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Liu D, Jin Z, Wei H, Zhu C, Liu K, You P, Ju J, Xu J, Zhu W, Xu Q. Anti-SFT2D2 autoantibodies alter dendrite spine and cause psychotic behavior in mice. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 171:99-107. [PMID: 38262166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmunity plays an important role in schizophrenia (SCZ). Autoantibodies against SFT2D2 have been reported in patients with SCZ; however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to describe an autoimmune model, namely, mice immunized against SFT2D2-peptides. METHODS ApoE-/- and WT mice (C57BL/6) were immunized four times (day 0, day 14, day 21, day 35) with SFT2D2 peptide or KLH via subcutaneous injection. Behavioral tests were conducted after the third immunization, and immunochemistry of brain tissue were performed after the sacrifice of the mice. RESULTS Active immunization with KLH-coupled SFT2D2-derived peptides in both WT and ApoE-/- (compromised blood-brain barrier) mice led to high circulating levels of anti-SFT2D2 IgG. While there was no detectable deficit in WT mice, impaired pre-pulse inhibition, motor impairments, and reduced cognition in ApoE-/- mice, without signs of anxiety and depression were observed. In addition, immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that activated microglia and astrocytes were increased but neuronal dendritic spine densities were decreased, accompanied by increased expression of complement molecule C4 across brain regions in ApoE-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS In model mice with compromised blood-brain barrier, endogenous anti-SFT2D2 IgG can activate glial cells and modulate synaptic plasticity, and induce a series of psychosis-like changes. These antibodies may reveal valuable therapeutic targets, which may improve the treatment strategies for a subgroup of SCZ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duilin Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongman Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caiyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kejiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Pengsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahang Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wanwan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Cale JA, Chauhan EJ, Cleaver JJ, Fusciardi AR, McCann S, Waters HC, Žavbi J, King MV. GABAergic and inflammatory changes in the frontal cortex following neonatal PCP plus isolation rearing, as a dual-hit neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03987-y. [PMID: 38363536 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03987-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of schizophrenia begins in early neurodevelopment and leads to excitatory-inhibitory imbalance. It is therefore essential that preclinical models used to understand disease, select drug targets and evaluate novel therapeutics encompass similar neurochemical deficits. One approach to improved preclinical modelling incorporates dual-hit neurodevelopmental insults, like neonatal administration of phencyclidine (PCP, to disrupt development of glutamatergic circuitry) then post-weaning isolation (Iso, to mimic adolescent social stress). We recently showed that male Lister-hooded rats exposed to PCP-Iso exhibit reduced hippocampal expression of the GABA interneuron marker calbindin. The current study expanded on this by investigating changes to additional populations of GABAergic interneurons in frontal cortical and hippocampal tissue from the same animals (by immunohistochemistry) as well as levels of GABA itself (via ELISA). Because inflammatory changes are also implicated in schizophrenia, we performed additional immunohistochemical evaluations of Iba-1 positive microglia as well as ELISA analysis of IL-6 in the same brain regions. Single-hit isolation-reared and dual-hit PCP-Iso rats both showed reduced parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the prelimbic/infralimbic region of the frontal cortex. However, this was more widespread in PCP-Iso, extending to the medial/ventral and lateral/dorsolateral orbitofrontal cortices. Loss of GABAergic markers was accompanied by increased microglial activation in the medial/ventral orbitofrontal cortices of PCP-Iso, together with frontal cortical IL-6 elevations not seen following single-hit isolation rearing. These findings enhance the face validity of PCP-Iso, and we advocate the use of this preclinical model for future evaluation of novel therapeutics-especially those designed to normalise excitatory-inhibitory imbalance or reduce neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Cale
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Ethan J Chauhan
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Joshua J Cleaver
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Anthoio R Fusciardi
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Sophie McCann
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Hannah C Waters
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Juš Žavbi
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Madeleine V King
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
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Dobó J, Kocsis A, Farkas B, Demeter F, Cervenak L, Gál P. The Lectin Pathway of the Complement System-Activation, Regulation, Disease Connections and Interplay with Other (Proteolytic) Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1566. [PMID: 38338844 PMCID: PMC10855846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The complement system is the other major proteolytic cascade in the blood of vertebrates besides the coagulation-fibrinolytic system. Among the three main activation routes of complement, the lectin pathway (LP) has been discovered the latest, and it is still the subject of intense research. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), other collectins, and ficolins are collectively termed as the pattern recognition molecules (PRMs) of the LP, and they are responsible for targeting LP activation to molecular patterns, e.g., on bacteria. MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs) are the effectors, while MBL-associated proteins (MAps) have regulatory functions. Two serine protease components, MASP-1 and MASP-2, trigger the LP activation, while the third component, MASP-3, is involved in the function of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement. Besides their functions within the complement system, certain LP components have secondary ("moonlighting") functions, e.g., in embryonic development. They also contribute to blood coagulation, and some might have tumor suppressing roles. Uncontrolled complement activation can contribute to the progression of many diseases (e.g., stroke, kidney diseases, thrombotic complications, and COVID-19). In most cases, the lectin pathway has also been implicated. In this review, we summarize the history of the lectin pathway, introduce their components, describe its activation and regulation, its roles within the complement cascade, its connections to blood coagulation, and its direct cellular effects. Special emphasis is placed on disease connections and the non-canonical functions of LP components.
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Affiliation(s)
- József Dobó
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Research Network, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (J.D.); (A.K.); (B.F.)
| | - Andrea Kocsis
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Research Network, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (J.D.); (A.K.); (B.F.)
| | - Bence Farkas
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Research Network, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (J.D.); (A.K.); (B.F.)
| | - Flóra Demeter
- Cell Biology and Cell Therapy Group, Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary; (F.D.); (L.C.)
| | - László Cervenak
- Cell Biology and Cell Therapy Group, Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary; (F.D.); (L.C.)
| | - Péter Gál
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Research Network, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (J.D.); (A.K.); (B.F.)
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Karperien AL, Jelinek HF. Morphology and Fractal-Based Classifications of Neurons and Microglia in Two and Three Dimensions. Adv Neurobiol 2024; 36:149-172. [PMID: 38468031 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Microglia and neurons live physically intertwined, intimately related structurally and functionally in a dynamic relationship in which microglia change continuously over a much shorter timescale than do neurons. Although microglia may unwind and depart from the neurons they attend under certain circumstances, in general, together both contribute to the fractal topology of the brain that defines its computational capabilities. Both neuronal and microglial morphologies are well-described using fractal analysis complementary to more traditional measures. For neurons, the fractal dimension has proved valuable for classifying dendritic branching and other neuronal features relevant to pathology and development. For microglia, fractal geometry has substantially contributed to classifying functional categories, where, in general, the more pathological the biological status, the lower the fractal dimension for individual cells, with some exceptions, including hyper-ramification. This chapter provides a review of the intimate relationships between neurons and microglia, by introducing 2D and 3D fractal analysis methodology and its applications in neuron-microglia function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L Karperien
- School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
| | - Herbert F Jelinek
- Department of Medical Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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5
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Ferrucci L, Cantando I, Cordella F, Di Angelantonio S, Ragozzino D, Bezzi P. Microglia at the Tripartite Synapse during Postnatal Development: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Schizophrenia. Cells 2023; 12:2827. [PMID: 38132147 PMCID: PMC10742295 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Synapses are the fundamental structures of neural circuits that control brain functions and behavioral and cognitive processes. Synapses undergo formation, maturation, and elimination mainly during postnatal development via a complex interplay with neighboring astrocytes and microglia that, by shaping neural connectivity, may have a crucial role in the strengthening and weakening of synaptic functions, that is, the functional plasticity of synapses. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have unveiled the roles of microglia and astrocytes in synapse formation, maturation, and elimination as well as in regulating synaptic function. Over the past 15 years, the mechanisms underlying the microglia- and astrocytes-dependent regulation of synaptic plasticity have been thoroughly studied, and researchers have reported that the disruption of these glial cells in early postnatal development may underlie the cause of synaptic dysfunction that leads to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ferrucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
| | - Iva Cantando
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Federica Cordella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, IIT, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, IIT, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.F.); (F.C.); (S.D.A.); (D.R.)
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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Uranova NA, Vikhreva OV, Rakhmanova VI. Microglia-neuron interactions in prefrontal gray matter in schizophrenia: a postmortem ultrastructural morphometric study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1633-1648. [PMID: 37178237 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This study addressed the question of whether the interaction between neurons and satellite microglia (SatMg) is abnormal in schizophrenia. SatMg-neuron communication at direct contacts between neuronal soma is essential for neuroplasticity as SatMg can regulate neuronal activity. A postmortem ultrastructural morphometric study was performed to investigate SatMg and adjacent neurons in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex in 21 cases of schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. Density of SatMg was significantly higher in the young schizophrenia group and in the group with illness duration ≤ 26 years as compared to controls. We found lower volume fraction (Vv) and the number (N) of mitochondria and higher Vv and N of lipofuscin granules and vacuoles in endoplasmic reticulum in SatMg in the schizophrenia compared to the control brain. These changes progressed with age and illness duration. A significantly higher soma area and Vv of vacuoles of endoplasmic reticulum were revealed in neurons in schizophrenia as compared to controls. Negative significant correlations between N of vacuoles in neurons and N of mitochondria in SatMg were found in the control group but not in the schizophrenia group. Area of vacuole in neurons was significantly positively correlated with Vv and area of mitochondria in SatMg in the control group and negatively in the schizophrenia group. Correlation coefficients between these parameters differed significantly between the groups. These results indicate disturbed SatMg-neuron interactions in the schizophrenia brain and suggest a key role of mitochondrial abnormalities in SatMg in these disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Uranova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 34, 115522, Moscow, Russia.
| | - O V Vikhreva
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 34, 115522, Moscow, Russia
| | - V I Rakhmanova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 34, 115522, Moscow, Russia
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Nguyen KD, Amerio A, Aguglia A, Magnani L, Parise A, Conio B, Serafini G, Amore M, Costanza A. Microglia and Other Cellular Mediators of Immunological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Narrative Synthesis of Clinical Findings. Cells 2023; 12:2099. [PMID: 37626909 PMCID: PMC10453550 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric condition that may involve immune system dysregulation. Since most putative disease mechanisms in schizophrenia have been derived from genetic association studies and fluid-based molecular analyses, this review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on clinical correlates to immune system dysfunction in this psychiatric disorder. We conclude this review by attempting to develop a unifying hypothesis regarding the relative contributions of microglia and various immune cell populations to the development of schizophrenia. This may provide important translational insights that can become useful for addressing the multifaceted clinical presentation of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa D. Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA;
- Tranquis Therapeutics, Palo Alto, CA 94065, USA
| | - Andrea Amerio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Aguglia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Magnani
- Department of Psychiatry, San Maurizio Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy;
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Benedetta Conio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanza
- Department of Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry Service, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1207 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Italian Switzerland (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Wang C, Zhu D, Zhang D, Zuo X, Yao L, Liu T, Ge X, He C, Zhou Y, Shen Z. Causal role of immune cells in schizophrenia: Mendelian randomization (MR) study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:590. [PMID: 37582716 PMCID: PMC10428653 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05081-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex immune-brain interactions that affect neural development, survival and function might have causal and therapeutic implications for psychiatric illnesses. However, previous studies examining the association between immune inflammation and schizophrenia (SCZ) have yielded inconsistent findings. METHODS Comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to determine the causal association between immune cell signatures and SCZ in this study. Based on publicly available genetic data, we explored causal associations between 731 immune cell signatures and SCZ risk. A total of four types of immune signatures (median fluorescence intensities (MFI), relative cell (RC), absolute cell (AC), and morphological parameters (MP)) were included. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses were used to verify the robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy of the results. RESULTS After FDR correction, SCZ had no statistically significant effect on immunophenotypes. It was worth mentioning some phenotypes with unadjusted low P-values, including FSC-A on NKT (β = 0.119, 95% CI = 0.044 ~ 0.194, P = 0.002), DN (CD4-CD8-) NKT %T cell (β = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.054 ~ 0.208, P = 9.03 × 10- 4), and SSC-A on lymphocytes (β = 0.136, 95% CI = 0.059 ~ 0.213, P = 5.43 × 10- 4). The causal effect of SCZ IgD on transitional was estimated to 0.127 (95% CI = 0.051 ~ 0.203, P = 1.09 × 10- 3). SCZ also had a causal effect on IgD+ %B cell (β = 0.130, 95% CI = 0.054 ~ 0.207, P = 8.69 × 10- 4), and DP (CD4+CD8+) %T cell (β = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.054 ~ 0.207, P = 8.05 × 10- 4). Furthermore, four immunophenotypes were identified to be significantly associated with SCZ risk: naive CD4+ %T cell (OR = 0.986, 95% CI = 0.979 ~ 0.992, P = 1.37 × 10- 5), HLA DR on CD14- CD16- (OR = 0.738 (95% CI = 0.642 ~ 0.849, P = 2.00 × 10- 5), CD33dim HLA DR+ CD11b- AC (OR = 0.631, 95% CI = 0.529 ~ 0.753, P = 3.40 × 10- 7) and activated & resting Treg % CD4 Treg (OR = 0.937, 95% CI = 0.906 ~ 0.970, P = 1.96 × 10- 4). CONCLUSIONS Our study has demonstrated the close connection between immune cells and SCZ by genetic means, thus providing guidance for future clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengdong Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Dongdong Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Dongjun Zhang
- School of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453005, China
| | - Xiaowei Zuo
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Lei Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Teng Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Xiaodan Ge
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Chenlu He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Ziyuan Shen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
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Mawson ER, Morris BJ. A consideration of the increased risk of schizophrenia due to prenatal maternal stress, and the possible role of microglia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110773. [PMID: 37116354 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is caused by interaction of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Of the latter, prenatal exposure to maternal stress is reportedly associated with elevated disease risk. The main orchestrators of inflammatory processes within the brain are microglia, and aberrant microglial activation/function has been proposed to contribute to the aetiology of schizophrenia. Here, we evaluate the epidemiological and preclinical evidence connecting prenatal stress to schizophrenia risk, and consider the possible mediating role of microglia in the prenatal stress-schizophrenia relationship. Epidemiological findings are rather consistent in supporting the association, albeit they are mitigated by effects of sex and gestational timing, while the evidence for microglial activation is more variable. Rodent models of prenatal stress generally report lasting effects on offspring neurobiology. However, many uncertainties remain as to the mechanisms underlying the influence of maternal stress on the developing foetal brain. Future studies should aim to characterise the exact processes mediating this aspect of schizophrenia risk, as well as focussing on how prenatal stress may interact with other risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Mawson
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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10
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Niu D, Zhang X, Zhang S, Fan T, Zhou X, Wang H, Zhang X, Nan F, Jiang S, Liu F, Wang Y, Wang B. Human Cytomegalovirus IE2 Disrupts Neural Progenitor Development and Induces Microcephaly in Transgenic Mouse. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3883-3897. [PMID: 36991278 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03310-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant contributor to congenital birth defects. Limited by the lack of animal models, the pathogenesis of neurological damage in vivo caused by HCMV infection and the role of individual viral genes remain to be elucidated. Immediate early (IE2) protein may play a function in neurodevelopmental problems caused by HCMV infection. Here, this study intended to investigate IE2's long-term effects on development of the brain in IE2-expressing transgenic mice (Rosa26-LSL-IE2+/-, Camk2α-Cre) aimed to observe the phenotype of postnatal mice. The expression of IE2 in transgenic mice was confirmed by PCR and Western blot technology. We collected mouse brain tissue at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days postpartum to analyze the developmental process of neural stem cells by immunofluorescence. We discovered that transgenic mice (Rosa26-LSL-IE2+/-, Camk2α-Cre) can reliably produce IE2 in the brain at various postpartum phases. Furthermore, we also observed the symptoms of microcephaly in postnatal transgenic mice, and IE2 can damage the amount of neural stem cells, prevent them from proliferating and differentiating, and activate microglia and astrocytes, creating an unbalanced environment in the brain's neurons. In conclusion, we demonstrate that long-term expression of HCMV-IE2 can cause microcephaly through molecular mechanisms affecting the differentiation and development of neural stem cells in vivo. This work establishes a theoretical and experimental foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanism of fetal microcephaly brought by HCMV infection in throughout the period of neural development of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delei Niu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Xianjuan Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Shuyun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Tianyu Fan
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Special Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Xueming Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Fulong Nan
- Department of Special Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Shasha Jiang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Fengjun Liu
- Department of Special Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Yunyang Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
- Department of Special Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
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11
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Mayilyan KR, Krarup A, Soghoyan AF, Jensenius JC, Sim RB. l-ficolin-MASP arm of the complement system in schizophrenia. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152349. [PMID: 36805857 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The abnormal neurodevelopment secondary to in utero adversities, such as hypoxia, malnutrition and maternal infections, underlies schizophrenia (SZ) etiology. As the genes of MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP) of the complement lectin pathway, MASP1 and MASP2, are expressed in the developing cortex and are functionally important for neuronal migration, we hypothesize that the malfunction ofl-ficolin-MASP arm may also be involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology as it was shown for MBL-MASP complexes. We investigated serum l-ficolin and plasma MASP-2 levels, the activity of l-ficolin-bound MASP-2, as well as an array of the complement-related variables in chronic schizophrenic patients in the acute phase of the disease and controls without physical or mental diagnoses. The median concentration of l-ficolin in Armenian controls was 3.66 μg/ml and similar to those reported for other Caucasian populations. SZ-cases had ∼40 % increase in serum l-ficolin (median 5.08 μg/ml; P < 0.0024). In the pooled sample, l-ficolin level was higher in males than in females (P < 0.0031), but this gender dichotomy was not affecting the variable association with schizophrenia (P < 0.016). Remarkably, MASP-2 plasma concentration showed gender-dependent significant variability in the group of patients but not in controls. When adjusted for gender and gender*diagnosis interaction, a significantly high MASP-2 level in female patients versus female controls was observed (median: 362 ng/ml versus 260 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.0020). A significant increase in l-ficolin-bound MASP-2 activity was also observed in schizophrenia (on the median, cases vs controls: 7.60 vs 6.50 RU; P < 0.021). Correlation analyses of the levels of l-ficolin and MASP-2, l-ficolin-(MASP-2) activity and the demographic data did not show any significant association with the age of individuals, family history, age at onset and duration of the illness, and smoking. Noteworthy, the levels of l-ficolin and MASP-2 in circulation were significantly associated with the type of schizophrenia (paranoid SZ-cases had much higher l-ficolin (P < 0.0035) and lower MASP-2 levels than the other types combined (P < 0.049)). Correlations were also found between: (i) the classical pathway functional activity and l-ficolin level (rs = 0.19, P < 0.010); (ii) the alternative pathway functional activity and MASP-2 level (rs = 0.26, P < 0.00035); (iii) the activity of l-ficolin-bound MASP2 and the downstream C2 component haemolytic activity (rs = -0.19, P < 0.017); and (iv) l-ficolin and the upstream C-reactive protein (CRP) serum concentrations (r = 0.28, P < 0.018). Overall, the results showed l-ficolin-related lectin pathway alterations in schizophrenia pathophysiology. It is likely that in addition to the MBL-MASP component over-activity reported previously, the alterations of the lectin pathway in schizophrenia also involve variations of l-ficolin-(MASP-2) on protein concentration and activity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine R Mayilyan
- MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Institute of Molecular Biology, Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia; Department of Therapeutics, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Traditional Medicine, Yerevan, Armenia.
| | - Anders Krarup
- MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Armen F Soghoyan
- Yerevan State Medical University, Health Ministry of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia; Psychosocial Recovery Center, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Robert B Sim
- MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Fujihara K. Beyond the γ-aminobutyric acid hypothesis of schizophrenia. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1161608. [PMID: 37168420 PMCID: PMC10165250 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1161608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormalities in the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system have been reported in the postmortem brains of individuals with schizophrenia. In particular, the reduction of one of the GABA-synthesizing enzymes, the 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), has garnered interest among researchers because of its role in the formation of γ-oscillations and its potential involvement in the cognitive dysfunction observed in schizophrenia. Although several animal models have been generated to simulate the alterations observed in postmortem brain studies, they exhibit inconsistent behavioral phenotypes, leading to conflicting views regarding their contributions to the pathogenesis and manifestation of schizophrenia symptoms. For instance, GAD67 knockout rats (also known as Gad1 knockout rats) exhibit marked impairments in spatial working memory, but other model animals do not. In this review, we summarize the phenotypic attributes of these animal models and contemplate the potential for secondary modifications that may arise from the disruption of the GABAergic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyuki Fujihara
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
- *Correspondence: Kazuyuki Fujihara,
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Brisch R, Wojtylak S, Saniotis A, Steiner J, Gos T, Kumaratilake J, Henneberg M, Wolf R. The role of microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders and suicide. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 272:929-945. [PMID: 34595576 PMCID: PMC9388452 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review examines the possible role of microglial cells, first, in neuroinflammation and, second, in schizophrenia, depression, and suicide. Recent research on the interactions between microglia, astrocytes and neurons and their involvement in pathophysiological processes of neuropsychiatric disorders is presented. This review focuses on results from postmortem, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies, and animal models of schizophrenia and depression. Third, the effects of antipsychotic and antidepressant drug therapy, and of electroconvulsive therapy on microglial cells are explored and the upcoming development of therapeutic drugs targeting microglia is described. Finally, there is a discussion on the role of microglia in the evolutionary progression of human lineage. This view may contribute to a new understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Brisch
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Szymon Wojtylak
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Arthur Saniotis
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Pharmacy, Knowledge University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jaliya Kumaratilake
- Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Maciej Henneberg
- Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rainer Wolf
- Department of Nursing and Health, Hochschule Fulda, University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany.
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Huang Y, Zhang X, Zhou N. The Interrelation between Interleukin-2 and Schizophrenia. Brain Sci 2022; 12:1154. [PMID: 36138890 PMCID: PMC9496814 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a growth factor that regulates T-cell autocrine secretion and has long been considered to be closely related to immune response. With the advance in neuroinflammation theory and immunology research on schizophrenia, it is interesting and meaningful to discuss the possible role of IL-2 in schizophrenia. Here, we reviewed a series of studies published from the 1990s and found that IL-2 was closely associated with schizophrenia. For example, IL-2 is responsible for mediating toxic reactions, which are the causes of schizophrenia symptoms in patients, and such symptoms resolve after discontinuation of the drug. In addition, we focused on the changes of IL-2 in the onset, progression and treatment of schizophrenia and the possible mechanisms by which IL-2 affects schizophrenia. Our review suggests that IL-2 is associated with schizophrenia and plays a role in its pathogenesis, and progression IL-2 and sIL-2R could serve as potential biomarkers of schizophrenia.
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15
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Yue W, Huang H, Duan J. Potential diagnostic biomarkers for schizophrenia. Med Rev (Berl) 2022; 2:385-416. [PMID: 37724326 PMCID: PMC10388817 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCH) is a complex and severe mental disorder with high prevalence, disability, mortality and carries a heavy disease burden, the lifetime prevalence of SCH is around 0.7%-1.0%, which has a profound impact on the individual and society. In the clinical practice of SCH, key problems such as subjective diagnosis, experiential treatment, and poor overall prognosis are still challenging. In recent years, some exciting discoveries have been made in the research on objective biomarkers of SCH, mainly focusing on genetic susceptibility genes, metabolic indicators, immune indices, brain imaging, electrophysiological characteristics. This review aims to summarize the biomarkers that may be used for the prediction and diagnosis of SCH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Yue
- Institute of Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Hailiang Huang
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Wei Y, Xiao L, Fan W, Zou J, Yang H, Liu B, Ye Y, Wen D, Liao L. Astrocyte Activation, but not Microglia, Is Associated with the Experimental Mouse Model of Schizophrenia Induced by Chronic Ketamine. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1902-1915. [PMID: 35802289 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02046-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Many experimental studies have shown that ketamine can induce cognitive impairments and schizophrenia-like symptoms. While much data have demonstrated that glial cells are associated with the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, the response of glial cells to ketamine and its significance to schizophrenia are not clear. The present study was intended to explore whether chronic ketamine treatment would induce behavioral and glial changes in mice. First, ketamine was used to stimulate behavioral abnormalities similar to schizophrenia evaluated by the open field test, elevated plus-maze test, Y maze test, novel object recognition test, and tail suspension test. Secondly, histopathology and Nissl staining were performed. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence was used to evaluate the expression levels of IBA-1 (a microglial marker) and GFAP (an astrocyte marker) in the mouse hippocampus for any change. Then, ELISA was used to analyze proinflammatory cytokine levels for any change. Our results showed that ketamine (25 mg/kg, i.p., qid, 12 days) induced anxiety, recognition deficits, and neuronal injury in the hippocampus. Moreover, chronic ketamine treatment enhanced GFAP expression in CA1 and DG regions of the hippocampus but did not influence the expression of IBA-1. Ketamine also increased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the mouse hippocampus. Our study created a new procedure for ketamine administration, which successfully induce negative symptoms and cognitive-behavioral defects in schizophrenia by chronic ketamine. This study further revealed that an increase in astrocytosis, but not microglia, is associated with the mouse model of schizophrenia caused by ketamine. In summary, hippocampal astrocytes may be involved in the pathophysiology of ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like phenotypes through reactive transformation and regulation of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wei
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- College of Pharmacy, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Li Xiao
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihao Fan
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Zou
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Yang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Liu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Ye
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Di Wen
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Linchuan Liao
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Guerrin CGJ, Shoji A, Doorduin J, de Vries EFJ. Immune Activation in Pregnant Rats Affects Brain Glucose Consumption, Anxiety-like Behaviour and Recognition Memory in their Male Offspring. Mol Imaging Biol 2022; 24:740-749. [PMID: 35380336 PMCID: PMC9581871 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-022-01723-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Prenatal infection during pregnancy is a risk factor for schizophrenia, as well as for other developmental psychiatric disorders, such as autism and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia patients were reported to have altered brain metabolism and neuroinflammation. However, the link between prenatal infection, altered brain inflammation and metabolism, and schizophrenia remains unclear. In this project, we aimed to evaluate whether there are changes in brain glucose consumption and microglia activation in the offspring of pregnant rats exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA), and if so, whether these changes occur before or after the initiation of schizophrenia-like behaviour. Procedures Pregnant rats were treated with the viral mimic polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (MIA group) or saline (control group) on gestational day 15. Static PET scans of the male offspring were acquired on postnatal day (PND) 21, 60, and 90, using [11C]-PK11195 and deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]-FDG) as tracers to measure TSPO expression in activated microglia and brain glucose consumption, respectively. On PND60 and PND90, anxiety-like behaviour, recognition memory, and sensorimotor gating were measured using the open field test (OFT), novel object recognition test (NOR), and prepulse inhibition test (PPI). Results [18F]-FDG PET demonstrated that MIA offspring displayed higher brain glucose consumption in the whole brain after weaning (p = 0.017), and in the frontal cortex during late adolescence (p = 0.001) and adulthood (p = 0.037) than control rats. [11C]-PK11195 PET did not reveal any changes in TSPO expression in MIA offspring. Prenatal infection induced age-related behavioural alterations. Adolescent MIA offspring displayed a more anxious state in the OFT than controls (p = 0.042). Adult MIA offspring showed recognition memory deficits in the NOR (p = 0.003). Our study did not show any PPI deficits. Conclusions Our results suggest that prenatal immune activation changed neurodevelopment, resulting in increased brain glucose consumption, but not in microglia activation. The increased brain glucose consumption in the frontal cortex of MIA offspring remained until adulthood and was associated with increased anxiety-like behaviour during adolescence and recognition memory deficits in adulthood. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11307-022-01723-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyprien G J Guerrin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Shoji
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Janine Doorduin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Erik F J de Vries
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Santos S, Ferreira H, Martins J, Gonçalves J, Castelo-branco M. Male sex bias in early and late onset neurodevelopmental disorders: shared aspects and differences in autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Liu SH, Du Y, Chen L, Cheng Y. Glial Cell Abnormalities in Major Psychiatric Diseases: A Systematic Review of Postmortem Brain Studies. Mol Neurobiol 2022. [PMID: 35013935 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02672-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
There have been a large number of reports about glial cell dysfunction being related to major psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). In this review, we provide an overview of postmortem studies analyzing the structural changes of glial cells in these three major psychiatric diseases, including the density, number and size of glial cells, and the expression of related markers. Up to May 1, 2021, 108 articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified by searching PubMed and Web of Science. Although most studies evaluating total glial cells did not show abnormalities in the brains of postmortem patients, astrocytes, microglial cells, and oligodendrocytes seem to have specific patterns of changes in each disease. For example, out of 20 studies that evaluated astrocyte markers in MDD, 11 studies found decreased astrocyte marker expression in MDD patients. Similarly, out of 25 studies evaluating oligodendrocyte markers in SCZ, 15 studies showed decreased expression of oligodendrocyte markers in different brain regions of SCZ patients. In addition, activated microglial cells were observed in patients with SCZ, BD, and MDD, but suicide may be a confounding factor for the observed effects. Although the data from the included studies were heterogeneous and this cannot be fully explained at present, it is likely that there are a variety of contributing factors, including the measured brain regions, methods of measurement, gender, age at time of death, and medications.
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Kutlubaev M, Pervushina E, Areprintceva D, Mendelevich V, Brylev L. Neuropsychiatric presentations of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:36-42. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202212205136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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21
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Ermakov EA, Melamud MM, Buneva VN, Ivanova SA. Immune System Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: An Integrative View and Translational Perspectives. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:880568. [PMID: 35546942 PMCID: PMC9082498 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.880568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system is generally known to be the primary defense mechanism against pathogens. Any pathological conditions are reflected in anomalies in the immune system parameters. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this systematic review, we summarized the available evidence of abnormalities in the immune system in schizophrenia. We analyzed impairments in all immune system components and assessed the level of bias in the available evidence. It has been shown that schizophrenia is associated with abnormalities in all immune system components: from innate to adaptive immunity and from humoral to cellular immunity. Abnormalities in the immune organs have also been observed in schizophrenia. Evidence of increased C-reactive protein, dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines, elevated levels of neutrophils and autoantibodies, and microbiota dysregulation in schizophrenia have the lowest risk of bias. Peripheral immune abnormalities contribute to neuroinflammation, which is associated with cognitive and neuroanatomical alterations and contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, signs of severe inflammation are observed in only about 1/3 of patients with schizophrenia. Immunological parameters may help identify subgroups of individuals with signs of inflammation who well respond to anti-inflammatory therapy. Our integrative approach also identified gaps in knowledge about immune abnormalities in schizophrenia, and new horizons for the research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny A Ermakov
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mark M Melamud
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Valentina N Buneva
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Ivanova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
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Gober R, Ardalan M, Shiadeh SMJ, Duque L, Garamszegi SP, Ascona M, Barreda A, Sun X, Mallard C, Vontell RT. Microglia activation in postmortem brains with schizophrenia demonstrates distinct morphological changes between brain regions. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13003. [PMID: 34297453 PMCID: PMC8713533 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a psychiatric disorder that can include symptoms of disorganized speech and thoughts with uncertain underlying mechanisms possibly linked to over-activated microglia. In this study, we used brain samples from sixteen donors with SCZ and thirteen control donors to assess the differential activation of microglia by quantifying density and 3D reconstruction of microglia stained with ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba1). Our samples consisted of sections from the frontal, temporal, and cingulate cortical gray matter, subcortical white matter regions (SCWM), and included the anterior corpus callosum. In the first series of studies, we performed a density analysis followed by a spatial analysis to ascertain the microglial density, distribution, and soma size in SCZ brains. Second, we performed a series of morphological quantification techniques to investigate the arborization patterns of the microglia in SCZ. The results demonstrated an increase in microglia density in the cortical gray matter regions in SCZ cases, while in the SCWM, there was a significant increase in microglia density in the frontal and temporal, but not in the other brain regions of interest (ROIs). Spatial analysis using the "nearest neighbor" demonstrated that there was no effect in "clustering", but there were shorter distances between microglia seen in the SCZ cases. The morphological measures showed that there was a region-dependent increase in the microglia soma size in the SCZ cases while the Sholl analysis revealed a significant decrease in the microglia arborization in the SCZ cases across all the ROI's studied. An in-depth 3D reconstruction of microglia in Brodmann area 9 cortical region found that there was a significant association between age and reduced microglial arborization in the SCZ cases. This region-dependent age association can help determine whether longitudinal changes in microglial activation across age are brain region-dependent, which may point to potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Gober
- Brain Endowment BankUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and HealthInstitute of Neuroscience and PhysiologySahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical MedicineTranslational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Seyedeh Marziyeh Jabbari Shiadeh
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and HealthInstitute of Neuroscience and PhysiologySahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical MedicineTranslational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Linda Duque
- Brain Endowment BankUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | | | | | | | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Brain Endowment BankUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | - Carina Mallard
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and HealthInstitute of Neuroscience and PhysiologySahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
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23
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Mousaviyan R, Davoodian N, Alizadeh F, Ghasemi-Kasman M, Mousavi SA, Shaerzadeh F, Kazemi H. Zinc Supplementation During Pregnancy Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Glial Activation and Inflammatory Markers Expression in a Rat Model of Maternal Immune Activation. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:4193-4204. [PMID: 33400154 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02553-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) model has been profoundly described as a suitable approach to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Our previous study revealed that prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced working memory impairments in only male offspring. Based on the putative role of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in working memory process, the current study was conducted to examine the long-lasting effect of LPS-induced MIA on several neuroinflammatory mediators in the PFC of adult male pups. We also investigated whether maternal zinc supplementation can alleviate LPS-induced alterations in this region. Pregnant rats received intraperitoneal injections of either LPS (0.5 mg/kg) or saline on gestation days 15/16 and supplemented with ZnSO4 (30 mg/kg) throughout pregnancy. At postnatal day 60, the density of both microglia and astrocyte cells and the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α, NF-κB, and GFAP were evaluated in the PFC of male pups. Although maternal LPS treatment increased microglia and astrocyte density, number of neurons in the PFC of adult offspring remained unchanged. These findings were accompanied by the exacerbated mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α, NF-κB, and GFAP as well. Conversely, prenatal zinc supplementation alleviated the mentioned alterations induced by LPS. These findings support the idea that the deleterious effects of prenatal LPS exposure could be attenuated by zinc supplementation during pregnancy. It is of interest to suggest early therapeutic intervention as a valuable approach to prevent neurodevelopmental deficits, following maternal infection. Schematic diagram describing the experimental timeline. On gestation days (GD) 15 and 16, pregnant dams were administered with intraperitoneal injections of either LPS (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle and supplemented with ZnSO4 (30 mg/kg) throughout pregnancy by gavage. The resulting offspring were submitted to qPCR, immunostaining, and morphological analysis at PND 60. Maternal zinc supplementation alleviated increased expression levels of inflammatory mediators and microglia and astrocyte density induced by LPS in the PFC of treated offspring. PND postnatal day, PFC prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronak Mousaviyan
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Nahid Davoodian
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
| | - Faezeh Alizadeh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Neuroscience Reesearch Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Seyed Abdollah Mousavi
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shaerzadeh
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Haniyeh Kazemi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
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Murphy CE, Walker AK, Weickert CS. Neuroinflammation in schizophrenia: the role of nuclear factor kappa B. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:528. [PMID: 34650030 PMCID: PMC8516884 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation, particularly in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, is well-established in a subset of people with schizophrenia, with significant increases in inflammatory markers including several cytokines. Yet the cause(s) of cortical inflammation in schizophrenia remains unknown. Clues as to potential microenvironmental triggers and/or intracellular deficits in immunoregulation may be gleaned from looking further upstream of effector immune molecules to transcription factors that control inflammatory gene expression. Here, we focus on the 'master immune regulator' nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and review evidence in support of NF-κB dysregulation causing or contributing to neuroinflammation in patients. We discuss the utility of 'immune biotyping' as a tool to analyse immune-related transcripts and proteins in patient tissue, and the insights into cortical NF-κB in schizophrenia revealed by immune biotyping compared to studies treating patients as a single, homogenous group. Though the ubiquitous nature of NF-κB presents several hurdles for drug development, targeting this key immunoregulator with novel or repurposed therapeutics in schizophrenia is a relatively underexplored area that could aid in reducing symptoms of patients with active neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E. Murphy
- grid.250407.40000 0000 8900 8842Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia
| | - Adam K. Walker
- grid.250407.40000 0000 8900 8842Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia. .,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia. .,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
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25
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Rahimian R, Wakid M, O'Leary LA, Mechawar N. The emerging tale of microglia in psychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:1-29. [PMID: 34536460 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
As the professional phagocytes of the brain, microglia orchestrate the immunological response and play an increasingly important role in maintaining homeostatic brain functions. Microglia are activated by pathological events or slight alterations in brain homeostasis. This activation is dependent on the context and type of stressor or pathology. Through secretion of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, microglia can strongly influence the response to a stressor and can, therefore, determine the pathological outcome. Psychopathologies have repeatedly been associated with long-lasting priming and sensitization of cerebral microglia. This review focuses on the diversity of microglial phenotype and function in health and psychiatric disease. We first discuss the diverse homeostatic functions performed by microglia and then elaborate on context-specific spatial and temporal microglial heterogeneity. Subsequently, we summarize microglia involvement in psychopathologies, namely major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with a particular focus on post-mortem studies. Finally, we postulate microglia as a promising novel therapeutic target in psychiatry through antidepressant and antipsychotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Rahimian
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Marina Wakid
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Liam Anuj O'Leary
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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26
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Uranova NA, Vikhreva OV, Rakhmanova VI. Abnormal microglial reactivity in gray matter of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr 2021; 63:102752. [PMID: 34274629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microglial activation has been proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The present study addressed the questions of whether microglial reactivity is involved in the course of schizophrenia and is associated with aging. Transmission electron microscopy and morphometry were applied to estimate microglial density and ultrastructural parameters in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex (BA10) in postmortem 21 chronic schizophrenia and 20 healthy control cases. A significant increase in microglial density was found in the schizophrenia group (+20 %), in young group (≤50 y.o.), in shorter duration of disease (≤26 yrs.) group, in early age at onset of disease (≤ 21 y.o.) group as compared to controls (p < 0.05) and in young schizophrenia group as compared to both young and elderly (>50 y.o.) controls (p < 0.05). Volume fraction (Vv) of mitochondria was significantly lower and area of lipofuscin granules was significantly higher in young and elderly schizophrenia groups as compared to young and elderly controls. Vv of lipofuscin granules strongly positively correlated with age and duration of disease in the schizophrenia group. Vv and the number (N) of lipofuscin granules were higher in longer duration (>26 yrs.) group as compared to shorter duration group (p < 0.01). Vv and N of vacuoles were increased in longer duration group as compared to controls (p < 0.01). The study provides evidence for microgliosis associated with age, duration of disease and age at onset of disease, progressive dystrophy and accelerated aging of microglia in gray matter of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Uranova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia.
| | - O V Vikhreva
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - V I Rakhmanova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
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27
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Breach MR, Dye CN, Joshi A, Platko S, Gilfarb RA, Krug AR, Franceschelli DV, Galan A, Dodson CM, Lenz KM. Maternal allergic inflammation in rats impacts the offspring perinatal neuroimmune milieu and the development of social play, locomotor behavior, and cognitive flexibility. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 95:269-286. [PMID: 33798637 PMCID: PMC8187275 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal systemic inflammation increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia in offspring. Notably, these disorders are male-biased. Studies have implicated immune system dysfunction in the etiology of these disorders, and rodent models of maternal immune activation provide useful tools to examine mechanisms of sex-dependent effects on brain development, immunity, and behavior. Here, we employed an allergen-induced model of maternal inflammation in rats to characterize levels of mast cells and microglia in the perinatal period in male and female offspring, as well as social, emotional, and cognitive behaviors throughout the lifespan. Adult female rats were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA), bred, and challenged intranasally on gestational day 15 of pregnancy with OVA or saline. Allergic inflammation upregulated microglia in the fetal brain, increased mast cell number in the hippocampus on the day of birth, and conferred region-, time- and sex- specific changes in microglia measures. Additionally, offspring of OVA-exposed mothers subsequently exhibited abnormal social behavior, hyperlocomotion, and reduced cognitive flexibility. These data demonstrate the long-term effects of maternal allergic challenge on offspring development and provide a basis for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders linked to maternal systemic inflammation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela R. Breach
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Courtney N. Dye
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Aarohi Joshi
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Steven Platko
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Rachel A. Gilfarb
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Annemarie R. Krug
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Anabel Galan
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Claire M. Dodson
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Lenz
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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28
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Izuo N, Nitta A. New Insights Regarding Diagnosis and Medication for Schizophrenia Based on Neuronal Synapse-Microglia Interaction. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11050371. [PMID: 34063598 PMCID: PMC8147599 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11050371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a common psychiatric disorder that usually develops during adolescence and young adulthood. Since genetic and environmental factors are involved in the disease, the molecular status of the pathology of schizophrenia differs across patients. Recent genetic studies have focused on the association between schizophrenia and the immune system, especially microglia–synapse interactions. Microglia physiologically eliminate unnecessary synapses during the developmental period. The overactivation of synaptic pruning by microglia is involved in the pathology of brain disease. This paper focuses on the synaptic pruning function and its molecular machinery and introduces the hypothesis that excessive synaptic pruning plays a role in the development of schizophrenia. Finally, we suggest a strategy for diagnosis and medication based on modulation of the interaction between microglia and synapses. This review provides updated information on the involvement of the immune system in schizophrenia and proposes novel insights regarding diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Atsumi Nitta
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-76-415-8822 (ext. 8823); Fax: +81-76-415-8826
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29
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Snijders GJLJ, van Zuiden W, Sneeboer MAM, Berdenis van Berlekom A, van der Geest AT, Schnieder T, MacIntyre DJ, Hol EM, Kahn RS, de Witte LD. A loss of mature microglial markers without immune activation in schizophrenia. Glia 2021; 69:1251-1267. [PMID: 33410555 PMCID: PMC7986895 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, are important for neurodevelopment and have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SCZ). Although previous postmortem studies pointed toward presence of microglial activation, this view has been challenged by more recent hypothesis-driven and hypothesis-free analyses. The aim of the present study is to further understand the observed microglial changes in SCZ. We first performed a detailed meta-analysis on studies that analyzed microglial cell density, microglial morphology, and expression of microglial-specific markers. We then further explored findings from the temporal cortex by performing immunostainings and qPCRs on an additional dataset. A random effect meta-analysis showed that the density of microglial cells was unaltered in SCZ (ES: 0.144 95% CI: 0.102 to 0.390, p = .250), and clear changes in microglial morphology were also absent. The expression of several microglial specific genes, such as CX3CR1, CSF1R, IRF8, OLR1, and TMEM119 was decreased in SCZ (ES: -0.417 95% CI: -0.417 to -0.546, p < .0001), consistent with genome-wide transcriptome meta-analysis results. These results indicate a change in microglial phenotype rather than density, which was validated with the use of TMEM119/Iba1 immunostainings on temporal cortex of a separate cohort. Changes in microglial gene expression were overlapping between SCZ and other psychiatric disorders, but largely opposite from changes reported in Alzheimer's disease. This distinct microglial phenotype provides a crucial molecular hallmark for future research into the role of microglia in SCZ and other psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gijsje J. L. J. Snijders
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Brain Center Rudolf MagnusUniversity Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University (BCRM‐UMCU‐UU)UtrechtThe Netherlands
- Department of PsychiatryIcahn School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | - Amber Berdenis van Berlekom
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Brain Center Rudolf MagnusUniversity Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University (BCRM‐UMCU‐UU)UtrechtThe Netherlands
- Department of Translational Neuroscience (BCRM‐UMCU‐UU)UtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Donald J. MacIntyre
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience (BCRM‐UMCU‐UU)UtrechtThe Netherlands
- Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, An Institute of the Royal Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - René S. Kahn
- Department of PsychiatryIcahn School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical CenterBronxNew YorkUSA
| | - Lot D. de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Brain Center Rudolf MagnusUniversity Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University (BCRM‐UMCU‐UU)UtrechtThe Netherlands
- Department of PsychiatryIcahn School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical CenterBronxNew YorkUSA
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30
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Runge K, Fiebich BL, Kuzior H, Saliba SW, Yousif NM, Meixensberger S, Nickel K, Denzel D, Schiele MA, Maier SJ, Berger B, Dersch R, Domschke K, Tebartz van Elst L, Endres D. An observational study investigating cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Schizophr Res 2021; 231:205-213. [PMID: 33887648 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The role of immunological mechanisms in the pathophysiology of mental disorders has been discussed with increasing frequency. In this context, especially schizophrenia has become the focus of attention after the discovery of autoimmune encephalitis, which might present with psychotic symptoms. Furthermore, multiple studies have identified associations between infections or autoimmune diseases and schizophreniform disorders. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis plays a central role in identifying potential inflammatory processes in the central nervous system. Therefore, the rationale of this retrospective study was the analysis of different cytokines, including interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels, in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. METHODS The authors examined the CSF of 40 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, in comparison to the CSF of a mentally healthy control group of 39 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Magnetic bead multiplexing immunoassay was used to retrospectively determine different cytokines in the participants' CSF. RESULTS Participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders had significantly higher IL-8 levels in their CSF than controls (mean ± SD: 41.83 ± 17.50 pg/ml versus 21.40 ± 7.96 pg/ml; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The main finding of this study is the presence of significantly higher IL-8 concentrations in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders when compared to the control group. This supports the hypothesis that immunological processes may be involved in the pathophysiology of a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, the study's results are limited by the retrospective design, methodological aspects, and the control group with IIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimon Runge
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Bernd L Fiebich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Kuzior
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Soraya W Saliba
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nizar M Yousif
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sophie Meixensberger
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Nickel
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Denzel
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon J Maier
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Berger
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rick Dersch
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominique Endres
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
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Prestwood TR, Asgariroozbehani R, Wu S, Agarwal SM, Logan RW, Ballon JS, Hahn MK, Freyberg Z. Roles of inflammation in intrinsic pathophysiology and antipsychotic drug-induced metabolic disturbances of schizophrenia. Behav Brain Res 2021; 402:113101. [PMID: 33453341 PMCID: PMC7882027 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric illness that remains poorly understood. While the bulk of symptomatology has classically been associated with disrupted brain functioning, accumulating evidence demonstrates that schizophrenia is characterized by systemic inflammation and disturbances in metabolism. Indeed, metabolic disease is a major determinant of the high mortality rate associated with schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) have revolutionized management of psychosis, making it possible to rapidly control psychotic symptoms. This has ultimately reduced relapse rates of psychotic episodes and improved overall quality of life for people with schizophrenia. However, long-term APD use has also been associated with significant metabolic disturbances including weight gain, dysglycemia, and worsening of the underlying cardiometabolic disease intrinsic to schizophrenia. While the mechanisms for these intrinsic and medication-induced metabolic effects remain unclear, inflammation appears to play a key role. Here, we review the evidence for roles of inflammatory mechanisms in the disease features of schizophrenia and how these mechanisms interact with APD treatment. We also discuss the effects of common inflammatory mediators on metabolic disease. Then, we review the evidence of intrinsic and APD-mediated effects on systemic inflammation in schizophrenia. Finally, we speculate about possible treatment strategies. Developing an improved understanding of inflammatory processes in schizophrenia may therefore introduce new, more effective options for treating not only schizophrenia but also primary metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R Prestwood
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Roshanak Asgariroozbehani
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sally Wu
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sri Mahavir Agarwal
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Banting and Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan W Logan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Jacob S Ballon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Margaret K Hahn
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Banting and Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Zachary Freyberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Purves-Tyson TD, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Richetto J, Rothmond DA, Labouesse MA, Polesel M, Robinson K, Shannon Weickert C, Meyer U. Increased levels of midbrain immune-related transcripts in schizophrenia and in murine offspring after maternal immune activation. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:849-863. [PMID: 31168068 PMCID: PMC7910216 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0434-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia involves alterations at the ventral midbrain level. Given that inflammatory mediators such as cytokines influence the functional properties of midbrain dopamine neurons, midbrain inflammation may play a role in schizophrenia by contributing to presynaptic dopamine abnormalities. Thus, we quantified inflammatory markers in dopaminergic areas of the midbrain of people with schizophrenia and matched controls. We also measured these markers in midbrain of mice exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy, an established risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. We found diagnostic increases in SERPINA3, TNFα, IL1β, IL6, and IL6ST transcripts in schizophrenia compared with controls (p < 0.02-0.001). The diagnostic differences in these immune markers were accounted for by a subgroup of schizophrenia cases (~ 45%, 13/28) showing high immune status. Consistent with the human cohort, we identified increased expression of immune markers in the midbrain of adult MIA offspring (SERPINA3, TNFα, and IL1β mRNAs, all p ≤ 0.01), which was driven by a subset of MIA offspring (~ 40%, 13/32) with high immune status. There were no diagnostic (human cohort) or group-wise (mouse cohort) differences in cellular markers indexing the density and/or morphology of microglia or astrocytes, but an increase in the transcription of microglial and astrocytic markers in schizophrenia cases and MIA offspring with high inflammation. These data demonstrate that immune-related changes in schizophrenia extend to dopaminergic areas of the midbrain and exist in the absence of changes in microglial cell number, but with putative evidence of microglial and astrocytic activation in the high immune subgroup. MIA may be one of the contributing factors underlying persistent neuroimmune changes in the midbrain of people with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tertia D Purves-Tyson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Debora A Rothmond
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Marie A Labouesse
- Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, NYC, 10032, NY, USA
| | | | - Kate Robinson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia.
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, 13210, New York, USA.
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Wegrzyn D, Freund N, Faissner A, Juckel G. Poly I:C Activated Microglia Disrupt Perineuronal Nets and Modulate Synaptic Balance in Primary Hippocampal Neurons in vitro. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:637549. [PMID: 33708102 PMCID: PMC7940526 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.637549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized, reticular structures of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that can be found covering the soma and proximal dendrites of a neuronal subpopulation. Recent studies have shown that PNNs can highly influence synaptic plasticity and are disrupted in different neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. Interestingly, there is a growing evidence that microglia can promote the loss of PNNs and contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on this knowledge, we analyzed the impact of activated microglia on hippocampal neuronal networks in vitro. Therefore, primary cortical microglia were cultured and stimulated via polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C; 50 μg/ml) administration. The Poly I:C treatment induced the expression and secretion of different cytokines belonging to the CCL- and CXCL-motif chemokine family as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In addition, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) could be verified via RT-PCR analysis. Embryonic hippocampal neurons were then cultured for 12 days in vitro (DIV) and treated for 24 h with microglial conditioned medium. Interestingly, immunocytochemical staining of the PNN component Aggrecan revealed a clear disruption of PNNs accompanied by a significant increase of glutamatergic and a decrease of γ-aminobutyric acid-(GABA)ergic synapse numbers on PNN wearing neurons. In contrast, PNN negative neurons showed a significant reduction in both, glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. Electrophysiological recordings were performed via multielectrode array (MEA) technology and unraveled a significantly increased spontaneous network activity that sustained also 24 and 48 h after the administration of microglia conditioned medium. Taken together, we could observe a strong impact of microglial secreted factors on PNN integrity, synaptic plasticity and electrophysiological properties of cultured neurons. Our observations might enhance the understanding of neuron-microglia interactions considering the ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wegrzyn
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadja Freund
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Andreas Faissner
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Georg Juckel
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Zengeler KE, Lukens JR. Innate immunity at the crossroads of healthy brain maturation and neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Rev Immunol 2021; 21:454-68. [PMID: 33479477 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-020-00487-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The immune and nervous systems have unique developmental trajectories that individually build intricate networks of cells with highly specialized functions. These two systems have extensive mechanistic overlap and frequently coordinate to accomplish the proper growth and maturation of an organism. Brain resident innate immune cells - microglia - have the capacity to sculpt neural circuitry and coordinate copious and diverse neurodevelopmental processes. Moreover, many immune cells and immune-related signalling molecules are found in the developing nervous system and contribute to healthy neurodevelopment. In particular, many components of the innate immune system, including Toll-like receptors, cytokines, inflammasomes and phagocytic signals, are critical contributors to healthy brain development. Accordingly, dysfunction in innate immune signalling pathways has been functionally linked to many neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. This review discusses the essential roles of microglia and innate immune signalling in the assembly and maintenance of a properly functioning nervous system.
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Pekala M, Doliwa M, Kalita K. Impact of maternal immune activation on dendritic spine development. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:524-545. [PMID: 33382515 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are small dendritic protrusions that harbor most excitatory synapses in the brain. The proper generation and maturation of dendritic spines are crucial for the regulation of synaptic transmission and formation of neuronal circuits. Abnormalities in dendritic spine density and morphology are common pathologies in autism and schizophrenia. According to epidemiological studies, one risk factor for these neurodevelopmental disorders is maternal infection during pregnancy. This review discusses spine alterations in animal models of maternal immune activation in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. We describe potential mechanisms that might be responsible for prenatal infection-induced changes in the dendritic spine phenotype and behavior in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Pekala
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Doliwa
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kalita
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Vikhreva O, Uranova N. Microglial reactivity in the prefrontal cortex in different types of schizophrenia. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2021; 121:77-83. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202112112177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Vieira S, Gong Q, Scarpazza C, Lui S, Huang X, Crespo-Facorro B, Tordesillas-Gutierrez D, de la Foz VOG, Setien-Suero E, Scheepers F, van Haren NE, Kahn R, Reis Marques T, Ciufolini S, Di Forti M, Murray RM, David A, Dazzan P, McGuire P, Mechelli A. Neuroanatomical abnormalities in first-episode psychosis across independent samples: a multi-centre mega-analysis. Psychol Med 2021; 51:340-350. [PMID: 31858920 PMCID: PMC7893510 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719003568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroanatomical abnormalities in first-episode psychosis (FEP) tend to be subtle and widespread. The vast majority of previous studies have used small samples, and therefore may have been underpowered. In addition, most studies have examined participants at a single research site, and therefore the results may be specific to the local sample investigated. Consequently, the findings reported in the existing literature are highly heterogeneous. This study aimed to overcome these issues by testing for neuroanatomical abnormalities in individuals with FEP that are expressed consistently across several independent samples. METHODS Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging data were acquired from a total of 572 FEP and 502 age and gender comparable healthy controls at five sites. Voxel-based morphometry was used to investigate differences in grey matter volume (GMV) between the two groups. Statistical inferences were made at p < 0.05 after family-wise error correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS FEP showed a widespread pattern of decreased GMV in fronto-temporal, insular and occipital regions bilaterally; these decreases were not dependent on anti-psychotic medication. The region with the most pronounced decrease - gyrus rectus - was negatively correlated with the severity of positive and negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study identified a consistent pattern of fronto-temporal, insular and occipital abnormalities in five independent FEP samples; furthermore, the extent of these alterations is dependent on the severity of symptoms and duration of illness. This provides evidence for reliable neuroanatomical alternations in FEP, expressed above and beyond site-related differences in anti-psychotic medication, scanning parameters and recruitment criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Vieira
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Cristina Scarpazza
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Su Lui
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- CIBERSAM, Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Diana Tordesillas-Gutierrez
- CIBERSAM, Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
- Neuroimaging Unit, Technological Facilities, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute IDIVAL, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Víctor Ortiz-García de la Foz
- CIBERSAM, Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Esther Setien-Suero
- CIBERSAM, Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Floor Scheepers
- Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - René Kahn
- Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Simone Ciufolini
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marta Di Forti
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robin M Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony David
- UCL Institute of Mental Health, University College London, UK
| | - Paola Dazzan
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philip McGuire
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Mechelli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Tendilla-Beltrán H, Sanchez-Islas NDC, Marina-Ramos M, Leza JC, Flores G. The prefrontal cortex as a target for atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenia, lessons of neurodevelopmental animal models. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 199:101967. [PMID: 33271238 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prefrontal cortex (PFC) inflammatory imbalance, oxidative/nitrosative stress (O/NS) and impaired neuroplasticity in schizophrenia are thought to have neurodevelopmental origins. Animal models are not only useful to test this hypothesis, they are also effective to establish a relationship among brain disturbances and behavior with the atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) effects. Here we review data of PFC post-mortem and in vivo neuroimaging, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), and peripheral blood studies of inflammatory, O/NS, and neuroplasticity alterations in the disease as well as about their modulation by AAPs. Moreover, we reviewed the PFC alterations and the AAP mechanisms beyond their canonical antipsychotic action in four neurodevelopmental animal models relevant to the study of schizophrenia with a distinct approach in the generation of schizophrenia-like phenotypes, but all converge in O/NS and altered neuroplasticity in the PFC. These animal models not only reinforce the neurodevelopmental risk factor model of schizophrenia but also arouse some novel potential therapeutic targets for the disease including the reestablishment of the antioxidant response by the perineuronal nets (PNNs) and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) pathway, as well as the dendritic spine dynamics in the PFC pyramidal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiram Tendilla-Beltrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico; Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), CDMX, Mexico
| | | | - Mauricio Marina-Ramos
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Juan C Leza
- Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), UCM. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital, 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico.
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (emotional flatness, apathy, and lack of speech). It causes social and economic burdens to patients and their family. Although etiology of schizophrenia is still uncertain, dopamine dysregulation is traditionally considered as a main etiological factor of schizophrenia, which has been utilized to develop drugs for treating schizophrenia. Recently, inflammation has presented being a risk factor for schizophrenia in that neuroinflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the exacerbation of symptom severity. Various factors including diet can regulate inflammatory state. Specific foods or dietary patterns have anti- or pro-inflammatory potentials. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglia activation have been reported in schizophrenia populations and were related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids were often recommended to schizophrenia patients because of their anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, we investigate the inflammation-related pathogenesis of schizophrenia and summarize potential nutritional approaches to inhibit the manifestation of symptoms and to alleviate symptom severity using anti-inflammatory nutrients or functional components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Yun Cha
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 01797, Korea
| | - Soo Jin Yang
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 01797, Korea
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Mazza MG, Capellazzi M, Lucchi S, Tagliabue I, Rossetti A, Clerici M. Monocyte count in schizophrenia and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2020; 32:229-36. [PMID: 32178747 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2020.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Increasing evidence suggests that immunological and inflammatory dysfunctions may play an important role in predisposition, onset, and progression of schizophrenia and related psychosis. The activation of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, especially microglia and monocytes, has been reported in schizophrenia. We carried out this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate if there are significant differences in monocyte count comparing healthy controls with people suffering from schizophrenia and related disorders. METHODS We searched main electronic databases; nine records met all our criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analyses based on random effects models have been carried out generating pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) of monocyte count in peripheral blood between schizophrenia and related psychosis and healthy controls. Heterogeneity was estimated. Relevant sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. RESULTS Patients showed higher monocyte count as compared with healthy control (SMD = 0.393; p = 0.001). Heterogeneity across studies was from moderate to high (I2 = 65.952%); sensitivity analysis leaving out two studies responsible for most of the heterogeneity showed a slightly higher SMD. Subgroup analyses confirmed this result, showing no significant differences in the effect size across different study characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Monocyte count can be considered an indirect marker of microglia activation in the central nervous system. Thus, the observed higher monocyte count in patients could be considered as a possible peripheral marker of microglia's activation in schizophrenia disorder.
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Karpiński P, Samochowiec J, Sąsiadek MM, Łaczmański Ł, Misiak B. Analysis of global gene expression at seven brain regions of patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2020; 223:119-27. [PMID: 32631700 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous transcriptome analyses of brain samples provided several insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to re-investigate gene expression datasets from seven brain regions of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls by adopting a unified approach. After adjustment for confounding factors, we detected gene expression changes in 2 out of 7 brain regions - the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and parietal cortex (PC). We found relatively small effect sizes, not exceeding absolute log fold changes of 1. Gene-set enrichment analysis revealed the following alterations: 1) down-regulation of GABAergic signaling (in DLPFC and PC); 2) up-regulation of interleukin-23 signaling together with up-regulation of transcription mediated by RUNX1 and RUNX3 as well as down-regulation of RUNX2 signaling (in DLPFC) and 3) up-regulation of genes associated with responses to metal ions and RUNX1 signaling (PC). The number of neurons was significantly lower and the number of astrocytes was significantly higher at both brain regions. In turn, the index of microglia was increased in DLPFC and decreased in PC. Finally, our unsupervised analysis demonstrated that cellular composition of the samples was a major confounding factor in the analysis of gene expression across all datasets. In conclusion, our analysis provides further evidence that small but significant changes in the expression of genes related to GABAergic signaling, brain development, neuroinflammation and responses to metal ions might be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Cell sorting techniques need to be used by future studies to dissect the effect of cellular content.
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Hsu MC, Huang YS, Ouyang WC. Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in schizophrenia: possible mechanisms. Lipids Health Dis 2020; 19:159. [PMID: 32620164 PMCID: PMC7333328 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-020-01337-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a serious long-term psychotic disorder marked by positive and negative symptoms, severe behavioral problems and cognitive function deficits. The cause of this disorder is not completely clear, but is suggested to be multifactorial, involving both inherited and environmental factors. Since human brain regulates all behaviour, studies have focused on identifying changes in neurobiology and biochemistry of brain in schizophrenia. Brain is the most lipid rich organ (approximately 50% of brain dry weight). Total brain lipids is constituted of more than 60% of phospholipids, in which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is the most abundant (more than 40%) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in brain membrane phospholipids. Results from numerous studies have shown significant decreases of PUFAs, in particular, DHA in peripheral blood (plasma and erythrocyte membranes) as well as brain of schizophrenia patients at different developmental phases of the disorder. PUFA deficiency has been associated to psychotic symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. These findings have led to a number of clinical trials examining whether dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation could improve the course of illness in patients with schizophrenia. Results are inconsistent. Some report beneficial whereas others show not effective. The discrepancy can be attributed to the heterogeneity of patient population. METHODS In this review, results from recent experimental and clinical studies, which focus on illustrating the role of PUFAs in the development of schizophrenia were examined. The rationale why omega-3 supplementation was beneficial on symptoms (presented by subscales of the positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS), and cognitive functions in certain patients but not others was reviewed. The potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects were discussed. RESULTS Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation reduced the conversion rate to psychosis and improved both positive and negative symptoms and global functions in adolescents at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation could also improve negative symptoms and global functions in the first-episode patients with schizophrenia, but improve mainly total or general PANSS subscales in chronic patients. Patients with low PUFA (particularly DHA) baseline in blood were more responsive to the omega-3 fatty acid intervention. CONCLUSION Omega-3 supplementation is more effective in reducing psychotic symptom severity in young adults or adolescents in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia who have low omega-3 baseline. Omega-3 supplementation was more effective in patients with low PUFA baseline. It suggests that patients with predefined lipid levels might benefit from lipid treatments, but more controlled clinical trials are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Chi Hsu
- Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, No.8, Yida Road, Jiaosu Village Yanchao District, Kaohsiung, 82445 Taiwan
| | - Yung-Sheng Huang
- College of Medicine, I-Shou University, No.8, Yida Road, Jiaosu Village Yanchao District, Kaohsiung, 82445 Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chen Ouyang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Jianan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No.539, Yuzhong Rd., Rende Dist., Tainan City, 71742 Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, No.452, Huanqiu Rd. Luzhu Dist, Kaohsiung, 82144 Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No.100, Shin-Chuan 1st Road, Sanmin Dist., Kaohsiung, 80708 Taiwan
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43
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Cieślik M, Gąssowska-Dobrowolska M, Jęśko H, Czapski GA, Wilkaniec A, Zawadzka A, Dominiak A, Polowy R, Filipkowski RK, Boguszewski PM, Gewartowska M, Frontczak-Baniewicz M, Sun GY, Beversdorf DQ, Adamczyk A. Maternal Immune Activation Induces Neuroinflammation and Cortical Synaptic Deficits in the Adolescent Rat Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4097. [PMID: 32521803 PMCID: PMC7312084 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA), induced by infection during pregnancy, is an important risk factor for neuro-developmental disorders, such as autism. Abnormal maternal cytokine signaling may affect fetal brain development and contribute to neurobiological and behavioral changes in the offspring. Here, we examined the effect of lipopolysaccharide-induced MIA on neuro-inflammatory changes, as well as synaptic morphology and key synaptic protein level in cerebral cortex of adolescent male rat offspring. Adolescent MIA offspring showed elevated blood cytokine levels, microglial activation, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and increased oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, pathological changes in synaptic ultrastructure of MIA offspring was detected, along with presynaptic protein deficits and down-regulation of postsynaptic scaffolding proteins. Consequently, ability to unveil MIA-induced long-term alterations in synapses structure and protein level may have consequences on postnatal behavioral changes, associated with, and predisposed to, the development of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Cieślik
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
| | - Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
| | - Henryk Jęśko
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
| | - Grzegorz A. Czapski
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
| | - Anna Wilkaniec
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
| | - Aleksandra Zawadzka
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
| | - Agnieszka Dominiak
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Rafał Polowy
- Behavior and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (R.P.); (R.K.F.)
| | - Robert K. Filipkowski
- Behavior and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (R.P.); (R.K.F.)
| | - Paweł M. Boguszewski
- Laboratory of Animal Models, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Gewartowska
- Electron Microscopy Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (M.F.-B.)
| | - Małgorzata Frontczak-Baniewicz
- Electron Microscopy Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (M.F.-B.)
| | - Grace Y. Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, 117 Schweitzer Hall, Columbia, MO 65201, USA;
| | - David Q. Beversdorf
- Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology, DC069.10, One Hospital Drive, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
| | - Agata Adamczyk
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.-D.); (H.J.); (G.A.C.); (A.W.); (A.Z.)
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44
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Esshili A, Manitz MP, Freund N, Juckel G. Induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in activated microglia and astrocytes following pre- and postnatal immune challenge in an animal model of schizophrenia. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 35:100-110. [PMID: 32439226 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the central nervous system, activated microglia and astrocytes produce proinflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cytokines. Uncontrolled release of these mediators induced by immune challenge can lead to increased vulnerability to complex brain disorders such as schizophrenia. In this study, BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) with the viral mimetic polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (poly(I:C)) or saline. At postnatal day 30 (PND0), the animals were sacrificed and the hippocampus, corpus callosum, striatum, cortex, fimbria and ventricle were immunostained for Iba-1, a microglial marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocyte marker, and iNOS, an activation marker for NO. Additionally, serum cytokine profiling (Interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL- 4, IL-6, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), IL-17A and IL-10) was determined using serum samples from poly(I:C)-treated and control mice. Our results demonstrated that poly(I:C) induced overactivation of differential proinflammatory responses in microglia and astrocytes, which could be strongly enhanced by a postnatal poly(I:C) administration before PND 30 in one part of the animals investigated. Specifically, there was significant iNOS upregulation in hippocampus, cortex and corpus callosum of poly(I:C)-affected off-springs. These inflammatory alterations were accompanied by increased circulating levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). This study provides insight into the role of microglia and astrocytes in an animal model of schizophrenia and an understanding of the regulation of iNOS expression in glial cells and cytokine networks. This knowledge could help identify novel targets for anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory therapeutic schizophrenia intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awatef Esshili
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroimmunology, Department of Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Laboratoire de génétique, biodiversité et valorisation des bioressources, Institut supérieur de biotechnologie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisie
| | - Marie-Pierre Manitz
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroimmunology, Department of Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadja Freund
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroimmunology, Department of Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Georg Juckel
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroimmunology, Department of Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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45
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Mallya AP, Wang HD, Lee HNR, Deutch AY. Microglial Pruning of Synapses in the Prefrontal Cortex During Adolescence. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:1634-1643. [PMID: 29668872 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Exaggerated synaptic elimination in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during adolescence has been suggested to contribute to the neuropathological changes of schizophrenia. Recent data indicate that microglia (MG) sculpt synapses during early postnatal development. However, it is not known if MG contribute to the structural maturation of the PFC, which has a protracted postnatal development. We determined if MG are involved in developmentally specific synapse elimination in the PFC, focusing on adolescence. Layer 5 PFC pyramidal cells (PCs) were intracellularly filled with Lucifer Yellow for dendritic spine measurements in postnatal day (P) 24, P30, P35, P39, and P50 rats. In the contralateral PFC we evaluated if MG engulfed presynaptic (glutamatergic) and postsynaptic (dendritic spines) elements. Dendritic spine density increased from P24 to P35, when spine density peaked. There was a significant increase in MG engulfment of spines at P39 relative to earlier ages; this subsided by P50. MG also phagocytosed presynaptic glutamatergic terminals. These data indicate that MG transiently prune synapses of PFC PCs during adolescence, when the symptoms of schizophrenia typically first appear. An increase in MG-mediated synaptic remodeling of PFC PCs may contribute to the structural changes observed in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui-Dong Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Han Noo Ri Lee
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ariel Y Deutch
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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46
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Dimitrova-Shumkovska J, Krstanoski L, Veenman L. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potential of TSPO Studies Regarding Neurodegenerative Diseases, Psychiatric Disorders, Alcohol Use Disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Stroke: An Update. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040870. [PMID: 32252470 PMCID: PMC7226777 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and cell death are among the common symptoms of many central nervous system diseases and injuries. Neuroinflammation and programmed cell death of the various cell types in the brain appear to be part of these disorders, and characteristic for each cell type, including neurons and glia cells. Concerning the effects of 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) on glial activation, as well as being associated with neuronal cell death, as a response mechanism to oxidative stress, the changes of its expression assayed with the aid of TSPO-specific positron emission tomography (PET) tracers' uptake could also offer evidence for following the pathogenesis of these disorders. This could potentially increase the number of diagnostic tests to accurately establish the stadium and development of the disease in question. Nonetheless, the differences in results regarding TSPO PET signals of first and second generations of tracers measured in patients with neurological disorders versus healthy controls indicate that we still have to understand more regarding TSPO characteristics. Expanding on investigations regarding the neuroprotective and healing effects of TSPO ligands could also contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of TSPO activity for brain damage due to brain injury and disease. Studies so far have directed attention to the effects on neurons and glia, and processes, such as death, inflammation, and regeneration. It is definitely worthwhile to drive such studies forward. From recent research it also appears that TSPO ligands, such as PK11195, Etifoxine, Emapunil, and 2-Cl-MGV-1, demonstrate the potential of targeting TSPO for treatments of brain diseases and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmina Dimitrova-Shumkovska
- Department of Experimental Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, Arhimedova 3, P.O. Box 162, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia;
- Correspondence: (J.D.-S.); (L.V.)
| | - Ljupcho Krstanoski
- Department of Experimental Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, Arhimedova 3, P.O. Box 162, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia;
| | - Leo Veenman
- Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Institute of Medical Research, 1 Efron Street, P.O. Box 9697, Haifa 31096, Israel
- Correspondence: (J.D.-S.); (L.V.)
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47
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Sneeboer MAM, van der Doef T, Litjens M, Psy NBB, Melief J, Hol EM, Kahn RS, de Witte LD. Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker? Schizophr Res 2020; 215:167-72. [PMID: 31699629 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) with translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) radioligands has frequently been used to investigate microglial activation in schizophrenia in vivo. However, the specificity of this marker is increasingly debated. Here we show that TSPO expression is 1) not increased in postmortem brain tissue of schizophrenia patients; 2) not correlated with expression of microglial activation markers; 3) not restricted to microglia; and 4) not upregulated in ex vivo activated human primary microglia. Our data are in line with recent reports showing that TSPO expression is not increased in schizophrenia and that it is not a specific marker for activated microglia. This study emphasizes the need for further development of tracers to study the role of microglial activation in schizophrenia and other diseases.
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48
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Uranova NA, Vikhreva OV, Rakhmanova VI, Orlovskaya DD. Dystrophy of Oligodendrocytes and Adjacent Microglia in Prefrontal Gray Matter in Schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:204. [PMID: 32292358 PMCID: PMC7135882 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some evidence support the notion that microglia activation in acute state of schizophrenia might contribute to damage of oligodendrocytes and myelinated fibers. Previously we found dystrophic changes of oligodendrocytes in prefrontal white matter in schizophrenia subjects displaying predominantly positive symptoms as compared to controls. The aim of the study was to verify whether microglial activation might contribute to dystrophic changes of oligodendrocytes in prefrontal gray matter in this clinical subgroup. METHODS Transmission electron microscopy and morphometry of microglia and adjacent oligodendrocytes were performed in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex (BA10) in the schizophrenia subjects displaying predominantly positive symptoms (SPPS, n = 12), predominantly negative symptoms (SPNS, n = 9) and healthy controls (n = 20). RESULTS Qualitative study showed microglial activation and dystrophic alterations of microglia and oligodendrocytes adjacent to each other in both subgroups as compared to controls. A significant reduction in volume density (Vv) and the number (N) of mitochondria and an increase in N of lipofuscin granules were found in oligodendrocytes and adjacent microglia in both subgroups. Vv of lipofuscin granules, Vv and N of vacuoles of endoplasmic reticulum in microglia were increased significantly in the SPPS subgroup as compared to controls. In the SPPS subgroup Vv and N of mitochondria in microglia were correlated with N of vacuoles in microglia (r = -0.61, p < 0.05) and with Vv (r = 0.79, p < 0.01) and N (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) of mitochondria in oligodendrocytes. Vv of mitochondria in microglia was also correlated with Vv and N of vacuoles in oligodendrocytes in the SPPS subgroup (r = 0.76, p < 0.01). Area of nucleus of microglial cells was correlated negatively with age (r = -0.76, p < 0.01) and age at illness onset (r = -0.65, p < 0.05) in the SPPS subgroup. In the SPNS subgroup N of mitochondria in microglia was correlated with Vv of lipofuscin granules in oligodendrocytes (r = -0.9, p < 0.01). There were no significant correlations between these parameters in the control group. DISCUSSION Microglial dystrophy might contribute to oligodendrocyte dystrophy in the schizophrenia subjects with predominantly positive symptoms during relapse. Mitochondria in microglia and oligodendrocytes may be a target for treatment strategy of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya A Uranova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V Vikhreva
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Diana D Orlovskaya
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
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49
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Petrasch-Parwez E, Schöbel A, Benali A, Moinfar Z, Förster E, Brüne M, Juckel G. Lateralization of increased density of Iba1-immunopositive microglial cells in the anterior midcingulate cortex of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 270:819-28. [PMID: 32062729 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-020-01107-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence from genetic, biochemical, pharmacological, neuroimaging and post-mortem studies that immunological dysregulation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psychoses. The involvement of microglia in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) has remained controversial, however, since results from various post-mortem studies are still inconclusive. Here, we analyzed the estimated density of microglia of age-matched individuals with schizophrenia (n = 17), BD (n = 13), and non-psychiatric control subjects (n = 17) in the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC), a brain area putatively involved in the pathogenesis of psychoses, using ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1)-immunohistochemistry. The microglial cells displayed a homogenously distributed Iba1-staining pattern in the aMCC with slightly varying activation states in all three groups. The estimated microglial densities did not differ significantly between individuals with schizophrenia, BD and control subjects. Remarkably, when both hemispheres were investigated separately within the three groups, the density was significantly lateralized towards the right aMCC in schizophrenia (p = 0.01) and-even more evident-in BD subjects (p = 0.008). This left-right lateralization was not observed in the control group (p = 0.52). Of note, microglial density was significantly lower in BD individuals who did not commit suicide compared with BD individuals who died from suicide (p = 0.002). This difference was not observed between individuals with BD who committed suicide and controls. The results, tentatively interpreted, suggest a hitherto unknown increased lateralization of microglial density to the right hemisphere in both psychiatric groups. If confirmed in independent samples, lateralization should be considered in all post-mortem studies on microglia. Density differences between suicide and non-suicide individuals needs further elucidation.
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50
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Cotton SM, Berk M, Watson A, Wood S, Allott K, Bartholomeusz CF, Bortolasci CC, Walder K, O'Donoghue B, Dean OM, Chanen A, Amminger GP, McGorry PD, Burnside A, Uren J, Ratheesh A, Dodd S. ENACT: a protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy and mechanisms of action of adjunctive N-acetylcysteine for first-episode psychosis. Trials 2019; 20:658. [PMID: 31779696 PMCID: PMC6883553 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3786-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background First-episode psychosis (FEP) may lead to a progressive, potentially disabling and lifelong chronic illness; however, evidence suggests that the illness course can be improved if appropriate treatments are given at the early stages. Nonetheless, the efficacy of antipsychotic medications is suboptimal, particularly for negative and cognitive symptoms, and more efficacious and benign treatments are needed. Previous studies have shown that the antioxidant amino acid N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces negative symptoms and improves functioning in chronic schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Research is scarce as to whether NAC is beneficial earlier in the course of illness. The primary aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of treatment with adjunctive NAC (2 g/day for 26 weeks) compared with placebo to improve psychiatric symptoms in young people experiencing FEP. Secondary aims are to explore the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning NAC and how they relate to various clinical and functional outcomes at 26- and 52-week follow-ups. Methods/design ENACT is a 26-week, randomised controlled trial of adjunctive NAC versus placebo, with a 26-week non-treatment follow-up period, for FEP. We will be recruiting 162 young people aged 15–25 years who have recently presented to, and are being treated at, the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre, Melbourne, Australia. The primary outcome is the Total Score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale which will be administered at baseline, and weeks 4, 8, 12, 26 (primary endpoint), and 52 (end of study). Secondary outcomes include: symptomatology, functioning, quality of life, neurocognition, blood-derived measures of: inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of glutathione concentration. Discussion Targeted drug development for FEP to date has generally not involved the exploration of neuroprotective agents. This study has the potential to offer a new, safe, and efficacious treatment for people with FEP, leading to better treatment outcomes. Additionally, the neuroprotective dimension of this study may lead to a better long-term prognosis for people with FEP. It has the potential to uncover a novel treatment that targets the neurobiological mechanisms of FEP and, if successful, will be a major advance for psychiatry. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ID: ACTRN12618000413224. Registered on 21 March 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Cotton
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - M Berk
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,The Department of Psychiatry and the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A Watson
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - S Wood
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK
| | - K Allott
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - C F Bartholomeusz
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - C C Bortolasci
- Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - K Walder
- Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - B O'Donoghue
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - O M Dean
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,The Department of Psychiatry and the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A Chanen
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - G P Amminger
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - P D McGorry
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A Burnside
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - J Uren
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A Ratheesh
- Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Road), Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - S Dodd
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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