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Smit AJT, Wu GWY, Rampersaud R, Reus VI, Wolkowitz OM, Mellon SH. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Val66Met polymorphism and open-label SSRI treatment response in Major Depressive Disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107045. [PMID: 38636352 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the therapeutic action of antidepressants and possibly in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Clinical studies of peripheral blood levels of BDNF in MDD have provided conflicting results, and there are also conflicting reports regarding the predictive value of peripheral BDNF levels for antidepressant treatment response. The present study investigated the association between serum BDNF levels, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265), clinical characteristics and SSRI treatment response. METHODS This open-label clinical trial included 99 physically healthy, unmedicated MDD participants and 70 healthy controls. Following a baseline assessment, 53 of the MDD participants completed an eight-week, open-label course of SSRI antidepressant treatment. Serum BDNF levels and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) ratings were examined at baseline and after eight weeks of treatment. Antidepressant response was defined as a decrease in HDRS ratings of > 50% from baseline to the end-of-treatment. Finally, serum BDNF levels and SSRI treatment response were compared between MDD participants who were heterozygous or homozygous for the Met allele ("Met-carriers") and individuals homozygous for the Val allele. RESULTS Serum BDNF levels at baseline were significantly higher in the unmedicated MDD participants compared to healthy controls (15.90 ng/ml vs 13.75 ng/ml, t (167) = -2.041, p = 0.043). In a post-hoc analysis, this difference was seen in the female but not male participants (16.85 ng/ml vs 14.06 ng/ml, t (91) = -2.067, p = 0.042; 14.86 ng/ml vs 13.31 ng/ml, t (74) = -0.923, p = 0.359). Baseline serum BDNF levels were not associated with treatment responder status or with absolute change in depression ratings over the course of 8-week SSRI treatment (p = 0.599). In both Responders and Non-responders, no significant changes in serum BDNF levels were found over the 8-week period of SSRI-treatment (16.32 ng/ml vs 16.23 ng/ml, t (18) = 0.060, p = 0.953; 16.04 ng/ml vs 15.61 ng/ml, t (29) = 0.438, p = 0.665, respectively). Further, no differences were found in serum BDNF levels prior to treatment between MDD Met-carriers and MDD Val/Val homozygotes (15.32 ng/ml vs 16.36 ng/ml, t (85) = 0.747, p = 0.457), and no differences were found in post-treatment serum BDNF (F1,42= 0.031, p = 0.862). However, MDD Val/Val homozygotes showed significantly greater antidepressant responses at week 8 than did MDD Met-carriers (F1,46 = 4.366, p = 0.043). CONCLUSION Our results do not support sufficient reliability of using peripheral BDNF to characterize depression or to predict antidepressant response in clinical use. The role of sex in moderating BDNF differences in depression, and the role of BDNF gene polymorphisms in predicting antidepressant response, remain to be further investigated. We conclude that, while central nervous system BDNF is likely involved in antidepressant efficacy and in aspects of MDD pathophysiology, its reflection in serum BDNF levels is of limited diagnostic or prognostic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J T Smit
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gwyneth W Y Wu
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Rampersaud
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Victor I Reus
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Owen M Wolkowitz
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Synthia H Mellon
- Department of OB-GYN and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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2
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Uzungil V, Luza S, Opazo CM, Mees I, Li S, Ang CS, Williamson NA, Bush AI, Hannan AJ, Renoir T. Phosphoproteomics implicates glutamatergic and dopaminergic signalling in the antidepressant-like properties of the iron chelator deferiprone. Neuropharmacology 2024; 246:109837. [PMID: 38184274 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current antidepressants have limitations due to insufficient efficacy and delay before improvement in symptoms. Polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene have been linked to depression (when combined with stressful life events) and altered response to selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors. We have previously revealed the antidepressant-like properties of the iron chelator deferiprone in the 5-HTT knock-out (KO) mouse model of depression. Furthermore, deferiprone was found to alter neural activity in the prefrontal cortex of both wild-type (WT) and 5-HTT KO mice. METHODS In the current study, we examined the molecular effects of acute deferiprone treatment in the prefrontal cortex of both genotypes via phosphoproteomics analysis. RESULTS In WT mice treated with deferiprone, there were 22 differentially expressed phosphosites, with gene ontology analysis implicating cytoskeletal proteins. In 5-HTT KO mice treated with deferiprone, we found 33 differentially expressed phosphosites. Gene ontology analyses revealed phosphoproteins that were predominantly involved in synaptic and glutamatergic signalling. In a drug-naïve cohort (without deferiprone administration), the analysis revealed 21 differentially expressed phosphosites in 5-HTT KO compared to WT mice. We confirmed the deferiprone-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase serine 40 residue phosphorylation (pTH-Ser40) (initially revealed in our phosphoproteomics study) by Western blot analysis, with deferiprone increasing pTH-Ser40 expression in WT and 5-HTT KO mice. CONCLUSION As glutamatergic and synaptic signalling are dysfunctional in 5-HTT KO mice (and are the target of fast-acting antidepressant drugs such as ketamine), these molecular effects may underpin deferiprone's antidepressant-like properties. Furthermore, dopaminergic signalling may also be involved in deferiprone's antidepressant-like properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Uzungil
- Melbourne Brain Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Sandra Luza
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Carlos M Opazo
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Isaline Mees
- Melbourne Brain Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- Melbourne Brain Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Williamson
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Ashley I Bush
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Melbourne Brain Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Melbourne Brain Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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3
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Qian X, Zhong ZD, Zhang Y, Qiu LQ, Tan HJ. Fluoxetine mitigates depressive-like behaviors in mice via anti-inflammation and enhancing neuroplasticity. Brain Res 2024; 1825:148723. [PMID: 38101693 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuroplasticity and inflammation represent a common final pathway for effective antidepressant treatment. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed medications for depression and have demonstrated efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms. However, the precise impact of SSRIs on neuroplasticity and inflammation remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of long-term treatment with SSRIs on hippocampal neuron, inflammation, synaptic function and morphology. Our findings revealed that fluoxetine treatment significantly alleviated behavioral despair, anhedonia, and anxiety in reserpine-treated mice. Moreover, fluoxetine mitigated hippocampal neuron impairment, inhibited inflammatory release, and increased the expression of synaptic proteins markers (SYP and PSD95) in mice. Notably, fluoxetine also suppressed reserpine-induced synapse loss in the hippocampus. Based on these results, fluoxetine has been demonstrated effectively to ameliorate depressive mood and cognitive dysfunction, possibly through the enhancement of synaptic plasticity. Overall, our study contributes to a further understanding of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine and its potential role in improving depressive symptoms and cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Qian
- School of Chemistry, Guangdong Key Lab of Chiral Molecules and Drug Discovery, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
| | - Zuo-Dong Zhong
- School of Pharmacy, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Li-Qin Qiu
- School of Chemistry, Guangdong Key Lab of Chiral Molecules and Drug Discovery, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Hui-Jun Tan
- School of Chemistry, Guangdong Key Lab of Chiral Molecules and Drug Discovery, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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Xie J, Wang Y, Ye C, Li XJ, Lin L. Distinctive Patterns of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:636. [PMID: 38203806 PMCID: PMC10779130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a highly heritable neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by cognitive and social dysfunction. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are together implicated in the pathogenesis and development of schizophrenia. DNA methylation, 5-methycytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxylcytosine (5hmC) have been recognized as key epigenetic elements in neurodevelopment, ageing, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, distinctive 5mC and 5hmC pattern and expression changes of related genes have been discovered in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs that affect 5mC status can alleviate symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a critical role for DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further exploring the signatures of 5mC and 5hmC in schizophrenia and developing precision-targeted epigenetic drugs based on this will provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Li Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (J.X.); (Y.W.); (C.Y.); (X.-J.L.)
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Paolini M, Fortaner-Uyà L, Lorenzi C, Spadini S, Maccario M, Zanardi R, Colombo C, Poletti S, Benedetti F. Association between NTRK2 Polymorphisms, Hippocampal Volumes and Treatment Resistance in Major Depressive Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2037. [PMID: 38002980 PMCID: PMC10671548 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing availability of antidepressant drugs, a high rate of patients with major depression (MDD) does not respond to pharmacological treatments. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling is thought to influence antidepressant efficacy and hippocampal volumes, robust predictors of treatment resistance. We therefore hypothesized the possible role of BDNF and neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (NTRK2)-related polymorphisms in affecting both hippocampal volumes and treatment resistance in MDD. A total of 121 MDD inpatients underwent 3T structural MRI scanning and blood sampling to obtain genotype information. General linear models and binary logistic regressions were employed to test the effect of genetic variations related to BDNF and NTRK2 on bilateral hippocampal volumes and treatment resistance, respectively. Finally, the possible mediating role of hippocampal volumes on the relationship between genetic markers and treatment response was investigated. A significant association between one NTRK2 polymorphism with hippocampal volumes and antidepressant response was found, with significant indirect effects. Our results highlight a possible mechanistic explanation of antidepressant action, possibly contributing to the understanding of MDD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Paolini
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Lidia Fortaner-Uyà
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Lorenzi
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Spadini
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Melania Maccario
- Mood Disorders Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Zanardi
- Mood Disorders Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Colombo
- Mood Disorders Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Poletti
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Benedetti
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
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6
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Ateaque S, Merkouris S, Barde YA. Neurotrophin signalling in the human nervous system. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1225373. [PMID: 37470055 PMCID: PMC10352796 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1225373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on neurotrophins and their tyrosine kinase receptors, with an emphasis on their relevance to the function and dysfunction in the human nervous system. It also deals with measurements of BDNF levels and highlights recent findings from our laboratory on TrkB and TrkC signalling in human neurons. These include ligand selectivity and Trk activation by neurotrophins and non-neurotrophin ligands. The ligand-induced down-regulation and re-activation of Trk receptors is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ateaque
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Spyros Merkouris
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Yves-Alain Barde
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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7
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Baumel WT, Strawn JR. Neurobiology of Treatment in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2023; 32:589-600. [PMID: 37201969 DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Both pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment-related changes increase activity in brain regions implicated in prefrontal regulatory circuits, and the functional connectivity of these regions with the amygdala is enhanced following pharmacological treatment. This may suggest overlapping mechanisms of action across therapeutic modalities. The existing literature is best viewed as a partially constructed scaffold on which to construct a vigorous understanding of biomarkers in pediatric anxiety syndromes. As the field approaches leveraging "fingerprints" in neuroimaging with "outputs" in neuropsychiatric tasks and scale, we can move beyond one-size-fits-all selection of psychiatric interventions toward more nuanced therapeutic strategies that recognize individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Thomas Baumel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Anxiety Disorders Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Box 670559, 260 Stetson Street, Suite 3200, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
| | - Jeffrey R Strawn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Anxiety Disorders Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Box 670559, 260 Stetson Street, Suite 3200, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA; Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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8
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Rovný R, Marko M, Michalko D, Mitka M, Cimrová B, Vančová Z, Jarčušková D, Dragašek J, Minárik G, Riečanský I. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with consolidation of episodic memory during sleep. Biol Psychol 2023; 179:108568. [PMID: 37075935 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an essential regulator of synaptic plasticity, a candidate neurobiological mechanism underlying learning and memory. A functional polymorphism in the BDNF gene, Val66Met (rs6265), has been linked to memory and cognition in healthy individuals and clinical populations. Sleep contributes to memory consolidation, yet information about the possible role of BDNF in this process is scarce. To address this question, we investigated the relationship between the BDNF Val66Met genotype and consolidation of episodic declarative and procedural (motor) non-declarative memories in healthy adults. The carriers of Met66 allele, as compared with Val66 homozygotes, showed stronger forgetting overnight (24hours after encoding), but not over shorter time (immediately or 20minutes after word list presentation). There was no effect of Val66Met genotype on motor learning. These data suggest that BDNF plays a role in neuroplasticity underlying episodic memory consolidation during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rastislav Rovný
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martin Marko
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Drahomír Michalko
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Milan Mitka
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Cimrová
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Vančová
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University and University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Dominika Jarčušková
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University and University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Dragašek
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University and University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia
| | | | - Igor Riečanský
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Deyama S, Kaneda K. Role of neurotrophic and growth factors in the rapid and sustained antidepressant actions of ketamine. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109335. [PMID: 36403852 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The neurotrophic hypothesis of depression proposes that reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contribute to neuronal atrophy or loss in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus and impaired hippocampal adult neurogenesis, which are associated with depressive symptoms. Chronic, but acute, treatment with typical monoaminergic antidepressants can at least partially reverse these deficits, in part via induction of BDNF and/or VEGF expression, consistent with their delayed onset of action. Ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, exerts rapid and sustained antidepressant effects. Rodent studies have revealed that ketamine rapidly increases BDNF and VEGF release and/or expression in the PFC and hippocampus, which in turn increases the number and function of spine synapses in the PFC and hippocampal neurogenesis. Ketamine also induces the persistent release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the PFC of male mice. These neurotrophic effects of ketamine are associated with its rapid and sustained antidepressant effects. In this review, we first provide an overview of the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression and then discuss the role of BDNF, VEGF, IGF-1, and other growth factors (IGF-2 and transforming growth factor-β1) in the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Ketamine and its Metabolites'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Deyama
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan.
| | - Katsuyuki Kaneda
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
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Liu C, Liu J, Gong H, Liu T, Li X, Fan X. Implication of Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Implications. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:2266-2282. [PMID: 36545727 PMCID: PMC10556385 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221220155455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a cluster of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions with atypical social communication and repetitive sensory-motor behaviors. The formation of new neurons from neural precursors in the hippocampus has been unequivocally demonstrated in the dentate gyrus of rodents and non-human primates. Accumulating evidence sheds light on how the deficits in the hippocampal neurogenesis may underlie some of the abnormal behavioral phenotypes in ASD. In this review, we describe the current evidence concerning pre-clinical and clinical studies supporting the significant role of hippocampal neurogenesis in ASD pathogenesis, discuss the possibility of improving hippocampal neurogenesis as a new strategy for treating ASD, and highlight the prospect of emerging pro-neurogenic therapies for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanqi Liu
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Battalion 5 of Cadet Brigade, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jiayin Liu
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Battalion 5 of Cadet Brigade, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Gong
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Tianyao Liu
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Army 953 Hospital, Shigatse Branch of Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Shigatse, China
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
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Zhu X, Zhang F, You Y, Wang H, Yuan S, Wu B, Zhu R, Liu D, Yan F, Wang Z. S-Ketamine Exerts Antidepressant Effects by Regulating Rac1 GTPase Mediated Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus of Stressed Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:299-314. [PMID: 35083636 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01180-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies have found that ketamine has a rapid and lasting antidepressant effect, especially in the case of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The molecular mechanisms, however, remain unclear. In this study, we observe the effects of S-Ketamine on the expression of Rac1, neuronal morphology, and synaptic transmission function in the hippocampus of stressed rats. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to construct stressed rats. The rats were given a different regimen of ketamine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 (50 µg, ICV) treatment. The depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by sucrose preference test and open-field test. The protein expression of Rac1, GluA1, synapsin1, and PSD95 in the hippocampus was detected by Western blot. Pull-down analysis was used to examine the activity of Rac1. Golgi staining and electrophysiological study were used to observe the neuronal morphology and long-term potentiation (LTP). Our results showed that ketamine can up-regulate the expression and activity of Rac1; increase the spine density and the expression of synaptic-related proteins such as GluA1, Synapsin1, and PSD95 in the hippocampus of stressed rats; reduce the CUMS-induced LTP impairments; and consequently improve depression-like behavior. However, Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 could have effectively reversed ketamine-mediated changes in the hippocampus of rats and counteracted its antidepressant effects. The specific mechanism of S-Ketamine's antidepressant effect may be related to the up-regulation of the expression and activity of Rac1 in the hippocampus of stressed rats, thus enhancing synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianlin Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Bishan Hospital, Bishan, Chongqing, 402760, China
| | - Yufeng You
- Department of Radiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Hongbai Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Su Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Banglin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Rongyu Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dawei Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 402160, China
| | - Fuxia Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100000, China.
| | - Zaiping Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China.
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12
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Musazzi L, Tornese P, Sala N, Lee FS, Popoli M, Ieraci A. Acute stress induces an aberrant increase of presynaptic release of glutamate and cellular activation in the hippocampus of BDNF Val/Met mice. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:3834-3844. [PMID: 35908196 PMCID: PMC9796250 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Stressful life events are considered major risk factors for the development of several psychiatric disorders, though people differentially cope with stress. The reasons for this are still largely unknown but could be accounted for by individual genetic variants, previous life events, or the kind of stressors. The human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met variant, which was found to impair intracellular trafficking and activity-dependent secretion of BDNF, has been associated with increased susceptibility to develop several neuropsychiatric disorders, although there is still some controversial evidence. On the other hand, acute stress has been consistently demonstrated to promote the release of glutamate in cortico-limbic regions and altered glutamatergic transmission has been reported in psychiatric disorders. However, it is not known if the BDNF Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) affects the stress-induced presynaptic glutamate release. In this study, we exposed adult male BDNFVal/Val and BDNFVal/Met knock-in mice to 30 min of acute restraint stress. Plasma corticosterone levels, glutamate release, protein, and gene expression in the hippocampus were analyzed immediately after the end of the stress session. Acute restraint stress similarly increased plasma corticosterone levels and nuclear glucocorticoid receptor levels and phosphorylation in both BDNFVal/Val and BDNFVal/Met mice. However, acute restraint stress induced higher increases in hippocampal presynaptic release of glutamate, phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), and levels of the immediate early gene c-fos of BDNFVal/Met compared to BFNFVal/Val mice. Moreover, acute restraint stress selectively increased phosphorylation levels of synapsin I at Ser9 and at Ser603 in BDNFVal/Val and BDNFVal/Met mice, respectively. In conclusion, we report here that the BDNF Val66Met SNP knock-in mice display an altered response to acute restraint stress in terms of hippocampal glutamate release, CREB phosphorylation, and neuronal activation, compared to wild-type animals. Taken together, these results could partially explain the enhanced vulnerability to stressful events of Met carriers reported in both preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Musazzi
- Department of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMonzaItaly
| | - Paolo Tornese
- Dipartimento di Scienze FarmaceuticheUniversity of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Nathalie Sala
- Dipartimento di Scienze FarmaceuticheUniversity of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Francis S. Lee
- Department of PsychiatryWeill Cornell Medical CollegeNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Maurizio Popoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze FarmaceuticheUniversity of MilanMilanItaly
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13
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Sathyanesan M, Newton SS. Antidepressant-like effects of trophic factor receptor signaling. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:958797. [PMID: 36081576 PMCID: PMC9445421 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.958797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant body of research has demonstrated that antidepressants regulate neurotrophic factors and that neurotrophins themselves are capable of independently producing antidepressant-like effects. While brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) remains the best studied molecule in this context, there are several structurally diverse trophic factors that have shown comparable behavioral effects, including basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this review we discuss the structural and biochemical signaling aspects of these neurotrophic factors with antidepressant activity. We also include a discussion on a cytokine molecule erythropoietin (EPO), widely known and prescribed as a hormone to treat anemia but has recently been shown to function as a neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system (CNS).
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14
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Abstract
Depression is an episodic form of mental illness characterized by mood state transitions with poorly understood neurobiological mechanisms. Antidepressants reverse the effects of stress and depression on synapse function, enhancing neurotransmission, increasing plasticity, and generating new synapses in stress-sensitive brain regions. These properties are shared to varying degrees by all known antidepressants, suggesting that synaptic remodeling could play a key role in depression pathophysiology and antidepressant function. Still, it is unclear whether and precisely how synaptogenesis contributes to mood state transitions. Here, we review evidence supporting an emerging model in which depression is defined by a distinct brain state distributed across multiple stress-sensitive circuits, with neurons assuming altered functional properties, synapse configurations, and, importantly, a reduced capacity for plasticity and adaptation. Antidepressants act initially by facilitating plasticity and enabling a functional reconfiguration of this brain state. Subsequently, synaptogenesis plays a specific role in sustaining these changes over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja K Parekh
- Department of Psychiatry and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
| | - Shane B Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
| | - Conor Liston
- Department of Psychiatry and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
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15
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Wolff BS, Allen HR, Feng LR, Saligan LN. BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Reduces the Fatigue-Like Effects of 5-Fluorouracil on Voluntary Wheel-Running Activity in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:880969. [PMID: 35558437 PMCID: PMC9087735 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.880969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatigue is a persistent and debilitating symptom following cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Recent clinical studies have suggested a common single-nucleotide polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Val66Met (rs6265), may be related to the severity of fatigue following cancer treatment. In this study, we tested transgenic mice homozygous for the human Val66Met BDNF gene and wild-type controls. We injected three doses of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) as a model of chemotherapy treatment, and we used changes in voluntary wheel running activity (VWRA) as a measure of fatigue-like behavior. Prior to 5FU injection, we found that during the baseline wheel-running period, the Val66Met mice lost more weight than WT controls. We next administered 5FU and saw a robust fatigue-like phenotype that lasted about 2 weeks. During the first week, the fatigue-like phenotype was less severe in the Val66Met mice and unrelated to the age of the mice. In contrast, during the second week after 5FU treatment, the fatigue-like phenotype was unrelated to the BDNF genotype but was more severe in middle aged mice compared to young mice. We conclude that the BDNF polymorphism may play a direct, protective role against chemotherapy-induced fatigue.
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16
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Kamyshna I, Pavlovych L, Kamyshnyi AM. Prediction of the Development of Depression in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.7896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is frequently accompanied by depression symptoms, whereas depression is considered the most common mental disorder.
AIM: It is crucial to analyze the associations of the brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism (rs6265), the VDR gene polymorphism (rs2228570), and the NMDA gene polymorphism (rs4880213) with the depression in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in the Western Ukrainian population and predict the development of depressive disorders in these patients.
METHODS: The study involved a total of 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology. BDNF levels in the sera of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with highly sensitive Human BDNF ELISA Kit (Elabscience®, United States, Catalog No: E-EL-H0010) on E.I.A. Reader Sirio S (Seac, Italy). Genotyping of the VDR (rs2228570), BDNF (rs6265), and NMDA (rs4880213) gene polymorphism using TaqMan probes and TaqMan Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Detection System (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., USA). PCR for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions (Applied Biosystems, USA). We used the Student’s t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s Chi-square test, ROC-analysis, odds ratio test, relative odds ratio test. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were computed by binary logistic regression.
RESULTS: When comparing the presence of depression on the Hamilton scale, statistically significant differences were found depending on BDNF gene polymorphism (rs6265) (p < 0.001), and non-statistically noticeable differences were detected depending on the VDR gene polymorphism (rs2228570) and NMDA gene polymorphism (rs4880213). Our study revealed a marked inverse connection between depression and BDNF levels (p < 0.001) and a reverse moderate correlation between depression and fT4 (p < 0.001) and 25-OH Vitamin D levels (p < 0.001). In addition, we identified a direct moderate correlation between pronounced levels of depression and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Indicators such as BDNF, TSH, fT4, anti-TPO, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels were found to be prognostically significant criteria for the risk of developing depression.
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Logue J, Schoepfer K, Guerrero AB, Zhou Y, Kabbaj M. Sex-specific effects of social isolation stress and ketamine on hippocampal plasticity. Neurosci Lett 2022; 766:136301. [PMID: 34688854 PMCID: PMC8639811 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic social isolation stress (SIS) induces lasting negative effects on the brain, including memory deficits, cognitive impairments, and mood alterations such as depression and anxiety. All these symptoms, at least in part, reflect reduced hippocampal function. In both clinical and preclinical studies, subanesthetic doses of the NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine (KET), was shown to have rapid and lasting antidepressant effects. Animal studies have shown that biological sex and levels of gonadal hormones alter the behavioral effects of KET, with ovarian hormones increasing sensitivity to the antidepressant-like effects of KET. Since the hippocampus plays a key role in mediating some of the effects of SIS, and considering that KET at low doses has been shown to rescue some of the behavioral deficits of isolation rearing this study aimed to assess the effects of isolation stress on pre- and post-synaptic hippocampal functions in male and female rats reared in SIS, as well as determine whether some of the physiological deficits can be rescued with a single injection of sub-anesthetic doses of KET. To do this, Sprague-Dawley rats were raised from weaning in either social isolation or with same-sex cage mate for 5 to 7 weeks. Male and female rats in either diestrus of proestrus received a single injection of KET (0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/kg) three hours prior to termination and collection of acute hippocampal slices for ex vivo electrophysiological field potential recordings. Long-term potentiation (LTP) and paired pulse facilitation (PPF) outputs were assessed in a canonical CA3-CA1 dorsal hippocampal circuit. Our data show that SIS inhibits hippocampal LTP without affecting PPF in male rats, an effect that was rescued by KET. In female rats, isolation stress did not alter LTP, but did reduce PPF - especially when females were tested in diestrus-, an effect that was rescued by KET at the highest dose. Our data thus suggest sex differences in the contribution of pre-and postsynaptic hippocampal compartments in response to stress and KET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Logue
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Kristin Schoepfer
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Alfonso Brea Guerrero
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Yi Zhou
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States.
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18
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BDNF blood serum linkage with BDNF gene polymorphism (rs6265) in thyroid pathology patients in the West-Ukrainian population. Endocr Regul 2021; 55:193-203. [PMID: 34879183 DOI: 10.2478/enr-2021-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is identified as an important growth factor involved in learning and memory. Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis can suffer from cognitive dysfunction, whereas BDNF is directly regulated by thyroid hormones. It seems reasonable to propose that changes in BDNF expression underlie some of the persistent neurological impairments associated with hypothyroidism. Methods. The study involved a total of 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology. BDNF levels in the sera of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with highly sensitive Human BDNF ELISA Kit. Genotyping of the BDNF (rs6265) gene polymorphism using TaqMan probes and TaqMan Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time PCR Detection System. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions. Results. Distribution rs6265 variants in the patients depending on the different types of thyroid pathology showed no significant difference in the relative frequency of BDNF polymorphic variants. Presence of hypothyroidism, regardless of its cause (autoimmune or postoperative), there was a decrease in the serum BDNF levels in all genotypes carriers compared with the control group. The analysis of the correlation between BDNF levels and the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies showed a significant inverse relationship between BDNF and TSH levels (p<0.001), a direct correlation between BDNF and T4 levels in the blood (p<0.001), and a weak direct relationship between anti-Tg and BDNF levels (p=0.0157). Conclusion. The C allele presence is protective and associates with the lowest chances for reduced serum BDNF levels in thyroid pathology patients in the West-Ukrainian population. However, the T-allele increases the risk of low BDNF levels almost 10 times in observed subjects.
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19
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Chakraborty P, Chattarji S, Jeanneteau F. A salience hypothesis of stress in PTSD. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:8029-8051. [PMID: 34766390 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Attention to key features of contexts and things is a necessary tool for all organisms. Detecting these salient features of cues, or simply, salience, can also be affected by exposure to traumatic stress, as has been widely reported in individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interestingly, similar observations have been robustly replicated across many animal models of stress as well. By using evidence from such rodent stress paradigms, in the present review, we explore PTSD through the lens of salience processing. In this context, we propose that interaction between the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoids determines the long lasting cellular and behavioural consequences of stress salience. We also describe the dual effect of glucocorticoid therapy in the amelioration of PTSD symptoms. Finally, by integrating in vivo observations at multiple scales of plasticity, we propose a unifying hypothesis that pivots on a crucial role of glucocorticoid signalling in dynamically orchestrating stress salience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabahan Chakraborty
- Institut de Genomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, Inserm, CNRS, Montpellier, 34090, France.,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Sumantra Chattarji
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Freddy Jeanneteau
- Institut de Genomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, Inserm, CNRS, Montpellier, 34090, France
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20
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Vargas MV, Meyer R, Avanes AA, Rus M, Olson DE. Psychedelics and Other Psychoplastogens for Treating Mental Illness. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:727117. [PMID: 34671279 PMCID: PMC8520991 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.727117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychedelics have inspired new hope for treating brain disorders, as they seem to be unlike any treatments currently available. Not only do they produce sustained therapeutic effects following a single administration, they also appear to have broad therapeutic potential, demonstrating efficacy for treating depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorder, and alcohol use disorder, among others. Psychedelics belong to a more general class of compounds known as psychoplastogens, which robustly promote structural and functional neural plasticity in key circuits relevant to brain health. Here we discuss the importance of structural plasticity in the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases, as well as the evidence demonstrating that psychedelics are among the most effective chemical modulators of neural plasticity studied to date. Furthermore, we provide a theoretical framework with the potential to explain why psychedelic compounds produce long-lasting therapeutic effects across a wide range of brain disorders. Despite their promise as broadly efficacious neurotherapeutics, there are several issues associated with psychedelic-based medicines that drastically limit their clinical scalability. We discuss these challenges and how they might be overcome through the development of non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens. The clinical use of psychedelics and other psychoplastogenic compounds marks a paradigm shift in neuropsychiatry toward therapeutic approaches relying on the selective modulation of neural circuits with small molecule drugs. Psychoplastogen research brings us one step closer to actually curing mental illness by rectifying the underlying pathophysiology of disorders like depression, moving beyond simply treating disease symptoms. However, determining how to most effectively deploy psychoplastogenic medicines at scale will be an important consideration as the field moves forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxemiliano V. Vargas
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Retsina Meyer
- Delix Therapeutics, Inc., Concord, MA, United States
| | - Arabo A. Avanes
- Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mark Rus
- Delix Therapeutics, Inc., Concord, MA, United States
| | - David E. Olson
- Delix Therapeutics, Inc., Concord, MA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, United States
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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21
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mTOR Knockdown in the Infralimbic Cortex Evokes A Depressive-like State in Mouse. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168671. [PMID: 34445375 PMCID: PMC8395521 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fast and sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine identified the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway as the main modulator of its antidepressive effects. Thus, mTOR signaling has become integral for the preclinical evaluation of novel compounds to treat depression. However, causality between mTOR and depression has yet to be determined. To address this, we knocked down mTOR expression in mice using an acute intracerebral infusion of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) in the infralimbic (IL) or prelimbic (PrL) cortices of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and evaluated depressive- and anxious-like behaviors. mTOR knockdown in IL, but not PrL, cortex produced a robust depressive-like phenotype in mice, as assessed in the forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). This phenotype was associated with significant reductions of mTOR mRNA and protein levels 48 h post-infusion. In parallel, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was found bilaterally in both IL and PrL cortices along with a dysregulation of serotonin (5-HT) and glutamate (Glu) release in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Overall, our results demonstrate causality between mTOR expression in the IL cortex and depressive-like behaviors, but not in anxiety.
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22
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Castrén E, Monteggia LM. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling in Depression and Antidepressant Action. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:128-136. [PMID: 34053675 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurotrophic factors, particularly BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), have been associated with depression and antidepressant drug action. A variety of preclinical and clinical studies have implicated impaired BDNF signaling through its receptor TrkB (neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 2) in the pathophysiology of mood disorders, but many of the initial findings have not been fully supported by more recent meta-analyses, and more both basic and clinical research is needed. In contrast, increased expression and signaling of BDNF has been repeatedly implicated in the mechanisms of both typical and rapid-acting antidepressant drugs, and recent findings have started to elucidate the mechanisms through which antidepressants regulate BDNF signaling. BDNF is a critical regulator of various types of neuronal plasticities in the brain, and plasticity has increasingly been connected with antidepressant action. Although some equivocal data exist, the hypothesis of a connection between neurotrophic factors and neuronal plasticity with mood disorders and antidepressant action has recently been further strengthened by converging evidence from a variety of more recent data reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero Castrén
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Lisa M Monteggia
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
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23
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Girgenti MJ, Pothula S, Newton SS. Stress and Its Impact on the Transcriptome. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:102-108. [PMID: 33637305 PMCID: PMC8213869 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to stress during the course of a lifetime is inevitable in the animal kingdom. It is the response to stress, the valence of the exposure, and the developmental time point that largely determine the consequences to the initial and subsequent exposures. The versatility of transcriptomic methods to yield rich, high-resolution, information-laden datasets from entire brain regions to single cells makes it a powerful approach to investigate the effects of stress from several angles. Dysregulation of the transcriptome is now a phenotypic signature of many neuropsychiatric disorders. New insight has been gained from examining stress-induced changes in gene expression at a global scale. Human postmortem datasets from depression and posttraumatic stress disorder studies have identified major gene expression changes in the diseased brain, including sex-specific changes and marked differences in male and female molecular profiles for the same disorder. Extensions of this work into animal models have explored the impact of transcriptomic dysregulation on early-life stress, chronic stress, and transgenerational impact of stress. Here, we explore the findings of human postmortem genomic studies of neuropsychiatric disorders and comparable animal models through the lens of transcriptomic dysregulation and how these findings have contributed to our understanding of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Girgenti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT,National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
| | - Santosh Pothula
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Samuel S Newton
- Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota; Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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24
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The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) enhances dopamine neuron graft efficacy and side-effect liability in rs6265 knock-in rats. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 148:105175. [PMID: 33188920 PMCID: PMC7855552 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Prevalent in approximately 20% of the worldwide human population, the
rs6265 (also called ‘Val66Met’) single nucleotide polymorphism
(SNP) in the gene for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
is a common genetic variant that can alter therapeutic responses in individuals
with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Possession of the variant Met allele
results in decreased activity-dependent release of BDNF. Given the resurgent
worldwide interest in neural transplantation for PD and the biological relevance
of BDNF, the current studies examined the effects of the rs6265 SNP on
therapeutic efficacy and side-effect development following primary dopamine (DA)
neuron transplantation. Considering the significant reduction in BDNF release
associated with rs6265, we hypothesized that rs6265-mediated dysfunctional BDNF
signaling contributes to the limited clinical benefit observed in a
subpopulation of PD patients despite robust survival of grafted DA neurons, and
further, that this mutation contributes to the development of aberrant
graft-induced dyskinesias (GID). To this end, we generated a CRISPR knock-in rat
model of the rs6265 BDNF SNP to examine for the first time the
influence of a common genetic polymorphism on graft survival, functional
efficacy, and side-effect liability, comparing these parameters between
wild-type (Val/Val) rats and those homozygous for the variant Met allele
(Met/Met). Counter to our hypothesis, the current research indicates that
Met/Met rats show enhanced graft-associated therapeutic efficacy and a
paradoxical enhancement of graft-derived neurite outgrowth compared to wild-type
rats. However, consistent with our hypothesis, we demonstrate that the rs6265
genotype in the host rat is strongly linked to development of GID, and that this
behavioral phenotype is significantly correlated with neurochemical signatures
of atypical glutamatergic neurotransmission by grafted DA neurons.
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25
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Chakrapani S, Eskander N, De Los Santos LA, Omisore BA, Mostafa JA. Neuroplasticity and the Biological Role of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Pathophysiology and Management of Depression. Cureus 2020; 12:e11396. [PMID: 33312794 PMCID: PMC7725195 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.11396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is a mental illness that can have serious implications if left untreated. Studies involving a neurotrophic factor called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its associated signaling pathways have solidified our understanding of the pathophysiology of depression. The objective of this literature review is to gain a better understanding of the mechanism by which reduced levels of BDNF are implicated in depression and how antidepressants facilitate the treatment of depression by increasing BDNF levels. The specific approach is to learn about the key involvements of BDNF and its receptor TrkB (tropomyosin receptor kinase B) and how their interactions and subsequent intracellular signaling cascades bring about enhanced neuroplastic changes. In this literature review, we searched for past review articles focusing on BDNF. We collected data using PubMed and created a summary of our findings. The results showed that stress and depression through the reduction of BDNF levels contribute to neuroplastic changes while antidepressants through enhanced BDNF levels are able to generate positive neuroplastic outcomes and thereby help resolve depressive symptoms. In this paper, we will delve into how a better understanding of the neural circuitry involving BDNF will enable us to both understand how current antidepressants work in the limbic regions of the brain as well as search for novel rapid-acting antidepressants to use in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumita Chakrapani
- Psychiatry, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Noha Eskander
- Psychiatry, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Lorenzo A De Los Santos
- Cardiothoracic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.,Anesthesiology, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Basiru A Omisore
- Internal Medicine, Claude Mandel Medical Centre, Chicago, USA.,Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Jihan A Mostafa
- Psychiatry, California Institute of Behavorial Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
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Hill RA, Grech AM, Notaras MJ, Sepulveda M, van den Buuse M. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met polymorphism interacts with adolescent stress to alter hippocampal interneuron density and dendritic morphology in mice. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100253. [PMID: 33344708 PMCID: PMC7739172 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays essential roles in GABAergic interneuron development. The common BDNF val66met polymorphism, leads to decreased activity-dependent release of BDNF. The current study used a humanized mouse model of the BDNF val66met polymorphism to determine how reduced activity-dependent release of BDNF, both on its own, and in combination with chronic adolescent stress hormone, impact hippocampal GABAergic interneuron cell density and dendrite morphology. Male and female Val/Val and Met/Met mice were exposed to corticosterone (CORT) or placebo in their drinking water from weeks 6-8, before brains were perfuse-fixed at 15 weeks. Cell density and dendrite morphology of immunofluorescent labelled inhibitory interneurons; somatostatin, parvalbumin and calretinin in the CA1, and 3 and dentate gyrus (DG) across the dorsal (DHP) and ventral hippocampus (VHP) were assessed by confocal z-stack imaging, and IMARIS dendritic mapping software. Mice with the Met/Met genotype showed significantly lower somatostatin cell density compared to Val/Val controls in the DHP, and altered somatostatin interneuron dendrite morphology including branch depth, and spine density. Parvalbumin-positive interneurons were unchanged between genotype groups, however BDNF val66met genotype influenced the dendritic volume, branch level and spine density of parvalbumin interneurons differentially across hippocampal subregions. Contrary to this, no such effects were observed for calretinin-positive interneurons. Adolescent exposure to CORT treatment also significantly altered somatostatin and parvalbumin dendrite branch level and the combined effect of Met/Met genotype and CORT treatment significantly reduced somatostatin and parvalbumin dendrite spine density. In sum, the BDNFVal66Met polymorphism significantly alters somatostatin and parvalbumin-positive interneuron cell development and dendrite morphology. Additionally, we also report a compounding effect of the Met/Met genotype and chronic adolescent CORT treatment on dendrite spine density, indicating that adolescence is a sensitive period of risk for Val66Met polymorphism carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Anne Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University Level 3, Monash Medical Centre 27Wright St Clayton VIC 3168 Australia, .
| | - Adrienne Mary Grech
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael J. Notaras
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, Centre for Neurogenetics, Brain & Mind Research Institute, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Mauricio Sepulveda
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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Zavvari F, Nahavandi A. Fluoxetine increases hippocampal neural survival by improving axonal transport in stress-induced model of depression male rats. Physiol Behav 2020; 227:113140. [PMID: 32828030 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Axonal transport deficit is a key mechanism involved in neurodegenerative conditions. Fluoxetine, a commonly used antidepressant for treatment of depression, is known to regulate several important structural and neurochemical aspects of hippocampal functions. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment on axonal transport in the hippocampus of rat stress-induced model of depression. METHODS We have analyzed the effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment (20 mg/kg/day, 24 days) on immobility behavior (forced swimming test), hippocampal iNOS (inflammatory factor) expression (RT-PCR) as well as hippocampal BDNF, kinesin and dynein expression (RT-PCR) and hippocampal neuronal survival (Nissl staining). RESULTS This study provided evidence that fluoxetine could effectively suppress iNOS expression following unpredictable chronic mild stress (P < 0.01), increase hippocampal BDNF (P < 0.01), kinesin (P < 0.05) and dynein (P < 0.01) gene expression, and control neuronal death in CA1 (P < 0.01) and CA3 regions (P < 0.01) of the hippocampus and thereby improve immobility behavior (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Based on the findings of this study, we concluded the neuroprotective effect of fluoxetine may be due to its ability to improve axonal transmission, followed by increased energy supply and neurotrophin concentration and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahime Zavvari
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezo Nahavandi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
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Kim YK, Kim OY, Song J. Alleviation of Depression by Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Through the Regulation of Neuroinflammation, Neurotransmitters, Neurogenesis, and Synaptic Function. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1270. [PMID: 32922295 PMCID: PMC7456867 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression has emerged as a major cause of mortality globally. Many studies have reported risk factors and mechanisms associated with depression, but it is as yet unclear how these findings can be applied to the treatment and prevention of this disorder. The onset and recurrence of depression have been linked to diverse metabolic factors, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Recent studies have suggested that depression is accompanied by memory loss as well as depressive mood. Thus, many researchers have highlighted the relationship between depressive behavior and metabolic alterations from various perspectives. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is secreted from gut cells and hindbrain areas, has been studied in metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, and was shown to control glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Recently, GLP-1 was highlighted as a regulator of diverse pathways, but its potential as the therapeutic target of depressive disorder was not described comprehensively. Therefore, in this review, we focused on the potential of GLP-1 modulation in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Kook Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, South Korea
| | - Oh Yoen Kim
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea.,Center for Silver-targeted Biomaterials, Brain Busan 21 Plus Program, Graduate School, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Juhyun Song
- Department of Anatomy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, South Korea
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Bird CW, Barber MJ, Martin J, Mayfield JJ, Valenzuela CF. The mouse-equivalent of the human BDNF VAL66MET polymorphism increases dorsal hippocampal volume and does not interact with developmental ethanol exposure. Alcohol 2020; 86:17-24. [PMID: 32224221 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A relatively common polymorphism in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (Val66Met, which corresponds to Val68Met in mice) has been shown to modulate cognitive function and vulnerability to mental health disorders. This substitution impairs trafficking and activity-dependent release of BDNF. A number of studies with both humans and transgenic mice suggest that carriers of the Met allele have deficits in the structure and/or function of the hippocampal formation. Using a relatively new transgenic mouse model of this polymorphism, we recently demonstrated that it modulates the effects of developmental ethanol exposure in the hippocampus. Here, we further characterized the effect of this polymorphism on hippocampal morphology and its interaction with ethanol vapor exposure during the 2nd and 3rd trimester equivalents of human pregnancy. We found that BDNFmet/met mice have slightly larger hippocampal volumes than BDNFval/val mice. Ethanol vapor exposure during the 2nd and 3rd trimester equivalents of human pregnancy increased hippocampal volume in a single hippocampal subregion, the CA1 stratum radiatum. Ethanol exposure did not interact with BDNF genotype to affect volume in any hippocampal subregion. These results suggest that the Val66Met polymorphism does not reduce hippocampal size (i.e., it rather increases it slightly) or increase susceptibility to prenatal ethanol exposure-induced structural hippocampal damage during adulthood.
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Walsh EI, Smith L, Northey J, Rattray B, Cherbuin N. Towards an understanding of the physical activity-BDNF-cognition triumvirate: A review of associations and dosage. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 60:101044. [PMID: 32171785 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Physical activity has received substantial research attention due to its beneficial impact on cognition in ageing, particularly via the action of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). It is well established that physical activity can elevate circulating levels of BDNF, and that BDNF has neurotrophic, neuroprotective and cognitively beneficial properties. Yet, practical implementation of this knowledge is limited by a lack of clarity on context and dose-effect. Against a shifting backdrop of gradually diminishing physical and cognitive capacity in normal ageing, the type, intensity, and duration of physical activity required to elicit elevations in BDNF, and more importantly, the magnitude of BDNF elevation required for detectable neuroprotection remains poorly characterised. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the association between physical activity, BDNF, and cognition, with a focus on clarifying the magnitude of these effects in the context of normative ageing. We discuss the implications of the available evidence for the design of physical activity interventions intended to promote healthy cognitive ageing.
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Theilmann W, Rosenholm M, Hampel P, Löscher W, Rantamäki T. Lack of antidepressant effects of burst-suppressing isoflurane anesthesia in adult male Wistar outbred rats subjected to chronic mild stress. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235046. [PMID: 32579566 PMCID: PMC7313995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-ictal emergence of slow wave EEG (electroencephalogram) activity and burst-suppression has been associated with the therapeutic effects of the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), indicating that mere “cerebral silence” may elicit antidepressant actions. Indeed, brief exposures to burst-suppressing anesthesia has been reported to elicit antidepressant effects in a subset of patients, and produce behavioral and molecular alterations, such as increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), connected with antidepressant responses in rodents. Here, we have further tested the cerebral silence hypothesis by determining whether repeated exposures to isoflurane anesthesia reduce depressive-like symptoms or influence BDNF expression in male Wistar outbred rats (Crl:WI(Han)) subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS), a model which is responsive to repeated electroconvulsive shocks (ECS, a model of ECT). Stress-susceptible, stress-resilient, and unstressed rats were exposed to 5 doses of isoflurane over a 15-day time period, with administrations occurring every third day. Isoflurane dosing is known to reliably produce rapid EEG burst-suppression (4% induction, 2% maintenance; 15 min). Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of isoflurane were assessed after the first, third, and fifth drug exposure by measuring sucrose consumption, as well as performance on the open field and the elevated plus maze tasks. Tissue samples from the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were collected, and levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) protein were assessed. We find that isoflurane anesthesia had no impact on the behavior of stress-resilient or anhedonic rats in selected tests; findings which were consistent—perhaps inherently related—with unchanged levels of BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Theilmann
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marko Rosenholm
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Neurotherapeutics, Drug Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- SleepWell Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Philip Hampel
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tomi Rantamäki
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Neurotherapeutics, Drug Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- SleepWell Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
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32
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Tang XH, Zhang GF, Xu N, Duan GF, Jia M, Liu R, Zhou ZQ, Yang JJ. Extrasynaptic CaMKIIα is involved in the antidepressant effects of ketamine by downregulating GluN2B receptors in an LPS-induced depression model. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:181. [PMID: 32522211 PMCID: PMC7285526 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01843-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A subanesthetic dose of ketamine provides rapid and effective antidepressant effects, but the molecular mechanism remains elusive. It has been reported that overactivation of extrasynaptic GluN2B receptors is associated with the antidepressant effects of ketamine and the interaction between GluN2B and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) is important for GluN2B localization and activity. Here, we tested whether changes of CaMKIIα and GluN2B are involved in the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Methods Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into male C57BL/6 mice. For the interventional study, mice were administrated with ketamine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or a CaMKIIα inhibitor KN93. Behavioral alterations were evaluated by open-field, novelty-suppressed feeding, and forced-swimming tests. Physiological functions were evaluated by the body weight and fur coat state of mice. The levels of p-CaMKIIα, CaMKIIα, p-GluN2B, GluN2B, p-CREB, CREB, BDNF, GluR1, and GluR2 in the hippocampus were detected by western blotting. The interaction between GluN2B and CaMKIIα was studied using immunoprecipitation assay and small interfering RNA (siRNA) assays. The colocalizations of GluN2B/PSD95 and p-GluN2B/PSD95 were detected by immunofluorescence. The long-term potentiation (LTP) in SC-CA1 of the hippocampus was detected by electrophysiology. Results LPS injection induced depression-like behaviors, which were accompanied by significant increases in extrasynaptic p-CaMKIIα expression, extrasynaptic GluN2B localization, and phosphorylation and decreases in p-CREB, BDNF, and GluR1 expressions and LTP impairment. These changes were prevented by ketamine administration. Immunoprecipitation assay revealed that LPS induced an increase in the p-CaMKIIα–GluN2B interaction, which was attenuated by ketamine administration. SiRNA assay revealed that CaMKIIα knockdown reduced the level and number of clusters of GluN2B in the cultured hippocampal neurons. KN93 administration also reduced extrasynaptic p-CaMKIIα expression, extrasynaptic GluN2B localization, and phosphorylation and exerted antidepressant effects. Conclusion These results indicate that extrasynaptic CaMKIIα plays a key role in the cellular mechanism of ketamine’s antidepressant effect and it is related to the downregulation of extrasynaptic GluN2B localization and phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Hui Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guang-Fen Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ning Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Gui-Fang Duan
- Minister of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Jia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ru Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jian-Jun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. .,Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a secretory growth factor that promotes neuronal proliferation and survival, synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation in the central nervous system. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor biosynthesis and secretion are chrono-topically regulated processes at the cellular level, accounting for specific localizations and functions. Given its role in regulating brain development and activity, BDNF represents a potentially relevant gene for schizophrenia, and indeed BDNF and its non-synonymous functional variant, rs6265 (C → T, Val → Met) have been widely studied in psychiatric genetics. Human and animal studies have indicated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor is relevant for schizophrenia-related phenotypes, and that: (1) fine-tuned regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor secretion and activity is necessary to guarantee brain optimal development and functioning; (2) the Val → Met substitution is associated with impaired activity-dependent secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor; (3) disruption of brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling is associated with altered synaptic plasticity and neurodevelopment. However, genome-wide association studies failed to associate the BDNF locus with schizophrenia, even though a sub-threshold association exists. Here, we will review studies focused on the relationship between the genetic variation of BDNF and schizophrenia, trying to fill the gap between genetic risk per se and insights from molecular biology. A deeper understanding of brain-derived neurotrophic factor biology and of the epigenetic regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its interactome during development may help clarifying the potential role of this gene in schizophrenia, thus informing development of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-based strategies of prevention and treatment of this disorder.
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Wei MD, Wang YH, Lu K, Lv BJ, Wang Y, Chen WY. Ketamine reverses the impaired fear memory extinction and accompanied depressive-like behaviors in adolescent mice. Behav Brain Res 2020; 379:112342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Zhou XT, Bao WD, Liu D, Zhu LQ. Targeting the Neuronal Activity of Prefrontal Cortex: New Directions for the Therapy of Depression. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:332-346. [PMID: 31686631 PMCID: PMC7327942 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x17666191101124017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is one of the prevalent psychiatric illnesses with a comprehensive performance such as low self-esteem, lack of motivation, anhedonia, poor appetite, low energy, and uncomfortableness without a specific cause. So far, the cause of depression is not very clear, but it is certain that many aspects of biological psychological and social environment are involved in the pathogenesis of depression. Recently, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been indicated to be a pivotal brain region in the pathogenesis of depression. And increasing evidence showed that the abnormal activity of the PFC neurons is linked with depressive symptoms. Unveiling the molecular and cellular, as well as the circuit properties of the PFC neurons will help to find out how abnormalities in PFC neuronal activity are associated with depressive disorders. In addition, concerning many antidepressant drugs, in this review, we concluded the effect of several antidepressants on PFC neuronal activity to better understand its association with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ling-Qiang Zhu
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China; Tel: 862783692625; Fax: 862783692608; E-mail:
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Deyama S, Duman RS. Neurotrophic mechanisms underlying the rapid and sustained antidepressant actions of ketamine. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 188:172837. [PMID: 31830487 PMCID: PMC6997025 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.172837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that depression, one of the most common psychiatric illnesses, is associated with reduced levels of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), contributing to neuronal atrophy in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, and reduced hippocampal adult neurogenesis. Conventional monoaminergic antidepressants can block/reverse, at least partially, these deficits in part via induction of BDNF and/or VEGF, although these drugs have significant limitations, notably a time lag for therapeutic response and low response rates. Recent studies reveal that ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist produces rapid (within hours) and sustained (up to a week) antidepressant actions in both patients with treatment-resistant depression and rodent models of depression. Rodent studies also demonstrate that ketamine rapidly increases BDNF and VEGF release and/or expression in the medial PFC (mPFC) and hippocampus, leading to increase in the number and function of spine synapses in the mPFC and enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis. These neurotrophic effects of ketamine are associated with the antidepressant effects of this drug. Together, these findings provide evidence for a neurotrophic mechanism underlying the rapid and sustained antidepressant actions of ketamine and pave the way for the development of rapid and more effective antidepressants with fewer side effects than ketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Deyama
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan.
| | - Ronald S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
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Fu X, Wang J, Du J, Sun J, Baranova A, Zhang F. BDNF Gene's Role in Schizophrenia: From Risk Allele to Methylation Implications. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:564277. [PMID: 33384622 PMCID: PMC7769935 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.564277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe chronic mental disorder with complex genetic mechanisms. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of promising candidate genes for SZ, and rs6265 is a non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in BDNF. Methods: In this study, we performed a case-control association study of rs6265 in a cohort of Han Chinese population from eastern China, including 1,407 SZ patients and 1,136 healthy controls; and carried out a cis-mQTL (Methylation Quantitative Trait Loci) analysis for BDNF rs6265. Results: We found a positive association of rs6265 with SZ (P = 0.037), with the minor allele (A) of rs6265 conferring a protecting effect for SZ (OR = 0.89). Furthermore, cis-mQTL analysis indicates that rs6265 is associated with several methylation loci surrounding BDNF. Conclusions: Together, our findings provide further evidence to support the involvement of BDNF gene in the genesis of SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Fu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jianbin Du
- Department of Psychiatry, Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ancha Baranova
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States.,Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Fuquan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Neuropsychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Mallei A, Ieraci A, Corna S, Tardito D, Lee FS, Popoli M. Global epigenetic analysis of BDNF Val66Met mice hippocampus reveals changes in dendrite and spine remodeling genes. Hippocampus 2019; 28:783-795. [PMID: 30067287 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin highly expressed in the hippocampus, plays crucial roles in cognition, neuroplasticity, synaptic function, and dendritic remodeling. The common human Val66Met polymorphism of BDNF has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and in the outcome of pro-adaptive and therapeutic treatments. Altered gene-expression profile has been previously shown in BDNF Val66Met knock-in mice, which recapitulate the phenotypic hallmarks of individuals carrying the BDNF Met allele. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in the knock-in mouse model on two hippocampal epigenetic marks for transcriptional repression and activation, respectively: trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) and acetylation of histone H3 (AcH3), using a genome-wide approach. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing of immunoprecipitated DNA (ChIP-Seq) was carried out with specific antibodies for H3K27me3 and AcH3. Our results revealed broad alteration of H3K27me3 and AcH3 marks association profiles in BDNFMet/Met , compared to BDNFVal/Val mice. Bioinformatics analysis showed changes in several biological functions and related pathways, affected by the presence of the polymorphism. In particular, a number of networks of functional interaction contained BDNF as central node. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed epigenetically related significant changes in the expression of five genes: Dvl1, Nos3, Reln, Lypd6, and Sh3gl2. The first three are involved in dendrite and spine remodeling, morphological features altered in BDNFMet/Met mice. This work in homozygous knock-in mice shows that the human BDNF Val66Met polymorphism induces an array of histone H3 epigenetic modifications, in turn altering the expression of select genes crucial for structural and functional neuronal features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Mallei
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology and Functional Neurogenomics, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari and CEND, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ieraci
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology and Functional Neurogenomics, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari and CEND, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Corna
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology and Functional Neurogenomics, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari and CEND, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Tardito
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology and Functional Neurogenomics, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari and CEND, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francis S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Maurizio Popoli
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology and Functional Neurogenomics, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari and CEND, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Liu PP, Xie Y, Meng XY, Kang JS. History and progress of hypotheses and clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2019; 4:29. [PMID: 31637009 PMCID: PMC6799833 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-019-0063-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 302] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss along with neuropsychiatric symptoms and a decline in activities of daily life. Its main pathological features are cerebral atrophy, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of patients. There are various descriptive hypotheses regarding the causes of AD, including the cholinergic hypothesis, amyloid hypothesis, tau propagation hypothesis, mitochondrial cascade hypothesis, calcium homeostasis hypothesis, neurovascular hypothesis, inflammatory hypothesis, metal ion hypothesis, and lymphatic system hypothesis. However, the ultimate etiology of AD remains obscure. In this review, we discuss the main hypotheses of AD and related clinical trials. Wealthy puzzles and lessons have made it possible to develop explanatory theories and identify potential strategies for therapeutic interventions for AD. The combination of hypometabolism and autophagy deficiency is likely to be a causative factor for AD. We further propose that fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, has the potential to treat AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Pei Liu
- Clinical Systems Biology Laboratories, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China
| | - Yi Xie
- Clinical Systems Biology Laboratories, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China
| | - Xiao-Yan Meng
- Clinical Systems Biology Laboratories, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China
| | - Jian-Sheng Kang
- Clinical Systems Biology Laboratories, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China
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Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are among the most prescribed antidepressants. Fluoxetine is the lead molecule which exerts its therapeutic effects, at least in part, by promoting neuroplasticity through increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin-related receptor kinase B (TrkB) signalling. It is unclear however, to which extent the neuroplastic effects of fluoxetine are solely mediated by the inhibition of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). To answer this question, the effects of fluoxetine on neuroplasticity were analysed in both wild type (WT) and 5-Htt knock-out (KO) mice. Using Western blotting and RT-qPCR approaches, we showed that fluoxetine 10 µM activated BDNF/TrkB signalling pathways in both CD1 and C57BL/6J mouse primary cortical neurons. Interestingly, effects on BDNF signalling were observed in primary cortical neurons from both 5-Htt WT and KO mice. In addition, a 3-week in vivo fluoxetine treatment (15 mg/kg/d; i.p.) increased the expression of plasticity genes in brains of both 5-Htt WT and KO mice, and tended to equally enhance hippocampal cell proliferation in both genotypes, without reaching significance. Our results further suggest that fluoxetine-induced neuroplasticity does not solely depend on 5-HTT blockade, but might rely, at least in part, on 5-HTT-independent direct activation of TrkB.
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Malikowska-Racia N, Salat K. Recent advances in the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of possible mechanisms underlying an effective pharmacotherapy. Pharmacol Res 2019; 142:30-49. [PMID: 30742899 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in the field of neurobiology supported by clinical evidence gradually reveals the mystery of human brain functioning. So far, many psychiatric disorders have been described in great detail, although there are still plenty of cases that are misunderstood. These include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a unique disease that combines a wide range of neurobiological changes, which involve disturbances of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis, hyperactivation of the amygdala complex, and attenuation of some hippocampal and cortical functions. Such multiplicity results in differential symptomatology, including elevated anxiety, nightmares, fear retrieval episodes that may trigger delusions and hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and many others that strongly interfere with the quality of the patient's life. Because of widespread neurological changes and the disease manifestation, the pharmacotherapy of PTSD remains unclear and requires a multidimensional approach and involvement of polypharmacotherapy. Hopefully, more and more neuroscientists and clinicians will study PTSD, which will provide us with new information that would possibly accelerate establishment of well-tolerated and effective pharmacotherapy. In this review, we have focused on neurobiological changes regarding PTSD, addressing the most disturbed brain structures and neurotransmissions, as well as discussing in detail the recently taken and novel therapeutic paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Malikowska-Racia
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Chair of Pharmacodynamics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Kinga Salat
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Chair of Pharmacodynamics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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Changes in neuroplasticity following early-life social adversities: the possible role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Pediatr Res 2019; 85:225-233. [PMID: 30341412 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-018-0205-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Social adversities experienced in childhood can have a profound impact on the developing brain, leading to the emergence of psychopathologies in adulthood. Despite the burden this places on both the individual and society, the neurobiological aspects mediating this transition remain unclear. Recent advances in preclinical and clinical research have begun examining neuroplasticity-the nervous system's ability to form adaptive changes in response to new experience-in the context of early-life vulnerability to social adversities and plasticity-related alterations following such traumatic events. A key mediator of plasticity-related molecular processes is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has also been implicated in various psychiatric disorders related to childhood social adversities. Preclinical and clinical data suggest early-life social adversities (ELSA) might be associated with accelerated maturation of social network circuitry, a possible ontogenic adaptation to the adverse environment. Neural plasticity decreases by adulthood, lessening the efficacy of treatment in ELSA-related psychiatric disorders. However, literature data suggest that by increasing BDNF/TrkB signalling through antidepressant treatment a juvenile-like plasticity state can be induced, which allows for reorganization of the social circuitry when guided by psychotherapy and surrounded by a safe and positive environment.
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Bowling HL, Nayak S, Deinhardt K. Proteomic Approaches to Dissect Neuronal Signalling Pathways. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1140:469-475. [PMID: 31347065 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-15950-4_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
With an increasing awareness of mental health issues and neurological disorders, "understanding the brain" is one of the biggest current challenges in biological research. This has been recognised by both governments and funding agencies, and it includes the need to understand connectivity of brain regions and coordinated network activity, as well as cellular and molecular mechanisms at play. In this chapter, we will describe how we have taken advantage of different proteomic techniques to unravel molecular mechanisms underlying two modulators of neuronal function: Neurotrophins and antipsychotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shruti Nayak
- Proteomics Laboratory, Alexandria Center for Life Science, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katrin Deinhardt
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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Actions of Brain-Derived Neurotrophin Factor in the Neurogenesis and Neuronal Function, and Its Involvement in the Pathophysiology of Brain Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113650. [PMID: 30463271 PMCID: PMC6274766 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, has an important role in a variety of neuronal aspects, such as differentiation, maturation, and synaptic function in the central nervous system (CNS). BDNF stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), phosphoinositide-3kinase (PI3K), and phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma pathways via activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), a high affinity receptor for BDNF. Evidence has shown significant contributions of these signaling pathways in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in in vivo and in vitro experiments. Importantly, it has been demonstrated that dysfunction of the BDNF/TrkB system is involved in the onset of brain diseases, including neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss actions of BDNF and related signaling molecules on CNS neurons, and their contributions to the pathophysiology of brain diseases.
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Notaras M, van den Buuse M. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): Novel Insights into Regulation and Genetic Variation. Neuroscientist 2018; 25:434-454. [DOI: 10.1177/1073858418810142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Since its discovery, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has spawned a literature that now spans 35 years of research. While all neurotrophins share considerable overlap in sequence homology and their processing, BDNF has become the most widely studied neurotrophin because of its broad roles in brain homeostasis, health, and disease. Although research on BDNF has produced thousands of articles, there remain numerous long-standing questions on aspects of BDNF molecular biology and signaling. Here we provide a comprehensive review, including both a historical narrative and a forward-looking perspective on advances in the actions of BDNF within the brain. We specifically review BDNF’s gene structure, peptide composition (including domains, posttranslational modifications and putative motif sites), mechanisms of transport, signaling pathway recruitment, and other recent developments including the functional effects of genetic variation and the discovery of a new BDNF prodomain ligand. This body of knowledge illustrates a highly conserved and complex role for BDNF within the brain, that promotes the idea that the neurotrophin biology of BDNF is diverse and that any disease involvement is likely to be equally multifarious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Notaras
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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46
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Balkaya M, Cho S. Genetics of stroke recovery: BDNF val66met polymorphism in stroke recovery and its interaction with aging. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 126:36-46. [PMID: 30118755 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke leads to long term sensory, motor and cognitive impairments. Most patients experience some degree of spontaneous recovery which is mostly incomplete and varying greatly among individuals. The variation in recovery outcomes has been attributed to numerous factors including lesion size, corticospinal tract integrity, age, gender and race. It is well accepted that genetics play a crucial role in stroke incidence and accumulating evidence suggests that it is also a significant determinant in recovery. Among the number of genes and variations implicated in stroke recovery the val66met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the BDNF gene influences post-stroke plasticity in the most significant ways. Val66met is the most well characterized BDNF SNP and is common (40-50 % in Asian and 25-32% in Caucasian populations) in humans. It reduces activity-dependent BDNF release, dampens cortical plasticity and is implicated in numerous diseases. Earlier studies on the effects of val66met on stroke outcome and recovery presented primarily a maladaptive role. Novel findings however indicate a much more intricate interaction between val66met and stroke recovery which appears to be influenced by lesion location, post-stroke stage and age. This review will focus on the role of BDNF and val66met SNP in relation to stroke recovery and try to identify potential pathophysiologic mechanisms involved. The effects of age on val66met associated alterations in plasticity and potential consequences in terms of stroke are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Balkaya
- Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine at Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605, USA
| | - Sunghee Cho
- Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine at Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.
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47
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Levy MJF, Boulle F, Steinbusch HW, van den Hove DLA, Kenis G, Lanfumey L. Neurotrophic factors and neuroplasticity pathways in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:2195-2220. [PMID: 29961124 PMCID: PMC6061771 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4950-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a major health problem with a high prevalence and a heavy socioeconomic burden in western societies. It is associated with atrophy and impaired functioning of cortico-limbic regions involved in mood and emotion regulation. It has been suggested that alterations in neurotrophins underlie impaired neuroplasticity, which may be causally related to the development and course of depression. Accordingly, mounting evidence suggests that antidepressant treatment may exert its beneficial effects by enhancing trophic signaling on neuronal and synaptic plasticity. However, current antidepressants still show a delayed onset of action, as well as lack of efficacy. Hence, a deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of depression, as well as in the action of antidepressants, might provide further insight to drive the development of novel fast-acting and more effective therapies. Here, we summarize the current literature on the involvement of neurotrophic factors in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Further, we advocate that future development of antidepressants should be based on the neurotrophin theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion J F Levy
- Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences (Inserm U894), Université Paris Descartes, 102-108 rue de la santé, 75014, Paris, France
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- EURON-European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Fabien Boulle
- Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences (Inserm U894), Université Paris Descartes, 102-108 rue de la santé, 75014, Paris, France
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- EURON-European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Harry W Steinbusch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- EURON-European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniël L A van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- EURON-European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Gunter Kenis
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- EURON-European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence Lanfumey
- Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences (Inserm U894), Université Paris Descartes, 102-108 rue de la santé, 75014, Paris, France.
- EURON-European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Normann C, Frase S, Haug V, von Wolff G, Clark K, Münzer P, Dorner A, Scholliers J, Horn M, Vo Van T, Seifert G, Serchov T, Biber K, Nissen C, Klugbauer N, Bischofberger J. Antidepressants Rescue Stress-Induced Disruption of Synaptic Plasticity via Serotonin Transporter-Independent Inhibition of L-Type Calcium Channels. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:55-64. [PMID: 29174591 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term synaptic plasticity is a basic ability of the brain to dynamically adapt to external stimuli and regulate synaptic strength and ultimately network function. It is dysregulated by behavioral stress in animal models of depression and in humans with major depressive disorder. Antidepressants have been shown to restore disrupted synaptic plasticity in both animal models and humans; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. METHODS We examined modulation of synaptic plasticity by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in hippocampal brain slices from wild-type rats and serotonin transporter (SERT) knockout mice. Recombinant voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels in heterologous expression systems were used to determine the modulation of Ca2+ channels by SSRIs. We tested the behavioral effects of SSRIs in the chronic behavioral despair model of depression both in the presence and in the absence of SERT. RESULTS SSRIs selectively inhibited hippocampal long-term depression. The inhibition of long-term depression by SSRIs was mediated by a direct block of voltage-activated L-type Ca2+ channels and was independent of SERT. Furthermore, SSRIs protected both wild-type and SERT knockout mice from behavioral despair induced by chronic stress. Finally, long-term depression was facilitated in animals subjected to the behavioral despair model, which was prevented by SSRI treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results showed that antidepressants protected synaptic plasticity and neuronal circuitry from the effects of stress via a modulation of Ca2+ channels and synaptic plasticity independent of SERT. Thus, L-type Ca2+ channels might constitute an important signaling hub for stress response and for pathophysiology and treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Normann
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Sibylle Frase
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Verena Haug
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gregor von Wolff
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kristin Clark
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Münzer
- Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Dorner
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Scholliers
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Max Horn
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Vo Van
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Seifert
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tsvetan Serchov
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Knut Biber
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Nissen
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Klugbauer
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Bird CW, Baculis BC, Mayfield JJ, Chavez GJ, Ontiveros T, Paine DJ, Marks AJ, Gonzales AL, Ron D, Valenzuela CF. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor VAL68MET polymorphism modulates how developmental ethanol exposure impacts the hippocampus. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 18:e12484. [PMID: 29691979 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol causes a wide range of deficits known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Many factors determine vulnerability to developmental alcohol exposure including timing and pattern of exposure, nutrition and genetics. Here, we characterized how a prevalent single nucleotide polymorphism in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (val66met) modulates FASDs severity. This polymorphism disrupts BDNF's intracellular trafficking and activity-dependent secretion, and has been linked to increased incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. We hypothesized that developmental ethanol (EtOH) exposure more severely affects mice carrying this polymorphism. We used transgenic mice homozygous for either valine (BDNFval/val ) or methionine (BDNFmet/met ) in residue 68, equivalent to residue 66 in humans. To model EtOH exposure during the second and third trimesters of human pregnancy, we exposed mice to EtOH in vapor chambers during gestational days 12 to 19 and postnatal days 2 to 9. We found that EtOH exposure reduces cell layer volume in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 hippocampal regions of BDNFmet/met but not BDNFval/val mice during the juvenile period (postnatal day 15). During adulthood, EtOH exposure reduced anxiety-like behavior and disrupted trace fear conditioning in BDNFmet/met mice, with most effects observed in males. EtOH exposure reduced adult neurogenesis only in the ventral hippocampus of BDNFval/val male mice. These studies show that the BDNF val66met polymorphism modulates, in a complex manner, the effects of developmental EtOH exposure, and identify a novel genetic risk factor that may regulate FASDs severity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - B C Baculis
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - J J Mayfield
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - G J Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - T Ontiveros
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - D J Paine
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - A J Marks
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - A L Gonzales
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - D Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - C F Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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50
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Tsai SJ. Critical Issues in BDNF Val66Met Genetic Studies of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:156. [PMID: 29867348 PMCID: PMC5962780 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric diseases. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most abundant and widely distributed neurotrophin in the brain. Its Val66Met polymorphism (refSNP Cluster Report: rs6265) is a common and functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) affecting the activity-dependent release of BDNF. BDNF Val66Met transgenic mice have been generated, which may provide further insight into the functional impact of this polymorphism in the brain. Considering the important role of BDNF in brain function, more than 1,100 genetic studies have investigated this polymorphism in the past 15 years. Although these studies have reported some encouraging positive findings initially, most of the findings cannot be replicated in following studies. These inconsistencies in BDNF Val66Met genetic studies may be attributed to many factors such as age, sex, environmental factors, ethnicity, genetic model used for analysis, and gene–gene interaction, which are discussed in this review. We also discuss the results of recent studies that have reported the novel functions of this polymorphism. Because many BDNF polymorphisms and non-genetic factors have been implicated in the complex traits of neuropsychiatric diseases, the conventional genetic association-based method is limited to address these complex interactions. Future studies should apply data mining and machine learning techniques to determine the genetic role of BDNF in neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Jen Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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