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Wadsworth HA, Anderson EQ, Williams BM, Ronström JW, Moen JK, Lee AM, McIntosh JM, Wu J, Yorgason JT, Steffensen SC. Role of α6-Nicotinic Receptors in Alcohol-Induced GABAergic Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity to Cholinergic Interneurons in the Nucleus Accumbens. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3113-3129. [PMID: 36802012 PMCID: PMC10690621 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03263-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
The prevailing view is that enhancement of dopamine (DA) transmission in the mesolimbic system, consisting of DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that project to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), underlies the reward properties of ethanol (EtOH) and nicotine (NIC). We have shown previously that EtOH and NIC modulation of DA release in the NAc is mediated by α6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α6*-nAChRs), that α6*-nAChRs mediate low-dose EtOH effects on VTA GABA neurons and EtOH preference, and that α6*-nAChRs may be a molecular target for low-dose EtOH. However, the most sensitive target for reward-relevant EtOH modulation of mesolimbic DA transmission and the involvement of α6*-nAChRs in the mesolimbic DA reward system remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate EtOH effects on GABAergic modulation of VTA GABA neurons and VTA GABAergic input to cholinergic interneurons (CINs) in the NAc. Low-dose EtOH enhanced GABAergic input to VTA GABA neurons that was blocked by knockdown of α6*-nAChRs. Knockdown was achieved either by α6-miRNA injected into the VTA of VGAT-Cre/GAD67-GFP mice or by superfusion of the α-conotoxin MII[H9A;L15A] (MII). Superfusion of MII blocked EtOH inhibition of mIPSCs in NAc CINs. Concomitantly, EtOH enhanced CIN firing rate, which was blocked by knockdown of α6*-nAChRs with α6-miRNA injected into the VTA of VGAT-Cre/GAD67-GFP mice. The firing rate of CINs was not enhanced by EtOH in EtOH-dependent mice, and low-frequency stimulation (LFS; 1 Hz, 240 pulses) caused inhibitory long-term depression at this synapse (VTA-NAc CIN-iLTD) which was blocked by knockdown of α6*-nAChR and MII. Ethanol inhibition of CIN-mediated evoked DA release in the NAc was blocked by MII. Taken together, these findings suggest that α6*-nAChRs in the VTA-NAc pathway are sensitive to low-dose EtOH and play a role in plasticity associated with chronic EtOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary A Wadsworth
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, 1050 KMBL, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Elizabeth Q Anderson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, 1050 KMBL, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Benjamin M Williams
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, 1050 KMBL, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Joakim W Ronström
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, 1050 KMBL, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Janna K Moen
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Anna M Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- School of Biological Sciences and Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA
- George E. Whalen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Brain Function and Disease Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Jordan T Yorgason
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, 1050 KMBL, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, 1050 KMBL, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
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2
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Kramer PF, Brill-Weil SG, Cummins AC, Zhang R, Camacho-Hernandez GA, Newman AH, Eldridge MAG, Averbeck BB, Khaliq ZM. Synaptic-like axo-axonal transmission from striatal cholinergic interneurons onto dopaminergic fibers. Neuron 2022; 110:2949-2960.e4. [PMID: 35931070 PMCID: PMC9509469 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Transmission from striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) controls dopamine release through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on dopaminergic axons. Anatomical studies suggest that cholinergic terminals signal predominantly through non-synaptic volume transmission. However, the influence of cholinergic transmission on electrical signaling in axons remains unclear. We examined axo-axonal transmission from CINs onto dopaminergic axons using perforated-patch recordings, which revealed rapid spontaneous EPSPs with properties characteristic of fast synapses. Pharmacology showed that axonal EPSPs (axEPSPs) were mediated primarily by high-affinity α6-containing receptors. Remarkably, axEPSPs triggered spontaneous action potentials, suggesting that these axons perform integration to convert synaptic input into spiking, a function associated with somatodendritic compartments. We investigated the cross-species validity of cholinergic axo-axonal transmission by recording dopaminergic axons in macaque putamen and found similar axEPSPs. Thus, we reveal that synaptic-like neurotransmission underlies cholinergic signaling onto dopaminergic axons, supporting the idea that striatal dopamine release can occur independently of somatic firing to provide distinct signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Kramer
- Cellular Neurophysiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Samuel G Brill-Weil
- Cellular Neurophysiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alex C Cummins
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Renshu Zhang
- Cellular Neurophysiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gisela A Camacho-Hernandez
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Amy H Newman
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mark A G Eldridge
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Bruno B Averbeck
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zayd M Khaliq
- Cellular Neurophysiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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3
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Huang YB, Ma ZG, Zheng C, Ma XKK, Taylor DH, Gao M, Lukas RJ, Wu J. Levo-tetrahydropalmatine inhibits α4β2 nicotinic receptor response to nicotine in cultured SH-EP1 cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:889-896. [PMID: 34253876 PMCID: PMC8975845 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00709-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotine, a major component of tobacco, is highly addictive and acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) to stimulate reward-associated circuits in the brain. It is well known that nAChRs play critical roles in mediating nicotine reward and addiction. Current FDA-approved medications for smoking cessation are the antidepressant bupropion and the nicotinic partial agonist varenicline, yet both are limited by adverse side effects and moderate efficacy. Thus, development of more efficacious medications with fewer side effects for nicotine addiction and smoking cessation is urgently needed. l-Tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) is an active ingredient of the Chinese medicinal herb Corydalis ambigua that possesses rich neuropharmacological actions on dopamine (DA) receptors in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic reward pathway. L-THP has been explored as anti-addiction treatments for drug abuse including nicotine. However, the targets and mechanisms of l-THP-caused anti-nicotine effects are largely unknown. In this study we address this question by elucidating the effects of l-THP on human neuronal nAChRs using patch-clamp recordings. Human neuronal α4β2-nAChRs were heterologously expressed in SH-EP1 human epithelial cells. Bath application of nicotine (0.1-100 μM) induced inward currents, co-application of l-THP (3 μM) inhibited nicotine-induced currents in the transfected cells. L-THP-caused inhibition was concentration-dependent (the EC50 values for inhibiting the peak and steady-state current were 18 and 2.1 μM, respectively) and non-competitive. Kinetic analysis of the whole-cell currents showed that l-THP slowed rising time and accelerated decay time constants. L-THP specifically modulated α4β2-nAChRs, as it did not affect α7-nAChRs or α1*-nAChRs (muscle type). Interestingly, two putative α4β2-nAChR isoforms, namely sazetidine A-activated, high-sensitive one (α42β23-nAChR) and cytisine-activated, low-sensitive one (α43β22-nAChR) were pharmacologically separated, and the low-sensitive one was more susceptible to l-THP inhibition than the high-sensitive one. In conclusion, we demonstrate that l-THP blocks neuronal α4β2-nAChR function, which may underlie its inhibition on nicotine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Bing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ze-Gang Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Electrophysiology Laboratory, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 695011, China
| | - Chao Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Institution of Brain Sciences and Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiao-Kuang K Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Devin H Taylor
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT, 84058, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
- Institution of Brain Sciences and Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China.
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4
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Loser D, Hinojosa MG, Blum J, Schaefer J, Brüll M, Johansson Y, Suciu I, Grillberger K, Danker T, Möller C, Gardner I, Ecker GF, Bennekou SH, Forsby A, Kraushaar U, Leist M. Functional alterations by a subgroup of neonicotinoid pesticides in human dopaminergic neurons. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:2081-2107. [PMID: 33778899 PMCID: PMC8166715 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03031-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neonicotinoid pesticides, originally developed to target the insect nervous system, have been reported to interact with human receptors and to activate rodent neurons. Therefore, we evaluated in how far these compounds may trigger signaling in human neurons, and thus, affect the human adult or developing nervous system. We used SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells as established model of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) signaling. In parallel, we profiled dopaminergic neurons, generated from LUHMES neuronal precursor cells, as novel system to study nAChR activation in human post-mitotic neurons. Changes of the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were used as readout, and key findings were confirmed by patch clamp recordings. Nicotine triggered typical neuronal signaling responses that were blocked by antagonists, such as tubocurarine and mecamylamine. Pharmacological approaches suggested a functional expression of α7 and non-α7 nAChRs on LUHMES cells. In this novel test system, the neonicotinoids acetamiprid, imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiacloprid, but not thiamethoxam and dinotefuran, triggered [Ca2+]i signaling at 10-100 µM. Strong synergy of the active neonicotinoids (at low micromolar concentrations) with the α7 nAChR-positive allosteric modulator PNU-120596 was observed in LUHMES and SH-SY5Y cells, and specific antagonists fully inhibited such signaling. To provide a third line of evidence for neonicotinoid signaling via nAChR, we studied cross-desensitization: pretreatment of LUHMES and SH-SY5Y cells with active neonicotinoids (at 1-10 µM) blunted the signaling response of nicotine. The pesticides (at 3-30 µM) also blunted the response to the non-α7 agonist ABT 594 in LUHMES cells. These data show that human neuronal cells are functionally affected by low micromolar concentrations of several neonicotinoids. An effect of such signals on nervous system development is a toxicological concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Loser
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- NMI TT GmbH, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Maria G Hinojosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan Blum
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jasmin Schaefer
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- NMI TT GmbH, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Markus Brüll
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ylva Johansson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ilinca Suciu
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Karin Grillberger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Timm Danker
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- NMI TT GmbH, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Clemens Möller
- Life Sciences Faculty, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, 72488, Sigmaringen, Germany
| | - Iain Gardner
- CERTARA UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
| | - Gerhard F Ecker
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anna Forsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Udo Kraushaar
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Marcel Leist
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
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5
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Sethuramanujam S, Matsumoto A, deRosenroll G, Murphy-Baum B, Grosman C, McIntosh JM, Jing M, Li Y, Berson D, Yonehara K, Awatramani GB. Rapid multi-directed cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1374. [PMID: 33654091 PMCID: PMC7925691 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21680-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In many parts of the central nervous system, including the retina, it is unclear whether cholinergic transmission is mediated by rapid, point-to-point synaptic mechanisms, or slower, broad-scale 'non-synaptic' mechanisms. Here, we characterized the ultrastructural features of cholinergic connections between direction-selective starburst amacrine cells and downstream ganglion cells in an existing serial electron microscopy data set, as well as their functional properties using electrophysiology and two-photon acetylcholine (ACh) imaging. Correlative results demonstrate that a 'tripartite' structure facilitates a 'multi-directed' form of transmission, in which ACh released from a single vesicle rapidly (~1 ms) co-activates receptors expressed in multiple neurons located within ~1 µm of the release site. Cholinergic signals are direction-selective at a local, but not global scale, and facilitate the transfer of information from starburst to ganglion cell dendrites. These results suggest a distinct operational framework for cholinergic signaling that bears the hallmarks of synaptic and non-synaptic forms of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akihiro Matsumoto
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | | | - Claudio Grosman
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 407 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- George E. Whalen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry; School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Miao Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - David Berson
- Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Keisuke Yonehara
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
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6
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Ma ZG, Jiang N, Huang YB, Ma XK, Brek Eaton J, Gao M, Chang YC, Lukas RJ, Whiteaker P, Neisewander J, Wu J. Cocaine potently blocks neuronal α 3β 4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in SH-SY5Y cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:163-172. [PMID: 31399700 PMCID: PMC7471406 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-019-0276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most abused illicit drugs worldwide. It is well known that the dopamine (DA) transporter is its major target; but cocaine also acts on other targets including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In this study, we investigated the effects of cocaine on a special subtype of neuronal nAChR, α3β4-nAChR expressed in native SH-SY5Y cells. α3β4-nAChR-mediated currents were recorded using whole-cell recordings. Drugs were applied using a computer-controlled U-tube drug perfusion system. We showed that bath application of nicotine induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 20 µM. Pre-treatment with cocaine concentration-dependently inhibited nicotine-induced current with an IC50 of 1.5 μM. Kinetic analysis showed that cocaine accelerated α3β4-nAChR desensitization, which caused a reduction of the amplitude of nicotine-induced currents. Co-application of nicotine and cocaine (1.5 μM) depressed the maximum response on the nicotine concentration-response curve without changing the EC50 value, suggesting a non-competitive mechanism. The cocaine-induced inhibition of nicotine response exhibited both voltage- and use-dependence, suggesting an open-channel blocking mechanism. Furthermore, intracellular application of GDP-βS (via recording electrode) did not affect cocaine-induced inhibition, suggesting that cocaine did not alter receptor internalization. Moreover, intracellular application of cocaine (30 µM) failed to alter the nicotine response. Finally, cocaine (1.5 μM) was unable to inhibit the nicotine-induced inward current in heterologous expressed α6/α3β2β3-nAChRs and α4β2-nAChRs expressed in human SH-EP1 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that cocaine is a potent blocker for native α3β4-nAChRs expressed in SH-SY5Y cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Gang Ma
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain Science and Disorders, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Nan Jiang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Yuan-Bing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China
| | - Xiao-Kuang Ma
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515004, China
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Yong-Chang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Janet Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain Science and Disorders, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China.
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515004, China.
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7
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Gao F, Chen D, Ma X, Sudweeks S, Yorgason JT, Gao M, Turner D, Eaton JB, McIntosh JM, Lukas RJ, Whiteaker P, Chang Y, Steffensen SC, Wu J. Alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a highly sensitive target of alcohol. Neuropharmacology 2019; 149:45-54. [PMID: 30710570 PMCID: PMC7323585 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious public health problem that results in tremendous social, legal and medical costs to society. Unlike other addictive drugs, there is no specific molecular target for ethanol (EtOH). Here, we report a novel molecular target that mediates EtOH effects at concentrations below those that cause legally-defined inebriation. Using patch-clamp recording of human α6*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α6*-nAChR) function when heterologously expressed in SH-EP1 human epithelial cells, we found that 0.1-5 mM EtOH significantly enhances α6*-nAChR-mediated currents with effects that are dependent on both EtOH and nicotine concentrations. EtOH exposure increased both whole-cell current rising slope and decay constants. This EtOH modulation was selective for α6*-nAChRs since it did not affect α3β4-, α4β2-, or α7-nAChRs. In addition, 5 mM EtOH also increased the frequency and amplitude of dopaminergic neuron transients in mouse brain nucleus accumbens slices, that were blocked by the α6*-nAChR antagonist, α-conotoxin MII, suggesting a role for native α6*-nAChRs in low-dose EtOH effects. Collectively, our data suggest that α6*-nAChRs are sensitive targets mediating low-dose EtOH effects through a positive allosteric mechanism, which provides new insight into mechanisms involved in pharmacologically-relevant alcohol effects contributing to AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenfei Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 51504, China; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Dejie Chen
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA; Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, Guangdong, 527300, China
| | - Xiaokuang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 51504, China; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Sterling Sudweeks
- Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Jordan T Yorgason
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Dharshaun Turner
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA 84108, USA
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Yongchang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 51504, China; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA; Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, Guangdong, 527300, China.
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Chen D, Gao F, Ma X, Eaton JB, Huang Y, Gao M, Chang Y, Ma Z, Der-Ghazarian T, Neisewander J, Whiteaker P, Wu J, Su Q. Cocaine Directly Inhibits α6-Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Human SH-EP1 Cells and Mouse VTA DA Neurons. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:72. [PMID: 30837868 PMCID: PMC6383119 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are primarily found in neurons of the midbrain dopaminergic (DA) system, suggesting these receptors are potentially involved in drug reward and dependence. Here, we report a novel effect that cocaine directly inhibits α6N/α3Cβ2β3-nAChR (α6*-nAChRs) function. Human α6*-nAChRs were heterologously expressed within cells of the SH-EP1 cell line for functional characterization. Mechanically dissociated DA neurons from mouse ventral tegmental area (VTA) were used as a model of presynaptic α6*-nAChR activation since this method preserves terminal boutons. Patch-clamp recordings in whole-cell configuration were used to measure α6*-nAChR function as well as evaluate the effects of cocaine. In SH-EP1 cells containing heterologously expressed human α6*-nAChRs, cocaine inhibits nicotine-induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 30 μM. Interestingly, in the presence of 30 μM cocaine, the maximal current response of the nicotine concentration-response curve is reduced without changing nicotine's EC50 value, suggesting a noncompetitive mechanism. Furthermore, analysis of whole-cell current kinetics demonstrated that cocaine slows nAChR channel activation but accelerates whole-cell current decay time. Our findings demonstrate that cocaine-induced inhibition occurs solely with bath application, but not during intracellular administration, and this inhibition is not use-dependent. Additionally, in Xenopus oocytes, cocaine inhibits both α6N/α3Cβ2β3-nAChRs and α6M211L/α3ICβ2β3-nCAhRs similarly, suggesting that cocaine may not act on the α3 transmembrane domain of chimeric α6N/α3Cβ2β3-nAChR. In mechanically isolated VTA DA neurons, cocaine abolishes α6*-nAChR-mediated enhancement of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that cocaine directly inhibits the function of both heterologously and naturally expressed α6*-nAChRs. These findings suggest that α6*-nAChRs may provide a novel pharmacological target mediating the effects of cocaine and may underlie a novel mechanism of cocaine reward and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejie Chen
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
| | - Fenfei Gao
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
| | - Xiaokuang Ma
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Yuanbing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ming Gao
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Yongchang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Zegang Ma
- Department of Physiology, Qingdao University of Medical College, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Janet Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Wu, ;
| | - Quanxi Su
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
- Quanxi Su,
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