yang Y, Wang C, Svenningsson P, Theodorsson E, Hökfelt TGM, Xu ZQD. Depression-like behavior in rat: Involvement of galanin receptor subtype 1 in the ventral periaqueductal gray. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E4726-35. [PMID: 27457954 PMCID: PMC4987783 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1609198113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide galanin coexists in rat brain with serotonin in the dorsal raphe nucleus and with noradrenaline in the locus coeruleus (LC), and it has been suggested to be involved in depression. We studied rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS), a rodent model of depression. As expected, these rats showed several endophenotypes relevant to depression-like behavior compared with controls. All these endophenotypes were normalized after administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The transcripts for galanin and two of its receptors, galanin receptor 1 (GALR1) and GALR2, were analyzed with quantitative real-time PCR using laser capture microdissection in the following brain regions: the hippocampal formation, LC, and ventral periaqueductal gray (vPAG). Only Galr1 mRNA levels were significantly increased, and only in the latter region. After knocking down Galr1 in the vPAG with an siRNA technique, all parameters of the depressive behavioral phenotype were similar to controls. Thus, the depression-like behavior in rats exposed to CMS is likely related to an elevated expression of Galr1 in the vPAG, suggesting that a GALR1 antagonist could have antidepressant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Swapnali Barde
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ming-Dong Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Hanjiang Luo
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yutao Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Chuanyue Wang
- Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elvar Theodorsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, SE-58183 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Tomas G M Hökfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Zhi-Qing David Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Laboratory of Brain Disorders (Ministry of Science and Technology), Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
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