1
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Mews P, Sosnick L, Gurung A, Sidoli S, Nestler EJ. Decoding cocaine-induced proteomic adaptations in the mouse nucleus accumbens. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eadl4738. [PMID: 38626009 PMCID: PMC11170322 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adl4738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition that results from enduring cellular and molecular adaptations. Among substance use disorders, CUD is notable for its rising prevalence and the lack of approved pharmacotherapies. The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a region that is integral to the brain's reward circuitry, plays a crucial role in the initiation and continuation of maladaptive behaviors that are intrinsic to CUD. Leveraging advancements in neuroproteomics, we undertook a proteomic analysis that spanned membrane, cytosolic, nuclear, and chromatin compartments of the NAc in a mouse model. The results unveiled immediate and sustained proteomic modifications after cocaine exposure and during prolonged withdrawal. We identified congruent protein regulatory patterns during initial cocaine exposure and reexposure after withdrawal, which contrasted with distinct patterns during withdrawal. Pronounced proteomic shifts within the membrane compartment indicated adaptive and long-lasting molecular responses prompted by cocaine withdrawal. In addition, we identified potential protein translocation events between soluble-nuclear and chromatin-bound compartments, thus providing insight into intracellular protein dynamics after cocaine exposure. Together, our findings illuminate the intricate proteomic landscape that is altered in the NAc by cocaine use and provide a dataset for future research toward potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Mews
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lucas Sosnick
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ashik Gurung
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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2
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Estrin DJ, Kulik JM, Beacher NJ, Pawlak AP, Klein SD, West MO. Acquired Alterations in Nucleus Accumbens Responsiveness to a Cocaine-Paired Discriminative Stimulus Preceding Rats' Daily Cocaine Consumption. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 8:100121. [PMID: 37664217 PMCID: PMC10470667 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Resumption of drug taking is a primary focus for substance use disorder research and can be triggered by drug-associated environmental stimuli. The Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) is a key brain region which guides motivated behavior and is implicated in resumption. There remains a pressing need to characterize NAc neurons' responsiveness to drug associated stimuli during withdrawal and abstinence. We recorded discriminative stimulus (DS) induced NAc activity via in vivo single-unit electrophysiology in rats that self-administered cocaine. Male and female rats implanted with a jugular catheter and a microwire array in NAc Core and Shell self-administered cocaine under control of a 30s auditory DS for 6 hours per session across 14 consecutive days. Rats acquired tone discrimination within 4 sessions. To exclude pharmacological effects of circulating cocaine from all neural analyses, we studied changes in DS-induced firing only for trials preceding the first infusion of cocaine in each of the 14 sessions, which were defined as "pre-drug trials." NAc neuron responses were assessed prior to tone-evoked movement onset. Responsiveness to the DS tone was exhibited throughout all sessions by the NAc Core population, but only during Early sessions by the NAc Shell population. Both Core and Shell responded selectively to the DS, i.e., more strongly on drug taking trials, or Hits, than on Missed opportunities. These findings suggest that NAc Core and Shell play distinct roles in initiating cocaine seeking prior to daily cocaine consumption, and align with reports suggesting that as drug use becomes chronic, cue-evoked activity shifts from NAc Shell to NAc Core.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Estrin
- Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69 Street, New York, NY 10021
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Julianna M. Kulik
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Nicholas J. Beacher
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Neural Engineering Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224
| | - Anthony P. Pawlak
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455
- Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Samuel D. Klein
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Mark O. West
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
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3
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Campbell RR, Lobo MK. Neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychostimulant use. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 83:102786. [PMID: 37776675 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Rates of individuals struggling with psychostimulant use disorder (PSUD), defined as chronic use of psychostimulants despite negative consequences, are growing rapidly over the last few decades. However, there are no current pharmacotherapeutics to aid individuals in maintaining drug abstinence. Identifying the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that promote persistent craving and taking of psychostimulants is critical to creating novel pharmacological treatments for PSUD. Psychostimulant use dysregulates processes within the brain that are responsible for decision-making, reward, and memory formation to drive future drug-seeking. Here, we describe novel findings and theories on how psychostimulants impact mechanisms related to transcription, mitochondrial function, and synaptic plasticity within the reward system to drive drug-seeking. We also highlight work examining how psychostimulants impact neural networks through rewiring circuitry to drive addiction-related behaviors. Overall, this review aims to feature the latest progress in understanding the biological basis of PSUD and promising mechanisms for PSUD pharmacotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne R Campbell
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. https://twitter.com/RianneThoughts
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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4
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Hersey M, Bartole MK, Jones CS, Newman AH, Tanda G. Are There Prevalent Sex Differences in Psychostimulant Use Disorder? A Focus on the Potential Therapeutic Efficacy of Atypical Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors. Molecules 2023; 28:5270. [PMID: 37446929 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychostimulant use disorders (PSUD) affect a growing number of men and women and exert sizable public health and economic burdens on our global society. Notably, there are some sex differences in the onset of dependence, relapse rates, and treatment success with PSUD observed in preclinical and clinical studies. The subtle sex differences observed in the behavioral aspects of PSUD may be associated with differences in the neurochemistry of the dopaminergic system between sexes. Preclinically, psychostimulants have been shown to increase synaptic dopamine (DA) levels and may downregulate the dopamine transporter (DAT). This effect is greatest in females during the high estradiol phase of the estrous cycle. Interestingly, women have been shown to be more likely to begin drug use at younger ages and report higher levels of desire to use cocaine than males. Even though there is currently no FDA-approved medication, modafinil, a DAT inhibitor approved for use in the treatment of narcolepsy and sleep disorders, has shown promise in the treatment of PSUD among specific populations of affected individuals. In this review, we highlight the therapeutic potential of modafinil and other atypical DAT inhibitors focusing on the lack of sex differences in the actions of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Hersey
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | - Claire S Jones
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Gianluigi Tanda
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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5
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Luján MÁ, Oliver BL, Young-Morrison R, Engi SA, Zhang LY, Wenzel JM, Li Y, Zlebnik NE, Cheer JF. A multivariate regressor of patterned dopamine release predicts relapse to cocaine. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112553. [PMID: 37224011 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112553] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding mesolimbic dopamine adaptations underlying vulnerability to drug relapse is essential to inform prognostic tools for effective treatment strategies. However, technical limitations have hindered the direct measurement of sub-second dopamine release in vivo for prolonged periods of time, making it difficult to gauge the weight that these dopamine abnormalities have in determining future relapse incidence. Here, we use the fluorescent sensor GrabDA to record, with millisecond resolution, every single cocaine-evoked dopamine transient in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of freely moving mice during self-administration. We reveal low-dimensional features of patterned dopamine release that are strong predictors of cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Additionally, we report sex-specific differences in cocaine-related dopamine responses related to a greater resistance to extinction in males compared with females. These findings provide important insights into the sufficiency of NAc dopamine signaling dynamics-in interaction with sex-for recapitulating persistent cocaine seeking and future relapse vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Á Luján
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brandon L Oliver
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Reana Young-Morrison
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sheila A Engi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lan-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer M Wenzel
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Natalie E Zlebnik
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Joseph F Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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6
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Le AL, Lynch WJ, Rissman EF. Sex Chromosome Complement and Estradiol Modify Cocaine Self-Administration Behaviors in Male Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 113:1177-1188. [PMID: 37348474 DOI: 10.1159/000531648] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Women are more vulnerable to cocaine's reinforcing effects and have a more rapid course to addiction after initial cocaine use as compared to men. Studies in rodents similarly indicate an enhanced sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of cocaine in females versus males. Levels of estradiol (E2) are correlated with vulnerability to the rewarding actions of cocaine. Here, we asked if sex chromosome complement (SCC) influences vulnerability to cocaine use. METHODS We used the four-core genotype mouse that produces gonadal males and females with either XX or XY SCC. Mice were gonadectomized and implanted with either an estradiol (E2) or cholesterol-filled pellet. This allowed us to determine the effects of SCC in the absence (cholesterol-treated) and presence of tonic high physiological hormone levels (estradiol). Acquisition of cocaine self-administration was determined over a 12-day period using an escalated dose procedure (0.3 mg/kg/infusion, sessions 1-6; 0.6 mg/kg/infusion, sessions 6-12). RESULTS Without estradiol treatment, a greater percentage of castrated XY mice acquired cocaine self-administration and did so at a faster rate than XX castrates and ovariectomized XY females. These same XY males acquired sooner, infused more cocaine, and directed more nose pokes to the rewarded nose-poke hole than XX castrates and XY males receiving E2. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that in gonadal male mice, SCC and estradiol can modulate the reinforcing effects of cocaine which may influence the likelihood of cocaine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron L Le
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, NCSU, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wendy J Lynch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Emilie F Rissman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, NCSU, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Ketchesin KD, Becker-Krail DD, Xue X, Wilson RS, Lam TT, Williams KR, Nairn AC, Tseng GC, Logan RW. Differential Effects of Cocaine and Morphine on the Diurnal Regulation of the Mouse Nucleus Accumbens Proteome. J Proteome Res 2023. [PMID: 37311105 PMCID: PMC10392613 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are associated with disruptions in sleep and circadian rhythms that persist during abstinence and may contribute to relapse risk. Repeated use of substances such as psychostimulants and opioids may lead to significant alterations in molecular rhythms in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region central to reward and motivation. Previous studies have identified rhythm alterations in the transcriptome of the NAc and other brain regions following the administration of psychostimulants or opioids. However, little is known about the impact of substance use on the diurnal rhythms of the proteome in the NAc. We used liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics, along with a data-independent acquisition analysis pipeline, to investigate the effects of cocaine or morphine administration on diurnal rhythms of proteome in the mouse NAc. Overall, our data reveal cocaine and morphine differentially alter diurnal rhythms of the proteome in the NAc, with largely independent differentially expressed proteins dependent on time-of-day. Pathways enriched from cocaine altered protein rhythms were primarily associated with glucocorticoid signaling and metabolism, whereas morphine was associated with neuroinflammation. Collectively, these findings are the first to characterize the diurnal regulation of the NAc proteome and demonstrate a novel relationship between the phase-dependent regulation of protein expression and the differential effects of cocaine and morphine on the NAc proteome. The proteomics data in this study are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042043.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D Ketchesin
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Darius D Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Xiangning Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Rashaun S Wilson
- Yale/NIDA Neuroproteomics Center, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- W.M. Keck Biotechnology Mass Spectrometry (MS) & Proteomics Resource Laboratory, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - TuKiet T Lam
- Yale/NIDA Neuroproteomics Center, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- W.M. Keck Biotechnology Mass Spectrometry (MS) & Proteomics Resource Laboratory, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Kenneth R Williams
- Yale/NIDA Neuroproteomics Center, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Angus C Nairn
- Yale/NIDA Neuroproteomics Center, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - George C Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Ryan W Logan
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
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8
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Browne CJ, Futamura R, Minier-Toribio A, Hicks EM, Ramakrishnan A, Martínez-Rivera FJ, Estill M, Godino A, Parise EM, Torres-Berrío A, Cunningham AM, Hamilton PJ, Walker DM, Huckins LM, Hurd YL, Shen L, Nestler EJ. Transcriptional signatures of heroin intake and relapse throughout the brain reward circuitry in male mice. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg8558. [PMID: 37294757 PMCID: PMC10256172 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) looms as one of the most severe medical crises facing society. More effective therapeutics will require a deeper understanding of molecular changes supporting drug-taking and relapse. Here, we develop a brain reward circuit-wide atlas of opioid-induced transcriptional regulation by combining RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and heroin self-administration in male mice modeling multiple OUD-relevant conditions: acute heroin exposure, chronic heroin intake, context-induced drug-seeking following abstinence, and relapse. Bioinformatics analysis of this rich dataset identified numerous patterns of transcriptional regulation, with both region-specific and pan-circuit biological domains affected by heroin. Integration of RNA-seq data with OUD-relevant behavioral outcomes uncovered region-specific molecular changes and biological processes that predispose to OUD vulnerability. Comparisons with human OUD RNA-seq and genome-wide association study data revealed convergent molecular abnormalities and gene candidates with high therapeutic potential. These studies outline molecular reprogramming underlying OUD and provide a foundational resource for future investigations into mechanisms and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb J. Browne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rita Futamura
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Angélica Minier-Toribio
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily M. Hicks
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aarthi Ramakrishnan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Freddyson J. Martínez-Rivera
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Molly Estill
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Godino
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric M. Parise
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Angélica Torres-Berrío
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashley M. Cunningham
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter J. Hamilton
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Deena M. Walker
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Laura M. Huckins
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale Center for Genomic Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yasmin L. Hurd
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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9
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Winter JJ, Rodríguez-Acevedo KL, Dittrich M, Heller EA. Early life adversity: Epigenetic regulation underlying drug addiction susceptibility. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103825. [PMID: 36842544 PMCID: PMC10247461 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103825] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with more than 70,000 Americans dying from drug overdose in 2019 alone. While only a small percentage of chronic drug users escalate to drug addiction, little is understood on the precise mechanisms of this susceptibility. Early life adversity is causally relevant to adult psychiatric disease and may contribute to the risk of addiction. Here we review recent pre-clinical evidence showing that early life exposure to stress and/or drugs regulates changes in behavior, gene expression, and the epigenome that persist into adulthood. We summarize the major findings and gaps in the preclinical literature, highlighting studies that demonstrate the often profound differences between female and male subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mia Dittrich
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
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10
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Phillips RA, Tuscher JJ, Fitzgerald ND, Wan E, Zipperly ME, Duke CG, Ianov L, Day JJ. Distinct subpopulations of D1 medium spiny neurons exhibit unique transcriptional responsiveness to cocaine. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103849. [PMID: 36965548 PMCID: PMC10898607 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103849] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Drugs of abuse increase extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), resulting in transcriptional alterations that drive long-lasting cellular and behavioral adaptations. While decades of research have focused on the transcriptional mechanisms by which drugs of abuse influence neuronal physiology and function, few studies have comprehensively defined NAc cell type heterogeneity in transcriptional responses to drugs of abuse. Here, we used single nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) to characterize the transcriptome of over 39,000 NAc cells from male and female adult Sprague-Dawley rats following acute or repeated cocaine experience. This dataset identified 16 transcriptionally distinct cell populations, including two populations of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that express the Drd1 dopamine receptor (D1-MSNs). Critically, while both populations expressed classic marker genes of D1-MSNs, only one population exhibited a robust transcriptional response to cocaine. Validation of population-selective transcripts using RNA in situ hybridization revealed distinct spatial compartmentalization of these D1-MSN populations within the NAc. Finally, analysis of published NAc snRNA-seq datasets from non-human primates and humans demonstrated conservation of MSN subtypes across rat and higher order mammals, and further highlighted cell type-specific transcriptional differences across the NAc and broader striatum. These results highlight the utility in using snRNA-seq to characterize both cell type heterogeneity and cell type-specific responses to cocaine and provides a useful resource for cross-species comparisons of NAc cell composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - N Dalton Fitzgerald
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Ethan Wan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Morgan E Zipperly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Corey G Duke
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy J Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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11
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Emerson SD, Chevée M, Mews P, Calipari ES. The transcriptional response to acute cocaine is inverted in male mice with a history of cocaine self-administration and withdrawal throughout the mesocorticolimbic system. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103823. [PMID: 36868542 PMCID: PMC10247534 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103823] [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: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A large body of work has demonstrated that cocaine-induced changes in transcriptional regulation play a central role in the onset and maintenance of cocaine use disorder. An underappreciated aspect of this area of research, however, is that the pharmacodynamic properties of cocaine can change depending on an organism's previous drug-exposure history. In this study, we utilized RNA sequencing to characterize how the transcriptome-wide effects of acute cocaine exposure were altered by a history of cocaine self-administration and long-term withdrawal (30 days) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in male mice. First, we found that the gene expression patterns induced by a single cocaine injection (10 mg/kg) were discordant between cocaine-naïve mice and mice in withdrawal from cocaine self-administration. Specifically, the same genes that were upregulated by acute cocaine in cocaine-naïve mice were downregulated by the same dose of cocaine in mice undergoing long-term withdrawal; the same pattern of opposite regulation was observed for the genes downregulated by initial acute cocaine exposure. When we analyzed this dataset further, we found that the gene expression patterns that were induced by long-term withdrawal from cocaine self-administration showed a high degree of overlap with the gene expression patterns of acute cocaine exposure - even though animals had not consumed cocaine in 30 days. Interestingly, cocaine re-exposure at this withdrawal time point reversed this expression pattern. Finally, we found that this pattern was similar across the VTA, PFC, NAc, and within each brain region the same genes were induced by acute cocaine, re-induced during long-term withdrawal, and reversed by cocaine re-exposure. Together, we identified a longitudinal pattern of gene regulation that is conserved across the VTA, PFC, and NAc, and characterized the genes constituting this pattern in each brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soren D Emerson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Maxime Chevée
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Philipp Mews
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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12
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Chesworth R, Visini G, Karl T. Impaired extinction of operant cocaine in a genetic mouse model of schizophrenia risk. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06386-8. [PMID: 37233814 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with schizophrenia have high rates of comorbid substance use problems. One potential explanation for this comorbidity is similar neuropathophysiology in substance use and schizophrenia, which may arise from shared genetic risk factors between the two disorders. Here we investigated if genetic risk for schizophrenia could affect drug reward and reinforcement for cocaine in an established mouse model of genetic risk for schizophrenia, the neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain heterozygous (Nrg1 TM HET) mouse. METHODS We examined drug-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference for several cocaine doses (5, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg) in male adult Nrg1 TM HET and wild-type-like (WT) littermates. We also investigated intravenous self-administration of and motivation for cocaine (doses 0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/kg/infusion), as well as extinction and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine. In a follow-up experiment, we examined self-administration, extinction and cue-induced reinstatement of a natural reward, oral sucrose. RESULTS Cocaine preference was similar between Nrg1 TM HET mice and WT littermates at all doses tested. Locomotor sensitization to cocaine was not affected by Nrg1 genotype at any dose. Although self-administration and motivation for cocaine was unaffected, extinction of cocaine self-administration was impaired in Nrg1 TM HET compared to WT controls, and cue-induced reinstatement was greater in Nrg1 mutants in the middle of the reinstatement session. Sucrose self-administration and extinction thereof was not affected by genotype, but inactive lever responding was elevated during cue-induced reinstatement for operant sucrose in Nrg1 TM HET mice compared to WTs. DISCUSSION These results suggest impaired response inhibition for cocaine in Nrg1 TM HET mice and suggests Nrg1 mutation may contribute to behaviours which can limit control over cocaine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Chesworth
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Gabriela Visini
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
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13
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Phillips RA, Tuscher JJ, Fitzgerald ND, Wan E, Zipperly ME, Duke CG, Ianov L, Day JJ. Distinct subpopulations of D1 medium spiny neurons exhibit unique transcriptional responsiveness to cocaine. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.12.523845. [PMID: 36711527 PMCID: PMC9882178 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse increase extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), resulting in transcriptional alterations that drive long-lasting cellular and behavioral adaptations. While decades of research have focused on the transcriptional mechanisms by which drugs of abuse influence neuronal physiology and function, few studies have comprehensively defined NAc cell type heterogeneity in transcriptional responses to drugs of abuse. Here, we used single nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) to characterize the transcriptome of over 39,000 NAc cells from male and female adult Sprague-Dawley rats following acute or repeated cocaine experience. This dataset identified 16 transcriptionally distinct cell populations, including two populations of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that express the Drd1 dopamine receptor (D1-MSNs). Critically, while both populations expressed classic marker genes of D1-MSNs, only one population exhibited a robust transcriptional response to cocaine. Validation of population-selective transcripts using RNA in situ hybridization revealed distinct spatial compartmentalization of these D1-MSN populations within the NAc. Finally, analysis of published NAc snRNA-seq datasets from non-human primates and humans demonstrated conservation of MSN subtypes across rat and higher order mammals, and further highlighted cell type-specific transcriptional differences across the NAc and broader striatum. These results highlight the utility in using snRNA-seq to characterize both cell type heterogeneity and cell type-specific responses to cocaine and provides a useful resource for cross-species comparisons of NAc cell composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - N. Dalton Fitzgerald
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Ethan Wan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Morgan E. Zipperly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Corey G. Duke
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA,Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA,Correspondence to Jeremy Day ( ∣ day-lab.org ∣ @DayLabUAB)
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14
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Perrine SA, Alsharif WF, Harutyunyan A, Kamal S, Viola NT, Gelovani JG. Low- and high-cocaine intake affects the spatial and temporal dynamics of class IIa HDAC expression-activity in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus of male rats as measured by [18F]TFAHA PET/CT neuroimaging. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 4:100046. [PMID: 36540409 PMCID: PMC9762729 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Repeated cocaine alters neuronal function in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region involved in cocaine taking, and in hippocampus (HC), known for contextual and associative learning. [18F]TFAHA is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) class IIa-specific radiotracer for positron emission tomography (PET)-imaging developed by our group to study epigenetic mechanisms. Here, [18F]TFAHA was used to conduct PET-imaging coupled with computed tomography (CT) of rat brains at baseline and after repeated cocaine intravenous self-administration (cocaine-IVSA) in low-intake versus high-intake cocaine groups. A 3 h-access FR1-schedule of cocaine-IVSA (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) for 12 continuous days was used with male Sprague Dawley rats following jugular vein catheterization. PET/CT neuroimaging with [18F]TFAHA was acquired in a dynamic mode over 40 min post-radiotracer administration at baseline and on day 12 of cocaine-IVSA using a longitudinal, repeated design. This study shows that high-cocaine intake significantly decreases class IIa HDAC expression-activity in NAc, while low-cocaine intake significantly decreases expression-activity in HC in male rats. These findings suggest the individual rats with low-cocaine intake had epigenetic changes in HC, where drug-associative changes occur. Alternatively, individuals with high-cocaine intake had robust epigenetic changes in NAc, where rewared-related behaviors originate. These findings are the first longitudinal data obtained in vivo to implicate class IIa HDACs in the persistent behavioral effects of cocaine. Furthermore, our results are consistent with published research implicating class IIa HDACs in cocaine-induced brain changes and studies suggesting a relationship between an individual's drug-taking behavior and regional pattern of epigenetic changes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A. Perrine
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Avenue, Suite 3119, Detroit, MI, USA
- Research Services, John D. Dingell VAMC, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Arman Harutyunyan
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Avenue, Suite 3119, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Swatabdi Kamal
- Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nerissa T. Viola
- Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Juri G. Gelovani
- Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
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15
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Murphy MD, Heller EA. Convergent actions of stress and stimulants via epigenetic regulation of neural circuitry. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:955-967. [PMID: 36280459 PMCID: PMC9671852 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.10.001] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal striatum integrates prior and current information to guide appropriate decision-making. Chronic stress and stimulant exposure interferes with decision-making, and can confer similar cognitive and behavioral inflexibilities. This review examines the literature on acute and chronic regulation of the epigenome by stress and stimulants. Recent evidence suggests that exposures to stress and stimulants share similarities in the manners in which they regulate the dorsal striatum epigenome through DNA methylation, transposable element activity, and histone post-translational modifications. These findings suggest that chronic stress and stimulant exposure leads to the accumulation of epigenetic modifications that impair immediate and future neuron function and activity. Such epigenetic mechanisms represent potential therapeutic targets for ameliorating convergent symptoms of stress and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Murphy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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16
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Beiser T, Lisniansky E, Weitz M, Bingor A, Grad E, Rosenblum K, Thornton C, Yaka R. A functional eEF2K-eEF2 pathway in the NAc is critical for the expression of cocaine-induced psychomotor sensitisation and conditioned place preference. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:460. [PMID: 36319619 PMCID: PMC9626485 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02232-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence links synaptic plasticity and mRNA translation, via the eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) and its only known substrate, eEF2. However, the involvement of the eEF2 pathway in cocaine-induced neuroadaptations and cocaine-induced behaviours is not known. Knock-in (KI) mice and shRNA were used to globally and specifically reduce eEF2K expression. Cocaine psychomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference were used to evaluate behavioural outcome. Changes in eEF2 phosphorylation were determined by western blot analyses. No effect was observed on the AMPA/NMDA receptor current ratio in the ventral tegmental area, 24 h after cocaine injection in eEF2K-KI mice compared with WT. However, development and expression of cocaine psychomotor sensitization were decreased in KI mice. Phosphorylated eEF2 was decreased one day after psychomotor sensitization and returned to baseline at seven days in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of WT mice, but not in eEF2K-KI mice. However, one day following cocaine challenge, phosphorylated eEF2 decreased in WT but not KI mice. Importantly, specific targeting of eEF2K expression by shRNA in the NAc decreased cocaine condition place preference. These results suggest that the eEF2 pathway play a role in cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehila Beiser
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Elvira Lisniansky
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Moriya Weitz
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alexey Bingor
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Etty Grad
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Kobi Rosenblum
- grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Sagol Department of Neuroscience, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Claire Thornton
- grid.20931.390000 0004 0425 573XDepartment of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Rami Yaka
- Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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17
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Fischer DK, Krick KS, Han C, Woolf MT, Heller EA. Cocaine regulation of Nr4a1 chromatin bivalency and mRNA in male and female mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15735. [PMID: 36130958 PMCID: PMC9492678 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19908-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine epigenetically regulates gene expression via changes in histone post-translational modifications (HPTMs). We previously found that the immediate early gene Nr4a1 is epigenetically activated by cocaine in mouse brain reward regions. However, few studies have examined multiple HPTMs at a single gene. Bivalent gene promoters are simultaneously enriched in both activating (H3K4me3 (K4)) and repressive (H3K27me3 (K27)) HPTMs. As such, bivalent genes are lowly expressed but poised for activity-dependent gene regulation. In this study, we identified K4&K27 bivalency at Nr4a1 following investigator-administered cocaine in male and female mice. We applied sequential chromatin immunoprecipitation and qPCR to define Nr4a1 bivalency and expression in striatum (STR), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus (HPC). We used Pearson's correlation to quantify relationships within each brain region across treatment conditions for each sex. In female STR, cocaine increased Nr4a1 mRNA while maintaining Nr4a1 K4&K27 bivalency. In male STR, cocaine enriched repressive H3K27me3 and K4&K27 bivalency at Nr4a1 and maintained Nr4a1 mRNA. Furthermore, cocaine epigenetically regulated a putative NR4A1 target, Cartpt, in male PFC. This study defined the epigenetic regulation of Nr4a1 in reward brain regions in male and female mice following cocaine, and, thus, shed light on the biological relevance of sex to cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaney K Fischer
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Keegan S Krick
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chloe Han
- College of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Morgan T Woolf
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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18
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Reverte I, D'Ottavio G, Milella MS, Caprioli D. Sex differences in the immune system: Implications for cocaine relapse. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 104:29-30. [PMID: 35580793 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Reverte
- Laboratory Affiliated to Institute Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy
| | - Ginevra D'Ottavio
- Laboratory Affiliated to Institute Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Caprioli
- Laboratory Affiliated to Institute Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy.
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19
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Effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on behavioral economic indices of cocaine self-administration. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 233:109348. [PMID: 35176632 PMCID: PMC8957596 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of psychostimulant (e.g., cocaine) use disorders. Because the GluN2B subunit of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is an important mediator of addiction-like behaviors, the goal of the current study was to determine if the GluN2B-selective antagonist Ro 63-1908 is efficacious in attenuating cocaine self-administration. METHODS Adult Sprague Dawley rats (24 males and 11 females) were implanted with indwelling catheters and were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.75 mg/kg/inf). Rats were then trained in a threshold procedure, in which the dose of cocaine decreased across six 6-min blocks (0.75, 0.27, 0.08, 0.03, 0.01, 0.003 mg/kg/inf). This procedure allowed for the quantification of behavioral economic indices of drug self-administration. Following training in the threshold procedure, rats were treated with the GluN2B-selective antagonist Ro 63-1908 (0, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg; s.c.). Rats also received treatments of the NMDA receptor channel blocker MK-801 (0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.06 mg/kg; s.c.). RESULTS Blocking NMDA receptors decreased initial intake (i.e., consumption during the first block), although Ro 63-1908 and MK-801 increased area under the curve (global measure of demand) and decreased demand elasticity, an effect observed primarily in males. Neither drug affected demand intensity (i.e., consumption of cocaine at a minimally constrained price). CONCLUSIONS While blocking the NMDA receptor decreases initial intake of cocaine, NMDA receptor antagonists make cocaine more inelastic with increasing price. These results suggest that NMDA receptor antagonists can exacerbate addiction-like behaviors during self-administration during extinction-like conditions that are observed in later blocks of the threshold procedure.
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20
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Brady LJ, Erickson KR, Lucerne KE, Osman A, Kiraly DD, Calipari ES. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhances cocaine effects in the nucleus accumbens via a dopamine release-based mechanism. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3499-3509. [PMID: 34487190 PMCID: PMC9056006 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05967-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder is associated with alterations in immune function including altered expression of multiple peripheral cytokines in humans-several of which correlate with drug use. Individuals suffering from cocaine use disorder show altered immune system responses to drug-associated cues, highlighting the interaction between the brain and immune system as a critical factor in the development and expression of cocaine use disorder. We have previously demonstrated in animal models that cocaine use upregulates the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-a pleiotropic cytokine-in the serum and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). G-CSF signaling has been causally linked to behavioral responses to cocaine across multiple behavioral domains. The goal of this study was to define whether increases in G-CSF alter the pharmacodynamic effects of cocaine on the dopamine system and whether this occurs via direct mechanisms within local NAc microcircuits. We find that systemic G-CSF injection increases cocaine effects on dopamine terminals. The enhanced dopamine levels in the presence of cocaine occur through a release-based mechanism, rather than through effects on the dopamine transporter-as uptake rates were unchanged following G-CSF treatment. Critically, this effect could be recapitulated by acute bath application of G-CSF to dopamine terminals, an effect that was occluded by prior G-CSF treatment, suggesting a similar mechanistic basis for direct and systemic exposures. This work highlights the critical interaction between the immune system and psychostimulant effects that can alter drug responses and may play a role in vulnerability to cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian J Brady
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, TN, 37232, Nashville, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Kirsty R Erickson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, TN, 37232, Nashville, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Kelsey E Lucerne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aya Osman
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl - Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl - Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, TN, 37232, Nashville, USA.
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 865F Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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